Signshop Owner-Manager Earning and Retirement Report

Ultimate business goals, expected earnings, feelings about retirement, and more.

Published

12 months ago

March 7, 2025

Signs of the Times Staff

WITH MORE THAN half of respondents earning less than six figures last year, it’s safe to say that the sign business is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Perhaps partly for that reason, about 1 in 5 has no plans for retirement. Likely the major reason is not financial, but that they love what they’re doing!

21. How much did you earn last year from being a sign-business professional (including salary and share of profit)?

RICHER OR POORER. 5% more respondents report earning less than $100K this year than last year and the portion earning $500K or more also slipped compared to 2024.

22. How much do you expect to earn this year?

Less than $50,000
15%
$50,000-$99,999
34%
$100,000-$249,999
37%
$250,000-$499,999
10%
$500,000-$999,999
2%
$1 million or more
2%

INCREMENTAL GAINS. Maybe Pink Floyd put it best in “Money,” their 1973 classic: “But if you ask for a rise / It’s no surprise that they’re giving none away… away… awayyyyyy… away…”

23. How well have your earnings kept up with the recent cost of living?

Very well — no problems here
15%
Fine — tighter but only small adjustments
33%
OK — made a few adjustments
33%
Not so well — a lot of adjustments
19%

BELT TIGHTENING. Among the 19% doing not so well this year (up from 13% in 2024), only about half earned less than $50K last year while about 1 in 8 earned $100K or more.

25. What is your ultimate business goal?

To run a business that keeps my family fed and me engaged
14%
To build the family business for the next generation
22%
To be more profitable
13%
To reach your ultimate goal in annual sales
4%
To build a regional or national brand
6%
To have fun and/or work less
9%
To sell, retire and/or leave a legacy
28%
Other (see below)
4%

MORE GOALS. For each employee to make at least $100K per year, build a team, make a difference in the lives of others, build a profitable business for our ESOP.

26. In what age range do you plan to retire?

Before 40
0%
40-49
0%
50-54
7%
55-59
8%
60-64
16%
65-69
23%
70-75
20%
After 75
9%
Never
17%

A FEW YEARS LEFT IN ME. About twice as many sign pros responding plan to retire after age 70 than before 60 — if they plan to retire.

27. What’s the current state of your retirement plan?

Dire
5%
It needs a modest boost
31%
On track
35%
I could retire today
17%
I don’t plan to retire
12%

28. How likely are you to achieve your ultimate business goal?

DREAM ON. The poor soul claiming a snowball’s chance in hell to reach their ultimate business goal — “sales broker on a 60-ft. sailboat in the Mediterranean” — never plans to retire. Oh well, it’s nice to dream!

29. What one important thing are you hoping to accomplish before your retirement?

Grow a national company to compete with the biggest. Obtain competent installers. Build a larger sales team so that the majority of sales are not mine. Reach $15 million in sales and 75 employees. Pay off debt. Build multiple revenue streams. Acquire multiple additional locations and vertically complementary businesses. Build a successful business recognized as a great place to work. Make sure my son is up to speed for the takeover. Find a replacement for myself so my daughter is not caught short-handed. Maintain my health. Teach workshops highlighting 3D signs to keep the craft alive. Have fun and help local businesses with their design needs. Shoot my age in golf. Walk away and don’t look back. I think I’ve done all I can do.

30. How do you feel about retiring, if you plan to?

INSPIRED. From 15% to 17% in previous questions and now at 19%, taking the Big Survey seems to have created more anti-retirees as they progressed through the questions.

Signs of the Times Staff

Signs of the Times has been the world leader in sign information since 1906. Contact Signs of the Times' editors at [email protected].

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