We are huge believers of having a system is much better than price guessing. We do price research locally to stay competitive and find out if we are pricing too much or too little, however we work from home and we don't have a shop or employees and that plays a role on how the competition price their product.

So we decided to put on a hidden microphone and do some price research in our local area to find out how much they would charge for the same project we did.

Watch how we do price research

Step 1: Call Local Competitors for Market Research

Before setting your prices, you need to know what other shops charge. A few quick calls can reveal valuable insights:

• What to Ask:

• "What would you charge for a 12" x 12" vinyl decal with a single-color design?"
• "Do you offer discounts for bulk orders?"
• "Is installation included, or is that extra?"

Take notes on their pricing structure—some charge by size, others by complexity. This gives you a baseline for what customers expect to pay in your area.

Step 2: Factor in Your Business Advantages

• Unlike big sign shops with high overhead, your home-based, family-run business has key cost-saving benefits:

• No storefront rent
• No full-time employees
• Lower operational expenses

• This means you can:

• Price more competitively than commercial shops
• Keep higher profit margins even at lower prices
• Offer perks like faster turnaround or free small revisions

But don’t undervalue your work! Just because you can charge less doesn’t always mean you should.

Step 3: Use Our Custom Decal Calculator for Precision Pricing

• Instead of guessing, we developed a decal pricing calculator that factors in:

• Material costs (vinyl, glitter, laminate)
• Labor time (design, weeding, application)
• Profit margin goals
• Competitor benchmarking

• This tool ensures:

• You never underprice a job
• Quotes are consistent and professional
• You maximize profits without overcharging

• Example Scenario:

• A customer asks for a 24" x 24" outdoor decal.

• A local shop quotes $85
• Our calculator shows our cost is $32
• We can price at $65, beating competitors while keeping a strong 50%+ profit

The right price isn’t just what the market charges—it’s what your time, skill, and unique value are worth.