Prototyping Services: Rapid Prototyping and Small Batch Manufacturing
Six capabilities, one dedicated team. Every project starts with a real price and a real timeline, not a sales call.
Nine services covering every stage of physical product development. Each page has full pricing, real project examples, and a quote form. US-registered. Vietnam-based. ISO-certified facility. From first prototype to small batch production, we handle the full journey with transparent pricing, full IP protection, and a 48-hour quote on every request.
Pricing
Transparent, competitive, no hidden fees
Every quote is itemized line by line. You see every cost before you commit.
30 Day
Rapid Prototyping
Most prototypes completed in 25 to 35 days from brief confirmation to physical delivery.
20+ Units
Small Batch Production
Start with as few as 20 units. No factory minimums. No 500-unit MOQs.
48 hrs
Quote Turnaround
Every project, every time. Full itemized quote within 48 hours.
Full IP
Protection
Work-for-hire terms. US contracts. All output files and work belong to you.
17+
Years of Experience
ISO-certified mold and injection facility. 10,000+ projects completed.
Before you spend real money on tooling or a big production order, get a physical prototype you can test, show to investors, or put in front of real customers.
Run 20 to 100 real units of your approved design, list them on Amazon, Etsy, or your own store, and see if people actually buy before you risk more capital.
Most molders won't quote you below 500 to 1,000 units. This gets you real injection-molded parts starting at 50, so you can test the market before scaling up.
Building something with an app, a sensor, or a battery inside means more parts that can go wrong. One team handles the circuit board, the software, and the case it ships in, so nothing falls through the cracks between vendors.
Whether it's a decorative piece or flatpack furniture, get consistent, repeatable parts cut by machine, with electronics or lighting built in if your design calls for it.
Retailers and marketplaces won't list a children's product without safety certification. That testing gets coordinated through an accredited lab as part of the process, so you're not stuck at the finish line.
Payment terms, refunds, shipping, and process questions.
Read the FAQ →
How our pricing works
Our rate is $25/hr plus materials — everything quoted per project
We do not charge flat service fees. Every project is quoted individually based on the number of engineering hours your product actually requires, plus the cost of materials. Simple products cost less. Complex products cost more. You always see a full breakdown before committing to anything.
The starting prices shown on each service page reflect a typical single-feature product at the lower end of complexity. Your actual quote may be higher or lower depending on the number of parts, materials, electronics, iterations, and production volume you need.
Plus material costs, quoted separately per project.
What affects your quote
Number of parts and components
Material type and finishing required
Electronics, firmware, and connectivity
Number of prototype iterations
Production volume and batch size
Additional services
Design, strategy, and process services for every stage
Design, strategy, and process services that support every stage of product development.
Flatpack and Packaging Design
Engineer your product to ship flat, reduce dimensional weight, and cut Amazon FBA fees.
Quoted per project
Industrial Design and DFM
Turn a concept sketch into a production-ready design reviewed for manufacturability.
Quoted per project
Production Cost Optimization
Already in production but the per-unit cost is too high? We find savings without touching quality.
Quoted per project
Market Validation and Research
Amazon niche and competitor analysis, customer survey design, and demand validation.
Quoted per project
Packaging Design and Production
Retail-ready packaging, mailer boxes, custom inserts, and FBA-compliant prep.
From $1,000
Patent Research and IP Strategy
Prior art search, patentability assessment, design-around strategy, and US patent filing guidance.
Quoted per project
Our process
From idea to market-ready product
Simple, transparent, and efficient. You see every step before you commit to anything.
How each project works
01
Consultation
We start by understanding your vision: what problem the product solves, who it’s for, what it should be made of, how many units you need, and when. No jargon. No hidden agenda. Just the right questions.
02
Quotation
Once we’ve mapped out your product, we send a clear, itemized quote covering engineering hours at $25/hr, materials, and small batch production cost. No hidden fees. Every line visible before you commit.
03
Research and Design
We research existing products and patents to find smart ways to refine and enhance your idea. Design and functional options are presented for your review before any build begins. Changes here cost nothing.
04
Prototyping — Build, Test, Improve
We build a working prototype, test it, identify problems, and refine it. You approve each milestone before we move to the next. No black boxes.
05
Production and Logistics
Once the prototype is approved, we handle production sampling, full manufacturing run, packaging, quality inspection, and shipping. We ship direct to Amazon FBA for sellers who need it.
Client reviews
What our clients say
★★★★★
Worked with PrototyperLab from design through to prototyping and the experience was excellent throughout. Their engineers were rigorous, communication was clear, and they took the time to answer every technical question properly rather than rushing. The final prototypes exceeded my expectations. Would happily work with them again.
Marwane BTrustpilot review, France
★★★★★
PrototyperLab were quick and efficient — had our first prototype ready in just two weeks. The whole process was low-risk, making it easy to test new products with our existing customers. At first, I thought we’d use them for development and then move mass production to our factory in China, but their pricing was very competitive. Keeping production with PrototyperLab meant better quality control and ongoing improvements, so there was no reason to take the risk of moving it elsewhere.
Jared StephensUNICONFETTI, Entrepreneur, UK
★★★★★
We found PrototyperLab through a recommendation from another brand, and to be honest, we weren’t sure what to expect. We shared one of our new product ideas and its use case, and within a few days, they had a physical plastic prototype ready. I was seriously impressed. The pricing is super reasonable, which means we can test out even more product ideas, especially those with electronics or automation. It’s a huge time-saver for us, letting our team focus more on launching and marketing instead of getting stuck in long development cycles.
DanneOWLHAUS, Founder, US
★★★★★
Superb company and service. Tai and his team have been super helpful, responsive and hands on in assisting with prototype design and production, rapid turnaround on queries and fairly priced. I continue to use them beyond the initial services I engaged them on. Trust worthy and reliable. Highly recommend.
Chico HuntEntrepreneur, Dubai
★★★★★
We wanted a functional, expandable robot that didn’t blow our budget. PrototyperLab helped us make it real — fast. 690 engineering hours covering hardware, firmware, and a 150-hour STEM curriculum developed alongside the product. The 20-unit production run validated demand before we committed to scaling.
…From day one, they’ve treated my project with professionalism, honesty, and genuine enthusiasm. Communication has been outstanding, they’re upfront about costs and timelines, and they’ve made the entire process feel approachable for a solo entrepreneur… They can help with the entire journey—from an idea, to design, prototyping, manufacturing, and even guidance on e-commerce and fulfillment. If you’re a small business owner, inventor, or entrepreneur looking for a team that truly supports you, I highly recommend them. I’m already looking forward to working with them on my next product.
KaiKai Land Press LLC, Atlanta, GA
Transparent and accessible
Professional product development, without the corporate price tag
The hardware development industry has been opaque, expensive, and exclusive to large corporations for too long. We’re changing that. Every quote is itemized. Every milestone is approved by you. Every file you pay for belongs to you.
We are a US-registered company with US contracts and NDA-first terms. Our facility is in Vietnam — cost-effective production without sacrificing quality or IP protection.
We believe in fair, transparent, and results-driven partnerships. Here’s what you can count on.
01
No upfront payment until you approve the quote
Getting a quote is fast, hassle-free, and completely risk-free. You won’t pay a dime until you approve the full project estimate.
02
No extra charges for delays on our end
If we take longer than the quoted hours to complete your project, you won’t pay for the extra time. The quoted hours are the ceiling, not an estimate.
03
A fully tested, working product
We don’t just build prototypes — we ensure they function as intended before delivery. You receive a working product, not a visual model.
04
On-time delivery
Your prototype will be in your hands within the agreed timeline. If something changes on our end, we tell you immediately — not after the fact.
05
No hidden fees in production
We don’t mark up material or production costs. Our entire profit margin comes only from our engineers’ $25/hr rate. Materials are passed through at cost.
06
US-based contracts and legal protection
We are a US-registered company. All contracts and payments are handled within the US, so there’s no risk of dealing with international disputes or unenforceable agreements.
07
Milestone approval, every step
You approve CAD designs, prototype photos, and production samples before we proceed to the next stage. No stage begins without your sign-off. No black boxes, no surprises.
08
Direct engineer access on every project
Your project gets one or two dedicated engineers from start to finish. No sales reps, no account managers, no communication layers — just you and the people actually building your product.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is PrototyperLab?
PrototyperLab is a product development company specializing in rapid prototyping, small batch manufacturing, and injection molding. We work with solo inventors, Amazon sellers, hardware startups, and small businesses who want to build, test, and sell a physical product without committing to a full factory order. We are US-registered with a production facility in Vietnam.
Where are you located and how does working remotely work?
Our production facility is in Vietnam. We are a US-registered company with English-language contracts and communication. Every project runs on a milestone system: you approve CAD designs, prototype photos, and production samples before we proceed to the next stage. You never need to visit the facility.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes, always. We sign a mutual NDA before any project information is shared. All design files, CAD models, schematics, and firmware created for your project are your property once the project is paid in full. We work under work-for-hire terms with US contracts.
Who owns the design files and tooling after the project?
You do. All files belong to you once the project is paid in full. If you commission a steel or aluminum injection mold, you own that mold outright once the final invoice is settled. We can ship it to any factory you choose, at any time, with no restrictions.
What is the minimum order for small batch production?
Our minimum for small batch manufacturing is 20 units across all materials. For small batch injection molding using aluminum molds, the minimum is 50 units.
How long does a typical project take from idea to prototype?
Simple physical products: 25 to 35 days. Mid-complexity multi-part products: 4 to 8 weeks. Electronics-integrated products: 2 to 5 months. Children’s products requiring CPSC testing: add 2 to 4 weeks for lab turnaround after the prototype is approved.
How does your $25/hr rate work?
Our base rate is $25 per engineering hour plus material costs. We quote every project individually with a full line-item breakdown so you can see exactly how many hours each stage requires and what materials cost. You always approve the quote before any work begins.