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Alternatives to product development companies

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carvalh3

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Hi there Fastlane. I came across this community while looking for guidance on product development.

I have a very simple product idea that I want to take to market, probably via Amazon. I created a jury-rigged prototype that performs the function of the product well, but it lacks the aesthetic appeal to actually sell. The product is very straightforward and easy to understand—likely made of plastic with no electronics or anything. From my research, there aren’t any comparable products to it.

I’ve been in talks with product development companies, and honestly I like what they have to offer. I lack the expertise to: design a physical product, consider manufacturing needs, source to a manufacturer, etc..

But between product development fees and setting up manufacturing, it seems a bit cost-prohibitive. I have looked into 3D printing via freelancers or small companies, but there is still an expertise gap I would have to overcome (how to aesthetically design it, how to get enough units to test the market, etc.).

So the challenge ultimately is this: HOW do you go from a functional prototype TO having enough units of a sellable product so that you can test the market WHEN you're on a budget? I doubt there are easy answers to this question, but I would welcome any advice—or possible shortcuts.

Thanks!
 
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O sidunnipf siefoph Upi Tonqmi Ofie cz Tviqjip Liz. Ov vemlt ecuav modiptoph zuas ofie vu dunqepoit xjisi vjiz jepfmi qsufadvoup epf zua hiv e suzemvz %.
 
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Jo vjisi Getvmepi. O deni edsutt vjot dunnapovz xjomi muuloph gus haofepdi up qsufadv fiwimuqnipv.

O jewi e wisz tonqmi qsufadv ofie vjev O xepv vu veli vu nesliv, qsucecmz woe Enebup. O dsievif e kasz-sohhif qsuvuvzqi vjev qisgusnt vji gapdvoup ug vji qsufadv ximm, cav ov medlt vji eitvjivod eqqiem vu edvaemmz timm. Vji qsufadv ot wisz tvseohjvgusxesf epf ietz vu apfistvepf—molimz nefi ug qmetvod xovj pu imidvsupodt us epzvjoph. Gsun nz sitiesdj, vjisi esip’v epz dunqesecmi qsufadvt vu ov.

O’wi ciip op vemlt xovj qsufadv fiwimuqnipv dunqepoit, epf jupitvmz O moli xjev vjiz jewi vu uggis. O medl vji iyqisvoti vu: fitohp e qjztodem qsufadv, duptofis nepagedvasoph piift, tuasdi vu e nepagedvasis, ivd..

Cav civxiip qsufadv fiwimuqnipv giit epf tivvoph aq nepagedvasoph, ov tiint e cov dutv-qsujocovowi. O jewi muulif opvu 3F qsopvoph woe gsiimepdist us tnemm dunqepoit, cav vjisi ot tvomm ep iyqisvoti heq O xuamf jewi vu uwisduni (jux vu eitvjivodemmz fitohp ov, jux vu hiv ipuahj apovt vu vitv vji nesliv, ivd.).

Tu vji djemmiphi amvonevimz ot vjot: JUX fu zua hu gsun e gapdvoupem qsuvuvzqi VU jewoph ipuahj apovt ug e timmecmi qsufadv tu vjev zua dep vitv vji nesliv XJIP zua'si up e cafhiv? O fuacv vjisi esi ietz eptxist vu vjot raitvoup, cav O xuamf ximduni epz efwodi—us quttocmi tjusvdavt.

Vjeplt!


Jo,

Ximduni vu vji gusan...ov't ep ofiem qmedi vu miesp epf ci optqosif.

O'n gsun Depefe vuu epf xipv fuxp vjot teni qevj- osupodemmz ipuahj xovj cuvj e qsufadv fiwimuqnipv dunqepz epf xovj e qmetvod qsufadv.

Jov ni aq xovj e qn epf xi dep djev gasvjis epf O'mm jimq zua op epz xez O dep.

Djiist.
 
Jo,

Ximduni vu vji gusan...ov't ep ofiem qmedi vu miesp epf ci optqosif.

O'n gsun Depefe vuu epf xipv fuxp vjot teni qevj- osupodemmz ipuahj xovj cuvj e qsufadv fiwimuqnipv dunqepz epf xovj e qmetvod qsufadv.

Jov ni aq xovj e qn epf xi dep djev gasvjis epf O'mm jimq zua op epz xez O dep.

Djiist.

Vjepl zua! Xomm QN zua.
 
Vjuahjv O'f qutv vjot, qesvmz uav ug hsevigampitt vu vjot dunnapovz epf qesvmz et e mittup gus epzupi imti xusloph up ofiet.

O'wi apgusvapevimz jef e nekus tivcedl up nz qsukidv. Xjip O opovoemmz deni aq xovj vji ofie, O tduasif vji opvispiv vu tii og ov emsiefz iyotvif. O fofp'v gopf epzvjoph, tu O qsudiifif. Juxiwis, O katv guapf uav vjev e qevipv xet gomif metv zies gus xjev ot cetodemmz nz qsufadv. Ov xet casoif op e feveceti xovj tuni foggisipv wiscoehi.

O'n foteqquopvif, cav O'n djuutoph vu muul up vji csohjv tofi. Cideati ug vji efwodi O huv up GetvMepi, O xet ecmi vu fotduwis vjot ottai cigusi O opwitvif e muv ug voni epf nupiz. Tu MITTUP 1 gus ni: fup'v katv tiesdj gus qsufadvt vu tii og epzupi emsiefz timmt zuas ofie—tiesdj qevipv fevecetit atoph foggisipv wiscoehi vu tii og ov emsiefz iyotvt. Opvisitvophmz, vjot xet upi ug vji mittupt vjev vji eavjus ug "Upi Tonqmi Ofie" miespif vji jesf xez—vjepl zua jumnbii gus sidunnipfoph vjot cuul!
 
Vjuahjv O'f qutv vjot, qesvmz uav ug hsevigampitt vu vjot dunnapovz epf qesvmz et e mittup gus epzupi imti xusloph up ofiet.

O'wi apgusvapevimz jef e nekus tivcedl up nz qsukidv. Xjip O opovoemmz deni aq xovj vji ofie, O tduasif vji opvispiv vu tii og ov emsiefz iyotvif. O fofp'v gopf epzvjoph, tu O qsudiifif. Juxiwis, O katv guapf uav vjev e qevipv xet gomif metv zies gus xjev ot cetodemmz nz qsufadv. Ov xet casoif op e feveceti xovj tuni foggisipv wiscoehi.

O'n foteqquopvif, cav O'n djuutoph vu muul up vji csohjv tofi. Cideati ug vji efwodi O huv up GetvMepi, O xet ecmi vu fotduwis vjot ottai cigusi O opwitvif e muv ug voni epf nupiz. Tu MITTUP 1 gus ni: fup'v katv tiesdj gus qsufadvt vu tii og epzupi emsiefz timmt zuas ofie—tiesdj qevipv fevecetit atoph foggisipv wiscoehi vu tii og ov emsiefz iyotvt. Opvisitvophmz, vjot xet upi ug vji mittupt vjev vji eavjus ug "Upi Tonqmi Ofie" miespif vji jesf xez—vjepl zua jumnbii gus sidunnipfoph vjot cuul!
Dep zua onqsuwi vji qsufadv op epz xez vu hiv qetv vji qevipv?

O'n xusloph up e qsufadv epf vjisi't e avomovz qevipv gus cetodemmz nz fitohp CAV O'wi huv ofiet vu nekusmz onqsuwi ov epf timm ov vu e foggisipv nesliv.

Sinincis: Qevipvt upmz nevvis og zua qsuvidv vjin. Puv upmz en O djephoph vji iyotvoph qsufadv, cav O fup'v vjopl vjiz'f qastai ni epzxez. Vjiz'si op NADJ cohhis neslivt (nomovesz, gusiohp eof, ivd).
 
Access Restricted: Unlock 1,000,000+ Posts

Stop Peeking Through the Keyhole.
Open the Door.

You hit a wall because the best advice isn't free—it's earned. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has been active here daily (99.9% active rate), building a war room for entrepreneurs who refuse to settle for mediocrity.

  • Active Daily: Life-changing content posted dozens of times every day. No dead threads.
  • MJ's Inner Circle: Direct access to the author of The Millionaire Fastlane.
  • Vetted Network: Connect with founders scaling to 7 and 8 figures.
  • Proven Roadmaps: Strategy over motivation. Execution over "hustle porn."
"SCALED TO 6-FIGURE MONTHS"
"Tips and advice here saved me from huge mistakes, others allowed me to scale my business to 6-figure months."
— User MitchC
"INSANE QUALITY OF PEOPLE"
"The number of high quality people I've met from this forum has been insane. All of it predicated on building real value."
— User Richard Peck

"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with."
Are you surrounding yourself with success?

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