What’s the Budget for Custom Signage?

When investing in your business, it’s always a good idea to have an overall budget mapped out—however within that budget, you might also find it’s handy to have specific resources mapped out in dollars. Once such expense that definitely deserves its own budget is your business’ custom signage, as it plays an all-too vital role in everything from branding to advertising.

And while it’s hard enough to allocate dollars and cents to map out your overall budget, budgeting for custom signage can be even hard if not approached correctly. Oversights in your budget could come crashing down later, while shorting yourself upfront could lead to the purchase of a poor quality, discount sign that reflects a cheap investment.

Take a look at some of the best ways to budget for custom signage and some of the considerations that you might make when doing so.

The right mindset

First and foremost, it’s important to put yourself in the right mindset when planning for custom signage. Your signage may have a hefty upfront cost that’s off-putting, but remember that signage is a lasting investment that can recoup its cost over time.

It’s also important to consider your need. Do you need this sign right now? If so, do you have your design in mind? If you don’t need this sign now, will you be able to use it to its fullest potential? Will it be a sustainable investment at this juncture?

Once you’ve determined you’re in the right mindset to purchase a custom sign, the fiscal planning comes in.

Pick your material

Depending on what you’re using your signage for, the material plays an integral role in your investment—materials will largely dictate the cost and are almost always the determining factor in if your sign will stand the test of time. Take a look at a few of the different types of signage and materials and how they relate to price:

• Fabricated metal: Traditionally, metal signage won’t run you very high by comparison, when you consider the cost of other signage, but it’s still no cheap venture. Also, metal signs tend to be very cumbersome as they grow larger, making them ideal for smaller signs that you expect to “set and forget.”
• Digital signage: Digital signage for the digital age is a very sound investment for many businesses, however digital signage is also going to rank higher on the price list. The numerous features and abilities that digital signage have can mitigate the cost a bit and will serve to play a heavy-handed role in how these signs are used.
• Wood or glass: For a more traditional look and feel, and perhaps one that’s upscale and sophisticated, glass or wooden signage is always a popular choice.

You’ll also pay a higher price for these mediums, but again, resilience is on your side, as they’re sure to last decades with little maintenance.

• LED or neon: If you’re looking to attract attention at any time of the day, in any weather condition, a brightly lit LED or neon sign is the way to do it. Back-lit and front-lit LED signs are commonplace these days, as well as neon signage, making it more affordable than you might think and well worth that investment.
• Portable: If you’re a trade show enthusiast or have intermittent signage needs, portable signage is the best approach to your needs. Think banner stands etc.. Screen printed or digitally created on pliable materials, these signs are well worth their price but are limited in their appeal and uses.

Consider your benefits

Between deciding to get a sign and picking the material, you’re also going to have to consider what the purpose of your sign is and what the best approach to achieving your goals is.

For example, an LED sign might serve to accentuate your business nicely to people walking by on the sideway, but will passing motorists pick up its message? Will people be able to see a wooden sign at night, as opposed to an LED sign that’s clearly visible at all times of the day?

Make your investment one that caters to your needs and you’ll feel better about your purchase when it comes to reaping the benefits of its implementation.

Details, details, details

Finally, the devil is in the details. Pay attention to what you’re buying and the content you’re submitting to be on your sign! All it takes is one misspelled word, one wrong numeral or one poorly placed graphic to completely ruin a sign, leaving you with a useless piece of advertising and a hole in your budget.

Also, make sure that your design is appealing and aesthetically pleasing—the last thing you want is a lackluster sign that’s of no interest to potential customers!

When you’ve figured out all of these variables and have a sound plan in mind, expect to budget accordingly to fit your needs. Simple shop signs for your store’s interior may run as little as $100 to $500, however grand outdoor signs can fetch prices as high as $5,000 to $20,000! Plan accordingly, check your budgeting and make sure you’re ready to invest in your sign before you pull the trigger—if you have doubts, go back and see where you’re not prepared.

When all is said and done, you should spend an appropriate amount of money on a sign that looks and feels unique and responsive to your needs!

Alphagraphics is a custom printing company and custom sign company. Give us a call today to discuss your next project. 508-793-0956 or click here to contact us.