Based in large part on our experience here at DIY Drones, I've written "Ten Rules For Maker Businesses", which has been serialized on the Ponoko blog this week in the lead up to their announcement of adding 3D printing to their service. Here they are (click on each for the full text of each one):
#1 Make a profit.
#2 It takes lots of cash to stay in stock.
#3 Buy smart.
#4 Basic business rules still apply.
#5 You get no leeway for being a maker.
#6 Be as open as you can.
#7 Create a community to support and enhance your products.
#8 Design for manufacturability.
#9 Marketing is your job.
#10 Your second most important relationship is with your package carrier.
#2 It takes lots of cash to stay in stock.
#3 Buy smart.
#4 Basic business rules still apply.
#5 You get no leeway for being a maker.
#6 Be as open as you can.
#7 Create a community to support and enhance your products.
#8 Design for manufacturability.
#9 Marketing is your job.
#10 Your second most important relationship is with your package carrier.
Comments
Always the roadblock of our entrepreneurial dreams. Unless you've got a huge amount of someone else's money to invest, you're not going to do better than a savings account or a day job.
"#1 Make a profit."
Maker businesses remind us of VA Linux, Linuxcare, Loki when they were private. Huge sales, open source everything ... except the balance sheet. The makers we've seen in the last 15 years have either not charged 2.3x or charged way beyond the cost of buying the next best thing from Walmart. They always said it was publicity for their next product which would then make money.
"#5 You get no leeway for being a maker."
Users have always expected the same support as a commercial product for free.
Good article, you are so right!