Can I use a Mac mini as a Time Machine server?

Don from Lakewood wrote:

[...] I was wondering if I have a dedicated drive for each computer, can I do the initial backup directly attached to my laptop, then move the drive to the server for subsequent incremental backups?

Yes, I believe this can be done.

• Create your initial TM backup to the external drive.

• Connect that drive to the Mac mini and set it up to be shared on your network.

Note: this guidance is for folder sharing, but I believe the steps work also for attached storage.

Back up to a shared folder with Time Machine on Mac - Apple Support

• Open Time Machine Settings on the MacBooks and click Select Disk and choose the backup share on your network device. You're then asked by Time Machine to enter the username and password for your network share.