-
Help required pricing a large sign
Hi guys, just been asked to do my first big job (well for me anyway) I want to get it right because I could get a fleet of vans and a decent tshirt & fleece order out of it too.
The sign is to be fitted on the side of a large unit and is approx 4ft x 20ft so will need to be framed and fitted.
Other than that it’s a basic 2 colour vinyl on white, most likely ali composite (unless anyone else has any better suggestions)
Work wise I would probably say, minimal artwork, 30 mins at most it’s avreally basic design. about 6m of vinyl and would probably take me about 2 hours to tape and apply.
the job is 30 mins away and I expect would take betwen 2 and 4 hours to fit, so based on that,
a days work in total I reckon with everything included, but have no idea what to charge for the materials… any input would be great
Cheers
BigMo -
20 Replies
-
Mo
700 – 800 for me, ali comp with panatrim frame etc. If it was at height then plus access equipmentKev
-
Yeah, it is at a height, unfortunately the client doesnt have access equipment, so I will have to factor that in too, I thought about that price, the bizzare thing is, where the unit is situated they are surrounded by about 3 other sign companies, but chose me because I sent them a mail shot would you believe?.. I’ll let you know how it goes..
Should this be 50% up front?
cheers for the help
BigMo
-
Why are you having a frame? If going so high up I would be swayed more towards fixing direct to face of building.
Without seeing the job it’s difficult to say but I would consider loosing the frame. Use 10×5 sheets cut to size & butt up to each other. Fitting time and overall costs would be cut down considerably & in my eyes assuming you are not so sure about the frame they could be fit far more securely too
Just my take on it 🙂
Gary
-
I would agree with Gary or would use a sign tray for a job like this, better finish and sign trays are an easy fit.
do take into account the fitting, this will take two of you as lifting up a couple of composite panels or tray at height can be daunting if you haven’t done it before.
Consider the right access equipment which I would charge out at cost but charge well for fitting. -
at the risk of sound like a nob……. sign tray? I’m guessing its a ledge that they stand on and then secure the signs to the corrugated ali unit sides?
-
Mo,
Sign tray is a folded aluminium or aluminium composite box
Gives a nice flat surface with around 50 mm returns on
generally fitted onto a sub-frame or lengths of angle
-
quote Mo Gillis-Coates:……. sign tray? ‘
Exactly as Glenn says, pic below..worth considering…Ashby for ally or Cherwell for composite are just a couple of suppliers
Attachments:
-
cool, does it just hang? any explanations on fitting? would it come in one section, or could I have it in 3 sections? it’s a big sign
-
quote Mo Gillis-Coates:cool, does it just hang? any explanations on fitting? would it come in one section, or could I have it in 3 sections? it’s a big sign
Use ally angle,which usually comes with the tray.. a strip for the top return and astrip for the bottom. Important to get the measurement right and the tray fits snugly over both rails and then screw through the tray into the angle.
Top rail takes the weight so important these fixings are good, colour code the screws on the bottom which are visible…job done.
The size of sign will depend on how many sections normally over 3mtrs you would have 2 sections, I did a one last week in three pieces so no probs..
-
Brilliant, thanks guys, thats awesome, no farting about with dibond and panatrim…woohoo
-
Just got quote for a 3 section tray white faced complete with fixings angles etc etc…. £580 ………. OWMUCH?
Is it me or does that seem steep? Assuming I can cut layout and fit in a day probably 6 hours work in total plus travelling and the vinyl and access equipment and labour to help for the fitting I’d probably end up charging the customer about £1,200 is that realistic? I thought 700-800 would be reasonable but I would only end up with about £50 after i paid out everything else!
-
quote Mo Gillis-Coates:Just got quote for a 3 section tray white faced complete with fixings angles etc etc…. £580 ………. OWMUCH?
That’s sounds about right Mo, infact that’s pretty good.
forgot to say they are not the cheapest option, but they look good.£1200 for a 6000 x 1000 sign tray and graphics is very realistic.
You can always give them the option of flat composite panels aswell.
-
Mo
welcome to the real world of sign making.
yes its only a bit of "Ally"
but it needs equipment, and labour to produce.
If you can do the same thing in house, you will make more profit, but like most of us, it is easier to buy in, rather than invest thousands in the required equipment.
Shop around, but if you are after a "one off" you will not get the best price as if you were ordering many per week.I get a quote for what I cant or don’t want to do in house, add a margin plus fitting etc. and if I get the job, happy. if not I am not working for nothing.
Peter
-
cool as long as thats an ok rate then I’m happy, just thought it was rather high… but it’s definitely the easiest option, order in, stick on vinyl go fit job done……..
I’ll price up a cheaper option too…
Thanks for the help guys. time to put my sales skills in to the equation, I’ll let you know how I get on!
-
Just a quick one guys before I go in for the kill, can I get ashby to make the invoice out to the company I’m doing the work for? That way I can pass the VAT on to them knocking £100 off the bill…..
-
quote Mo Gillis-Coates:Just a quick one guys before I go in for the kill, can I get ashby to make the invoice out to the company I’m doing the work for? That way I can pass the VAT on to them knocking £100 off the bill…..
And let the customer see your costs?? not the best option I would say
-
Hmmm good point
-
Update fellas, very very pleased to say I quoted £1200 for the job including 2 vinyl graphic sets to be put on the board room walls, as an upshot I have also procured 5 vans for the same company…. looks like that’s most of May booked in…..
Happy days, thanks for all your help… they loved the tray sign idea, I even beat a quote of £700 for a composite framed sign!
Really really big thanks for your input, looks like I’m just about to step into the proper side of the business, and now in the immortal words of Yazz and the plastic population…"The only way is up, Baby"
-
Result :thumbup2:
I like happy endings, Now you can phone around to see if you can a better price on the tray and make even more profit., (although the price seemed good).
Never be afraid to charge descent money. You won’t always get the work but you won’t end up being a busy fool.
Martin
-
thought i would update the post for this job, I got it and it’s all been fitted, I think with a little hind sight I should have charge about £150 more due to a few complications fitting which I didn’t see when I originally looked at it. The shutter housing on the top of the windows restricted being able to screw into the angle from underneath so we had to improvise a little which probably put an hour extra on the fitting than I had accounted for. However it was my first tray fit so it was a "learn on the job" scenario.
Top tip, I went back before ordering the tray just to double check the measurements and found that it needed to be 400mm shorter than originally quoted to fit properly, phew that could have been a costly mistake.
overal I’m very happy with the way it went and the end result, so is the customer, as a result i have 5 vans to do for him next month too, one of which we have started. so there is probably 2 weeks work out of the job so again made a little less but got a little more in the long run.
Personally I don’t like the design but the customer supplied it and it was pretty easy to set up in corel for the cut. I offered a re design but this is the logo they have been using for years. Also we got a few hundred t shirts out of it as I convinced him that embroidery was costing him a lot of money as his staff where going through tshirts at a rate of 1 a month. Why pay £4.50 for an embroidered logo every time you replace a shirt when £1 will get it printed, so I saved him about £1400 a year he’s more than happy.
Well here it is, hope it’s ok to post it in this thread Rob as I thought it was relevant.
Cheers everyone for the input, I feel like I’m on the road to being a proper sign making business now.
BigMo
Attachments:
Log in to reply.
