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The National Electric Code (NEC Section 411) requires low voltage lighting must have a NRTL listing. Light fixtures need to meet UL standards (or be approved by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) and display the Laboratory's sticker. Most coding authorities subscribe to NEC standards...

No rush fees. If I can accommodate the client (and I want to), I'll take the job and price it appropriately. Advertising rush fees may be fine if you specialize in instant signs, but for most of us taking on rush jobs jeopardizes work flow and leads to being considered over-priced (especially...

(total income - non-labor expenses) divided by hours worked.

$2 - $4 for unlaminated UV printing on adhesive vinyl, depending on the cost of the vinyl. I have about twenty large format printers in my town and all but the copy shops are charging in that range. For sheer volume pricing it is impossible for a small shop (under $1M annual sales) to even...

UV flatbed. You cannot be competitive doing it any other way. If you don't have one, sub the job out and drop ship the panels.

This will be very tricky to accomplish without "dirty" join lines. Any kind of contrast between the face and returns essentially eliminates that problem. Also I wouldn't attempt this using a heat gun. For best results the plastic needs to be heated uniformly in an oven. There are some bigger...

Most people who contact us don't really know what they need. They need advice. I take their inquiries (whatever the form: phone calls, email, text, social media) and reply back in kind. Often I will ask for a phone number so I can discuss their project with them (much faster than trying to...

It would probably be more effective to outsource production. Signs are about communication, and design is at the heart of it. Anybody with a few bucks can buy a printer, but design takes talent and experience and a lifetime to master.

Sign makers have traditionally (and significantly) undercharged for logo design work. It takes time, much thought, and much knowledge and experience to do this type of work with any degree of professionalism. Good graphic designers charge for the value of their work. I would figure $2k would...

Typical branding packages (including logo design, vehicle wrap design, stationery, all rights) start at $10,000. I'm good; these guys are better: https://www.kickcharge.com/kickcharge-branding-packages/

When taking pictures for this purpose use the longest lens availble to decrease curvilinear distortion. Wide angle lenses, as found on most phone cameras, do have some rectilinear correction but should still be avoided. Software can also be used to correct curvilinear distortion. Basically...

Yep! Read that and spend a year or two in production and sales. You cannot design a sign unless you know how they are built. And, especially today, you need to understand the customer's needs and be able to come up with a functional design while at the same time making them feel like they...

I could never wrap my head around using spreadsheets for pricing (I run a custom sign shop). I have always based pricing on cost of goods and services sold. Knowing that my non-job related expenses (overhead) is around 20% of total sales, and that I want a 20% profit for my trouble, I put a...

There are some very good reasons to use a Mac. Most of those have to do with the fluidity of the graphics and the intuitive nature of the OS and the Apple eco-system. Cost should not be a consideration if you are using the tool professionally; even a modest gain of 2% - 3% in productivity will...

Low VOC paints leave a silicon deposit on the dried surface which prevents most adhesives from sticking (sort of like applying adhesive vinyl to a dusty wall). You can try agreesively cleaning with alcohol first, then burnishing the hell out of the vinyl before removing the transfer tape, but...

If you are a local commercial or electric shop, odds are advertising on the internet (other than a web page) aren't going to help you much. If you are a specialty retailer, appealing to the mass public, maybe so (you know who you are). For a local shop, thoughtful design and competent service...

I am a big fan of outsourcing anything I can – except for installation. Too much can go wrong (especially with vinyl wraps)! I'll do the design work (branding and brand integration) and work with the client's wrap installation company (who will do the printing and installation). Design and...

Why not get a quote from Sticker Mule?

I never seal it. It is only going to last as long as whatever you stick it on. As far as laminating it: it will change the refractive index and it won't look like real gold anymore. I don't see the point.

$20k machine will not be appropriate for profitable sign production. To compete you will need to make a lot of signs, buy and warehouse truckloads of materials, have a vacuum and air cleaning system (the dust from wood and foam is toxic), have an acrylic polyurethane painting system and...