Small Business Signs on a Budget: What to Buy First

When money is tight, small business signs need to earn their keep. You cannot buy everything at once, so the real question is what to buy first. The answer is almost always the same: start with the sign that tells people you exist and where the door is. Everything else can wait a month or two.

Here is the order we suggest to most new shops in Vancouver, WA. First, a storefront or door sign so people can find you. Second, a banner or A-frame to grab attention from the street. Third, window graphics with your hours and services. Fourth, yard signs or directional signs if people have trouble finding your lot. Lighted signs, channel letters and monument signs come last, once the business is paying for itself.

Most of the first three can be done for a few hundred dollars total. We print banners, yard signs, Dibond panels and window graphics right here, and we can quote a starter package that fits what you have to spend.

What small business signs should I buy first?

Think about the path a customer takes. They drive or walk over, they look for your name, they find the door, and they decide whether to come in. Each step needs a sign. Here is the order that gives you the most for the least.

• Step 1: A name sign at the entrance. A printed Dibond panel (aluminum with a plastic core) or a vinyl banner with your name and logo. This is the one sign you cannot skip.
• Step 2: Something that moves eyes from the street. An A-frame on the sidewalk or a banner on the building or fence.
• Step 3: Window graphics. Hours, phone, a short list of what you do, and a logo on the glass.
• Step 4: Wayfinding. Yard signs or parking signs if your lot or entrance is confusing.
• Step 5: The big permanent sign. Lit cabinet, channel letters or monument. We can quote these and handle the ordering when you are ready.

How much do small business signs cost?

These are typical industry ranges, not our price list. Your quote depends on size, quantity and material. But they will help you plan.

The pattern is clear. Banners and coroplast are cheap and fast but temporary. Dibond and window graphics cost a little more and last a long time. A smart budget mixes both: cheap signs for now, durable signs for the pieces that will not change.

Why a banner is the best first sign for most shops

A printed vinyl banner is the fastest, cheapest way to put your name on a building. It can go up the day you get the keys, before any permit for a permanent sign comes through. It can be big. A 3 by 8 foot banner reads from across a parking lot. And when you upgrade later, the banner moves to a fence, a trade show or a grand opening event.

A few tips so your banner does not look like an afterthought:

• Keep it simple. Name, one line about what you do, phone or web address. That is it.
• Use big letters. Three inch letters read from about thirty feet. Go bigger for street traffic.
• Order grommets, which are the metal rings in the corners, so you can zip tie or bungee it tight. A loose banner flaps and tears.
• If it hangs on a fence in the wind, ask about mesh. Our post on fence banners and mesh banners explains when mesh is worth it.

Is an A-frame sign worth it?

For a shop with foot traffic, yes. An A-frame is the folding sidewalk sign you see outside cafes and salons. It sits at eye level right where people are walking, and you can change the message. Grand opening today, lunch special, walk ins welcome, whatever you need this week.

Buy the frame once and print new inserts as you go. The inserts are cheap. Pick a frame with a weighted base if you are anywhere near the Columbia River wind, because the light plastic ones end up in the street. Check your city’s rules too. Some downtown areas limit where a sidewalk sign can sit. We cover sizes and rules in our guide to A-frame signs for business.

What should go on my windows?

Window graphics are the most underused cheap sign. You already own the glass. Cut vinyl lettering, which is lettering cut from a sheet of colored vinyl with no background, costs very little and looks clean. Use it for your hours, phone number, and a short list of services on the door.

A logo decal in the center of the main window turns your storefront into a sign for free. If you want more coverage, perforated window film lets you print a full color image on the outside while people inside can still see out. That is a step up in cost but still far less than any permanent sign.

When do yard signs make sense?

Coroplast yard signs, the corrugated plastic signs on wire stakes, are the cheapest sign you can buy. They are perfect for short term jobs: pointing to your entrance from the main road, marking a grand opening, or sitting in front of a job site if you are a contractor. In Clark County they hold up fine for a few months, but a wet winter and a few windstorms will wear them out. Treat them as a temporary tool, not a permanent sign.

If a yard sign needs to stay put for years, like a parking or entrance marker, step up to a small aluminum or Dibond panel on a post. It costs more up front and you never replace it.

What to skip until the business is steady

Some signs are great but should wait. Lit channel letters, cabinet signs and monument signs can run into the thousands once you include permits, electrical work and installation. They are a wonderful upgrade for year two. They are a painful bill in month one. We can quote any of them and handle the ordering for you, and we will tell you honestly if a Dibond panel would do the same job for now.

Budget signs that survive Pacific Northwest weather

Cheap does not have to mean flimsy. Around Vancouver and Portland, the enemies are rain, wind and nine months of grey. Rain soaks foam board and paper in a day, so keep those indoors. Wind tears loose banners and tips light A-frames, so tie things down and weight the base. Grey skies mean dark signs disappear, so use high contrast colors like white on navy or black on yellow.

Vinyl banners, coroplast, Dibond and window vinyl all handle wet weather well. That is why they are our go to list for a tight budget here. Spend the money on contrast and size, not on fancy materials.

Ready to order? See our business signs in Vancouver WA page for options, what to send us, and how to get a quote.

Questions people ask

Can I open with just a banner?

Yes, plenty of shops do. A well designed banner with your name, logo and one line of what you do is enough to open the doors. Add window hours and an A-frame in the first few weeks as cash allows.

Do I need a permit for a temporary banner?

Many cities allow temporary banners for a set number of days without a full sign permit, but the rules vary by city and by zoning. Check with your local planning office or ask us and we will point you to the right place. Permanent exterior signs almost always need a permit.

Can you design the sign if I only have a logo?

Yes. Send the logo file you have, even if it is small, along with your hours and contact info. We will lay out the sign, send you a proof, and tell you if the logo needs to be cleaned up before printing.

How fast can I get a starter set of signs?

Banners, yard signs and window vinyl are usually a few business days after you approve the proof. Dibond panels are similar. Confirm current turnaround when you quote, especially in spring and summer when things get busy.

Opening soon and watching every dollar? Send us the idea and a rough quantity and we will send a proof and a price.