Dimension Wood Signs...How To Make 'Em and Sell 'Em Part II

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By the way, a long string of acceptances is one sure indication that your pricing structure is too reasonable. If nobody ever refuses to give you a job because he or she thinks your quotes are too high, then it's a good bet that your prices are consistently too low. Raise them.

PUT YOUR CONTRACTS IN WRITING AND COLLECT A DEPOSIT

Never give a potential customer a firm quote until that customer has fully agreed upon exactly what the sign will look like, how it will be installed, and who will do the installing.

Then, once your quote for precisely the stated job has been accepted, set down an agreement to that effect in full detail in writing so that there'll be no misunderstandings later. This contract should be typed on your letterhead or on one of the standard contractor's forms sold by office supply stores.

Be absolutely certain that your contract specifies whether you or the customer will be responsible for installing the sign. (It's often possible to get the client to assume this obnoxious task, in the interest of economy.) If, however, you're elected, you'll have to reward yourself generously especially if the sign in question is large and tedious to muscle into place. (You may also want to hire a contractor who's well equipped with elaborate winches and cranes to do the job for you for a large fee which you'll simply pass on to your customer.)

At any rate, no matter who is supposed to do what, get it in writing. It's entirely unfair for a client to change his or her mind after delivery and ask you to repaint or otherwise revamp a sign unless he or she is willing to pay for such additional work. It's also unfair for you to deliver anything but what the customer ordered an the first place. A signed contract is a guarantee of protection for both of you.

Then too, for the sake of your financial security, you should always bear in mind that in the sign business, anyway you don't have a binding contract until you also have 5O% of the cost of the job in question safely grasped in your hand.

No, I'm not trying to say that your average client will try to beat you out of payment on a bill if you don't get half your money in advance. But a certain number of them will and others who have eyes bigger than their cash registers can support will order more (and more elaborate) signs than they can possibly pay for unless they're forced to lay out cold, hard cash at the time the deal is made.

I get 50% of a job's cost at the time we sign and the balance upon delivery and I've never had any trouble collecting either the deposit or the balance. I've also been paid for all last minute delays and changes because I've always specified in my contracts that I will be paid for such work. Being businesslike saves a lot of heartaches.

USE LAYOUTS TO CLARIFY YOUR CONTRACTS

Another way to cement an agreement between you and a customer is by making a layout a finished sketch, to scale, of the proposed sign. The drawing should show all colors, artwork, type, post arrangements, and anything else pertinent to the job in question.

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