The lowest total on a sign quote is often the one with the most work left out. Compare what is included before comparing the price.
Business sign quotes are hard to compare because no two companies write them the same way. One quote bundles design, permits, electrical work and installation into a single price. Another lists the sign alone and puts everything else under “by others” in small print at the bottom. Both can be honest, and both can describe the same storefront, but only one of them is the full cost of getting a working sign on the wall.
The fix is to compare scope before price. Once every quote is broken into the same lines, the real differences become easy to see, and most of them are about what each company has assumed rather than what each company charges.
This guide explains the parts of a typical sign quote, the exclusions that matter, how to line quotes up side by side and the questions that settle the gaps.
What a Complete Sign Quote Includes
| Line | What it should state | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Concepts, drawings and the number of revision rounds | Unlimited changes promised, or none included |
| Drawings for permit | Permit drawings and any sealed engineering | Stamped drawings excluded |
| Permits | Who files, which permits and whether fees are included | Permits by owner, or billed at cost plus a markup |
| Fabrication | Sign type, size, materials, finishes and lighting | Vague descriptions with no dimensions |
| Electrical | Connection to an existing circuit or a new one | Primary wiring excluded |
| Installation | Labour, access equipment, protection and hours | Lift or after hours work extra |
| Removal | Old sign taken down, holes sealed, band repainted | Removal mentioned but no patching |
| Warranty | Terms for LEDs, power supplies, workmanship and labor | One number with no detail |
| Terms | Deposit, payment stages, validity, taxes | Price valid for a few days only |
The Exclusions That Change the Total
A quote is defined as much by what it leaves out as by what it includes. Sign proposals commonly exclude permits, variances, engineer stamped drawings, inspections, the electrical hookup, removal of the existing sign and taxes unless stated otherwise. Sign proposals published with municipal meeting agendas often use exactly this wording, and some offer to file the permit for the owner at cost plus a markup.
None of these exclusions is wrong. They become a problem only when one quote includes them and another does not, and the owner compares the two totals as if they were the same job.
Permits and Drawings
Ask who files the permit, which permits are covered and whether the fees and any sealed drawings are in the price. Some New Jersey towns require more than a simple drawing, such as plans signed and sealed by a licensed design professional or a drawing signed by the sign supplier. Our sign permit service page explains how we handle filing.
Electrical Work
A quote for an illuminated sign, such as channel letter signs or a lighted cabinet sign, may cover connecting to an existing circuit but not running a new one. If there is no power at the sign location, that work needs a licensed electrician and its own permit. Make sure every quote states the same assumption, and that the finished sign will be listed, since the electrical code requires electric signs to be listed and installed to that listing, as IAEI explains for inspectors.
Licensing for the Installation
In New York City, signs over 75 square feet or 25 pounds must be hung by or under a licensed sign hanger, as set out in the DOB sign permit requirements. If one quote is much cheaper for a large Manhattan storefront sign or Brooklyn building sign, ask who will hang it.
Installation Conditions
Access equipment, sidewalk protection, off hours work and work at height can change the installation price considerably. Quotes based on photos often assume easy access. A site survey settles it for everyone.
How to Compare Quotes Side by Side
- Give every company the same brief: the same photos, measurements, artwork, lease criteria and deadline. Different inputs produce different prices.
- Build a comparison table: put each quote’s figures into the same rows, from design to warranty.
- Mark the gaps: any blank cell, “by others” or “excluded” item is something you will pay for elsewhere.
- Price the gaps: add an estimate for each excluded item to that quote’s total.
- Compare the specification: check sizes, materials, lighting and finishes match. A thinner material or cheaper power supply can explain a lower price.
- Ask each company to explain its number: a good sign company can say clearly why it is higher or lower than the others.
Red Flags in a Sign Quote
- No dimensions or materials: a price for a “storefront sign” without a size, construction or lighting description cannot be compared or enforced.
- No mention of permits: every outdoor sign in New Jersey and New York City should at least be checked against the town or city rules. Silence usually means the owner is expected to handle it.
- No site information: a firm price with no survey and no photos assumes conditions nobody has checked.
- Unclear lighting: an illuminated sign should state the LED and power supply type and that the finished sign will be listed for electrical safety.
- A single warranty number: good quotes separate LED, power supply, workmanship and labor terms.
- Pressure to sign quickly: a price that expires within days leaves no time to compare.
Questions That Settle the Differences
- What exactly is included in installation, and what would make it cost more?
- Who files each permit, and are the fees and any sealed drawings included?
- Does the price cover a new electrical circuit if one is needed?
- Which LED modules and power supplies will be used, and what are their warranties?
- Is removal of the old sign included, with patching and repainting?
- What is the payment schedule, and how long is the price valid?
- Are you insured for this work, and can you provide a certificate naming the landlord if required?
Look Beyond the Price
A quote also tells you how a company works. Clear scope, honest exclusions and a realistic schedule usually come from a company that has done the work many times. Before choosing, look at completed projects similar to yours, whether storefront signs or lobby signs, ask about installation in your town and confirm who will actually do the electrical and installation work. Our guide on how to choose the right sign company covers the checks worth making.
Understanding what moves the price also helps. Our guide on what affects the cost of commercial signs explains the ten main cost drivers.
Common Questions About Comparing Sign Quotes
Why are sign quotes so different from each other?
Mostly because they include different things. Permits, engineering, electrical work, installation access and removal of the old sign are often included by one company and excluded by another. Line the quotes up on the same scope before comparing totals.
Should I just choose the cheapest sign quote?
Only once it has been adjusted for everything it leaves out. After adding the cost of excluded items, the cheapest quote is often no longer the cheapest, and a lower specification can cost more over the life of the sign.
What does "by others" mean on a sign quote?
It means that item is not included and someone else, usually the owner, must provide it. Common examples are the electrical connection, permits and patching the wall after removal.
Is it normal for permits to be excluded from a sign quote?
It is common, especially before the design is final, because permit requirements depend on the town and the drawings. What matters is that the quote says so clearly and that you know who will file and what it will cost.
How many sign quotes should I get?
Two or three is usually enough, provided each company receives the same brief. More quotes rarely add clarity if the inputs differ.
Can I ask a sign company to match a lower quote?
You can ask, but compare the scope first. If the lower quote leaves out work or uses lighter materials, matching the price would mean matching those gaps. A better question is what each company would change to reach your budget.
Get a Quote You Can Compare
Gogi Signs itemises every quote, from design and permits to electrical coordination, installation, removal and warranty terms, so you can see exactly what is included and compare it fairly with anyone else’s.
Request a free quote and send us the other quotes you have if you want help lining them up.
