The main sign brings people to the building. The front door tells them they’re welcome, open and in the right place.
Front door signage answers the questions a customer has in the last few steps. Is this the right business? Is it open? Which door do I use? The main sign up on the building can’t answer those from arm’s length, so the door and the glass beside it have to.
This guide covers the signs most business entrances need, which ones are actually required, and how to keep the door clear instead of crowded. For the rest of the storefront, see our guide to retail storefront signs.
In this guide
What a Business Front Door Needs
Name and Logo on the Glass
Repeat the business name and logo on the door at eye level, because people standing at the entrance often can’t see the main sign above them. Cut vinyl lettering in white, black or a metallic finish stays crisp and leaves the glass clear around it. Gold and silver leaf styles suit restaurants, barbers and boutiques with a classic look. See our window decals page for lettering styles, and our sister shop’s page on door wraps and door graphics for bolder options.
Business Hours
A store hours sign on the door saves customers a wasted trip and a phone call. Keep them in a simple list at eye level beside the handle, and update them whenever your hours online change, because a door that disagrees with your Google listing is a common source of complaints. Removable vinyl makes seasonal changes easy.
Address Numbers
Address numbers help customers, delivery drivers and emergency crews find the right door. New Jersey’s Uniform Fire Code is built on the International Fire Code, which calls for address numbers that are visible from the street and contrast with their background, and many towns add a minimum size. Put them on the building or above the door, not only on the glass, where reflections can hide them.
The Accessible Entrance
When a building has more than one entrance and not all of them are accessible, the 2010 ADA Standards require the accessible entrances to show the International Symbol of Accessibility, and the other entrances to point people to the nearest accessible one. The U.S. Access Board’s guide to ADA signs explains the details in plain language.
A small, clear sign at each door solves it. See our ADA signs page for compliant options and our guide to ADA sign requirements for businesses for the full rules.
Delivery and Staff Doors
Rear and side doors need signs too. A clear “Deliveries” or “Staff Only” sign keeps vendors out of the customer entrance and customers out of the back room, and a matching style makes even a service door look cared for.
Push, Pull and Glass Markings
Small “Push” and “Pull” decals end the awkward pause at the handle. A band of frosted or printed vinyl across a large glass door at eye level makes the glass easy to see, and a logo or pattern in the band keeps it on brand. See our window frosting page for patterns. Pixel Wraps, our sister graphics shop, has a good overview of frosted film for glass doors too.
Keep the Glass Clear
The door isn’t the place for every promotion, certificate and payment logo. When the glass is covered, customers can’t see inside, which makes a business look closed and the inside feel less safe. A good rule is one row of essentials at eye level: the name, the hours and the accessible entrance information, with nothing taped over it.
Seasonal offers belong on the window beside the door or on a sidewalk sign, where they can change without cluttering the entrance. Our guide to window decals for business covers how to plan window space.
Make the Entrance Work After Dark
For half the year, many customers arrive in the dark. Check that the door lettering is still readable under the entrance light, that the address numbers are lit or reflective, and that an open sign or the interior lights show you’re open. White or metallic vinyl usually reads better at night than dark colors on glass.
Sidewalk Signs and Vestibules
A sidewalk sign beside the door can carry daily specials or point people to an upstairs entrance, which is common on older commercial blocks in towns like Union City, as long as it leaves a clear path and the town allows it. See our sidewalk signs page for frames and inserts.
If you put up a winter vestibule, brand its door and side panels too, so the entrance looks the same in every season. See our storefront vestibules page for options.
Common Questions About Front Door Signage
What should be on a business front door?
Do I need to post business hours on my door?
Are address numbers required on a business?
In most cases, yes. The fire code calls for visible, contrasting address numbers, and many towns add size rules, so check your local ordinance.
Do I need an accessible entrance sign?
What is the best material for door lettering?
How much of the door glass should be covered?
As little as possible. Keep the essentials in one row at eye level and leave the rest clear so customers can see inside.
A Front Door That Says Welcome
Gogi Signs designs and installs door lettering, window graphics, address signs and ADA entrance signs across New Jersey, matched to your storefront and your town’s rules. See our window decals page for lettering styles, then request a free quote with a photo of your entrance.
