Sign Manufacturers
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 5,700 sign manufacturers in the US produce signs and displays (excluding paper and paperboard-based sign products) for commercial, institutional, and government use. Major revenue categories include non-electric signs and displays, electric signs and displays, and trade show exhibits. Other products and services include digital printing, commercial screen printing, and commercial lithographic printing. Firms may also generate revenue from installation, maintenance, and repair services.
Competition From Alternative Forms Of Advertising
Signs compete with alternative forms of advertising, such as television, print, direct mail, and digital media.
More Digital Displays
Improved image quality, the ability to offer dynamic content, and better durability is motivating customers to migrate to digital signage.
Industry size & Structure
The average sign manufacturer operates out of a single location, employs fewer than 10 workers, and generates $2.2 million in annual revenue.
- The sign manufacturing industry consists of about 5,700 firms that employ 75,300 workers and generate about $12.3 billion annually.
- The industry is fragmented; the top 50 companies account for 33% of industry revenue.
- The industry includes national firms, regional firms, franchises, and independent operators.
- Large companies include Daktronics, Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO), and Fastsigns.
- Large firms may have operations in foreign markets. Subcontracting to sign manufacturers outside of local markets allows small firms to serve remote customers.
Industry Forecast
Sign Manufacturers Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Feb 11, 2025 - Some Small Businesses Worried About Shifting US Trade Policy
- Nearly one-third (30%) of small businesses are worried that tariffs could result in revenue losses, according to a survey released in February by Alignable, a social media outlet for small business owners. About 18% of business owners believe tariffs could boost their revenue, and 40% think they will have no effect; 12% of respondents were unsure what effects tariffs might have on their businesses. However, concerns about tariffs possibly hurting revenue varies by industry. At 48%, architecture and design firms were most concerned about declining revenue, followed by print and copy services (43%), science and technology (39%), health and wellness (38%), art and music services (38%), travel and lodging (35%), retail (34%), marketing and advertising (33%), and restaurants (33%). The sign-making industry could see weaker demand if trade policy slows economic growth and reduces small business marketing budgets and/or capital spending.
- Commercial bankruptcy filings increased 17% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions and ABI. Commercial Chapter 11 filings increased 20% in 2024. The total number of commercial Chapter 11 filings rose to 7,879 in 2024 from 6,583 in 2023. ABI Executive Director Amy Quackenboss said, "The continued increase in bankruptcies over the past year reflects the growing list of economic challenges faced by consumers and businesses. Rising interest rates, inflation, increasing geopolitical tensions and shifts in post-pandemic consumer spending have more struggling businesses and families turning to bankruptcy for a financial fresh start from their growing debt loads." An uptick in corporate bankruptcies could reduce demand for signage.
- US net media owner advertising revenues (including cyclical spending such as the Olympics and the presidential election) rose 12.4% in 2024 and are projected to slow to 4.9% growth in 2025, according to a December forecast by advertising firm MAGNA. Traditional media spending (TV, audio, publishing, out-of-home, and cinema) rose 5.6% in 2024 but is projected to decrease by 7.1% in 2025. Out-of-home ad spending (OOH - which includes billboards and other signage) was up 5.4% in 2024 and is forecast to rise 5.1% in 2025. In 2024, OOH outperformed many other traditional media categories as brands spent reaching sports fans attending events, including the Olympics. Digital-out-of-home (DOOH) is attracting programmatic ad budgets to OOH, which has also helped drive growth.
- In December, UK-based Robots of London debuted a Digital Signage Robot that the firm is offering for hire or sale, according to AV Magazine. The Digital Signage Robot features a 27-inch portrait HD display that can play videos, images, and real-time updates. The robot also has a smaller 10.1-inch interactive display and AI chatbot integration for answering questions in real time. The Digital Signage Robot’s autonomous navigation makes it well-suited for use in retail and hospitality settings.
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