Vinyl Sign Business for Sale: What to Look For

Signage is essential for businesses. Good signage with proper positioning provides clear communication to your customers and potential new customers. It increases brand awareness with the goal of converting to a sale, or it can provide direction. Signs have proven to be incredibly important, especially since the onset of the pandemic when signs provided necessary communication for health and safety.

Certainly, there are many ways to communicate via signage, in fact, traditional forms of signage can be as important and have as much impact as your website. FedEx conducted a survey and found that 76 percent of consumers entered a store or business they had never visited before based simply on its signs.

Signs are a cost-effective advertising strategy designed to communicate your brand. Most sign entrepreneurs report very high profit margins. Profits range anywhere from 50 to 95 percent. Profits are defined by the amount and type of work you take on and your expenses and overhead.

Not only is a signage company poised with tremendous earning potential, but the industry itself is seeing growth. The Global Printed Signage Market is expected to reach more than $41 billion by 2026.

Vinyl Sign Business for Sale Guide

If you are an entrepreneur looking to be a part of this lucrative and growing industry, there are many opportunities out there. Perhaps you are looking for a vinyl sign business for sale—here’s a guide to help you know what to look out for, including the equipment you will need and the services to provide your customers. If you look online to find a vinyl sign business for sale, there are thousands available all over the country. But buyer beware. There are some things you need to know before you purchase.

First, there is great versatility in vinyl signs. They are ideal for businesses that need indoor/outdoor signage. The Outdoor Advertising Association of America says that up to 45 percent of customers stop on impulse while driving by businesses that have eye-catching outdoor vinyl banners. They are low-budget, high-quality communication tools for your customers, providing great flexibility. They can be easily transferred to different locations. They are strong and durable to resist weather damage and are a low-cost, long-lasting option. Vinyl is an affordable material that requires minimal maintenance.

Equipment Needs

When you are looking at a vinyl sign business for sale, take a look at the equipment. The necessary tools should be up-to-date and in good condition. The basics a shop needs include a large format digital printer, plotter, vectors graphics editing software, digital media and substrates such as a generous supply of corrugated plastic backing board and rolls of different colored vinyl sign material. Ideally your business would have a flatbed printer as well as this would reduce labor while also increasing the product mix that can be produced in-house.

Vinyl signs require a special design software program and a machine to cut out the design. The bladed machine used to cut a sign’s design on vinyl is called a plotter. Vinyl is fed into the plotter to cut the design into it. Then the cut vinyl design is transferred to a surface used for the sign. Depending on your customers’ needs, for banners you will need to stock several levels of material durability. For example, a 10-oz. banner material is lightweight and ideal for indoor signs. Heavier material 13-oz. and above are better suited for outdoor banners that withstand weather conditions.

The more options you can provide your customers, the more appealing your shop will be, positioning you for higher profits. For example, you will advise how the signs should be displayed. Will the banner need grommets to attach it or a hem? Will you add wind slits to avoid weather damage? What sizes will you offer? What about design, colors, and graphics? You want to make sure you have the equipment needed to provide a good selection to your customers.

Image360 Expands Your Services and Profits

Or you may consider a vinyl sign business that also has other services like Image360. There is a vast array of sign business opportunities, and at Image360, you will be a franchise owner providing your customers with graphics, signage, and displays. As a Center Owner, you’ll be well-positioned to provide everything from design and production to installation and service. Plus, you’ll benefit from the support of the Alliance Franchise Brands — a world leader in marketing and visual communications.

Image360 offers opportunities to entrepreneurs, current sign shop owners, and printers. You can purchase an Image360 franchise to achieve your dream of business ownership. The cost of entry is relatively low, and there are many available territories. Our second option is to convert your signage operation to an Image360 Center, allowing you to benefit from the services, support, and other advantages of our established franchise network. Or you can add-on an Image360 Center to your print business or any other business. In one step, you’ll expand your offerings — and profit potential — to include graphics, signage, and displays.

If you are in the market for a vinyl sign business for sale, it’s time to consider franchising with Image360, an industry leader positioned to provide top-notch training and support along with a reputable name giving you a built-in customer base as you begin your business venture. To learn more, submit this form, and let’s get the conversation started.