hey man you right most of us dont here in my city and surounding area have aleast 20 sign makers and on 2 got the C-45 lic
I know, when I was looking for a job, I interviewed at quite a few places, my specialty is architectural/environmental graphics and large scale sign jobs That usually requires a license. I asked each company if they had one, most did not, a few lied and said they did, when they didn't. They either bootlegged or handed the sign to the client to deal with permitting.
My area has a lot of sign shops, about 15% are licensed. If you look at how many Fastsigns and Sign-a-Rama's (and other franchises) very few have a license (or an active one)
Does that mean you should not be licensed?
You are missing out on work that requires a license. A customer does not have to pay you for a sign that requires a contractor's license. Then there is the fine and possible jail time. In the long run, it's best to have one unless all you do is vehicle graphics, promotional interior stuff, and small jobs under the limit that requires a license.