How My Desktop CNC Made Over $500,000 in 2 Years
My Desktop CNC made over $500,000 in 2 years while I was in college. Ryan goes over what product he made and sold on the CNC router that made him so much money as a CNC beginner. He goes over what strategies and questions he asked to figure out what product he should sell to help pay his way through college.
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Digital File For My Best Selling Product - cicworkshop.com/collections/d...
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My Favorite CNC Router Bit - amzn.to/3fiWnFA
1/4'' Upcut Endmill -
Amazon US: amzn.to/3ajRfMC
1/8'' Downcut Endmill -
Amazon US: amzn.to/2ZeCJzr
V-Bit / Engraving Bit -
Amazon US: amzn.to/379j9Je
1/4'' Ballnose -
Amazon US: amzn.to/2N3Filq
Flycut / Surfacing Bit -
Amazon US: amzn.to/37aEMZy
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when ppl see this. theyll be like "500k in 2years?wow. thats easy!"... but they dont see the effort put down to get there... burnt down. stress. tired. alone. everything. thank you for not leaving that part out of the video.❤
My thoughts exactly
Is there anything easy in preaty much any bussiness? The clints don't care about the struggle behind any product. So i don't see the logic behind your comment..sorry but this is the reality.
I am a beginner to woodwork, the main test I have with this bundle kzhead.infoUgkxTNB_zFBSnTo_O1PqfVUwgi7ityw0JlKt is that I think that its hard to settle on a choice of the plan and outline to use as there are a large portion of them there. Nonetheless, I like the simple stride to step directions laid out there.
About 10 years ago I made nearly $50,000 with my homemade CNC making a jewelry makers kit that I invented, I also got my 15 minutes of fame when I made a few things for the Martha Stewart Living magazine that was featured in their magazine. So I know from experience that it can be done.
Hello, what is a jewelry maker's kit?
@@nicholash8021 it was a kit to make Viking knit jewelry
Hi mate, I am new to all this CNC machine, looking up for ideas with it@@nicholash8021
WHY aren't you doing that today?
in sales and profits are 2 different things, whats the profit on it? can have 500k in sales and 460k in material
My son at 15 has made more then this guy. He now has 12 machines and employs 20 people. But has 92% profits after all landing costs. This cost alot of money to operate this type of business. I own a machine shop. My son learned Cnc from me along with other machines I got in my shop. He isn't putting profits because he is full of it. I've helped my son learn how profits r made and how to build his business. He has free rent and pays no electricity because he is operating out of my old warehouse shop. This kid isn't including those cost and the cost of programs and supplies for operating costs. My son wouldn't make 92% profits if he didn't have my oldshop and that is off my powerbill. This guy is full of it. I bet he is only making 25% off the 500k. My son also uses my machine shop to advertise his business and that's alot of cost he don't have.
Exactly
Just a minor detail, it's not the destination, it's the journey, etc etc lol
He bought a $300,000 CNC machine..... how do you think his profits are? 📈
@@jonteesdale18 wut it's like 12K
My story is practically indential - but I started out by personalised engraving right from the get-go, Around 8 years ago, I determined that a single order for £10,000 is a lot better than 1000 orders for £10, so I moved in to engraving items for industrial customers. Today, my company has over 2000 corporate customers in 22 countries around the world - including many of the world's best-known companies. From starting on my kitchen table 12 years ago with a tiny Roland engraving machine doing 10 pet tags a day, to producing over 100,000 engraved industrial items annually - the secret is not about "how to engrave"... Regardless of what you do, operating and thinking in a business-like manner is what counts. You did this, and that's why you've succeeded.
Cool story, bro, and I'm not being sarcastic. Very motivating.
What do you engrave for industrial customers? I agree that having 1000 orders for 10 is crazy!
@@garrettp.5018 If you think about it, practically every organisation (not just companies) need engraved tags, plaques, ID plates at some point. I supply organisations in every sector - from advertising agencies to zoos (and every letter in the alphabet between). Over the years I have a (commercial) customer base of over 2000 organisations - many of whom order on a regular basis - and these extend to over 20 countries worldwide. We have made tags and plates for nuclear power stations in Japan, to oil rigs on the Caspian Sea, to specialist aerospace companies, pharmaceutical companies, furniture manufaturers, car companies - even the British Royal Household (we supplied branded luggage tags for Buckingham Palace, and precision brass door numbers for Windsor Castle)... and the list is practically endless... It is vital however, that you know what materials are best suited for the intended use. We generally offer advice to customers before we produce goods, and in 90% of cases, send free samples so they can see what we offer. When a large company trusts you, they order time and time again. SOme of our (very large) customers place big orders 5 - 6 times a year. Focus on finding the best, most worthwhile customers - and treat them like kings. Never compromise on quality, and be prepared to answer the phone at any time of the day or night. See a handful of our clients here: tagmakers.co.uk/industrial-and-commercial
Thanks a lot for sharing! it really does help CNC startup like me. Ryan story and yours have different type of customers, both are extremely helpful, its like 2 very good options and mindset for me to try. If there are more advice you would give, I would love to hear it! Again, appreciate it!
@@thanhnhanhuynhnguyen3652 Like any business, a good strategy s very important. Today, a business has to be online, and if you are selling to the public and/or to industry, your website must be easy and logical to use, and very easy for customers to place an order, or make an enquiry. The website must also look and behave very professionally - a bad website tells customers you're probably a bad business-person too. But even running an online business, the "rules" of business still remain. Good financial management is important. Know your products supremely well - and remember - people will buy from you if you meet a need, or solve a problem - and what you sell adds value to your customers and THEIR business. I get a lot of phone calls and emails from companies who need tags and ID plates for a specific purpose. I do my best to advise them and in many cases send free samples so they can try them out before they decide on which is best for their needs. I keep contact with them, both to get feedback as well as to offer advice. I NEVER try to force a sale... NEVER! On average, when we send out samples, about 8 out of 10 enquiries result in orders. On many occasions, we work through the night to meet urgent deadlines - especially for large orders. Look after GOOD customers, and get rid of bad ones. Bad customers COST you more than they are worth... I am quite happy for such customers to take their business to my competitors. When a perron calls and starts the conversation asking about discounts, I immediately say I do not offer discounts, but am happy to listen to what they need. Sometimes they keep raising the issue of discounts and "cheap" prices, and then I politely end the call. I do not sell "cheap". My prices reflect value - value that the customer will derive, and which will benefit their business. Rather have my competitors have problems and incur losses... I only want GOOD customers who add value to my business. Avoid people who try hard to get you to lower prices - tell them to shop on eBay... In this way, you win the CUSTOMER - not the SALE. Never try to force a sale - most people don't like it. If you serve a customer well, and prove that what you are offering helps them solve a problem, or meet a critical need, not only will they place the order, they will TRUST you and come back time and time again. I have several hundred company customers who started ordering when I opened my business, and who come back regularly... Some place orders EVERY DAY (including weekends). I have six very large and important customers who place such daily orders - and every morning we engrave their tags and post them - even on Christmas Day! We get the engraving data emailed to us by 8 in the morning - and by lunch time we have engraved up to 2000 tags, which are then posted that afternoon. My customers can telephone any time of the day or night. If I am near the phone I will answer it - even at 3 in the morning. Find and keep good, valuable customers - there are many customers you don't want... Making a SALE is not the same as making a PROFIT. In a lot of cases, you can make better PROFITS by not making a sale! Business is not about "selling"... it is about providing value to other companies, and making a good profit yourself.
Wow, man, this is truly motivating! You did a great job and thank you for sharing this!
You're an inspiration man. Great job!
Fantastic, am working in a company that make furniture and am operating a CNC router, sometimes I just ask my self questions like where can I get money to purchase a small CNC router to do my projects and eventually earn extra income, and how can I start so that I end up quitting my job and focusing on my business, so you inspired me a lot.
Thank you man! You are truly an inspiration to me. I have just started my CNC furniture company last year here in Amsterdam and it is sometimes hard to find people with the same enthusiasm for woodwork. Grateful that there are people like you on the internet sharing so much on how they started their business. Cheers
Ik woon vlakbij Amsterdam en ik hou van CNC. Jammer dat je mensen op straat niet herkend als CNC houtbewerk liefhebbers. Misschien moet ik een.. I love CNC.. t-shirt gaan dragen 😊 Ik deel je passie en moeite om andere te vinden.
Mijn werkplaats zit in de NDSM werf nummertje 23, mocht je een keer in de buurt zijn klop dan zeker even op de deur. Gezellig over cnc´s praten met een bakkie koffie
Hows the company going man?
🙏🙏
Hello, I am an Egyptian designer and professional operator on this project. I want to work. Can you help me?
Brilliant stuff, well done and great to hear about your journey and success. Not many people would share their money making processes with people either so it is refreshing to hear you explain this to everyone. Like many business owners you seem to have gone through the long hours and difficult times to come out the other end, well done.
Exactly
Did not make sense to go to college in those conditions. Pure waste of time.
Great job Ryan! Love what y'all are doing down the road. Wish we would've started sooner and could be already having a freindly competition amongst each other. We'll get there though. I think another big point which you somewhat touched on is being one of the first to offer a design/service that people want to buy. You will have sales from other offerings, but the unique ones are going to more than likely catapult you ahead of the competition faster
This is inspiring, Ryan. Thank you!
Its inspiring to see what you've done with our IQ Desktop CNC Ryan 👏🏼.
April Wilkerson seems to like your machines too.
Words are cheap. Why not show your gratitude by giving him a complimentary upgrade to your newest machine? I literally would not have even known you make CNC machines if not for this video.
@@alphaforce6998good call
stop using cheap round rails, its embarrassing
@@alphaforce6998 Why would they do that when now they can charge more for the free advertising? 😆
Thank you for the great walkthrough of your thought process.
Just found a CNC machine tonight and used Google to find this video. All I can say is WOW! Because my mind had just started reverse engineering the very same info you are sharing. I am motivated even more now! Thanks Bro!!
Hello, I am an Egyptian designer and professional operator on this project. I want to work. Can you help me?
Thank you very much Ryan, very inspirational!
Incredible man!!! Most people go their whole lives without figuring out what you did!!! Congrats..:)
What a great video, mindset and approach is everything I sure appreciate your willingness to share
Sweet, did you create all the graphics for the cutting boards?
I love hearing stories like this from young innovative people. 'Upscaling' is the key to business success.
Not always. Knowing when to stay small and agile is important too
Good for you dude,,working hard and paying your way👍🏻
This video got me into CNC. Can't wait to see where it goes!
Great video, have watched a few of your videos now, really inspired 🙌.
Thank You so much! I love what you have done and have done. I love your wide perspective on your business. You have a great attitude about your work and your life! I'm so glad My Friend introduced me to your videos. Thank You for sharing your knowledge and experience with those of us who so much appreciate what you are doing. Many happy positive thoughts are going your way today. KCP
Thank you so much, I really appreciate you and your friend. What else would you like to see from me? We have big plans for the future on the channel and on the business.
wow - fantastic - not into CNC but love entrepreneurship and you certainly hit the mark !!
Wow man. Well done!
You’re an impressive man congratulations on your achievements
Amazing! Thank you very much for sharing this!
really inspiring, thanks, dude.
I'm starting my journey here in Brazil in this way (but a bit latter on my life), your story is very inspiring!!! Thanks for sharing with us!
Hermano te deseo éxito !! Dime cómo te está yendo ! Yo también estoy empezando ! Saludos desde puerto rico !
Well done young man, awesome job and you are on your way! 👍🏻💥👏🏻
A lot more to come I hope!
There's quite a bit to learn here, but I think you glossed over some important points: 1. The first person to market has a MASSIVE advantage. The real MVP of this story is market timing. An interesting topic for the future would be your product iteration and thought process on the way to coming up with the docking station. 2. A good business needs a high barrier of entry. The idea of a docking station is easy to replicate and rip off. It's why, even though you made a fair amount of money due to your first mover advantage, you don't (I'm guessing) have an international business that is the industry leader in docking stations. 3. People are blind to their own advantages. You're overlooking the HUGE advantage of having a low / free rent area to work in. Having an easily accessible space to run that machine is MASSIVE. Most people don't have that. I'm not saying everyone should have access to a barn. I'm saying we're blind to the things we each have going for us. Nobody is truly self made. Everyone on this planet has unique advantages that they're likely overlooking. The way it came across in the video, it feels like you're seriously undervaluing your parent's horse barn. ;) That being said. Good job man. Seriously. You busted your ass and probably graduated college debt free. As someone who did something similar I understand how hard that is and have mad respect. :)
👍👍👍
You don't have to be an international conglomerate to make a little cash and plenty of people can find the space if they just rely on parents, friends, and nice people. You would just have to cover electric cost if you drive up the bill.
"No billionaire is self-made, and you can't bake an apple pie without first inventing the universe." Those are thought-provoking ideas, but not something we need to slap onto every conversation. Some people do exceedingly well compared to their peers: they're self-made. -> I bought apples, sugar, and flour yesterday and made an apple pie: it was homemade.
@@velvetypotato711 electric cost is one thing but to have ENOUGH of it is another thing i don't know how much it needs for a laguna router but he is not running this at 110 v i guarantee you that so power upgrade basically combined with his rent or owning a shop at a barn lost of overheads
commie-talk, plain and simple excuse making.
i love it dude, congrats =)
Thanks!!!! I thought about it but did not give it that much importance until now.
That's it. That's what I'm doing. I was going to get a plasma table and an engraver but im going to get a cnc machine instead 😊 you so much man, thank you thank you thank you!!!
Man, well done! This is inspirational stuff! I've got a unique CNC at home I'm hoping to dial in a simple product for. It's amazing just how much money you made working with such a small-scale CNC. This really makes me want to have at it again and give Etsy a try. Thanks again!
I just start in cnc, thanks for sharing your story
Excellent video Ryan and good idea!!
$500,000 thats more than I will male in my entire life working for a company and you made it as a student wow! thanks for sharing your actual products and ideas most people talk about attitude but never show what they actual make!
I love that I’m watching this while my phone is charging on something you probably made! My wife bought me a personalized dock back in 2017 😍
Great vid and great determination 👌🏽
The entire key is that he was first to market with a nice product. All credit to him though , super impressive
You definitely got into Etsy at the right time there's no way starting in 2023 that you would even come close to that. Great video though and great work and I'm proud of you man for doing it figured it out..
Lol people have been saying that every year since etsy has been out. Just need the right product, etsy is bigger than its ever been and people make millions still, even with new products.
Yah. These days etsy is a lost cause there are way to many sellers that price so low to drown competitors its crazy
The hustle is with you strong.
Man, it's great to have a passion for something that makes you killer money and really activates the creative parts of your brain. Pretty sweet gig. Having parents with a horse barn helps, I'm sure, lol! Cheers!
I run the same Onsrud at work, just bigger tables, 72"x 96". No complaints. Very user friendly.
This is awesome! I would have geeked out and bought like 5 CNC machines during the process lol
your thinking is what made you the money, you asked the right questions for example asking how instead of why.
Congrats!
I will say the realization that charging by the job not the hour is the real trick to owning a quality business. It's the mind shift that is needed...
Thanks for this. As, I’m shifting now from personal items for locals to thinking bigger. Thanks for the confirmation.
This is insane. Huge respect ! I have metalworking cncs for my own projects, did some hustle here and there for some other fellow aircraft builders but never figured out the product I wanted to spend the time working and with enough sales potential. My best success so far was dashboards, but the time spent drawing kills it for me, until I can figure out a way to semi-automate that process with a good website.
Thanks for the support!
Curious how you are designing the dashboards. Are you drawing custom dashboards for each customer, or are you reusing shapes or modules, but just placing them differently? Do you have a link to your work?
Thanks, it is very good example how it can be scaled.
you're one of the few creators who got me into CNC. I made the mistake and went big too early. I bought he xcarve pro 4x4 as my first CNC at the start of this year. I got frustrated with easel, nobody has bought anything, and now I'm at the point of closing the doors, and selling my CNC. I've had a couple of problems with it, that I regret buying it. Watching this video has sparked interest again to go back and apply what you taught. Maybe this time around I can make something happen :( the CNC's been sitting in the garage since I gave up months ago. haven't made a single dime off of it...
Baby steps. Sometimes you need to burn yourself out developing the product before you bring CNC into the equation. I started making pens last year and I'm already clocking five digit sales totals and just now considering CNC now that I have products and a customer base.
Maybe this will help you , but everytime when you need that one last impossible push that you fell you want to give up , just try one more time and it will come to you. Just when you loose hope, then it reveals , or you ignore it and go downward even more ...
Thats pretty sad. Its easy to sell things made by cnc. Even simple things.
@@bsr8129 you can’t even list some ideas. Just say “simple things” 😂
@@DaBuick didnt know I had to. Well.lets see, catch all.trays, flags, sport teams flags, signs, only about 100 different designs of those you can do, shall I go on?
Question - I have done a lot of research on small cnc machine and I keep going back to purchase the Laguna Creator Pro to build guitars. My biggest concern is how easy is it to learn the software to run the cnc? This will be my first purchase of a cnc machine and I believe I should stay away from those very affordable small desktop cnc (like fox alien) and just buy a Laguna. Can you help with software advice. Thanks and keep sharing your videos on cnc.
Very informative. If you want to cut, what depth does it cut? Which materials ?
You’re a true inspiration bud! Thanks for the video. I’m super handy and can recreate anything I see. My shortfall is creativity.
Very very helpful and great advices for everyone using cnc great job man
Good job bro, well done!
I liked the insights coming from the inside of your brain process and experience. Just amazing!
So basically, we need to come up with a good idea that people are willing to buy. Got it. Glad you have been successful in your passion!
🤔
Actually no, you don't have to come up with anything. You can just copy anybody else's (unprotected) product and sell that, it's all marketing. And people buy almost anything, walk into any Michael's store and look around. What is the utility of raffia or hollyhock balls or a "Home Sweet Home" sign? The real question is, are you gonna be HAPPY producing totally unoriginal crap all day just to pay your rent or mortgage?
@@mytuberforyouman just to pay the mortgage? If I was making what I needed to pay the mortgage on a side hustle, heck yes. Sign me up. Give me your ideas, I’ll use them. 😂
Love to see another successful hard working aggie. I'm headed to college station tomorrow for my son's graduation from T A&M.
You learned more out of college than in. Great video
Most of these kinds of videos are just clickbaity scam, but you actually answered what was in the title, so thanks for that.
Bro, Love your Video and entrepeneurship! From Portugal.
Hello Ryan. Thanks for every movie what you make, it’s a hudge inspiration☺️ May I ask You something. What was the point when you start thinking „I can't handle it alone, I need few person to work, I need make a Team?” Thx
It clicked when my goals and my current path did not align. I knew I either had to change my goals or change how I was doing things. I chose to change how I was doing things instead of changing my goals.
you are a great entrepreneur and a great credit to your mum and dad!
Thank you so much!
Motivation Brother !!!!
One lesson I learnt - the mistake is the come up with what we think is a brilliant idea so good that everyone will see that they have to have one. The sensible way is to find what they want/need. To do that you have to do your research, ask questions, be very observant. Also, realise that you not in the business of selling widgets, you are here to help solve a problem for someone.
Brilliant video. Very informative and inspiring. Well done!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Congratulations on your success
Great video i enjoyed it a lot
What CNC machine did you use? Where is it available?
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Very well done, … good job
Oh my GOSH! This is such a great video! What an awesome young man! This is very encouraging for my grand boys!! Thank you🇺🇸 11:23
very happy for you big dog that was the smartest loan ever!
A persons name and reputation is irreplaceable! 😎🇺🇸. Well done young man.
Where do I buy your docking station?
What can I study to learn or be a CNC operator. Is there a vocational where? or Collage for it? Tech trend School? I am not interested in making money but learn in pace site the first years.
so i’m looking to get one of these. is there a laser cutting/ engraving option?
Personalized is the Key! You can compete with anybody if you can personalize products.
Hola, donde se puede recibir adiestramiento para poder conocer la programación y el uso de la máquina y el software para este tipo de maquinas. Muchas gracias.
May be a duplicate comment. Any way you might share the tool path for box joints or dovetail on the cnc
I like stories like this!..Congrats to you brother
I appreciate it!
Great story. Thanks. Best :D
Thanks a lot man
Well done!
Hello Ryan. Now I live in another country far from my workshop. Now I have no woodworking machines. But I have a large cnc router 1300x2500mm. I also have a laser machine 1000x1600mm. There is good plywood in this city. I made a children's chair with various height adjustments. I have sold 3 of the 4 chairs I have made. I like it but I still want to go home and do woodworking in my workshop. There is no good plywood in my city, but I have large remnants of oak and beech. Do you think I can compete with those sellers from other cities? Or do you need to create some kind of unique product? A big problem for me is online shopping. They cut prices way too much.
You are a smart man.
This is great. I recommend a communications class.
Sounds like an awesome deal man! Great machine as well! I’ve been doing it a little while as a hobby. Cnc machinist daily at work but those machines are much bigger and a lot more complexed. One question I do have, the market seems so saturated at this point in 2022? Still not sacrifice cutting your time cost short??
Same question here. Is personalization still unique today? I'm not sure the ship has sailed on CNC but more creativity is needed.
I just feel that people go about this backwards...they buy a machine because they think it is cool, than try to find a product to utilize it...people need to find a product and if you need a CNC to produce it, then pull the trigger...
@@tstanley01 I didn’t buy one because I thought it was “cool”. I built one to allow me to program at home and design sketches, model, and build something. Advances me in my machining ( Cnc machinist lead at work) however that’s milling Steel and have no access to master cam and such. As for the products, more less I would like to make some money back on the build. If I don’t, oh well no biggy I’m furthering my education
What is a good idea to market to sell for someone who would want to break into this industry? What would one start selling ?
@@MrAngel2U 3d puzzles, wooden legos, pens, small wall shelf kits, modular beehives, and there’s a cool way to cut wood into rings and glue them into a bowl shape then finish them smooth all using a cnc
Your video really made me want to give this a try making some custom wood items, but when I looked up the price of that Laguna IQ CNC next to you ($14,000) I'll have to wait a while on that.
Start small... MPCNC. Definitely not the best money can buy, but you can have it running for under $600-$700. If you have a computer already that is. ;-)
A 3018 is the cheapest way to learn.
That's impressive 👏
What brings u more money your cnc or your degrees?
How he made 500k = Be first, with a popular product, get lucky. It is not the CNC that made you 500k. The CNC gave you an opportunity but the rest was skills you had and luck.
exactly. "here is how i made $500k in 2 years...from 2016-2017 before the Etsy ecosystem was flooded"
New ideas are waiting to be born all the time. He is telling you what his thought process was and what need in customers he targeted. It's up to you to learn from his story and create your own success.
The title says "how I made..." it doesn't say, "I'm going to make you $500k"
@@eddiemartinez9492 Exactly 💯
Gracias por compartir tu historia
Does the program and the instructions come with the machine or is it sold separately?
There's the machine controller and then there's the CAM software you use to create the tool paths. Usually a machine will come with the machine controller and they'll usually throw you some kind of CAM stuff. One thing you need to be aware of with CNC is the difference between 2.5D and true 3D though. Engraving is only 2.5D Cutting panels out is also just 2.5D. There's no contours. It's not like a relief carving. Doing true 3D can be complicated. 2.5D is trivial to do. It's basically just like plotting.
thanks for sharing.
im looking for a metal cnc or lazer engraver to cut silver and gold plates/ sheets to make jewelry like crosses and a 100 other flat designs.. any suggestions.. thanks doc johnny.. italy