Discuss the various aspects of heat pressed vinyl transfers. Popular and new types of vinyl media, suppliers, vinyl cutters /plotters, press times, quality, how to instructions and more can be found in this heat press sub forum.
get a current pricing guide from Sign Craft magazine. It comes out every year based on current pricing for materials. It also has 4 categories of base shop rates. The quality of vinyl and coverage wil make a huge difference. Don't use cheap vinyl, it will bite you in the end.
prices seem to vary some from area to area...even in different market places.
There are many people in most areas that cut vinyl stickers. You might want to visit some an have some jobs priced to see what things are going for in your area. I know people do it to me a lot. Then again over time I've established good relations with some of the other shops in my area. Usually though I range the price based on the length per foot. I always try to minimize my waste any chance I get and cut up stock design stickers that sell to add to the inventory. Another thing I consider other than the amount of vinyl may be the difficulty to weed/pluck the design or text....if it's a graphic I tend to charge more for the time it takes to set up the design. Then the big question...do they want you to install it or do they just want to buy the vinyl? Even though applying vinyl can be easy for an experienced person still keep your price up enough to cover the even that you have to replace the vinyl, because even an experienced person may have an opps from time to time....if they pay you for the install and it messes up it's on you. If they buy the vinyl and they mess it up they will be back to buy more Good Luck cutting vinyl man , I've been doing it now for 5 yrs....the cutter paid for itself in a month without advertising. Also, if I could give you another tip that helped me be successful with it and customers coming back: stick with quality vinyls...I always stock at least a 6 year vinyl (Avery) don't go for the cheap ebay stuff. I've had customers that bought from me before come in and tell me, I'll always come to you because I bought a sticker from the guy at the flee market and letters were blowing off within 2 days. Thing is people try to increase the profit margin on a biz that is already high profit, and they end up sacrificing quality and it come back to haunt them. I've seen several shops in a mile radius of me come and go in the period that I've ben doing vinyl.
stick with quality vinyls...I always stock at least a 6 year vinyl (Avery) don't go for the cheap ebay stuff.
Be careful with Avery. Mystysue & I can tell you stories of people using Avery with disasterous results when it is exposed long enough to UV light and it shrinks bad. Try Oracal or Scotchcal, those are premium vinyls.
Yup Avery has a very bad reputation.... I have heard from quite a few signmakers how they had some that fell off or other problems.. .. The biggest problem on top of that was avery not standing behind the product when there was problems..
LOL.. we have done signs for averys test center.. (for there walls) and we dont use avery ever.. I thought that was funny.
LOL.. we have done signs for averys test center.. (for there walls) and we dont use avery ever.. I thought that was funny.
LOL no kidding, that's crazy!
I guess I've been lucky to never of had any problems with it. Thanks for the heads up and I'll check in the other brands. I've always preferred to turn out a quality product.
I am trying to price a sign that goes into a lighted sign (just acrylic insert, not the lighted sign)
I called around and got some prices just to get an idea but they are all over the place.
It is approx 2x10 and I know eveyone gave prices on square feet but how do you get the price of the sign included, double the price, triple?
Price out a piece of lexan 2x10 then add the vinyl, you will need transparent if you want it to illuminate at night. If you your opaque vinyl, it will look black at night. You might not be ready for a job like this if you don't know the proper procedure and products to use. I'd think $500 is not out of the ball park for a lighted sign face panel that size.
Price out a piece of lexan 2x10 then add the vinyl, you will need transparent if you want it to illuminate at night. If you your opaque vinyl, it will look black at night. You might not be ready for a job like this if you don't know the proper procedure and products to use. I'd think $500 is not out of the ball park for a lighted sign face panel that size.
I have done a couple of them but not for a paying customer, I can get the sign for around $80 and then the vinyl, I guess I just thought $500 sounded high but if I can get it why not.
Pricing a back car window 
Good Luck cutting vinyl man , I've been doing it now for 5 yrs....the cutter paid for itself in a month
without advertising. Also, if I could give you another tip that helped me be successful with it and customers coming back: stick with quality vinyls...I always stock at least a 6 year vinyl (Avery) don't go for the cheap ebay stuff. I've had customers that bought from me before come in and tell me, I'll always come to you because I bought a sticker from the guy at the flee market and letters were blowing off within 2 days. Thing is people try to increase the profit margin on a biz that is already high profit, and they end up sacrificing quality and it come back to haunt them. I've seen several shops in a mile radius of me come and go in the period that I've ben doing vinyl.
