Help. The unthinkable has happened.

[James A. Wolfe]

Well, I never thought it would happen to me but it has. Someone wants to pay me to make them a sign. My problem isn't the design, materials or application. My problem is pricing. What does one charge for a 12 x 16 sign made of wood (unfilled) or Corian (filled). I'm at a total loss and I'm hoping that one of the sign makers here can help.

Thanx,

Jim
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[Bruce Volden]

Jim,

If you only have to engrave the sign, well that's one thing. If you have to furnish the materials and route, finish the sign, that's another!
If I do a sign that size and only engrave it I can get ~$35 for it in my market. If I do everything I would charge ~$60 (or more, dependent on certain things like logos involved etc.). I don't know your market but I do know if you undercharge you will be a very busy man at some point in your engraving career haha.

Bruce

[Joe Pelonio]

Congrats, hopefully they will love it and send you referrals. For laser work I charge $60/hour for any design, setup, logo scan etc., and finishing work on wood. Then $1/minute actual laser time. On materials I double my cost. Without knowing the details on your sign I'd say $50+. This (Seattle) area is a little higher than some, and since it's your first sign you might cut him a break. Be sure to get a picture before it's picked up!

[Nick Adams]

6 x 18 Home Namesake plaque (scroll design around edges, Family name, Logo) Routed edges, stained, sealed, hangers. I charge 75. The guy bringing me the orders charge people 105 for them. Not sure what I would charge for a 12 x 18 but as a guess it would be around 120 whoesale, 175 Retail.

This is of course my area.

[Keith Outten]

James,

Lots of good advice already concerning pricing. I think that most would agree that signs like any other product should be priced based on your cost plus something for overhead and proffit. There is a commercial price guide you can purchase that covers almost every aspect of sign pricing.

In my area my price would be closer to Nick's once I figured design time, machining time, materials, labor, overhead and proffit. I would charge Nick's retal price if I was installing.

Congratulations on the sign job, in the last year signs are nearly all I produce in my shop and they are the most enjoyable and proffitable work I have ever had. My sign work has recently spawned some custom machining work that has proven to be interesting. Yesterday Jackie and I ordered a new vinyl cutter to round out our list of sign machines. When it arrives on Thursday we will be able to start offering vinyl signs and banners as well as laser engraved, CNC and dye-sublimation signage. I can't believe how far we have come in such a short period of time.

Good Luck,

.

[Patrick OBrien]

Kieth,
Where would you find that Commercial Pricing Guide? Name or author?
Thanks for all the great advice and input.

[Rodne Gold]

Here's a thumb suck formula that works well.
1) high labour sign - 8-10x total material cost
2) Medium 6-8 x
3) Real easy 5-7x
We do serious costing on our stuff and almost always find the prices in line with those thumb suck figures.
Stick to the high end of em if its a one off.
Impossible to actually help you tho unless you give an idea of exactly what the sign is , the materials , what you have to do etc.

[Joe Pelonio]

Kieth,
Where would you find that Commercial Pricing Guide? Name or author?
Thanks for all the great advice and input.
Any sign supply, most big cities have them. Otherwise online from places like:

https://www.signcraft.com/secure/cart/items.asp?cat=9

http://www.rjsign.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=RSS&Category_Code=PRICGUD

http://www.pacificcoastsignsupply.com/catalog/Books_Signsofthetimes.htm

They may contain a lot of info that you will never use, look for the "commercial" rather than "electrical" unless you plan to do neon.

[Keith Outten]

Kieth,
Where would you find that Commercial Pricing Guide? Name or author?
Thanks for all the great advice and input.

Patrick,

Below is the link I got from a member of ShopBots Forum to the Sign Contractors Pricing Guide.

http://www.signwritersusa.com/index1.html

[James A. Wolfe]

Thanks to all for the input. Based on your suggestions, I priced the signs as follows:
http://www.laserdude.net/sitebuilder/images/Pic066-284x205.jpg $35

http://www.laserdude.net/sitebuilder/images/Pic069-324x236.jpg $60


http://www.laserdude.net/sitebuilder/images/Pic072-334x243.jpg $40

We'll see if I get a call back. I posted the samples to my website so the customer could look at them as I don't have a storefront. I also suggested a photo of the couple to make the sign absolutely unique and they seem intrigued by that idea.

Thanx again,

Jim