Finding the Right Manufacturer
To get your prototype made, present a thought-out design and find a company that’s right for you. The first step is to find the right manufacturer. This is the most crucial step because the manufacturer you choose will have a significant impact on the success of your prototype. Do your research: Look for manufacturers that specialize in your industry and have experience with your type of product. You may wish to hire professional prototype developers, engineers, and designers. Others may be able to help you as well, including a handyman, a machinist, or a student.
Cost and Time Considerations
Creating a prototype saves time and money. Prototypes can cost anywhere from $100 to over $100,000, depending largely on your requirements and the complexity of the device.
Basic prototypes take 2–4 weeks to make. They help test concepts and attract investors. A functional prototype demonstrates form and function and closely represents the final product. Costs range from $100 to $30,000.
3D printing prototypes cost between $30 and $3,000. For a basic mobile app prototype, costs start at $80 and can go up to $8,000 depending on the number of screens required. Prototypes facilitate market research and prove concepts before committing to mass production.
Legal Protection and Market Research
It’s essential to protect your design legally. Manufacturing samples are crucial to help finalize engineering and design aspects of your product. Prototypes are useful to validate designs before committing to mass production.
Software Development and Prototyping
SaaS backends, for example, Shopify’s software development kit, enable store owners to create e-commerce apps that incorporate Shopify’s functionality for carts, products, payments, etc.
Additional Costs
A $1000 prototype fee applies regardless of the information provided or the simplicity of the bag. The prototype must be shop-made before production can start. For small production runs, advance payment for a die cut pattern is also required.
The cost of patenting is driven by the patent application, not the filing fee. Patent lawyers with technical degrees can charge thousands for their time on simple inventions, or tens of thousands for more complex cases.
App Development
An average basic app costs around $80,000; medium complexity apps are about $160,000, and complex apps usually exceed $250,000. Builder Now offers a service to quickly create free clickable prototypes, but the more time-consuming part is experimenting with different user flows.