Most business can’t survive without signs to attract customers or direct patrons, whether we’re talking about giant pylon signs on the side of the road or simple window decals. Business owners know it’s necessary to invest in good signage, but they often feel limited by their budgets, especially if they have a small business or are just starting out. So, how can you get the signage you need when you’re working with limited funds? Here are some sign options for business owners who are on a budget.
1. Temporary banner signs
Temporary signs, by definition, are not meant to be permanent, but they are inexpensive and can be created quickly. Temporary signs include vinyl banners and wall signs, and they’re often used by new businesses while they’re waiting on their official signage. Banner signs aren’t durable enough for extended outdoor use, but if you need them indoors, you’ll get a lot more mileage out of them. Even though these signs won’t cost much, they can be printed with stunning, full-color graphics.
2. Monument signs with faux stone or brick
Monument signs, typically crafted with materials like stone, brick, and split face block, are among the higher-end signage options. If you’re looking for signs on a budget, you may not be considering a monument, but think again! Monument signs do not have to break the bank. In fact, they can be created with foam that replicates materials like brick and stone. The average person can’t tell the difference between a foam monument sign and one with real masonry, so you can have a sophisticated sign for a lesser cost.
3. Post and panel signs
Post and panel signs are used by many businesses and other buildings to display their names. These signs are simple and inexpensive compared to options like electronic signs and monument signs. They are typically made from one of the following three materials:
- Plywood: By nature, plywood is not durable enough for an outdoor sign, but when coated with resin, an inexpensive plywood post and panel sign can last 7-10 years outdoors.
- Aluminum: Rust-proof aluminum composites are an example of another inexpensive material that can be used for post and panel signs. Signs with a larger surface area require durable aluminum tubing rather than a simple sheet of aluminum, and these signs can last 10-15 years.
- High density urethane: Of the three common material options, high density urethane (HDU) is the costliest, but a post and panel sign is still relatively inexpensive. HDU is often used as a more durable alternative to wood for carved signs.
Depending on the material used for your post and panel sign, graphic and color options vary, but there are many ways to spice up these simple signs, including painting, vinyl lettering, UV printed graphics, and more.
4. Vinyl decals for windows and vehicles
Like vinyl banners, vinyl decals are cheap and versatile, which is great, because they’re pretty much a necessity. They’re often seen on windows of businesses to display hours and other information, but they can also be printed with elaborate, full-color graphics.
If you have a fleet, you can also have vinyl decals created for your vehicles. This is an inexpensive alternative to a full vinyl vehicle wrap. A simple decal with your name, phone number, and website can go a long way toward advertising your business if it’s on a vehicle that’s travelling around town. Plus, vinyl decals can easily be removed and transferred from one car to another.
5. Financing an electric option that will give you more mileage
Yes, we’ve been talking about low cost sign options, but it’s important to keep in mind that when budgeting, you should consider the long-term cost of your sign. Lots of options may have a higher upfront cost, but because they are durable, long-lasting, and will do wonders for your advertising, your best bet may be to find a way to finance them. Lighted signs and digital signs are particularly desirable for businesses that want to get noticed.
For instance, digital message boards are very versatile and give you lots of options for changing your message, meaning there’s no need to have temporary signs made every time you want to advertise a new promotion or event. Other electric signs such as channel letters and sign cabinets with LED also give you the benefit of illumination, making your sign visible at night. Plus, any sign using LED is inexpensive to power in the long-term due to the energy-efficient properties of LED technology. Using a payment plan or financing your purchase with a loan may make an electric sign more affordable.
Don’t choose saving a little cash over a quality sign
While we’ve now established that there are many attractive and functional signs you can get on a budget, you do have to be careful and ensure that you are not choosing savings over quality. If you go with a cheaply made sign, you may end up spending a lot more to fix it when you run into trouble. That’s why you always need to be sure that you’re buying from a trustworthy sign manufacturer. It’s important to always weigh the costs and benefits of any purchase, but ultimately, the cost of a great sign pays itself through the advertising it provides for your business.
