Guides

Frameworks for the decisions that don't have obvious answers. Numbers in examples are hypothetical and kept that way deliberately -- the math is the point, not the figures.

• How to calculate your true cost per SKU

  Most shops undercount. This guide walks through every cost input that belongs in a per-unit calculation, including the ones that don't show up in material cost.
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• How to compare software costs when every vendor prices differently

  Per-printer, flat monthly, one-time, freemium -- a framework for converting any pricing model into a number you can actually compare.
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• How to hire your first employee for a 3D print shop

  When the hire makes financial sense, what role to fill first, and what the real cost of an employee looks like beyond the hourly rate.
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• Should you hire or buy another printer?

  Two ways to add capacity with very different risk profiles, payback periods, and operational implications. A framework for making the call.
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