How do I quote a signage job — design, fabrication and install together?
Quote each part as its own line item: design and artwork as a flat fee, large-format print or vinyl per m², materials like ACM or acrylic per board or per m², fabrication, and installation labour. Bundling everything onto one figure hides where your money goes. TradiQuote lets the client see exactly what the print, the substrate, the design and the rigging each cost — then signs off on the whole package in one tap.
How do I stop free artwork revisions eating my profit?
Put your design fee and a clear revision policy in the quote — for example, two rounds of artwork included, then a set fee per additional round. Because the client signs the proposal with that term in it, extra change orders are agreed pricing, not an argument. You can add further revisions as a new line item on a follow-up quote in seconds.
What are typical signage rates in South Africa?
As an indicative 2026 guide, full-colour vinyl supply-and-apply often runs around R250–R600/m², ACM/aluminium composite panel around R650–R1,400/m² supplied and cut, and design/artwork around R450–R1,500 per concept depending on complexity. Illuminated lightboxes and fabricated channel letters are usually priced per unit. These are rough market ranges to sanity-check against — always set your own rates based on your material costs, machine time and margin.
Does the quote cover installation at height and signage permits?
Yes. Add installation labour as its own line item and load it for access — cherry-picker hire, scaffolding, after-hours rigging at a shopping centre or work at height all cost more than a ground-level shopfront. List any municipal signage permit or approval (most South African cities regulate outdoor advertising and signage under local by-laws) as a separate line so its cost and timeline are agreed before you start, not absorbed by you.
Can clients pay a signage deposit online?
Yes. Once the client signs the proposal, a deposit invoice with your banking details is created and sent automatically. They can pay by EFT or card, and you're notified when it clears — so you can order substrate, book print time and schedule the install team before you start cutting.
