Pre-Order Funding Calculator
Calculate how much you can fund your manufacturing business through pre-orders. Enter your product details and see how much money you can raise before you invest a penny.
Funding Results
This calculation shows how much of your production costs you can cover with pre-orders. If the funding covers the costs, you can produce your first batch without taking out a loan or spending your own money.
Starting a manufacturing business with no money sounds impossible-until you see people doing it right now in garages, kitchens, and small workshops across the UK. You don’t need a bank loan, investors, or a fancy business plan to begin. You need resourcefulness, grit, and a clear understanding of how to turn what you already have into something customers will pay for.
Start with what you already own
Most people think manufacturing requires expensive machines, factories, and inventory. But that’s not true at the start. Think about what’s already in your garage, shed, or basement. A used CNC machine bought for £300 on Facebook Marketplace. A second-hand sewing machine from a closing textile shop. A bench vise, soldering iron, or 3D printer you picked up cheap. These aren’t just tools-they’re your first factory.
One man in Stoke-on-Trent started making custom metal brackets for local bike shops using a manual lathe he found at a scrapyard. He didn’t have a website. He didn’t have business cards. He just took photos of his work on his phone and posted them in local Facebook groups. Within three weeks, he had 12 orders. His first profit? £187. That’s how you start with nothing.
Sell before you make
One of the biggest mistakes new manufacturers make is spending money on materials before they’ve sold anything. Don’t do that. Instead, sell the idea before you build the product.
Use platforms like Etsy, eBay, or Instagram to list your product as "coming soon" or "pre-order". Include mockups, sketches, or even a video of you building the first prototype. People will pay upfront if they believe in what you’re creating. A woman in Bristol started selling handmade ceramic planters using this method. She took clay from a local supplier on credit, posted 3 photos on Instagram, and took pre-orders for 40 units. She paid the supplier after collecting the cash from customers. No debt. No savings used.
Barter your skills
Manufacturing isn’t just about machines-it’s about services. If you can weld, sew, mold plastic, or assemble electronics, you can trade those skills for what you need.
Find a local printer who needs custom packaging labels. Offer to make 100 metal tags for their tools in exchange for 500 printed brochures. Find a woodworker who needs custom hinges and offer to fabricate them in return for access to their workshop. Bartering keeps cash flow out of the equation while building relationships. A small batch of custom brass fittings for a local furniture maker in Liverpool got one entrepreneur free access to a sandblasting machine, paint booth, and packaging supplies for three months.
Use government grants and local schemes
The UK government and local councils offer grants specifically for small manufacturers. You don’t need to be incorporated to qualify. Many are open to sole traders and micro-businesses.
Check the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS)-it’s free. They help small manufacturers apply for funding, improve processes, and connect with suppliers. In 2025, over £12 million was distributed to small manufacturing startups through regional growth funds. Liverpool City Council has a £5,000 starter grant for businesses creating jobs in under-invested areas. You don’t need a business plan written by a consultant. Just a simple one-page summary of what you’re making, who you’re selling to, and how you’ll use the money.
Work with suppliers on credit
Suppliers don’t always want cash upfront. Especially if you’re local and reliable. Approach small, independent material suppliers-plastic granules, sheet metal, fabric bolts, electronic components-and ask if they offer net-30 terms.
One maker in Derby got 20kg of food-grade silicone from a supplier who said, "Pay me when you sell your first batch of molds." He made 50 silicone baking molds, sold them on Etsy for £15 each, and paid the supplier within 28 days. He kept £550 profit. That’s the power of trust.
Don’t ask for credit. Ask for partnership. Say: "I’m building something new. I’ll give you a testimonial, photos for your website, and repeat orders if you let me pay after I sell." Most small suppliers will say yes.
Build a prototype with scrap
Forget buying new materials. Start with what’s thrown away. Local factories, construction sites, and even recycling centers often give away scrap metal, off-cut wood, broken electronics, or excess fabric for free if you ask.
A startup in Sheffield built its first line of tool holders from reclaimed steel beams and old bicycle chains. They didn’t spend a penny on raw materials. Their prototype cost £0. They sold it for £85. That prototype became their marketing tool. Customers saw the raw edges, the welded joints, the industrial look-and loved it. "Made from scrap? That’s cool," one buyer said. "I want one for my workshop."
Start small, scale slow
Don’t try to make 1,000 units. Make one. Then ten. Then fifty. Each batch teaches you something new: how long it takes, where you waste time, what customers really care about.
One maker in Manchester started with a single design: a brass keychain with a built-in bottle opener. He made 20 by hand. Sold them all in a weekend at a local market. Reinvested the £160 into a better drill bit. Then made 50 more. Then bought a small polishing wheel. Within six months, he was turning over £3,000 a month-without ever taking a loan.
Scaling slowly means you never owe more than you’ve earned. And that’s the secret to surviving without money.
Use free tools and open-source help
You don’t need expensive software to design your product. Use Fusion 360 (free for startups under £100k revenue), Inkscape for vector designs, or Tinkercad for 3D modeling. For accounting, use Wave-it’s free and handles invoicing, receipts, and tax tracking.
YouTube is your factory manual. Search for "how to bend sheet metal at home" or "DIY CNC plasma cutter" and you’ll find step-by-step guides from people who’ve done it with no budget. Watch, copy, adapt. One man in Leeds built his own laser cutter from a broken printer, a laser diode from eBay, and a Raspberry Pi. Cost: £120. Value: £3,000.
Get customers to fund you
Pre-orders aren’t just a sales tactic-they’re funding. When someone pays you before you make something, you’re not asking for money. You’re asking for belief.
Set up a simple pre-order page using Carrd (free plan available). List your product, show photos of your prototype, explain why it’s different, and add a "Reserve Yours Now" button. Offer early-bird pricing. A group of makers in Birmingham launched a line of reusable metal coffee filters. They offered the first 30 units at £12 instead of £20. All 30 sold in 48 hours. That £360 paid for their next batch of stainless steel mesh, packaging, and shipping labels.
What not to do
Don’t apply for a business loan. You don’t have revenue. You don’t have collateral. You’ll get rejected-or stuck with debt you can’t repay.
Don’t hire a designer or marketer. Do it yourself. Use Canva for logos. Record videos on your phone. Write your own product descriptions.
Don’t wait for perfection. Your first product will be rough. That’s okay. It’s better than waiting six months to make something "perfect" that no one wants.
Real example: From zero to £10k in 90 days
In November 2025, a former factory worker in Wolverhampton started making custom metal nameplates for small businesses. He had £17 in his bank account. He used a hand-held engraver he bought second-hand. He sourced brass sheets from a scrap dealer who let him pay after he sold 10 units.
He posted photos on Reddit’s r/UKManufacturing. Someone shared it. Then another. Within a week, he had 47 orders. He worked 14 hours a day. Made 60 nameplates. Sold them for £25 each. Paid the scrap dealer. Kept £1,200 profit.
He reinvested into a small rotary tool. Made 100 more. Then bought a cheap polishing machine. By the end of 90 days, he was making £10,000 in sales. No investors. No loans. Just one man, one tool, and a willingness to start before he felt ready.
Final thought: Money follows action
You don’t need money to start a manufacturing business. You need to start. Make one thing. Show it to someone. Ask for feedback. Adjust. Make another. Sell it. Repeat.
The first pound you earn isn’t from investors. It’s from someone who saw your work, liked it, and handed you cash because they needed what you made. That’s the real funding. Everything else is just scaling what you’ve already proven.
Can I start a manufacturing business with no money at all?
Yes. Many successful manufacturers started with nothing but tools they found, materials they scavenged, and skills they already had. The key is to sell before you spend, barter for resources, and use free tools to design and market your product.
What’s the cheapest manufacturing process to start with?
Hand assembly, hand engraving, or small-batch casting are among the cheapest. You don’t need automation. A drill, a vise, and some scrap metal can make functional, sellable products. Sewing, woodworking with hand tools, or molding silicone with kitchen molds also work with near-zero upfront cost.
How do I find suppliers who will give me credit?
Look for small, local suppliers-not big distributors. Visit their warehouses or call them directly. Explain you’re a new maker, not a corporation. Offer to give them photos of your product, a testimonial, and future orders in exchange for net-30 terms. Many will agree if you seem reliable and honest.
Are there grants for manufacturing startups in the UK?
Yes. The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) offers free advice and connects startups with regional growth funds. Local councils like Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham have startup grants for manufacturing businesses that create jobs. You don’t need a degree or fancy paperwork-just a clear idea and a willingness to apply.
Should I use crowdfunding to fund my manufacturing startup?
Only if you already have a working prototype and a small audience. Crowdfunding works best when people already believe in you. Starting with zero followers and asking for £50,000 rarely works. Start small: sell 20 units directly, prove demand, then use that success to attract bigger support.
Next steps: What to do today
- Walk around your home or garage. List every tool, material, or machine you already own.
- Think of one small product you could make with those items.
- Take a photo of it and post it in one local Facebook group or Reddit community.
- Ask: "Would you buy this? What would you change?"
- Wait for a reply. Then make one more.
You don’t need money to start. You just need to begin.
