How to Make Money with a Galvo Laser: 7 Profitable Business Ideas 2026

Alex Thompson
2026-03-21T23:51:41-04:00

Introduction

If you own a galvo laser or are thinking about buying one, you are probably wondering: Can I actually make money with a galvo laser in 2026? The short answer is yes—galvo lasers open up incredible profit opportunities that traditional diode lasers just cannot match. Their speed, precision, and ability to handle high-volume work make them perfect for building a profitable laser business.

In this guide, we will break down 7 proven profitable business ideas you can start today with a galvo laser. Whether you are looking for a full-time income or a side hustle, there is something here for you.

Why Galvo Lasers Are Perfect for Making Money

Before we jump into the business ideas, let"s talk about why galvo lasers are so profitable compared to regular diode lasers:

Much faster speed: Galvo lasers can complete jobs in minutes instead of hours

Higher precision: Perfect for fine detail work like jewelry, personalized gifts, and electronics

Better for mass production: Can handle bulk orders efficiently

Can work on more materials: Metal, plastic, glass, wood, leather, and more

Premium pricing possible: Higher quality work allows you to charge more

All these factors mean you can make more money per hour with a galvo laser than with a traditional diode laser. If you get the right machine like the Tyvok P2 10W Galvo, you can be up and running in hours.

1. Custom Personalization of Consumer Products

Personalization is one of the most popular and easiest ways to start making money with a galvo laser. People will pay a premium to have their name, logo, or special message engraved on everyday items.

Popular products for personalization:

Water bottles and tumblers

Phone cases

Wedding gifts and favors

Pet ID tags and collars

Anniversary gifts

Gift boxes and packaging

Profit potential: $50-$200 per day starting out, more as you build repeat customers.

Why galvo works here: Speed means you can handle large wedding orders (50+ favors) quickly and still make a good margin.

2. Jewelry Engraving

Jewelry engraving is a high-margin business that always has demand. People engrave rings, necklaces, bracelets, and pendants with special dates, names, or messages.

Key advantages:

High margins (often 70-80% profit)

Small material cost

Constant demand (weddings, anniversaries, holidays)

A galvo laser is perfect for jewelry because it can do extremely fine details that customers love. If you partner with local jewelry stores, you can get steady workflow.

Profit potential: $20-$100 per piece, depends on the job.

3. Custom Leather Work

Leather engraving with a galvo laser produces amazing results. You can create custom wallets, belts, keychains, bags, and leather accessories.

Best selling items:

Personalized leather wallets

Custom belts with monograms

Leather keychains with logos

Handbags with custom designs

Leather coasters with engravings

Galvo lasers allow you to engrave complex designs on leather quickly, so you can charge premium prices for custom work.

Profit potential: $15-$50 profit per item.

Check out our guide: 15 Profitable Leather Engraving Ideas That Actually Sell on Etsy in 2026 for more ideas.

4. Woodworking and Wooden Gifts

Galvo lasers excel at cutting and engraving wood. You can create beautiful wooden gifts, signs, cutting boards, and home decor.

Popular products:

Custom wooden signs for home and business

Engraved cutting boards

Wooden Christmas ornaments

Personalized wedding guest books

Wooden puzzle boxes and games

Because galvo lasers are faster than traditional lasers, you can take on larger orders like bulk wedding favors or corporate gifts.

Profit potential: Highly variable, $10-$100+ per item.

5. Marking and Branding for Local Businesses

Local businesses always need product marking and branding. You can offer your galvo laser services as a local service provider.

Common B2B work:

Engraving logos on product packaging

Serial number marking on metal parts

Branding on wooden products for local woodworkers

Custom awards and trophies for local companies

Name plates and signage for offices

B2B work can give you steady, recurring orders that keep your calendar full. This is great for predictable income.

Profit potential: $100-$500+ per job, depends on size.

6. Metal Engraving and Marking

One of the big advantages of a modern galvo laser like the Tyvok P2 is the ability to directly engrave metal. This opens up huge business opportunities.

What you can engrave on metal:

Tools and equipment

Metal parts and components

Firearms and knives

Metal tumblers and water bottles

Name plates and badges

Most small machine shops don"t have their own galvo laser, so you can do contract work for them. Very few local competitors exist in many areas.

Profit potential: Excellent margins, often $50-$200 per hour of work.

7. Start a Laser Engraving Service on Etsy or Shopify

If you like selling online, you can start your own laser engraving business on Etsy, Shopify, or both. This gives you access to millions of buyers looking for custom engraved products.

Keys to success online:

Niche down (don"t try to sell everything to everyone)

Take great photos of your work

Offer good customer service

Encourage reviews and repeat business

With a galvo laser"s speed, you can handle higher volume when your products start selling well. This is how you scale from side hustle to full-time income.

Profit potential: From a few hundred dollars a month part-time to several thousand full-time.

What Galvo Laser Do You Need to Start?

You don"t need to spend $10,000 to get started. Modern portable galvo lasers like the Tyvok P2 10W Galvo are affordable, portable, and powerful enough for almost all of the business ideas listed above.

Key features to look for:

At least 10W optical power for engraving metal

Good software support (LightBurn compatibility is a must)

Solid build quality that will last

Good customer support from the manufacturer

If you are just starting out and want an affordable entry into galvo laser business, the Tyvok P2 is one of the best options on the market in 2026.

If you are looking for a desktop diode laser for beginners, check out our comparison of the Tyvok A1 Mini vs Atomstack A5 Pro to see which is better for beginners.

Tips for Success When Starting Your Galvo Laser Business

1. Start small: You don"t need a big workshop or expensive equipment to begin. Start with what you have and scale up as orders come in.

2. Focus on quality: Galvo laser allows you to get amazing quality—deliver consistent quality and customers will come back.

3. Price for profit: Don"t underprice your work. Factor in material, time, and overhead when quoting prices. People pay for quality work.

4. Build repeat customers: It"s cheaper to keep a customer than get a new one. Offer great service and people will order again and refer you to friends.

5. Track your numbers: Know which products are most profitable and focus on those. Cut loose the ideas that don"t work or have low margins.

Final Thoughts

Making money with a galvo laser is absolutely possible in 2026—and you don"t need a huge investment to start. Whether you want a side hustle bringing in a few hundred extra dollars a month or want to build a full-time business, there is plenty of opportunity.

The key is to start with one or two of these ideas that match your skills and interests, get a good machine like the Tyvok P2, and start taking orders. Before you know it, you can have a profitable galvo laser business up and running.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much money do I need to start making money with a galvo laser?

A: You can start with a good portable galvo like the Tyvok P2 for under $1,000, plus some basic supplies. This is much more affordable than it was a few years ago.

Q: Do I need a lot of space?

A: A portable galvo laser doesn"t take much space—you can even run it from a small corner of a room. A 2x3 foot space is enough for most portable models.

Q: Can I combine multiple of these ideas?

A: Absolutely! In fact, it"s a good idea. You can do custom personalization for consumers while also doing some B2B work to keep income steady. This helps smooth out slow periods.

Q: Is it still profitable in 2026 with more people buying galvo lasers?

A: Yes—demand for custom engraved products is growing faster than the number of galvo laser owners. There is plenty of room for new operators, especially if you focus on good service and quality work.