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What to Look for in a Sign Contractor

For business owners, your sign is often the first thing new customers see, and many times it is solely responsible for delivering a positive first impression of your business.  Since your business sign plays such a critical role in promoting your success, that sign needs to be great.

Who can you turn to for reliable support on your next sign project?  For restaurants with lighted signs that can be seen from a freeway, retail centers with hard-working tenants eager to have their businesses seen, hospitals, auto dealerships, and every other type of business that depends on a great sign, choosing the right signage company is critical.

Still, you are most likely not a signage expert and you probably feel out of your depth when a sign salesman starts tossing technical terms your way.  How do you find a trusted partner who will get you the sign you need, when you need it?

“68% of consumers believe a store’s signage is reflective of the quality of its products or services.”

FedEx Office Survey

Ask the Hard Questions

As with any other aspect of your business, information is king. You need to arm yourself with a few well-crafted questions that a great sign contractor should be able to answer. 

Below, we list five simple questions you need to ask before deciding to hire a sign contractor.  The answers to these questions should help you narrow your search.

1. Do you have a design team?

The best signage contractors have an in-house design team that will work with you to bring your ideas to life. If you already have a designer, any quality sign contractor’s design team should be willing and able to seamlessly interact with your designer.  

If you don’t need design help for your business’s first-ever sign, you might need it in the future.  Remember, choosing a sign contractor with an in-house design team makes long-term sense because it provides future flexibility if and when your signage needs change.

“60% of businesses reported that changing the design or enhancing the visibility of their signage had a positive impact on sales, number of transactions, and profits.”

University of Cincinnati Study

2. Where will my sign be fabricated?

One of the most important details about your new sign is where it will be made.  A great signage contractor should be able to tell you that they will be fabricating the sign themselves.  

Follow up with questions about other signage projects they’ve completed in your area, where their fabrication shop is located, and anything else that interests you.  The best signage contractors handle fabrication in-house.

FSG Sign Fabrication Facility

When a signage contractor builds the signs in-house, that tells you they know what they’re doing, and that they are not simply a middle-man organization that will insert levels of complexity and expense into your new sign project.  

If the contractor stumbles over this question, be on guard.  Follow up by asking whether they will also install your new sign. If you don’t get a straight answer, or they simply don’t offer that service, you probably know everything you need to know at that point.  It is time to move on to a different signage contractor.  

3. Who can I call with questions about my sign project?

Even the best contractors face unforeseen problems from time to time. One of the last things a customer wants is their new sign delayed beyond its original delivery date. Ask the commercial sign contractor directly how they will handle communication if unexpected snags arise that threaten the delivery date of your new sign.

6 Steps to a Perfect Sign

A contractor you can trust… a contractor you want… will happily share their proactive approach to customer communication. Dedicated project managers, an accessible hotline, and online support are all services offered by the best signage contractors.

Communication is the most important part of any successful sign project. You should know the project milestones before the project begins, and during the project, a quality sign contractor will happily communicate where they are in the process. 

4. Will you warranty and maintain my sign?

“Of course!” should be the response you hear from a quality sign contractor.  

A great sign contractor is interested in doing more than selling you a sign. They want to build a relationship with you. They want you to have confidence that your sign will look great, and to feel comfortable knowing they have the tools and know-how necessary to build, install, and service every sign they sell.

5. Do you have references?

A commercial sign is an investment. Since it is going to be the first thing that your customers see, you want to make sure that the job is done right. A trusted sign contractor should be able to give you references that demonstrate how the sign company’s words match their work.

Ask to see pictures of signs similar to the one you’re about to order.  If you can, take a drive past any nearby signs they’ve installed.  If the sign company has a photo gallery online, take a look at their recent work.

View FSG Signs Case Studies

Ask for case studies. Top sign companies will often have case studies of their work, as well as videos that show the actual fabrication process of sign projects they have worked on.

Great sign contractors should have lots and lots of examples of their completed work to show you, and they should be happy to do so.

FSG Signs: The Contractor With All the Right Answers

The truth of the matter is that the best signage contractors–the ones you want working by your side—are the contractors who do it all. They design, fabricate, install, and service everything your business needs, and they go the extra mile to keep you informed at all times. 

By offering all those services in-house, these contractors demonstrate they have the capability and talent necessary to offer a turnkey, comprehensive signage solution for your business. 

That’s exactly the kind of signage contractor we are at FSG Signs.  We fabricate every design imaginable, from rooftop stadium signage to intimate welcome signs. Our crews install those signs and handle all permitting issues that apply to installation.

We maintain and service your sign to keep it shining bright so it can guide customers through your door for years to come. And we do all of that with world-class customer service and upfront communication through every phase of the project. 

Talk to FSG Signs today, and you’ll find we have all the right answers to each of these important questions, as well as any others you can think to ask.  Call us at (512) 615-6615 or fill out a form to learn how FSG can help you with your next signage project.

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