Pricing structure

At Minnesota Mechanical Prototype Innovations (MMPI), transparency is key — and that starts with helping you understand our pricing structure. Whether you're an engineer, founder, or product manager, explore what influences the cost of your prototype and how we customize pricing based on your needs.

Factors influencing prototype cost

The 10 most important factors that affect prototype pricing at Minnesota Mechanical Prototype Innovations LLC:

Factor Description
Design Complexity More parts and tight tolerances increase costs. Simple designs are faster and cheaper to build and revise.
Material Choice Metals and specialty materials cost more than plastics. We can suggest low-cost substitutes.
CAD Design & Engineering Support Our engineers can create or optimize designs, including CAD modeling, simulation, and tolerancing.
Fabrication Method We offer CNC machining, 3D printing, laser cutting, and more, depending on strength, precision, and speed needs. CNC is great for strength/precision, 3D print is fast and flexible.
Assembly Requirements Hand-assembly, alignment, or integration of electronics can add to costs. Examples include custom fasteners, motors, bearings, and wire routing.
Testing & Validation Functional prototypes may need fit checks, motion tests, or load analysis. We offer in-house testing, data collection, and reports.
Factor Description
Revisions & Iterations Budgeting for 2–3 rounds is typical. Our goal: Help you refine the design efficiently, with no guesswork.
Quantity One unit costs more than five or ten due to setup and tooling time. Save cost per unit with bulk builds for testing or demoing multiple copies.
Lead Time & Sourcing Rush jobs or imported components may require expedited fees. We balance speed with reliability.
IP Protection & Documentation (Optional) We offer secure design handling, NDAs, and production documentation when needed.

How We Help You Control Costs:

  • Free consultations before quoting
  • Transparent breakdowns of material and labor costs
  • Suggestions for cost-saving design adjustments
  • Options for phased prototyping (start small, expand later)

Pricing and payment options

At Minnesota Mechanical Prototype Innovations LLC, we aim to be competitive, transparent, and value-driven. We also understand that no two projects — or budgets — are the same, and we offer flexible pricing structures to meet our clients where they are in their development process. Here's a summary of what to expect:

Pricing Transparency and Value

  • Competitive Pricing: Typically lower than large fabrication houses and comparable to local precision shops.
  • Fair Pricing: Transparent quotes with itemized estimates (material, labor, machine time) and engineering insight built-in.
  • One-Stop Efficiency: In-house design, machining, assembly, and testing to eliminate third-party costs and delays.
  • Pay for What You Need: Tailored builds and materials to match your goals, from proof-of-concept to fully functional systems.

Customized Pricing Based on Your Needs

  1. Phased Prototyping Approach:
    • Phase 1: Proof-of-concept or minimal viable prototype (lower cost, fast turnaround)
    • Phase 2: Functional system with mechanical performance
    • Phase 3: Final production-ready prototype with tight tolerances ready for full testing
  2. Tiered Service Options:
    • Basic: Early-stage testing, visual models (Lowest Cost)
    • Standard: Functional evaluation, pre-production testing (Moderate Cost)
    • Premium: High-precision, presentation/demo models (Higher Cost)
  3. Design-Only or Build-Only Options: Pay only for what you need.
  4. Startup & Multi-Project Discounts: Preferred pricing for startups, clients with multiple prototype stages, and long-term partners.

Accepted Payment Methods:

  • All major credit and debit cards
  • ACH bank transfers
  • Company checks
  • PayPal or other online methods are possible  (on request)

Payment Plans & Financing Options:

  • Split payments for larger projects (e.g., 50% upfront, 50% at delivery)
  • Milestone-based billing for multi-stage builds
  • Custom payment schedules for trusted returning clients or long-term engagements