Most articles about starting a magnet business say it is cheap to start and stop there. It is cheap to start. It is also easy to spend two thousand dollars on the wrong machine before you have sold a single magnet. This is the budget we would hand a friend, using the actual prices of the supplies we sell and use ourselves.
Prices below were correct when this was written and will drift. Treat them as the shape of the decision.
The short answer
| Setup | Upfront | Cost per magnet | Right for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test run with magnetic sheets | About $150 | 25–35¢ | Finding out if anyone buys |
| Course and starter kit | $499 | 25–35¢ | Starting with a plan and support |
| 2-1/4" round press | About $615 | About 25¢ | Buttons, pins, round magnets |
| 2 x 3" rectangle press | About $2,300 | About 45¢ | Photo magnets at volume |
All four assume you already own a computer and a phone that takes decent product photos. A printer is covered separately below.
Budget 1: the test run, about $150
This is where almost everyone should begin. It buys enough material to make roughly 600 small magnets, list them, and learn what people order.
- Satin Pro Luxe photo paper, 50 sheets: $24.95
- Flexible magnetic sheets, 8.5 x 11 inches: $75.00
- Self-healing cutting mat, metal ruler, craft knife and spare blades: roughly $30 to $40 from any craft store
- Spray or roller adhesive: roughly $15
Optional: our templates and supply list for $37, which sets up page layouts for flexible magnets, retro prints and calendars so you are not measuring from scratch.
Budget 2: the course with starter kit, $499
Learn with Snap Magnets with the starter kit includes a cutter, ruler, knife, 50 sheets of photo paper, 50 magnetic sheets, a self-healing mat, blade collector, ruler with metal guard, finger guard, spare blades, rubber cleaner and templates, together with the full course. The course alone is $429.
The difference between this and Budget 1 is not the materials. It is skipping the months of trial and error on printer settings, pricing, Etsy listings and social media that we went through ourselves.
Budget 3: a small round press, about $615
- Tecre 2-1/4" machine and graphic punch bundle: $436.50
- 2-1/4" magnet button supplies, 1,000 pieces: $175.75
- Paper: from the pack above
The 2-1/4 inch round is the most common size in the button trade. The same machine also makes pinback buttons ($75.53 per 1,000), keychains, pocket mirrors and bottle openers, so one press can supply several product lines.
Budget 4: a rectangle photo magnet press, about $2,300
- Tecre 2 x 3" machine and graphic punch bundle: $1,975.50
- 2 x 3" magnet button supplies, 1,000 pieces: $325.85
Rectangles hold a photograph at its natural proportions, which is why they sell at a higher price than round buttons. Other rectangle and square options are compared in what size button maker machine should you buy.
Material cost per magnet, worked out
Mounted on magnetic sheet, 2 x 3 inches
A letter-size sheet fits about twelve 2 x 3 inch magnets. Paper costs about 50 cents a sheet and magnetic sheet about $1.50, so $2.00 of material makes twelve magnets, or about 17 cents each. Add ink and adhesive and you land at roughly 25 to 35 cents.
Pressed 2-1/4 inch round
Parts cost $175.75 per 1,000, or about 18 cents a set. The artwork is cut to 2.625 inches, so about twelve circles fit on one sheet of paper, adding roughly 4 cents plus ink. Call it 25 cents.
Pressed 2 x 3 inch rectangle
Parts are about 33 cents a set. The artwork is cut to 2.774 x 3.772 inches, so only about six fit on a sheet. Roughly 45 cents with paper and ink.
The costs people forget
- A printer. A capable photo inkjet usually costs a few hundred dollars. Ink is the running cost that matters, so check the price of replacement cartridges before you pick a model.
- Packaging. Backing cards, cello sleeves, envelopes or gift boxes. Often 30 cents to $2 per order and easy to underestimate.
- Shipping supplies and postage. Magnets are light but rigid. Budget for mailers and do not assume letter postage.
- Platform fees. Etsy charges a listing fee plus transaction and payment processing fees. Your own store has a monthly plan fee plus payment processing.
- Waste. Misprints, miscuts and customer photo problems. Allow 5 to 10 percent early on.
- Your time. The largest cost of all, and the one most beginners price at zero.
- Registration and tax. Business registration and sales tax requirements vary by state and city.
A break-even example
Illustrative numbers, to show the method. Replace them with your own.
Suppose you buy the small round press setup for about $615 and sell sets of nine round photo magnets for $24. Materials are about $2.25, packaging about $1.50, and platform and payment fees about $3. That leaves roughly $17 per set before your time.
$615 divided by $17 is about 36 sets. After the 36th set, the equipment has paid for itself and each further set contributes its full margin. That is why the machine is a sensible purchase once you are selling steadily, and a risky one before you have sold anything.
How we would spend the money
- Spend $150 first. Make magnets on sheets, sell fifty sets, and learn which sizes and occasions people actually buy.
- Put profit into photography and listings before equipment. A better listing photo usually earns more than a faster machine.
- Buy a press when cutting becomes the bottleneck, in the size your customers keep choosing.
- Buy parts in the sizes you sell, not a bit of everything.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start a magnet business for under $100?
If you already own a printer and cutting tools, yes. Paper and a pack of magnetic sheets come to about $100.
Is a button machine worth it for a beginner?
Only once you have proven demand. It is an efficiency purchase, not a starting purchase.
How much can I charge per magnet?
Most custom photo magnet sellers charge far more than material cost because the value is the personalisation. See the pricing section of how to start a photo magnet business.
What is the cheapest machine size to run?
The 2-1/4 inch round, which has the lowest cost per part and the widest range of backs.