Thinking about retiring? Feeling creative but a little stuck? Maybe you’re tired of punching the clock for someone else and wondering if it’s time to turn your crafting hobby into something more. Or perhaps the idea of starting your own sign making business has been tickling your brain for a while now.
Face it, we have all dreamed about the freedom of working for ourselves. Imagine setting your own hours, calling the shots, and turning your passion into profit. It sounds pretty sweet, doesn’t it? And truth be told, self-employment does come with perks.
If you’re seriously considering diving into the sign making world, there’s good news: it can be a fun, creative, and even lucrative adventure. Demand for signs and other promotion products is booming—whether it’s for small businesses, storefronts, construction sites, events, or just about anything else that needs a personal touch to their advertising.
But let’s be real: starting a business isn’t all rainbows and paintbrushes. It takes planning, patience, and a good grip on what you’re getting into. Before you jump in, here are a few key things to think about to set yourself up for success in the sign making business.
Understand the Different Types of Signs
The sign making industry is diverse, and you’ll need to decide what types of signs you want to create and sell. Do you want to specialize in one or two types of signs, or dive into all of them?Â
- Outdoor signage (billboards, shopfront signs, banners, traffic)
- Indoor signage (directional signs, nameplates, office branding)
- Digital signs (LED displays, digital kiosks)
- Vehicle wraps and graphics (advertising on cars, trucks, or vans)
- Custom signs (for weddings, trade shows, or other events)
- Wearables/Personalized Products (okay, not actual signs, but often created and sold by sign making businesses)
Different types of signs require different materials, production techniques, and equipment, so it’s important to know where your niche lies. Do your homework to see if you want to gradually offer more than one type of sign or item after starting with the most logical for your short and long-term business plan.
Assess the Equipment, Software, and Tools You’ll Need
Sign making involves design and production, and each of these requires its own set of tools. At the minimum, you’ll need:
- Design software: Sign making software like LXi Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW are essential for creating sign designs.Â
- Equipment: Vinyl cutters, printer-cutter combinations, DTF (direct-to-film) printers, dye sublimation printers, heat transfer laser printers, heat presses, laminators, desktop vinyl cutters, or large-format printers are standard for producing signs.
- Materials: Depending on the signs you make, you’ll work with outdoor vinyl, substrates such as banners, aluminum, sign blanks, and license plates, or LED systems for illuminated signs.
- Finishing tools: These include mounting supplies and tools for installation (such as drills, ladders, and adhesives).
Investing in high-quality equipment can be expensive, so research carefully to determine the best tools for your budget and business model.
Master the Design Process
Strong design skills are a key factor in the success of your sign making business. If you don’t already have experience with graphic design, consider taking community college courses or hiring a graphic designer to help create professional, eye-catching signs. You could contract the work out to a designer if you are not ready to expand to adding employees. Familiarize yourself with the following design elements:
- Typography:Â Sign legibility is crucial, so understanding which fonts work well for signage is essential.
- Color theory:Â Color can influence how a message is perceived. Learning how to balance colors and create appealing palettes is important in sign making.
- Scale and spacing:Â Since signs need to be read from a distance, knowing how to properly size and space elements like text and images is key to creating effective signage.
Understand Your Target Market(s)
Your business’s success depends on your ability to identify and cater to the needs of specific market segments. The sign making industry serves a wide range of customers, from small businesses to large corporations, event planners, real estate agents, non-profit organizations, and more.
Ask yourself:
- What types of clients do I want to target? (local businesses, corporate clients, individuals for custom signs)
- What sorts of customized products are popular? (wearables, tumblers, hats, mouse pads, cups, mugs, keychains)
- What kind of signs are in demand in my area? (storefront signs, vehicle graphics, trade show displays)
Research your market thoroughly to understand the types of signs that are most needed and what customers are willing to pay for them.
Part 2 of this article will discuss six more items to consider when thinking about starting a sign making company.Â
