Business signage is one of the most important investments you can make in your company’s visibility, branding, and customer experience. Whether you’re a small retail store on the shores of Lake Erie or a corporate headquarters in downtown Cleveland, your signs do much more than display a name—they create first impressions, guide visitors, and tell the story of your business. These signs can range from storefront signs to pylon signs to digital message boards, each serving a unique purpose.

Still, for many business owners, the signage process can feel overwhelming. How do you go from an idea to a fully installed, code-compliant sign that matches your brand? What steps are involved? Who handles the permits?

At Brady Signs, we’ve helped businesses across North Central Ohio and beyond navigate every stage of this journey. In this guide, we’ll break down the business signage process step by step, so you know exactly what to expect, from the first conversation to the final installation. With us by your side, you can rest assured that your signage project is in expert hands, relieving you of the stress and uncertainty that often comes with this process.

The Complete Business Signage Process

Consultation: Setting the Foundation

Every successful signage project begins with a thorough consultation. This is where we get to know your business, your goals, and your location. A good signage partner will ask questions like:

• What are you hoping to achieve with this sign?
• Where will the sign be located?
• What is the primary audience or traffic type (pedestrian, vehicle, both)?
• What is your budget range and timeline?

This discovery phase can also involve site visits to assess visibility angles, local zoning restrictions, electrical access (for illuminated signs), and environmental conditions that might impact sign durability. This early groundwork helps avoid surprises later.

Design: Turning Ideas into Visual Concepts

Once the basics are understood, the next phase focuses on creating the design. Effective signage design isn’t just about looks—it’s about clarity, visibility, and brand consistency. During this stage, professional designers create layouts that incorporate your brand’s fonts, colors, logos, and messaging in a way that is both visually striking and functional.

Strong design is crucial for capturing attention and conveying information effectively. Good design leverages contrast, simplicity, and strategic layout to maximize a sign’s impact on customers.

Mockups and Proofs: Visualizing Your New Sign

Before production begins, you will receive detailed mockups or proofs that show exactly how your sign will look. These visual presentations allow you to review the size, colors, mounting details, and layout to ensure everything matches your expectations.

Mockups also help visualize scale—how large the sign will appear from the street or sidewalk—and allow room for any adjustments before final production. In some cases, especially for large projects or multi-site rollouts, several design options may be presented to fine-tune the final direction.

Permitting: Navigating Local Sign Codes

Before you can install a sign, you must secure the proper permits from local government agencies. Every municipality—whether it’s Lorain, Elyria, Sandusky, or Cleveland—has specific codes regulating sign height, size, lighting, placement, and more.

Obtaining permits can be a time-consuming and detailed process. An experienced signage partner will handle this process on your behalf, preparing drawings, engineering documents (when necessary), and submitting the required paperwork. It’s essential to adhere to legal guidelines without compromising your brand presence.

Skipping or mishandling permitting can cause costly delays, fines, or even the need to remove non-compliant signage after installation—something every business wants to avoid. It’s not just a legal requirement, but also a crucial step in ensuring your signage project stays on track and within budget.

Fabrication: Bringing the Design to Life

After approvals are in place, your sign moves into fabrication. This stage involves selecting materials, such as aluminum, acrylic, vinyl, LED modules, and other options, based on design requirements, location, and weather exposure.

Given Northeast Ohio’s harsh winters, temperature swings, and lake-effect snow, selecting the right materials is crucial for longevity. A knowledgeable signage provider will recommend durable solutions that withstand Ohio’s toughest seasons.

Precision craftsmanship at this stage ensures that your sign not only looks great but also functions correctly, whether it’s a digital message board, dimensional lettering, or an illuminated cabinet.

Installation: Completing the Vision

Finally, the project moves to installation. Professional installation teams coordinate equipment, safety measures, and logistics to ensure the sign is securely and properly mounted, whether that’s on a storefront, a pylon pole, or a monument base.

Installation often involves electrical work for illuminated signs, foundation work for freestanding signs, or coordination for mounting on building facades. Timing and site conditions are carefully considered to minimize disruptions to your daily business operations.

A proper installation is more than just putting up the sign—it’s about ensuring everything is level, anchored, compliant, and polished for immediate public visibility.

Remember, start early to stay on schedule! One of the most common challenges in the business signage process is timing. From permitting backlogs to supply chain delays, even a well-planned project can hit unexpected slowdowns. To avoid delays, begin your signage project as early as possible, particularly if it’s related to a grand opening, seasonal campaign, or major rebrand. Starting early gives your team ample time to complete design details, secure municipal permits, coordinate with landlords or property managers, and fabricate high-quality materials without rushing. It also provides breathing room to work through revisions or changes in direction that might come up along the way. 

Getting a jump start helps ensure your sign is ready when your business is—and prevents last-minute surprises that can delay your launch or reduce visibility during critical growth phases.

Brady Signs is a third-generation family business that has been a premier provider of business signage solutions throughout the North Central Ohio region and beyond for over 50 years. Our long-standing reputation for quality and excellence in signage design and installation is a testament to our commitment to delivering the best for our clients. We’re here to discuss how our eye-catching signage can transform your brand into a statement, and we’re confident that you’ll be thrilled with the results.