When you operate a business, you know that choosing the right signs is the best way to market and advertise that business. Signs can be large or small, basic or super fancy, and designed for the inside or outside of your business, but whatever you need your signs for, it’s good to start with a few tips that make the process a little easier.
Before you head out to the sign shop, it’s good to know a little about custom signs so that you know what you need to talk to the shop owner about. This will give you an idea of what you need and how to get something that falls within your budget. Below are six tips to keep in mind before you start shopping.
1. Decide on the Type of Sign You Need
Before you do anything else, you need to decide what type of sign you need. Will it be one of those outdoor signs with lights that help customers find you, or do you need banners or large temporary signs for a trade show?
There are tons of signs available, including those for walls and awnings, signs for marquees, signs for someone’s door, and even signs for the sides of vehicles.
Before you start looking at prices and other details, you have to know exactly what type of sign you need. Keep in mind that outdoor signs are usually used for marketing purposes or to direct visitors, while indoor signs are often attached to walls or hung from ceilings.
2. Decide What Your Budget Should Be
All businesses, regardless of their size, have a budget. Your budget shouldn’t be the only consideration when choosing signs for your business, but it has to at least be looked at before you make any final decisions.
Fortunately, professional sign companies offer high-quality signs at prices that won’t break the bank. They’ll work with you to make sure you get what you need regardless of what you can afford.
Sign prices are determined by the size, color, material, and content of the sign, so you could pay under $10 for a small sign or up to $100 for a larger sign. Of course, you might also spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars in some instances because there are so many variables that directly affect the price of the signs.
3. Decide How You Want the Sign Designed
Even if your budget is unlimited, you still need to know which factors contribute to the price of a sign. Do you want unusually large or custom signs that have odd shapes, or have you fallen in love with that super-fancy font and would now like to use it on your sign?
Do you want a graphic included on the sign or extra perks such as blinking lights? All of these things will add to the final price of your sign, so you’ll need to discuss that with the sign shop employees.
In other words, you should have an idea in mind about what you want the sign to look like once it’s manufactured because anything that is out of the ordinary will likely make the sign a little more expensive.
4. Decide What Your Sign Will Be Made of
Signs not only come in various designs and colors, but they also come in many different materials. Your typical sign shop will break this down into two areas: the lettering and the substrate materials used. When it comes to lettering, you can choose something basic such as adhesive vinyl, or something truly unique such as neon. Lettering can also be engraved, or it can be made out of wood, metal, plastic, or foam core.
The backing for the lettering is usually done in substrates, which can include cloth, plastic, paper, glass, aluminum, vinyl, and many others. Many sign shops also offer mixed substrates. When deciding on the sign’s materials, you need to find something that won’t be destroyed by travel, inclement weather, and general wear and tear.
When you’re getting price quotes from the sign shop, compare the different materials so you’ll know which one is least expensive and which one is most expensive.
5. Don’t Forget About Disability Compliance
Most commercial facilities are now required to accommodate people with disabilities, which usually means removing communication and even physical barriers so that disabled people can still do business in the building.
A lot of times, signs help those with disabilities maneuver through the facility and discover where certain departments are, so when you’re deciding on the signs you need, you can’t forget about these types of signs.
Fortunately, most of these signs are relatively inexpensive because they do not have to be huge or contain any fancy graphics or lettering. Most of them are, in fact, basic signs that simply need to be displayed in a certain location, so buying them should not cost you a lot of money.
6. Decide on the Right Company
Finally, you’ll need to decide on the right company, which can require a little due diligence on your part. You can make some calls and get price estimates if you like, but keep in mind that most of these companies offer very competitive prices, which means they provide their products at reasonable prices.
Still, checking on a company’s reputation by reading online reviews is a great way to start when trying to find the company you want to work with.
If you have a unique or specialized need, this step becomes even more important. Some sign shops simply can’t accommodate certain types or sizes of signs, which means you may have to find a shop that can satisfy your demands. You can easily find samples of the company’s work because they are usually displayed in the shop itself, which is why visiting sign shops in person is usually the recommended course of action.
When you need custom signs for your business, you should start by determining exactly what you need. Even if you change your mind when speaking with the sign shop representative, it’s still good to have a starting point so you know you haven’t forgotten anything important.
