Overview
3D printing is sold by the build hour, and the material choice is the line that decides the strength of the part
3D printing services produce prototypes, replacement parts, custom jigs, model figurines, architectural models, and the long tail of one-off or short-run plastic and metal parts that traditional manufacturing can't make economically at low volume. The customer (a product designer prototyping a new device, a homeowner who broke a part on an obsolete appliance, an architect needing a presentation model, a small manufacturer with a fixture or jig requirement) is paying for the print time plus the material plus the post-processing. The technology choice (FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF, metal printing) drives the price and the part properties. A flat '3D print, $40' quote without naming the technology, the material, and the print time misses what the customer's part actually needs.
QuoteGenio gives 3D printing services a quoting shape built for parts-driven work. CAD file review and printability check as the first line, technology recommendation (FDM for cheap functional parts, SLA for visual prototypes, SLS for strong nylon parts, MJF for production-quality batches, metal for engineering parts), material by spec with the strength and finish noted, print time at the per-hour rate, post-processing (cleanup, sanding, painting, dyeing), and a minimum order fee for small jobs. Send via WhatsApp or email to the customer with a print preview, take a deposit on the materials order, and the final invoice closes with the part delivered, photographed, and a CAD file archived for re-orders.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every kind of 3D printing business, from solo FDM print farms to small-batch production bureaus.
The problem
The quoting headaches every 3D printing service knows
3D printing is priced on a mix of material, machine time, and post-processing. Without a clean structured quote, customers comparing on price alone miss what they are actually buying.
Customers price by the gram
A '$ 0.20 per gram' verbal misses the machine time, the bed prep, the support removal, and the post-processing. Without itemising, you absorb hours of work in a per-gram rate.
Hand-written quotes look hobby-grade
Industrial customers buying small-batch prototypes expect a structured quote. A WhatsApp 'about $ 80' loses the order to a bureau with proper paperwork.
Failed prints absorbed
FDM and resin failures are real. Without a contingency on the quote, a 4-hour failed print is unbilled time, and the customer expects another print at the original price.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A clean workflow for the print bureau. Quote material, machine time, post-processing, and design separately. Send via WhatsApp, get acceptance, and convert to invoices on delivery.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for print bureaus
Line items for material per gram, machine time per hour, support removal, post-processing (sanding, painting), and design. Reuse templates for FDM, resin, SLS.
Works from the studio
Quote a customer between print jobs. Send a small-batch proposal from beside the printer. No desktop required.
Quote in under 5 minutes
Build templates for typical jobs (small FDM prototype, resin miniature, small-batch part). Each new file is a few tweaks away from sent.
Track jobs and finals
See which prints are out for collection and which finals are still unpaid. Follow up on uncollected jobs before the next print queue fills.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how 3d printing services actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why 3D Printing Services choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most 3D Printing Services build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical 3D Printing Services job pricing
A rough guide to what 3D print bureaus charge for common work. Pricing varies by technology (FDM, resin, SLS), material grade (PLA vs engineering, standard vs castable resin), part complexity, and run length. Specialist materials and small-batch production sit at the top of these ranges.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| FDM print (PLA, per gram) | $ 0.12 - $ 0.32 / g |
| Resin / SLA print (per gram) | $ 0.45 - $ 1.20 / g |
| SLS / industrial print (per part) | $ 8 - $ 240 / part |
| Machine time (per hour, FDM) | $ 5 - $ 18 / hour |
| Machine time (per hour, resin) | $ 12 - $ 38 / hour |
| Post-processing (support removal, basic sanding) | $ 18 - $ 65 / hour |
| CAD design / repair time | $ 38 - $ 145 / hour |
Pricing shown in USD as a rough benchmark. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Failed prints are real and expected. Build a 5 to 10 percent contingency into bulk-order quotes for re-prints on FDM and resin. State this clearly on the quote so the customer knows the small order may take a re-print, while you cover the material and time. On industrial / SLS jobs, no-fail orders carry a higher price band because a failure means rerunning the entire build chamber.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use per-gram pricing for material and per-hour for machine time. This is the bureau standard and the customer expects it. Use fixed pricing for known jobs (standard prototype, small-batch known part). Use hourly pricing for design / CAD repair work where the time is uncertain. State all three on the quote so the customer sees the structure.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's what a clean 3D printing quote looks like. Material per gram, machine time per hour, post-processing labour, design review, and a re-print contingency each visible on the proposal. Customers comparing on price alone see the actual work involved.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
FDM prototype run, 5 parts, PLA, post-processed
Material (PLA, 480g across 5 parts)
Machine time (12 hours print + 1 hour bed prep)
Support removal and edge cleanup
Light sanding and post-processing
CAD review and slicing setup
Re-print contingency (10% allowance)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material (PLA, 480g across 5 parts) | 480 | $ 0.18 / g | $ 86.40 |
| Machine time (12 hours print + 1 hour bed prep) | 13 | $ 8.00 / hr | $ 104 |
| Support removal and edge cleanup | 2 | $ 35.00 / hr | $ 70.00 |
| Light sanding and post-processing | 2.5 | $ 35.00 / hr | $ 87.50 |
| CAD review and slicing setup | 0.5 | $ 75.00 / hr | $ 37.50 |
| Re-print contingency (10% allowance) | 1 | $ 38.55 | $ 38.55 |
| Subtotal | $ 424 | ||
| Tax (10%) | $ 42.40 | ||
| Total incl. tax | $ 466 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Re-print contingency on bulk orders, post-processing time (sanding, smoothing, painting), CAD review or repair on broken STLs, courier or delivery, specialty materials at premium pricing, and rush surcharges. Add these as standard lines so they stop being absorbed into the per-gram rate.
Peer snapshot
How 3D Printing Services actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for 3D Printing Services on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
26
Quotes sent per month
48%
Average quote acceptance
4 min
Median time to send quote
$ 466
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting 3D Printing Service jobs like this, free
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Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of 3D print bureaus. The same per-gram, post-processing, and contingency mistakes come up daily. Fix these and your bureau rate will actually pay margin instead of subsidising failed prints.
Mistake: Pricing on grams alone
Better: Quote material per gram, machine time per hour, and post-processing as separate lines. The customer sees the full cost and stops comparing your $ 80 quote to a $ 35 quote that is missing the post-processing.
Mistake: No design review charge
Better: If the customer's STL needs repair (non-manifold, holes, wall thickness), charge for CAD time as a separate line. Without it, you absorb 30-60 minutes of repair work on every problematic file.
Mistake: Bundling support removal into per-gram
Better: List support removal and post-processing as their own labour lines. Resin support removal is real time, especially on miniatures and complex geometry.
Mistake: No re-print contingency on bulk
Better: Add 5 to 10 percent contingency on multi-part orders for FDM and resin. The customer accepts the small markup and you cover yourself on prints that fail.
Mistake: Verbal rush requests
Better: State the rush surcharge on the quote (typically +25% to +50% for next-business-day, +50% to +100% for same-day). The customer accepts in writing.
Mistake: No deposit on bulk
Better: Take 50 percent deposit on orders over $ 500. Material is bought to print, and on resin / SLS the consumables are committed at the start of the job.
Mistake: No expiry on the quote
Better: Set a 14 to 30 day validity. Material pricing and machine availability move; an old quote can bind you to outdated rates and a full print queue.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote 3D printing services
Always slice and analyse the file first. Before quoting, drop the customer's STL into your slicer and run a real estimate. Note the material weight, the print time, the support volume, and any geometric issues that need CAD repair. Quote based on the slicer estimate plus your studio rate, not on a per-gram guess from a screenshot. The 15 minutes of slicing saves a margin disaster on a complex resin or SLS file.
Itemise material, machine time, and post-processing separately. List material in grams at your per-gram rate, machine time in hours at your per-hour rate, post-processing labour separately, and any CAD design work at your hourly rate. State the technology (FDM PLA, resin standard, SLS PA12) on the description line so the customer knows what they are buying. Add a 5 to 10 percent re-print contingency on multi-part orders.
Take a deposit on bulk orders. Material is committed when the print starts, and resin / SLS consumables are non-refundable. Take 50 percent deposit on orders over $ 500 to cover the material. State the deposit clearly on the quote so the customer agrees in writing. Smaller orders (under $ 200) can usually be invoiced on collection or delivery.
Send via WhatsApp and follow up. Print bureau customers are typically choosing between two or three studios on price and turnaround. The first clean quote with a stated turnaround usually wins. Share via WhatsApp link, follow up after 24 hours, and once accepted, invoice the deposit and start the print queue. Set a 14 to 30 day validity to protect against material and machine-time price moves.
FAQ
Common questions from 3D printing services
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Both. Quote material per gram and machine time per hour as separate lines. The customer sees the full cost, and you cover both the material and the time the printer is occupied with their job.
Yes. Once your quote is ready, share the public link via WhatsApp. The customer opens a branded PDF on their phone, accepts online, and you have a time-stamped acceptance on file.
Add a 5 to 10 percent re-print contingency on multi-part orders for FDM and resin. State this clearly on the quote so the customer accepts the small markup. On industrial / SLS where a failure means rerunning the whole build, quote no-fail jobs at a higher band.
Yes. If the customer's file needs repair (non-manifold, holes, wall thickness, scaling), charge CAD time as its own line at your hourly rate. Without it, you absorb 30 to 60 minutes of repair work on problematic files.
Yes. Support removal, sanding, painting, and finishing are real labour. List them as their own line items at your hourly rate. Customers comparing on per-gram alone see the actual work involved.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes during busy seasons.
List the material on the description line (PLA, PETG, ABS, standard resin, tough resin, castable, SLS PA12). Different materials have different per-gram rates and different print speeds. Customers value seeing the material spec.
Yes. State the rush surcharge percentage on the quote (typically +25% to +50% for next-business-day, +50% to +100% for same-day). The customer accepts the surcharge in writing or accepts the standard turnaround.
If you are tax registered, yes. Show tax as its own line on the quote so the customer sees the full price before they accept.
14 to 30 days. Material and machine pricing moves, and an old quote can bind you to outdated rates. State the validity on the quote.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
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Guides
Guides for 3D Printing Services
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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