Building sustainable impact economies within makerspaces involves establishing business models aimed at fostering social, environmental, and economic well-being within these creative hubs. These models focus on creating positive impacts while generating revenue and supporting local communities. Choices include offering services, supporting startups, and providing training to empower individuals and businesses within the makerspace ecosystem. This section provides insights into business models for building sustainable impact economies within makerspaces, highlighting their potential impacts, advantages, challenges, and complementary models tailored to the unique context of these creative hubs. This chapter is built on the Open Catalogue of Business Models (OCBM) developed by WP1.

Key highlights covered in this section include:

1. Product Manufacturing: Makerspaces engage in product manufacturing, creating items under their own brand or in response to specific market demands. By producing locally, Makerspaces cater to unique needs, reduce transportation emissions, and bolster the local economy.
2. Manufacturing as a Service: Offering manufacturing services to external clients enables Makerspaces to leverage their existing assets and expertise. By providing advanced manufacturing technologies on-demand, Makerspaces contribute to local economic development and industry competitiveness.
3. Repair and Recycling: Repairing broken items and recycling waste materials are integral aspects of sustainable practices within Makerspaces.
4. Asset Sharing: Asset sharing models, including membership and machine access, democratise access to space, tools, and equipment within Makerspaces. By providing affordable access to resources, Makerspaces empower individuals and businesses to innovate, reduce startup costs, and improve product quality.
5. Expertise Sharing: Training and consultancy services enable Makerspaces to share knowledge and skills with their community. By offering hands-on training and expert guidance, Makerspaces enhance skill development, support local businesses, and attract investment.