The honest answer is: it depends. A sign project is a chain of stages, and the total time is the sum of all of them. Knowing the stages helps you plan, especially if you have an opening date.
The stages
- Design and mockup. You share your logo and idea, review a mockup and request changes until you are happy.
- Landlord approval. If you lease, the property manager reviews the design first.
- Permits. The city reviews the application. This is often the longest and least predictable stage.
- Fabrication. The sign is built once the design is approved. Production can often overlap with permitting.
- Installation and inspection. The sign is installed, wired if lit, and inspected where required.
What can speed things up
- Ask for your landlord's sign criteria on day one.
- Send your logo as a vector file.
- Decide on the mockup quickly.
- Start the permit process alongside design and production where possible.
- Tell your sign company your target date at the start.
What can slow things down
- Late changes after the design is approved
- Incomplete landlord or city paperwork
- Signs that need engineering, such as monuments and pylons
- Electrical work that needs scheduling
Planning a grand opening? Tell us your date up front. We will say honestly what is realistic and plan the schedule around it.