Custom Signs

Did you know that having custom business signage can help you with everything from customer traffic to attracting employees? Not only will signage help your company flourish, but it also presents you with the chance to add a personal touch to your business!

There’s quite a bit more to a sign than just making a nice-looking logo, however. Often, you’ll need to consider the space you have, where a sign might be most visible, as well as where signs might be needed for navigation or clarity. You now might be asking, how much does signage cost?

While jobs vary in scope based on materials and size, most signs tend to fall into a price range based on their type. How much do outdoor business signs cost then? Read on to learn how to gauge pricing based on different sign types. 

Estimating Pricing

While there isn’t a universal signage cost calculator, there are a few things that you can rely on to get a rough idea of prices. 

Commercial sign installers typically charge based on material costs, which are primarily dependent on the size of the sign (most shops charge based on square feet). Cheaper materials such as plastic and aluminum tend can run you typically between $15-25 per sq. ft. The next step up would be steel, which runs anywhere between $25-$35 per sq. ft. 

If you’re looking to include something like sign lighting, expect to pay a bit more as well. If you were hoping to commission a neon or other tube lit sign, prices do get considerably higher by hundreds of dollars! A backlit sign can run into the thousands of dollars (potentially into the tens of thousands dependent on size), while an entirely neon sign will likely run you into the tens of thousands. 

Remember to consider installation costs as well! The larger and more complicated the sign, the more labor will cost. 

Storefront and Wall Signs

Storefront and wall signs are pretty ubiquitous, mainly because of their cost-effectiveness. Yet, storefront signs can simultaneously serve as a canvas for a spectacular, artful design for those looking to spend a bit more. Whether they’re mounted just above your front door or on the back wall of your sales floor, they’re a fantastic way to make sure customers remember your name and logo. 

Storefront/wall signs also offer more creative freedom in terms of design. Experienced sign makers can easily take your logo and turn it into an eye-popping, multi-layered centerpiece!

A simple storefront or wall sign won’t cost you more than a few hundred dollars, typically between $100-$700. A more complicated sign made of pricier materials and including lighting could run over $1,000. 

Window and Floor Graphics

A graphic (often made of vinyl) is a modern form of signage that has become prominent over the last decade. This unconventional signage can be applied to walls or floors and come in a range of sizes from small single square foot “stickers” to wall-encompassing wraps. 

Graphics aren’t the most dazzling form of signage, but they are significantly cost-effective, especially for custom designs. Vinyl wall and floor graphics can run as little as $30 to $50 for more minor signs, while wall-sized vinyl wraps will easily cost you $250 and up (dependent on the size of the coverage needed, of course). 

Pylon and Monument Signs

If you’re hoping to catch some attention and have a high budget or own a larger property with tenants, a large standing sign such as a pylon or monument sign is your best bet. 

A monument sign is a free-standing sign, typically sitting by the street or your parking lot entrance. These larger signs are perfect for putting more on display and providing more information to potential customers. Because these signs are much larger, expect to pay several thousand dollars or more.

A pylon sign is what you might find sitting at the entrance of a business park or shopping center, advertising the plaza and its tenants. If you’ve got a large property, this is the ultimate way to grab attention! Expect to pay over $10,000 for one of these signs. 

Wall and Rollup Banners

Back the more cost-effective end of the spectrum are banners, which are perfect for advertising sales, specials, product launches, or even just serving as a temporary sign for your new shop! Banners come in two forms; wall and “rollup.”

Wall banners are typically made of nylon or vinyl and can be folded up and put away when not needed. While they’re extremely basic in terms of business signage, the cost rarely goes over $150, even for a bigger sign. 

Rollup banners are similar but are vertical and can be mounted onto free-standing displays to be stood in front of your entrance or to guide customers to a specific location. The cost of a stand not considered, rollups typically run similarly in price to wall banners.

Vehicle Wraps

Vehicle wraps are surprisingly lucrative, so much so that it’s even become part of the gig economy! If you’re a business that has delivery services, or you’ve got a “work car” that could use a bit of flair, a wrap could be a lucrative way to advertise your business on the move. 

Vehicle wraps tend to be made of vinyl and are typically applied to protect its paint. As lucrative as they are, though, wraps can be expensive. Wrapping a coup will be your cheapest option, running around $2,000 on average. Larger vehicles are more expensive, with SUVs and trucks costing a grand or more extra on average. 

Want to Turn your Business Signage Into Art?

Your business signage is the most visible aspect of your company and its personality as well. A finely designed, eye-popping custom sign can not only attract customers but leave your company’s logo and name burned in their minds long after they’ve gone! 

At ShieldCo, we’ve spent the last eight years turning logos into art for customers as near as Frederick and as far as Colorado. We’re passionate about our work, and we’d love to help you bring your vision to life! Reach out to us today to get your free quote and 2D mockup!

Do you need to replace your broken, old business sign? Or, are you looking for an eye-catching sign that has a bit more pizzazz than the plain, boring sign that you currently use?

Then you must be wondering, just what are your options for lighted business signs? Fortunately for you, you’re about to find out. 

In this complete guide, we list and describe the 9 best types of lighted business signs that you have to choose from. You’ll learn the pros and cons of each type, including which ones are the cheapest and which are the most energy-efficient.

Types Of Lighted Signs For Your Business

Whether you’re looking into outdoor business signs, indoor displays, custom business signs, or something basic, you’ll learn all you need to know from this guide. Read on to find out more.

1. Internally Lit Business Signs

Internally lit business signs are signs that contain lights within the structure of the sign. These come in many variations, including but not limited to:

• Face lit signs
• Halo lit signs
• Lightbox signs

The internal lighting allows for a very artistic sign creation. Thus, these signs are always more impressive and eye-catching than externally lit signs.

2. Externally Lit Business Signs

An externally lit business sign is any business sign that is lit from the outside by separate, external lights. Any type of lighting solution can be used for this. Popular lighting choices include:

• Spotlights
• Concealed fluorescent lighting
• Rope lights/Christmas lights

A clever array of spotlights, color-changing lights, or rope lights can make a very basic business sign really stand out. Still, external lighting is pretty useless during the day.

On the one hand, though, this saves you energy by not having to keep your sign lit all day. But on the other hand, an internally lit sign is impressive all day long.

3. Face Lit

Face lit signs are so common that almost every business has at least one. These are internally lit signs that project light through a translucent front panel (the face).

Square/Rectangle Signs

The simplest type of face lit sign is just a large square or rectangle with a flat panel in the front. With these, the front panel is basically a translucent banner or poster that can display anything you want. 

Many businesses just spell out their business name in the font of their choice. Or, the panel can say the type of business or the services provided (“HOTEL,” “Coffee and Sandwiches”). If you want, you can put all of these on your sign along with some original artwork. 

This category also includes lightbox signs. These have a front panel that you can easily open or remove. That way, you can redesign your sign or update the information on it with ease.

Custom Shapes

You can also face lit signs in custom shapes, like letters and logos. These look much classier/more professional than a rectangle sign. And you can have the face panel digitally printed with your logo or artwork.

4. Halo Lit

A halo lit sign is merely a solid shape with a light behind it to create a silhouette effect. These signs look remarkably elegant for such simple technology.

Typically, companies that use these signs will have their business names spelled out in individual, halo lit letters. You would also want your logo halo lit as well. Obviously, these can be made in any shape you desire.

A benefit to these signs is that there’s no need to turn them on during the day. You can save energy by only using them at night. In addition, you can add halo lighting to face lit signs to give them even more emphasis. 

5. Individual Letter Signs

As mentioned, both halo lit and face lit signs can be made into individual letters to spell out the name/type of your business. This gives texture to the text on your sign and really makes it stand out. In general, it looks less generic than a rectangular face lit banner.

6. Signs Mounted onto a Backer

Next, the custom-shaped signs we’ve mentioned are much more convenient when mounted onto a single backer. That is, it’s a lot more trouble to hang/install your sign when you have to mount each individual letter.

But the signage is a lot easier to mount and maintain when it’s all connected as a single unit. Plus, it will look no less impressive this way. In fact, you can stylize the backing to add even more flair to the overall look.

7. Monument Signs

A monument sign is a style of sign that sits on the ground out in front of the business rather than attached to the business itself. You can incorporate any type of internally lit or externally lit sign into your monument sign.

8. Pylon Signs

Pylon business signs are basically the same as monument signs except that they’re held high off the ground by one or two poles. Typically, the poles hold a single lightbox/face lit sign that says the name and/or type of business.

It’s also common that there be a blank space on the sign where the business can add customizable messages with numbers and text. A business could, for example, use this space to display updated business hours or to advertise a new service.

9. Blade Signs

Blade signs are kind of a variation of pylon signs that are also held by one or two poles. But they are mounted onto the side of the building, perpendicular to it.

Thus, customers do not see these signs when they face the building. Rather, they see it as they drive past it or as they approach it on the sidewalk. Again, this style of sign can be used for any type of sign on this list.

Choose One or More of These Signs For Your Business

Based on this guide, we hope you’ve decided on the types of lighted business signs you need. If you’re still not sure, we can help.

Here at ShieldCo Art, making you the perfect sign for your business is our area of expertise. Fill us in with a few details about the sign you want and we’ll provide you with a free 2D mockup and a free quote. Get a 3D mockup for only $1.

Custom signs are everywhere, becoming almost as recognizable as the logos that are placed on them. Custom signs are essentially used as an identifier for a company. Custom signs typically contain the company’s logo to identify the company and their location. This allows for customers to find the location easier if they aren’t from the area, or can even be used as a landmark for locals. ShieldCo builds durable signs to serve every purpose, but there’s a lot to know when it comes to deciding on or building and designing a custom sign. 

How to Make a Custom Sign

There’s a lot of things that go into making a custom sign. You have to know what you want your sign to look like, what materials to use, what colors to use, and so much more. In order to create a custom sign, it’s easier if you have a company logo to add to your sign. Your company logo is the image, design, or words that your customers will associate with your company. Most companies have a theme, so your logo should match the themes that go along with your company and your business. 

This is the same with your custom sign. Remember, your custom sign is still a representation of your company and typically does include your logo. Therefore, your custom sign should be made with the same colors, text styles and fonts, designs, etc. as your logo. If you have particular company values that involve something such as going green, you may want to be a bit more picky about the materials used for your logo to put those company values in practice. 

Materials to Make Custom Signs 

There are lots of materials you can use to make your custom sign, but the materials you use to place your design on may effect the design itself and what materials can be used decoratively. Different materials are also used to serve different purposes, as some custom signs are made for buildings while others are made for shops inside of malls, etc. The material you use for your sign is going to be partially dependent upon where your sign is going to be placed. 

Some of the most traditional signs are made with wood or fabric, as these are some of the most basic materials you can use to make a sign. They also provide a more classic look to their environment. However, some other popular signs can also be made with aluminum or metal to allow for more durability and assist in maintaining their condition through various environmental challenges. Neon signs are also popularly used either on the tops of buildings or on the windows of buildings to show whether the business is open, closed, etc.

Aluminum tends to be the best material to use when making signs because it is a strong, lightweight material that offers durability. Aluminum can also be used for indoor signs or outdoor signs, making it a versatile material to use for your custom signs. Aluminum is known to be rustproof and waterproof, making it the best material to use outdoors, as it will stand through severe weather conditions with little wear and tear. ShieldCo uses aluminum to build its custom signs because of its durability and its versatility regarding both indoor and outdoor use. 

Painting Custom Signs

Depending on the sign you choose, you may need to paint or design your custom sign. Painting is most popular with wooden signs, but can also be done with metal signs and various other materials. However, the material originally used for the base of your sign may effect how vibrant the colors are that are painted on your sign as well as which paints may be best. When you are painting on metal, you typically want to use a water-based acrylic paint or an oil paint whereas if you’re painting on wood, you may want to use latex paint.

It is important to make sure you use the correct paints based on the material chosen for your sign because this can heavily effect the vibrancy and the shade of the colors used. This can also effect how long the paint will last on your sign without chipping away or showing various other signs of wear and tear. There are also certain coatings you can apply to your paints to keep them fresh and allow for more durability against severe conditions that may cause even more wear and tear.

ShieldCo uses durable, vibrant colors and has a wide color scheme to choose from. The custom signs are also dressed with a powder coating to ensure that the paint will last through severe conditions, especially if it is being used in an outdoor environment. 

Designing Custom Signs

There are lots of things that need to be decided when picking the design for your custom sign. If your custom sign includes words, you’re going to need to choose which font you would like your sign to use, as well as the letter spacing, if you’re going to include your logo, if the sign is going to have multiple layers, etc.

Custom signs are a full, quick representation of your company, so it’s important to take some time and think about what you want your sign to actually look like. When choosing to get a custom sign from ShieldCo Art, there are many options to choose from, but the templates provided make it easier to choose the best design for your company.

If you want something simple, perhaps just your company’s logo, you could get a single layer design to get your point across but not make people think too hard about what the sign represents. If you want something more complex to draw in more attention and get people thinking and curious, you can go for something as complex as a multi-layered sign with individual lettering. This allows you to provide your company logo, the name of your company, and various colors associated with the representation of your company all in one custom sign.

The way your sign is designed depends on how much you want to get across in your custom sign. It’s a good idea to take a minute and think about what you want customers and people passing by to gather from your sign. Do you want them to see the company name or do you just want them to see the logo? Do you want your sign to include colors that represent your company or do you just want them to see the name of your company? How do you want people to associate your sign with your company? What view do you want to provide your customers with and how do you want customers to think about your company?

Great Custom Signs

ShieldCo uses the most durable materials to provide customers with the most value for their money when designing them a custom sign. Aluminum is a strong, lightweight material that can be used indoors and outdoors. ShieldCo offers a variety of vibrant colors to suit everyone’s needs and make their signs stand out. ShieldCo also ensures that they use a powdered coating as to not ruin the paint but also make sure their signs are durable enough to withstand severe conditions since the signs can be used both indoors and outdoors.

There are plenty of custom designs to choose from and ShieldCo offers a variety of templates for your viewing pleasure to ensure you pick the right layout for your design and give your customers the right idea about what your company stands for. ShieldCo even offers LED signs with a remote control if you really want to get fancy.

ShieldCo allows the option to receive a mock-up to ensure the satisfaction of their customers. When the sign is ready to be shipped, it is shipped using custom packaging to ensure that it gets to the customer ready to install with no hassle and without any damaging. The signs are wrapped up in foam to ensure no damage can be done to the sign while it’s in shipping.

It takes a lot to make a great sign, but ShieldCo has it down, especially when it comes to customer satisfaction and the varieties they have to offer, whether it be the color schemes, the designs, or the way they work with their customers. ShieldCo is focused on the satisfaction of their customers and goes out of their way to ensure that each sign is made the way the customer wants it with the best materials out on the market because let’s be honest, creating a  custom sign, especaily to someone else’s image, is not easy. ShieldCo walks every customer through every step of the way to ensure that their sign is exactly the way they imagined it, or can even help customers come up with the sign they want if they need ideas.

Start Designing Your Custom Business Sign

These days, there’s so much competing for the attention of your customers.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Each store is trying everything to attract customers to their brick and mortar. Creative window displays, flashy sale signs, later hours, fancy architecture for corporate spaces… So on busy streets how are you standing out to attract customers to your brand?

Even if you get them right out in front of your store, there’s still plenty of distraction from their phones. So what’s a business to do?

Let’s think about one of the first things someone looks at when they see your brick and mortar location – your sign. What are the 3 things that can make you stand out on your street and attract your customers attention:

Size

Marion, IL

In this case bigger is usually better. Step outside and look at your facility from a customer’s point of view- do they need to see you from across the street and down the road a bit? Do they see the front of your building or are they usually coming up from the side where a standout sign would be more appropriate? Consider how people access your building while you’re deciding on the size and placement of your sign.

If you go through all the work of having a brick and mortar and only put up a tiny door sign then you haven’t done yourself justice. You’re letting countless potential customers go by without even noticing you’re there.

Color

Indianapolis, IN

Once you have the right scale for your sign, the next step is color. High contrast colors always go a long way. Whether your logo/design is very simplistic or full of details, the color combinations are going to play a big factor in catching the eye of your customer.

Aside from the design itself, you also want to factor in the surroundings. Will your sign be on a red brick building? A design with lots of matching red tones isn’t going to stand out. Are you surrounded by lots of trees? Maybe green shouldn’t be a dominant color to ensure it doesn’t blend in. Take a moment to again put yourself in your client’s shoes, are the colors going to draw their eye based on what’s around?

This doesn’t always mean lots of bright colors. A black and silver sign can stand out just as much as a bold blue and yellow combo. Just make sure your sign matches your brand and stands out against the building and immediate surroundings. Your sign works for you 24/7, let it be clearly seen!

Layers

Oahu, HI

One of our favorite elements here at ShieldCo, is to create a sign that commands a double take by making it 3D. This is the artistic part of sign making that sets us apart from other standard sign companies. We exist to turn your logo into a work of art and help you standout among the crowd!

You can have the first two steps of size and eye catching colors nailed, but if you get the third ingredient of building depth through layers then you create a piece that’s truly captivating to your audience. It’s the difference in a passing glance and a longer pause that leads to walking inside as a potential customer.

The flat sticker type signs will get your name on the door but dimensional signs are what give you the wow factor on your street.

Interested in custom business signs and want to read more? Here are some other posts about metal business signage:

• Why a Premium Sign Boosts Your Company’s Bottom Line
• The Importance of Signage
• How 3D Signage will Help your Business Stand out among the Crowd

The most common options for lighting interior signage is through LED and Neon lights.

Before we dive into the differences, let’s start with why you even need lighting?

When you’re walking or driving by, let’s face it, an illuminated sign is going to capture your attention way faster than an unlit sign. That means the difference in choosing your store or your competitors.

But why do I need lighting? I’m only open during the daytime.

Even during the day, lighting can make a big impact. If your lobby sign is illuminated, it’s going to make a much bigger and memorable first impression on your customers.

Also, just because you close at 5pm doesn’t mean potential customers aren’t walking/driving by after that. They’re  not choosing to work with you because they didn’t notice your office.

Let your signage work for you even when you’re not there!

So how do you know which type of lighting to pick?

Well, let’s start with the perks of our top choice, LED lights:

• Last Longer
• Don’t contain harmful gases
• Brighter
• Use less energy
• Don’t need to be replaced regularly
• Ability to change colors

Things to consider about Neon:

• Neon contains mercury which is harmful to the environment
• Made of glass and easily broken
• The one perk is the nostalgia of the old school look and warm light

LED lights can be utilized in several ways to create unique effects depending on which layers of the sign they are used on. Here’s some examples of how you can incorporate LED lighting into your custom sign to really make it stand out.

If you’re not sure how to best utilize lighting with your particular logo or design, simply give us a call and speak with one of our designers. Or go ahead and start the quoting process at the link below, and one of our designers will review your information and be ready with some options to discuss.

Interested in custom business signs and want to read more? Here are some other posts about metal business signage:

• The 3 things that can make your sign stand out over your competition
• Why a Premium Sign Boosts Your Company’s Bottom Line
• The Importance of Signage