1. Material compatibility
For example, diode lasers can engrave a wide variety of materials:
wood
leather
acrylic fiber
Glass
ceramics

If you want to expand your laser cutting business in the future, a diode laser cutter can be a good investment.

But if you plan to cut more metal materials, you can choose fiber laser cutting machine.

For engraving non-metallic materials, CO2 laser cutters have high power lasers that can engrave plastic, foam, PVB and PVC glass, etc.

CO2 lasers are more powerful than diode lasers, but tend to have shorter lifetimes. It's also not ideal if you're cutting metal.

2. Price
Starting a small business with an engraving machine will cost you anyway, but it shouldn't break the bank.

If you are on a budget, a diode laser cutter is a viable option as most are affordable.

CO2 lasers typically cost upwards of $900, but you can find great models for cheap.

The most expensive type is the fiber laser.

Fiber lasers may not be available to most amateur engravers. In fact, even an entry-level fiber laser cutting machine can be expensive.

3. Laser power
You need to look at the power of the laser to determine its capabilities. It correlates to the amount of cuts that can be made per session.

To understand the cutting capabilities of your machine, look at the laser light power.

On average, the different types of lasers have the following optical powers:

Diode lasers have an optical power range of 5 to 15 watts.

CO2 lasers range in power from 40 to 300 watts.

Fiber lasers have powers up to several kilowatts.
A powerful laser cutting machine means high precision and fast cutting, which is good for high volume orders.

If you're just starting your small business, you don't really need to spend money on a more powerful laser cutter.

However, if you want to use multiple materials, a more powerful one may be more beneficial to you.

4. The size of the work area
Where you will be working is an important factor related to the size of the laser cutter you buy.

The small laser engraver is so compact that it can easily be placed on a desktop. It's great for home use, but with less power.

If you have spare space, you can choose a more powerful laser cutter.

If you want a do-it-all machine that can be installed anywhere, a versatile laser cutter like the Atomstack A10 Pro comes with an extender.

5. Security features
Finally, it is vital to check the safety features of any laser cutter before purchasing.

While an engraver's additional features may add to the price, it can actually save you money in the long run.

You don't need to buy air assist or cooling separately.