The cost of signs

[threeputt]

I've been wanting to ask this for some time.

Just how much to prices vary in this large and diverse country?

I understand that the East is far more populated than the West. I understand that large cities, be they in the East or West are more expensive to live in so I would expect sign prices to be higher in those locales.

But is there anyone on the forum here (maybe someone who's travels a lot) that can shed some light on this? Observations he or she has?

Which "regions" of this country seem to be higher (or lower) and why?

ie: comparing the Southeast, Northwest, Northeast and Southwest for example.

 

[Marlene]

I think all this data is available seems like "Signs of the Times" might have it and I know there's a pricing guide the "Sign Craft" puts out every year. Sign Craft doesn't break out the pricing by region but by overhead and other factors but I think Signs of the times does. also, if you are a sign association member they might have what you ar looking for.

 

[Gino]

I would think where it's more populated, the prices might be lower, due to all the more competition around. I'd sooner think it would depend more on the quality of the shop and what they can get in a fair marketplace.

Heck, around here prices can vary greatly and just be a mile away.

 

[Billct2]

Vary by region? Seems to vary by the phases of the moon and the mood of the estimator. But I do get some idea when I do public bids that reveal who else bid and for how much. Most of the time we're all pretty close, but the bids are only given to legit sign shops. I follow the posts about price here and there are differences by region, rural south and midwest seem to run consisitently lower. The most consistant pricing difference I see is the one that ticks most of us off- the ones that don't have a clue or just don't seem to care.

 

[threeputt]

But I do get some idea when I do public bids that reveal who else bid and for how much. Most of the time we're all pretty close, but the bids are only given to legit sign shops.

Yeah, well that much is true. We recently landed the contract to letter (25) municipal busses. (We've done eight so far)

But I'm told that we were the "low bid", low qualified bid, that is. City requires that they accept the lowest qualified bid. Now I'm wondering how much money was left on the table?

I wonder if it's possible to find out what the other bids were?

 

[Billct2]

Here the bid process has to be open, meaning the results are public, including who bid what.

 

[visual800]

Hell we could do a how much would you charge thingy and see for ourselves. As long as everyone would tell the truth unlike all that " how much did I get for it" artcle that was in signcraft a few years back.

I would be willing to bet down here in da brokeass bible belt we would be the cheapest.

 

[fresh]

I would think where it's more populated, the prices might be lower, due to all the more competition around. I'd sooner think it would depend more on the quality of the shop and what they can get in a fair marketplace.

Heck, around here prices can vary greatly and just be a mile away.

YES!

I have a client who installs solar window film. He was telling us he recently went to a conference where people in the middle of nowhere were getting TWICE the rate he was able to. Well, when you are spending $3500 a month to rent your 1100 sq ft store, you tend not to have the extra $$ to spend on luxuries like solar window film. But, if your rent is only $1000 a month, you can invest that extra loot on things that make your store look better. As someone so eloquently said a few years ago THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH in densely populated areas (like NJ.)

That said, do a good job, and eventually you will be able to set your price. Our rates keep going up and up, and we keep getting busier and busier. Woop!

 

[Rick]

I do architectural signage all over the country and I see little difference in costs on those signs. The differences I see is how sign shops want to build them. I have not done much in small towns in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Sign Up Graphics]

Sign Up Graphics

 

[Craig Sjoquist]

Fresh is correct ..

I'm in Orlando ... mouth of the wolf for business.. what the government don't destroy for business... darn sure everything else will.

Like just with in 2 miles from franchises to me super interdependent hand lettering only over half dozen shops of course they have the printers not me no way.

Prices vary greatly as does the quality.

But what is most important today more so then years past is the design / layout of the sign ads you do it use to be 60% design / layout & 40% ability to produce...

Now it is more like 40% design / layout and 50% a professionally run business 10% ability to produce... that get bids, last longer in business, & progress in the future.