Making signs but not installing

[scarface]

Hey everyone, I do most of my signs on a customer install basis and tomorrow i have to meet with someone who wants a old sign face replaced.

Basically they want the old one taken down, new one lettered and installed above their pizza shop in a local plaza. The customers cousin told me about contacting this customer so i'm not sure what kind of signage it is.

I kinda feel bad about making signs with substrates but not installing them but how could i "break" this to the customer without losing the job as well?

I would hate to attempt to do it and mess something up since i have no idea about installation of signs and im sure i would need permits etc which i'm lost about.

Thanks!

 

[Techman]

get an independant installer on your team. Tell customer you make it.. He installs it.

 

[scarface]

get an independant installer on your team. Tell customer you make it.. He installs it.

How would i go about getting in contact with one?

 

[J Hill Designs]

we do installs for another sign company here in town all the time - just look around and contact a sign shop - maybe you can offer them something as well...(ie they send print jobs to you, you send installs to them)

 

[threeputt]

What we've done is contact several people advertising their services as "handyman" in the local newspaper.

I've talked with a few of them and asked if they'd be willing to install signs. When I feel good about their abilities, I ask for some business cards.

Now....here's the important part. Since we have no control over these people, I don't hire them. They essentially are a "third party" and I merely keep their business cards at the counter and refer clients to them.

I am very sure to tell clients that this party is in no way connected with us, that I'm merely assisting the client to find a person to install their sign.

We do some installs, but not many.

 

[TheSnowman]

I have used several "handymen" in the past few years, but I finally found one that I trust no matter what, and that knows how to do things right, and I don't have to babysit him. I used to have the customer contact them...but then I started losing jobs because they wanted someone to just take care of it so they didn't have to call more people. I hire the guy, he gets the permits and installs it. I'm insured, he's insured...done deal, the customer doesn't know him from Adam, so as far as they care, he works for my company.

 

[Monsterkidz]

Not to Hi-jack, just curious why you guys shy away from doing installs?
I've found that installs are profitable and add the full service aspect of our shop.

Also, in most of the towns/cities that we service, all signs must be installed by a Licensed & Insured sign hanger.

Only thing we don't do is the electrical connection on channel letters and lightboxes. We always use a licensed electrician for this.

 

[scarface]

My shop does more vinyl graphics on vehicles than anything else, i do signs of course but not installs since it's a one man shop. Usually just letter the faces, send them off to the customers.

This is the first sign face install i have been approached with in 5 years of doing this so it's not cost effective to rent or get a truck and all that jazz right now.

 

[Pat Whatley]

Yep, time to start looking for an installer.

I've got a guy I've been using long enough that I never go behind and check his work any more, it's usually better than I'd personally do. For basic work like installing 4x8 real estate signs we worked out a standard rate, for anything out of ordinary we work out a price. I supply the signs and any installation materials (screws, bolts, hooks, whatever) and pay the minimal charge to add liability insurance and he does all the labor. We split the installation fee down the middle. I collect the installation fee when I sell the sign and just write him a check when he installs it.

You did say "above the pizza shop" though. Depending on the type of sign and the type of installation you may be looking at something you don't want the average handyman trying to figure out on the fly. You might be better off trying to find a local shop with installers who will work with you on it.

 

[threeputt]

Not to Hi-jack, just curious why you guys shy away from doing installs?
I've found that installs are profitable and add the full service aspect of our shop.

I've personally found that installs are in general a money loser. For sure not all of them, but many.

If you're staffed up for it, can keep a vehicle well-stocked with all the necessary accoutrements, (tools, hardware, ladders, etc.) and are skilled in this area, yeah...then go for it.

But if you're not, and keep track of the time loading the truck, going to the hardware store for parts, etc., running around.. and you're completely honest with yourself, you'll find that quite often you won't hit your hourly shop-rate numbers.

Of course I'm speaking about those installs that require digging, drilling, maybe some sort of fabricating, etc. Not jobs like applying vinyl to a doctor's office door, etc.

 

[gbarker]

Not that it helps you now but this is why I am wanting to franchise. If we had a location in your area you would be covered. This is what we do (aside from wholesale printing). Installation of faces and service electric signs. No logo's on our trucks, no branding on uniforms. As far as your customer is concerned we are your installation/service crew. Right now we are only servicing the Charlotte NC and surrounding area.

 

[weaselboogie]

Make sure your installer is insured!!

 

[Monsterkidz]

Interesting points guys!

We don't do too many vehicles in our areas. The competition seems to want to work for nothing. We do mostly storefront signs, awnings, lots of schools and churches,etc.

 

[Tony McD]

I don't do many sign installs either being a one man show.
My wife and son help me on easy installs, which is what we can reach from
an 8' ladder. I tell the customer up front on the installs I don't want, and many times
they have a maintenance man, or know someone who can do it. Hasn't caused
any problems for me, been doing it this way since 94.

I let the customer get the permits, dig holes, etc...
In the city limits here, the size of sign you can have is decided by how
much road frontage you have.

I've never been approached for anything huge like mall signs, but I have done some
printing for a large sign shop who has all the right equipment, lisenced electricians, etc.... so if something comes up I would use them for the installations, or maybe
sub the whole job to them.

 

[petrosgraphics]

we have always done our own installs..... we also do installs for other companies....

just make sure if you do hire a subcontractor to do your installs, get a cetificate of

insurance from him, do not take his word for it... it is a simple thing for him to supply

you...not a big deal..

as for getting the nec. permits, it can be a small add-on for your business...just

set a fee for the service and charge the customer for you time......