How to Order Custom Office Signs: A Step-By-Step Guide for First-Time Buyers

Whether you're moving into a new office, rebranding or simply tired of the mismatched signs scattered around your building, ordering custom office signs can feel overwhelming. 

What material should you choose? Do your signs need to be ADA-compliant? How do you get your logo to show up nicely? What even is a "proof"?

If you're a first-time custom sign orderer: you need a company who makes the process easy. Our team has helped over 300,000 businesses through this exact process, and we've built our ordering experience to be as simple and guided as possible. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know before you order your signs.

Let's get started.

Step 1: Identify What Signs You Need

Before you start worrying about material types, sizes, and finishes: take a few minutes to inventory your actual signage needs. This saves time, avoids duplicate orders, and helps you think through total quantities (which in turn, helps with the quoting/pricing process).

A few questions to ask yourself:

1. Where will the signs live? (lobby, hallway, office doors, exterior, bathrooms, etc.)
2. Do any spaces require ADA-compliant Braille Signs? (in most cases: permanently identified rooms like restrooms, stairwells, and exits do)
3. Do you need text to change over time? (for directories, nameplates, or conference rooms: a changeable insert sign might serve you better long-term)

Don't stress about having every detail locked in at this stage. That's what our quoting and proofing processes are for! But, having a rough sense of sope will help you get a faster, more accurate estimate.

Step 2: Choose Your Sign Type

Office Sign Company offers a wide range of sign types, and it can feel like a lot at first. Here's a quick breakdown of the most common categories and when to use them:

Door & Wall Signs

These are the workhorses of the office sign world. Used to identify rooms, departments, and individual offices, these signs are available in a wide range of engraved or printed styles. Shop here.

ADA Braille Signs

Required by law for permanently identified spaces in public-facing buildings. Office Sign Company offers a full line of ADA-compliant signs for restrooms, exits, stairwells, and more. Shop here.

Nameplates & Name Tags

From engraved desk nameplates to magnetic name tags and full-color printed badges, these sign options are great for professional environments where staff identification matters.

Wayfinding & Directory Signs

Help visitors navigate your space with directional arrow signs, ceiling-mounted signs, lobby directories, and corridor signage. Shop here.

Logo & Branding Signs

Dimensional letters, logo signs, and wall vinyl all serve to make a strong impression in your lobby, reception area, or conference room, and are a great way to expand your brand's presence in the office. Shop here.

Vinyl Decals & Wall Graphics

A cost-effective way to brand walls, windows, and doors. Custom contour-cut or cut vinyl can bring your logo, core values, or office graphics to life without committing to permanent installation.

Not sure which type of sign fits your project? Just describe what you're lokoing for in your quote request and our team will help you land on the right solution for your company's needs. Let's talk custom signage.

Step 3: Select Your Material

Material choice affects durability, aesthetics, and (what you maybe care most about) cost. Here's a quick rundown of the most popular material options:

• Metal: premium look and feel with excellent durability. Great for lobbies, executive offices, or any space where you want to make a lasting impression. Available in brushed aluminum, satin, and gold finishes.
• Acrylic: versatile, modern, and available in a wide range of colors and finishes. This material works well for frosted, dimensional, or backlit applications.
• Wood: warm and distinctive, this is a popular choice for professional service companies, healthcare offices, and any brand that wants to convey a sense of craftsmanship or approachability.
• Vinyl: the most flexible and affordable of our material options, this is perfect for temporary signage, window graphics, wall decals, and vehicle lettering.

If you're outfitting a full office, you might end up landing on a combination of materials. In fact, we've worked with several companies who have combined metal and wood, acrylic and vinyl, and more. Contact us for advice on which sign material makes the most sense for you.

Step 4: Get Your Assets In Order

To get your signs looking their best, it helps to have a few things handy when you submit your custom sign request. The list includes:

• Your logo file: we love working with vector formats (.ai, .eps, or .svg), but depending on the sign type, we may be able to work with .png or .jpeg files too. If you only have a .png or .jpeg file, our team can still work through re-drawing or vectorizing your logo to make it work.
• Brand colors: if you're looking to retain brand consistency across your printed items, it's great to have an idea of Pantone (PMS) colors to match. IF you don't know your brand color's pantone colors, we can work with you to find a close match off of RGB or HEX values.
• Sign text: if you're ordering multiple signs, a simple list (or spreadsheet) of room names, titles, or messages can be extremely helpful to get in order.

No logo, brand guide, or text ideas? Don't worry. Our design team offers free proofing & design assistance to help make your (sign ordering) life easier. Contact us to get started.

Step 5: Submit Your Quote Request

Once you have a sense of the sign you need, the next step is to submit a custom quote request. If you see an existing product listing on our website, you can go ahead and click the "Request Quote" button next to the Add to Cart field. This will help us start a custom quote for you, and personalize any parts of the sign you want changed. OR, visit our custom sign page for a fully-custom quote on your sign order.

To help get the fastest estimate possible, please consider including:

• Your name and contact info
• A description of what you're looking for
• Quantity needed
• Your ideal delivery date
• Sign text (if known)
• Any reference images or links to styles you like

You can also send us images or files to match directly, if there's an existing sign or previous sign that you're wanting to match style-wise. The more context you share upfront, the fewer back-and-forth emails you'll need to get to the perfect sign order.

Step 6: Review Your Free Design Proof

Once your quote is accepted and order is placed, Office Sign Company's design team gets to work building a digital proof of your sign. This is one of the most important steps in the process (and it's completely free!).

Your proof will show you exactly how your sign will look before it goes into production. Take your time reviewing it, and don't hesitate to request changes. Some common things to look for include:

• Spelling and capitalization of text
• Logo size and positioning
• Color accuracy
• Overall proportions and layouts
• Overall quantity of signs
• Mounting holes or hardware placement (if applicable)

Production won't begin until you've signed off on your proof (if you selected "request proof"). Once your proof is approved, your sign will move into the production queue.

Step 7: Approve and Place Your Order

With your proof approved, you're in the home stretch. Office Sign Company offers fast production times and ships from our facility here in Fargo, North Dakota. A few reasons customers keep coming back to us include:

• No order minimums. You can order as few as one sign or as many as a thousand. There's no minimum quantity required.
• Bulk pricing. Ordering multiple signs at once can unlock quantity discounts, which is helpful when ordering for an entire floor or building.
• Satisfaction guaranteed. Every sign is made-to-order and backed by a satisfaction guarantee. If something isn't right, the team will work to make it right for you.

Once your signs arrive, installation is straightforward. Most signs include mounting hardware or installation instructions in the package. If you're a regional customer and not sure about installing signs on your own, don't fear: our install team is here! Learn more about Office Sign Company's installation process or get your installation scheduled here. 

Final Tips for First-Time Buyers

1. Order slightly more than you think you'll need. With signs like nameplates and name tags especially, having a few extras on hand for new hires or replacements is worth it.
2. Provide context, not just specs. Describing your space, your brand, and your goals gives our design and sales team the fuel that we need to make great recommendations.
3. Check ADA requirements early. If your building is open to the public, certain rooms legally require ADA Braille signs. Don't find out after the fact, ask during the quote stage.
4. Use reference images or links. Found a sign style you love on the Office Sign Company website? Send us the link in your quote request! Or, if you have existing photos of sign styles you're wanting to match or replicate, we'd love to see those too.

Ready to Get Started?

Ordering custom office signs doesn't have to be complicated. With free proofing, free quotes, no minimums, and a team that's helped over 300,000 businesses find the right signage, we make it easy to go from sign idea to installation. Submit your custom quote request today.