the Cost of Custom Signs

The price was for a custom made two foot by three foot, three color neon sign for the front window of our small business.

The company also does vinyl, glass, and metal signs of all sorts, illuminated or not per the customer's desire. Price based on the size and complexity of the sign. Quotes tend to be very much on the low side of what the product will eventually cost, and very much on the fast side of when the sign will actually be ready.

What's the rule that goes "everything costs more and takes longer than you expect"? Well it was certainly true here. When we got a quote based on a sketch of our design, we were told it would be $300 or so and take two weeks or so to finish. Apparently the "or so"s meant about $200 and nearly a month of time, which put it at about $100 more and a month later than what we were quoted elsewhere.

Unfortunately our tight schedule meant we had to take the sign we commissioned at the increased price.

The sign is gorgeous, no doubt, and certainly seems sturdy and well-made, but I think we could have done better on the price if we'd known a bit more about the business we were contracting.

Talk to previous customers of whatever sign making business you're looking at, or ask sign users where they got their stuff. Don't just go by the shop's estimates when deciding who gets your business, check out their reputation.

And check for how busy the shop is at various times of the year. Around here, spring and fall are vinyl sign times because it's nice outside and people tend to see the signs. I expect vinyl signs will be made faster than neon signs owing to the fact they can be printed in minutes using industrial processes, but there will still be a lag during the busiest times of the year.