You’ve decided that you want to create your own makerspace and share your love of building with the community. The added bonus is turning it into a community space that can generate income which will allow you to expand upon the original concept and make it even better. Now that you’ve decided to take this step, you need to figure out how, where, and what you’re going to do. It’s time to create a plan of action to put everything together and make it real.

A makerspace brings people together into a united goal of making an idea into a final product. The space lets them work by themselves or in collaboration with others. You can also use the space to teach people the basics of construction or engineering and watch them take it further into new ideas. Or you can use the space to introduce a new generation to the experience of using tools to make something from start to finish. But you need to have everything in place before you open the doors to the public.

Start with your space requirements, the main focus of the makerspace, and who you want to attract. Learn about the zoning laws to find out if you can open such a space, insurance costs, and what safety measures are required. Investigate tool prices and, if there’s an outfit that offers discounts for bulk purchases, what materials you’ll keep onsite, and the safety gear you’ll need.

Read on below to learn more about how to put together an exciting makerspace of your own.