What a sign shop estimate is for
Sign buyers compare quotes by the total and rarely see what changes it: the material, two sides instead of one, design rounds, install height. A quote that prices the sign by the square foot and lists design, hardware and install separately lets them compare like with like. It also records how many proof rounds are included before changes are billed.
What to put on a sign shop estimate
- Each sign with size in inches and square feet.
- Material, laminate and number of sides.
- Design time and the proof rounds included.
- Install, height and mounting surface.
- Hardware such as standoffs or posts.
- A setup fee, the shop minimum and a rush share when they apply.
- Deposit when the proof is approved.
A worked example
A new bakery wants an aluminum panel over the door and its hours in cut vinyl on the window.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed aluminum panel, 96 x 24 in | 16 | sq ft | Your price |
| Cut vinyl lettering, window hours | 4 | sq ft | Your price |
| Design and proofs, two rounds | 2 | hour | Your price |
| Mounting hardware, standoffs | 6 | each | Your price |
| Install | 2 | hour | Your price |
Showing the panel in square feet lets the customer see that a bigger panel costs more for material, while design and install stay flat.
Line items sign shops use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Printed aluminum panel | sq ft | Thickness, laminate and whether it is one or two sided. |
| Coroplast yard sign | each | Size, sides and stakes included or not. |
| Vinyl banner with hems and grommets | sq ft | Material weight and finishing. |
| Cut vinyl lettering | sq ft | Color and where it goes: window, wall or vehicle. |
| Vehicle graphics | sq ft | Partial wrap, door logos or lettering, by the panel. |
| Routed or dimensional sign | sq ft | Material, depth and paint. |
| Design and proofs | hour | Layout, the rounds of changes included, and the proof. |
| File prep or vectorizing a logo | hour | When the customer's file is not print ready. |
| Install | hour | Crew time, height and the mounting surface. |
| Mounting hardware | each | Standoffs, posts, frames or brackets. |
| Permit handling | each | Who pulls it and whether the fee is passed through. |
| Setup fee | each | File prep, machine setup and a material change. |
| Minimum order | each | Brings a single decal or small order up to the shop minimum. |
| Rush fee | each | When the job jumps the queue. |
Terms and deposit language for sign shop
- Deposit. Custom signs are made to order and cannot be resold, so ask for a deposit when the proof is approved.
- Payment. Balance due at pickup or at install.
- Warranty. You warrant the print, laminate and fabrication against early fading or peeling under normal use. Damage from weather events, pressure washing or vandalism is not covered.
- Production starts after the customer signs off on the final proof; changes after sign-off are billed.
- Customer-supplied art must be print ready or file prep is added.
- Permits, landlord approval and wiring for lit signs are listed as separate items or left to the customer, said up front.
How to fill it in
- Put in your business details once; this browser keeps them for every template.
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Change the line items to fit this job and add your prices.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print to PDF, download Word or CSV, or send it from Koira.
Free tools for sign shop
The same estimate for other trades: 3d printing, appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, powder coating, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, welding, window cleaning, window and door.
More for sign shops: how sign shops run on Koira.
Shane Allen writes Koira's guides for trade business owners. How we check our numbers.