Starting the manufacturing process can be an exciting time. But it’s also full of potential pitfalls. It’s important to take this step cautiously or you could end up wasting your investor’s money. This guide is aimed at ensuring that doesn’t happen. Here are eight tips for starting manufacturing as a start-up.
Set up a mutually beneficial partnership
One of the biggest problems you will face, when starting the manufacturing process, is finding a manufacturer. Chances are, you are going to start out on really small numbers, which means that the manufacturer isn’t going to be that interested. They won’t make a huge amount of profit until you start manufacturing in larger quantities. To combat this, you should focus on creating a mutually beneficial partnership. Try to understand the manufacturer’s business model and learn how to speak their language. One way to do this is to show them your projected sales figures and present them with projected manufacturing quantities. This will allow them to see how much money they will be making further down the line. Alternatively, see if you can help them out with a certain aspect of their business.
Check references
When you choose a manufacturer, you should check their references. If they aren’t willing to provide you with any, take this as a warning sign. However, it’s possible to do your due diligence by checking out their social media pages and talking to previous clients. You want to ensure that the manufacturer has a solid reputation in the industry.
Take your time
The early stages of a start-up can be immensely exciting. But it’s important to take baby steps and keep risk to a minimum. If you move too quickly, you could end up picking the wrong manufacturer and setting your project back months. Instead, you should get a high-quality prototype made, get multiple quotes for comparison, and consult your team before making a final decision.
Research
Research is an essential step when selecting the right manufacturer. Before you start asking for quotes and signing contracts, you need to know everything about the process. You should understand the true cost of manufacturing, research the necessary manufacturing equipment, and attend trade fairs to connect with potential manufacturers. When it comes to researching manufacturing equipment, Kerfdevelopments.com is a good place to start.
Have multiple partnerships
You don’t have to choose just one manufacturer. If you are smart about it, it’s possible to have multiple open partnerships with manufacturers, allowing you to reduce the risk and negotiate the best price. However, it’s worth understanding that this method will require a greater initial cost as you will have to pay for multiple vendors to have the tools made for your product.
Sort the legal details
When you start manufacturing your own products, you need to consider the legal details before you start selling. Some products will have to meet industry standards and achieve certifications before they can legally be sold. This is something that you will need to research before the manufacturing process.
Know the people you work with
Many businesses focus on customer relationships far more than vendor relationships. When it comes to manufacturing, this can be a costly mistake. It’s really important to know the people you work with. This will allow for an open and honest dialogue and mitigate some of the risks associated with manufacturing. Fostering great vendor relationships is essential to long-term success.
Consider in-house manufacturing
Most startups don’t have the required capital to manufacture products in-house.
However, if you factor this into your investment pitch, it could mean bigger profit margins down the line. To ensure that you fully understand the manufacturing process, it could be beneficial to hire a manufacturing consultant to help you out.
