How To Make Money With A Laser Engraver

Lasers are showing up in more and more wood shops. In fact, they are becoming viable businesses of their own. Last year my laser passively generated over $50,000 in revenue. In this video I show you some of the highest revenue projects we've done.
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#laser #laserengraving #lasercutting
00:00 Introduction
00:26 Custom Trays
00:46 Kitchen Conversion Chart
01:22 Table Numbers
02:34 Tumblers
03:33 Gifts for clients
04:00 Farkle / Yahtzee Board
04:57 B2B Customization
05:13 Templates
05:46 Cutting A Template
06:44 Maintenance

[@dougw2112]

Great video Mike! I think your content is right on the mark. No gimmicks, great data, and the proper length. Thanks for helping the community get better with our pursuits.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

You're very kind. Thank you for the support!

[@WoodshopOutBack]

Great video! Your timing on laser info is perfect!!!

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Awesome! Glad it helped!

[@KnuckleNobility]

Dude, really appreciate the info, especially the frank ‘cons’ section. Lots of maintenance info I wouldn’t have thought about 👍🏼 Awesome work as always my friend 👌🏼

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thanks man! Glad it helped!

[@spudman575]

This is awesome, they’re is a ton of videos on lasers but this one goes above and beyond with great information, a plethora of examples, and the reality of owning and maintains a laser! Thanks for sharing and making this.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Man thank you so much! Glad it helped!

[@Andi.Mitchell.Designs]

Just found your channel, proof that our phones are listening to us… my wife and I were discussing buying a laser yesterday. Also… beautiful 2 day table sir. Definitely subscribing and catching up.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thank you so much!

[@EvanDunville]

Great stuff! Lazers are really cool.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

They're so much fun!

[@ryanreich8493]

Thank you for sharing the maintenance side of the laser and what it would take to have and use one for a business

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Happy to share

[@AtamauLeacu]

Can't wait to try laser engraving myself after watching this video! So informative and inspiring! 🔥

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thanks for watching

[@thefilthelement]

I can agree from personal experience that what you end up using your CNC and laser for are sometimes not even close to what you initially got them for, but going with the changes has made me a lot more money than I planned.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Yeah you gotta be open to take on new things

[@DGLaserCraft]

Thanks for the great video - lots of good information.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@diywoodworkingdan]

Awesome video Mike, I’m going to buy a laser cutter now. Thank you for sharing!

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

They can generate awesome income!

[@Vladlabs]

where are you going to sell this lol? These people gave you ZERO info bud, ZERO. They shot a video to make it look like they tellk you, but what they dont tell you is where this CAN be sold, and good luck to you figuring things out the hard way. For example that Etsy is absolutely overloaded with this stuff for so cheap that you will not be even considering working for such pennies, unless you are 15 and live with parents for free.

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

Recently made a jelly cabinet. Rather than the typical way I would have cut the design in the sides to make "feet"... I just made a template on my laser. Now if I make this again I can be consistent. And it's much quicker.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Lasers excels at jigs and templates!

[@alanbuilds7829]

Lot of great info here!

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

I gotchu!

[@tegheim]

Very well done!

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thanks!

[@leftyswoodshop2965]

Great video. Great ideas to monetize the laser man. Off to buy one.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thank you my friend!

[@masdirect]

Thankyou for making this video

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thanks for watching

[@RobSandstromDesigns]

Good video. Have you put out a video on laser maintenance where you go into where you apply the grease, type and sources of grease, etc. If so let me know where to check it out.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thanks! I haven't! Not sure if there's a huge audience for that one.

[@Midmo]

@@CoffeyCustomBuilds I'd watch it. I bet many new laser owners would as the instruction manual is terrible.

[@Karen-hw4pc]

It's exciting to witness the growing integration of lasers into wood shops, not just as tools but as avenues for new businesses. Achieving a passive revenue stream of over $50,000 in a year through laser projects is impressive indeed. When considering tools for such endeavors, the Monport laser cutter stands out as an effective choice. Its reliability, precision, and versatility make it an invaluable asset for businesses aiming to capitalize on the opportunities presented by laser technology. With a Monport laser cutter at your disposal, you can tackle high-revenue projects with confidence, driving further success in your entrepreneurial ventures.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

It's crazy

[@baileythompson3680]

Great video!

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Man I'm glad you liked it!

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

Great video. I’m pretty sure that I have that exact template you showed… and I think i bought it from you. LOL. Either way. Great video. Thanks

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

You do! Its my best seller!

[@thehangardesigns]

Great video! Which rotary tool did you end up going with?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thank you! I went with a Rotay Boss!

[@barnettbuilds227]

Pew pew! Great video! 👏

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thanks man! I hope it helps!

[@quinettabrown8836]

The table marker is cool

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thank you!

[@JinkuBanatsu]

Great video! I recently started a small woodworking business out of a 1 car garage and I am looking to invest a decent amount into it. As someone that made the giant leap towards a large CNC early on, Would you recommend a mid size CNC like a Onefinity or a laser similar to yours? Thanks Mike.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

I would say a CNC is going to make you more money. Imo

[@lesbianwars]

Hi buddy, your channel is very interesting. Keep going.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thank you!

[@CrazyFuzz8]

Good tips

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mainerdiy8399]

Lots of good info here! We currently have the xtool d1 pro 20w and are looking at the thunder Nova 51. Definitely outgrew the xtool but had no idea if the business would take off. Do you know what the rules are on reselling YETI, or other big name brand tumblers? Do you usually use branded tumblers for your clients? Thanks for the video.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

There's no rules. You can resell whatever you want. But Yeti won't sell wholesale. I get my tumblers from JDS.

[@mainerdiy8399]

@@CoffeyCustomBuilds Gotcha. We have a couple more ducks to line up and we'll be buying from JDS as well. Quite the savings!

[@davidjefferds8532]

What size laser would you recommend for a beginer that would like to make some templates? This is a great video.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

I'd say at the very least a 12x20. You'd outgrow that pretty fast though.

[@davidjefferds8532]

@@CoffeyCustomBuilds yes but wattage?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Oh sorry I wouldn't get anything less than 50 watts. If you want to cut templates you'll want 100+ watts.

[@Portlandcollects]

I’m trying to do custom tumblers. Do you have any suggestions for what I would need or recommendations ?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

You'll need a rotary with your laser.

[@DPAWNC]

What model laser do you have? We are thinking about upgrading to a larger one. Will yours cut 3/4" mdf and hardwood?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

I have the Laguna EX. It can definitely make those cuts. If you’d like some more info shoot me an email mike @ coffeycustombuilds dot com

[@DigitalArtisan77]

How did you get the clean edges on the table marker, was it by hand or a bulk process such as shot blasting?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Just sanded it.

[@FrazerCanyonWoodworks]

Will Coffey Custom Builds ever complete the Maker’s Holy Trinity of CNC, Laser, & 3D Printer?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

I definitely want one.

[@simonshreds108]

Where are you selling/ marketing those small laser products ?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

I have them on my website which gets traffic from my social media presence. I also have them on my Etsy which I paid for ads on.

[@MelvinMcVinci]

It seems like there are so many people sellling custom lazer engraved gifts/items on etsy. For those who are just now thinking of entering this business, what can they offer to stand out from the rest? Im thinking people would naturally choose someone with a large number of (high) ratings compared to a business with no ratings

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

One thing I did to help kick off my Etsy shop was to direct local offline sales to Etsy and ask them to leave a review. But honestly the best way is to find a listing that does well, take better pictures, price it competitively and possible pay for ads.

[@joshymcdaniel9233]

You are 100% CORRECT! When someone searches google/ Etsy the shops that come up first are those who pay big $$ to them so they come up first! That’s the hard part starting… at the start sometimes it is better to pay for the ads once you get repeat clients etc then you can stop… not what you want to hear but you’re right with so many ppl doing it the best way to stand out is I’m afraid you have to pay so you come up on searches That’s the no BS answer! It’s the world we live in

[@MrSergey101]

If you look at the market and it seems saturated it’s probably because there is a Market. I wouldn’t let competitors scare you out of the industry

[@ryanhubler9894]

I bought mine specifically for my leather business, mainly to put my makers' marks in place, but now I use it to cut templates, engrave cutting boards, and all sorts of other stuff. The biggest thing is cutting out my wallets, especially ones I design and want to make a prototype asap. Certainly game-changing for me.

[@DiversifiedMachinist]

​Just purchased one for the same reason. ​@@ryanhubler9894

[@unknownname6519]

The best way.. Make a KZbin video about how to start a 50k buisness

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Explain how that works.

[@thelordvega]

thx for the info. im in PR and I've been thinking for sometime of buying a glowforge and if it works out for me then expand

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

That's awesome!

[@JeffFontecchio]

Now you need sharks, sharks with laser beams rule!🦈 Great video

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

🤣 gotta have sharks!

[@osheawoodwork]

Hi, I’m looking to get a laser engraver for my business, just to engrave boards for customers, any advice?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

To get started I'd look at a Thunder or Ohmtec

[@osheawoodwork]

@@CoffeyCustomBuilds even if mostly what I’m doing is engraving and not cutting? Thanks for the reply

[@Curious_Skeptic]

Great info. I'm curious as to why you wouldn't put up a plastic wall of some sort to keep dust out of laser? Sounds like an easy fix, but of course, I am looking this from a total novice observation. Learn me something.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

The room is getting a door.

[@Curious_Skeptic]

@@CoffeyCustomBuilds Well, that's a solution. ;) I was thinking of doing a room with plexiglass wall, so you could still keep an eye on it while working in the shop. Just starting out myself, and no goal of making money, but do love the hobby.

[@Pens-and-morez]

What laser do you recommend for a beginner wanting to start a side hustle?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

I'd start with a smaller 50 watt machine. I liked my Laguna PL 1220

[@PTcruser65]

You forgot to mention the price of the laser.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

The price of the one doesn't matter because there are many different lasers at different price points. This one is $10,000. But you could get I've for less than half that.

[@trekgod3]

You didn't cover the platform you use to sell. Ebay? Etsy? Amazon? Facebook marketplace?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

I sell on Etsy and my website. Also a lot of word of mouth.

[@eddietaylor9765]

How do you target customers?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

I run ads on Etsy and get a lot of word of mouth.

[@TheDwilliams1000]

What laser do you have?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Laguna EX 150 watt CO2.

[@TwoMooseDesign]

Grandmas cookies recipe sells like hot cakes

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

It's free money. Huge untapped market.

[@shmiggz]

What is the recipe?

[@TwoMooseDesign]

@@shmiggz hand written recipes in general. Like family recipes lasered on things

[@shmiggz]

@@TwoMooseDesign yeah, I was just asking for the recipe for Grandma's cookies

[@bintangprakosajati8596]

In indonesia its very hard to sell any of that even in 1/10 of the price, but the machine cost is still same 🙃

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

That's brutal

[@StevenDavisPhoto]

a 40 watt diode can easily cut through material. just gotta go slower. i have a 20w now and just upgraded to a 40w and even my 20w can cut things up to 1/4". but yeah, much slower than a co2.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

You're right for sure. They can. But they aren't the fastest and speed is a factor when trying to make money.

[@StevenDavisPhoto]

@@CoffeyCustomBuilds indeed! If I was doing full time production where speed was more important, I'd fully get a fast co2

[@savemybird]

​@@StevenDavisPhotoactually the diode laser is good for engraving not for cutting, it's really slow

[@StevenDavisPhoto]

@@savemybird true it's slow, but if speed/time isn't an issue, the massive space and cost savings, plus the portability, is awesome. That's why I love mine.

[@jimsandberg2000]

I have a custom project I'd like to talk to you about, how can I reach you?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Https://clienthub.getjobber.com/client_hubs/f4990ef3-770d-4ca5-9c4b-5c70f1b848d6/public/work_request/new?source=social_media

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

That link will get a request in my project management software

[@Rob-ed9en]

What engraving machine do you use?

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Laguna EX 150 watt CO2

[@Rob-ed9en]

@@CoffeyCustomBuilds oh ok cool thank you for your reply! Have a blessed one! Great video! 👍

[@cokimi1301]

6:10 It would have been way faster on a CNC machine though right? Less than a minute

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Yes of course it could. That's a different video. But not everyone can afford both machines.

[@rcamoonpie648]

Good video! I jumped on the wagon and went out and bought a Mira 9 and an Avid CNC thinking I was going to make some money with this Fad! Not! Maybe I’m doing everything wrong but this all sounds good in most cases until you actually start down the rabbit hole of spend,spend,spend! All I’m saying is think long and hard carefully before you jump on the big investment of all this equipment. Hate to sound like Debbie Downer but I guess I just don’t see the potential for this with so many people doing the same thing!

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Yeah you definitely need business acumen and an ability to network and sell your products. Just by making a product it won't sell. There is much more to it.

[@cncwoodcrafofficial]

good

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Thanks!

[@cncwoodcrafofficial]

Good work nice job

[@Benjamin-vx2ot]

50k in what time? 😅🤷‍♂️

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Typically the laser makes 50k/year but it's higher than that now.

[@chrisfalcon9804]

u started with wood I started with precious metals, good night.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

What

[@chrisfalcon9804]

sure lol

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

What

[@niceguydmm]

You don't anymore. Everyone has turned to KZbin and now everyone is buying lasers and the profit is dead! The only reason people make video's like this is for profit and views. That leads to more lasers out there and less work for all. It nice that people can learn but its not so simple. The reason for all these video's is they stopped making money and now using KZbin for earnings.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

100% incorrect 😂😂 I make FAR more money on my business than KZbin.

[@SinisterReality]

My 20w D1 cuts quite well, and it’s pretty quick. Buuuuutttt t t it’s not scalable. Beeeeep boooop beeep alarms… it stops won’t continue on the cut, wastes material and it cost me about 3 grand. 😑🍕 no pizza for me.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

That's very frustrating!

[@flyingmonkeys9774]

You can only make money in the USA with a laser. Not in my country. I have tried for 8 months now. Nada!!!

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

That's a bummer! What country?

[@Vladlabs]

you guys make sure to only share useless info, don't you? lol. Like we all know what lasers can make, especially such obvious things like cutting boards and mugs. What people do not know is how to market and sell those, that is the one main problem in any business. We can make whatever, that's really shouldn't even be discussed in such videos. What should be discussed is how and where this can be sold. Etsy for example is totally dead and overloaded with such stuff for pennies, done by kids living with their parents with no bills. I understand the reasoning behind not wanting to discuss topics that actually matter, but then why do the video in a first place? Your Etsy shop only has 780 sales, which is also nothing. With such money you won't be able to even sustain such business and break even.

[@CoffeyCustomBuilds]

Etsy is trash. I make my money on my laser selling large quantities of tumblers to companies directly, like I said in the video. I also make money on it by labor saving activities, such as quickly making templates. As the owner of a productjon furniture company, this is invaluable. Go take your hot take somewhere else.

[@Vladlabs]

@CoffeyCustomBuilds i went to your website, I bet you make 95% of your money without the laser. You make custom wood furniture, which costs thousands of dollars per piece. And yeah, if you do that directly, why dont you tell it in the video. I personally not in a laser business, but people who come to such video will surely be interested in something useful, given the video title. Or at least dont make it look so easy to them. Selling directly b2b is a hell of a task in 2024 with google ads costing north of $8 per click and all other marketing too.