How to Evaluate a National Sign Company for Your RFP
A practical guide to comparing commercial sign companies for multi-location and national signage programs
What to Look for in a National Sign Company
When evaluating sign companies for an RFP, look beyond individual sign pricing. The right partner should have the infrastructure, processes, and experience to deliver consistent results across locations while keeping your team informed throughout the program.
Project Management
Ask: Who manages the program?
Look for: Dedicated management, schedules, milestone tracking, documented changes, and regular communication.
Manufacturing
Ask: What is manufactured in-house?
Look for: Manufacturing capacity, quality control, equipment, skilled teams, and scalability.
Installation
Ask: How is field quality maintained?
Look for: Qualified installers, consistent standards, approved plans, completion documentation, and verification.
Multi-Location Execution
Ask: How is consistency maintained across locations?
Look for: Centralized coordination, brand standards, scalable production, location tracking, and nationwide execution.
Permitting
Ask: Who coordinates permits and sign codes?
Look for: Multi-jurisdiction experience and a defined permitting process.
Service & Warranty
Ask: What happens after installation?
Look for: Clear warranty terms, service capabilities, escalation procedures, and repair support.
Questions to Ask Every Sign Company
- Who manages permitting and local code requirements?
- How are scope, schedule, and cost changes communicated?
- What project visibility and reporting is available?
- What warranty is provided?
- How are service issues and escalations handled?
- What performance metrics can you provide?
- Can you provide references for similar multi-location programs?
- What signage do you manufacture in-house?
- What is your annual manufacturing capacity?
- Who will be our primary point of contact?
- How do you manage multi-location schedules and milestones?
- How are installation partners qualified?
- How is completed installation work verified?
- How do you maintain brand standards across locations?
Why Include Thomas Sign in Your RFP?
For more than 56 years, Thomas Sign has supported commercial signage projects for businesses across the United States. Our combination of in-house manufacturing, centralized project management, and nationwide installation capabilities provides one coordinated resource for multi-location signage programs.
Why Include Thomas Sign in Your RFP?
Thomas Sign combines in-house manufacturing, centralized project management, and nationwide installation capabilities to support multi-location signage programs across the United States.
In-House Manufacturing
Greater control over production, quality, and consistency.
Centralized Project Management
One team coordinates schedules, communication, and project requirements.
Nationwide Installation
Installation coordinated through qualified partners across the United States.
Multi-Location Experience
Signage programs managed across locations while maintaining approved brand standards.
Know Where Your Sign Program Stands
Large signage programs require clear communication and visibility across locations, schedules, and milestones.
Thomas Sign provides a dedicated project manager and project management technology to help keep your team informed throughout the program.
Project Visibility
Track project status, timelines, and key milestones.
Dedicated Project Manager
One primary point of contact coordinates your program.
Documented Changes
Changes to scope, schedule, and cost are communicated and documented.
Issue Escalation
Project issues are coordinated and escalated when needed to keep work moving.
Multi-Location Signage Experience
Thomas Sign has supported signage programs for recognizable brands across multiple locations and markets. Explore examples of our experience managing rebranding, manufacturing, and rollout execution.
Trusted Sign Experts Since 1969
For more than 56 years, Thomas Sign has designed, built, and installed custom commercial signs for businesses throughout the United States.
- 56+ Years of Experience
- 100,000 sq ft Manufacturing Facility
- 720+ Installation Partners
- 10,000+ Signs Built Each Year
- Woman-Owned Business
- UL Listed
- 3M MCS Certified
- AWS Certified Welders
Why Businesses Trust Thomas Sign
What should be included in a sign company RFP?
A sign company RFP should define the project scope, locations, sign types, brand requirements, schedule, installation requirements, permitting responsibilities, warranty expectations, reporting requirements, and pricing format.
How should I compare national sign companies?
Compare manufacturing capabilities, project management, installation standards, quality control, multi-location experience, communication, permitting capabilities, warranty, service, and relevant references.
Should a national sign company manufacture signs in-house?
In-house manufacturing can provide greater control over production, quality, schedules, and consistency. Ask each vendor what they manufacture internally and what they outsource.
How should installation be evaluated in a sign RFP?
Ask how installers are qualified, what installation standards they follow, how completed work is verified, and how installation issues are handled.
How do national sign companies maintain brand consistency?
Look for centralized project management, documented brand standards, approved drawings and specifications, consistent manufacturing processes, and installation requirements across locations.
What should I ask about project communication?
Ask who your primary contact will be, how project updates are provided, what project information you can access, how changes are documented, and how issues are escalated.
Can Thomas Sign support multi-location RFPs?
Yes. Thomas Sign supports multi-location signage programs with centralized project management, in-house manufacturing, permitting coordination when included, and nationwide installation.
Does Thomas Sign manufacture signage in-house?
Yes. Thomas Sign manufactures commercial signage in its 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, providing greater control over production, quality, and consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a Signage RFP?
Whether you’re preparing an RFP, comparing signage partners, or planning a multi-location program, talk with Thomas Sign about your project requirements.