Sign companies are not out to get you. Most are good operators doing honest work. The challenge is that the relationship is one-sided. They handle signs every day. You probably handle them once a decade, if that. Asking a few specific questions levels the table.
About what is included
Is the foundation included in this price? Is the electrical included from my building all the way to the sign, or only partway? What permits are covered, and are the fees included or billed separately? Who is getting landlord approval — your team or mine?
About the timeline
What is the lead time, and what starts that clock? Is it the deposit, the permit, or final drawings? If permits take longer than expected, who absorbs the delay? When does fabrication actually start, and when is installation scheduled?
About risk
What does the warranty cover — the structure, the lights, the installation? If we need a lift or crane on install day, who pays for it? If something goes wrong with the landlord or the county, what happens to my deposit? If the project scope changes mid-way, what is the rate for those changes? Will you give me paperwork at the end confirming I have paid in full?
If a sign company can answer all of these clearly, you have a good partner. If they cannot, that is worth a pause.
And if you would rather not navigate this alone, send me the proposal and I will walk through it with you.
