Your business signage does more than tell people where you are—it communicates your brand, attracts foot traffic, and builds credibility from the very first glance. At AGC Signs, we specialize in helping businesses across Ontario create custom signboards that are eye-catching, durable, and aligned with their brand identity.
But one of the most common questions we hear is: “How much does a custom sign actually cost?” The truth is, pricing can vary widely depending on several factors. This article breaks down where those costs come from and what you can expect to pay for various sign types, including storefront signs, monument signs, and lobby signs.
Ready to get started with custom signboards? Contact us today.
1. What Goes Into the Cost of Custom Signboards?
Creating a custom business sign is a multi-step process that includes design, materials, fabrication, permitting, and installation. Each of these stages contributes to the final cost, and the choices you make along the way—like lighting options, size, and complexity—can shift the price significantly.
Design
Every great sign starts with a thoughtful design. This involves translating your brand’s personality into a visual concept that fits the physical space and aligns with local signage regulations.
Costs for professional sign design typically range from $200 to $2,000 or more, depending on complexity, number of revisions, and whether a full branding refresh is involved. AGC Signs works closely with clients during this stage to ensure the final design is both beautiful and functional.
Materials
The type of materials used in your sign dramatically affects the look, longevity, and price.
Common materials include aluminum, acrylic, wood, high-density urethane (HDU), vinyl, and composite panels. Acrylic letters or backlit LED panels will cost more than flat vinyl graphics, but they also tend to last longer and offer greater visual impact.
Material costs typically range from $300 for a simple wall-mounted sign to over $7,000 for a large, illuminated, or multi-material display.
Fabrication
Once your design and materials are selected, the sign is custom-fabricated. This process may include precision cutting, painting, welding, assembly, and electrical wiring for illuminated signs.
The fabrication process can vary widely in price—from $500 to $10,000 or more—depending on the size, complexity, and whether specialty finishes or lighting elements are included.
Permits
If you’re installing signage outdoors or in a public-facing location, you'll likely need municipal permits.
These are often required to ensure that signage complies with zoning bylaws, size restrictions, and safety codes. Depending on the jurisdiction and the complexity of the sign, permit costs can range from $100 to $1,000 or more.
AGC Signs handles this process on behalf of our clients, saving you time and helping to avoid costly delays or compliance issues.
Installation
Installation costs vary based on sign size, height, mounting surface, and whether electrical work is involved (such as connecting LED lights or digital elements).
A basic wall sign installation might cost around $300 to $1,000, while a large monument sign or rooftop installation requiring a crane or specialized rigging can cost $3,000 to $5,000 or more.
AGC Signs has a professional team that handles installations safely and efficiently, ensuring your sign is up and running with minimal disruption to your business.
2. Storefront Signs: Your First Impression
Storefront signs are perhaps the most essential type of signage for brick-and-mortar businesses.
They tell customers who you are, where you’re located, and can even give a sense of your style and professionalism.
There are many different styles of storefront signs, including channel letters, lightbox cabinets, blade signs, and flat panel signs. A basic non-illuminated panel sign might cost $2,000 to $4,000, while an LED-lit channel letter sign could cost $6,000 to $10,000 or more.
Consider the storefront as your 24/7 silent salesperson—it’s worth investing in a sign that represents your brand well day and night.
3. Monument Signs: Making a Bold Statement
Monument signs are permanent, freestanding signs often installed at ground level near the entrance of a property. They’re commonly used by office buildings, churches, schools, municipalities, and shopping plazas.
These signs tend to involve masonry or other structural elements like stone, stucco, or decorative metal framing. They can also include changeable letter boards or digital LED panels for displaying messages.
Costs for monument signs can start around $5,000 for a simple single-tenant design and go up to $25,000 or more for multi-tenant, illuminated, or digitally integrated displays.
The final cost depends on the materials used, size, and whether excavation or concrete work is required for installation.
4. Interior Lobby Signs: Elevating Your Space
Lobby signs play a vital role in establishing a strong brand presence inside your space. Whether it’s a reception area, hallway, or conference room, a well-designed interior sign can make your business look polished and professional.
Popular materials for lobby signs include brushed aluminum, frosted acrylic, backlit logos, and dimensional lettering. These signs are often mounted directly on walls and may include standoff hardware for added dimension.
A small to mid-size lobby sign generally falls in the $500 to $3,000 range, depending on materials and lighting features. Larger, multi-piece installations with integrated lighting may exceed $5,000.
While permits are usually not needed for indoor signage, proper placement and installation are still key, especially in spaces with glass walls, exposed concrete, or other challenging surfaces.
Why Businesses Trust AGC Signs
AGC Signs brings decades of experience to every signage project. Our team doesn’t just manufacture signs—we partner with clients to understand their goals, space, budget, and brand. From the initial design consultation to permitting and final installation, we’re committed to making the process smooth and stress-free.
We strive to exceed industry standards by providing our clients with superior signage solutions through in-house custom design, permitting, fabrication, and installation. Every stage of the process is handled by our expertly trained staff, ensuring the job is completed on time, within budget, and beyond expectations.
Whether you’re developing a new commercial property or refreshing an existing storefront, AGC Signs has the capability to manage your entire signage project from concept to completion.
Our in-house production means faster turnaround times, tighter quality control, and a consistent client experience from start to finish.
We design, fabricate, and install all types of interior and exterior signage.
No matter the size or scope of your project, AGC Signs delivers high-impact, long-lasting signs that help your business stand out in a competitive market.
trust AGC Signs for custom signboards
Whether you need a simple storefront sign or are looking for the most elaborate pylon sign available, we can help!
We’ll give you a fast, no-obligation quote, and in many instances, we’ll do your quote on-site.
AGC Signs has been reliably serving businesses in the Durham region for over 10 years. As a full-service sign company, we can manufacture, install, and service any type of signage you require.
All of our technicians are highly skilled and extremely hard-working, and we use only top-of-the-line equipment.
You can trust us to do the job right; we do all the work ourselves and never subcontract it out.
Contact us today for a quote.
“We had a great experience working with Adrian from AGC Signs! From design plan to installation, their team was professional, responsive, and wonderful to work with. The final product exceeded our expectations—we’re so happy with the results. Highly recommend them for any signage needs!”
