Signage for a New Business Opening: The Pre-Launch Checklist
Updated: 4 days ago
Short answer: Start signage 8 to 12 weeks before opening. Confirm the landlord's and authorities' rules first, then approve the design, submit approvals (BCA typically takes about 7 working days, plus about two weeks if URA must evaluate), fabricate and install the permanent sign at least a week before opening. Add opening-week signs, such as banners, roll-ups and window graphics, last.
Week-by-week checklist
8 to 12 weeks before opening
Read your tenancy agreement and the landlord's or mall's fit-out signage rules.
Check which approvals apply: BCA license for outdoor signs, Town Council for HDB shops, URA for conservation shophouses. See our signage regulations guide.
Measure the sign space and photograph the facade and approach.
Gather your logo in vector format; see our artwork guide.
Set a budget for permanent signs and opening-week items.
6 to 8 weeks before
Brief your sign maker and get a site survey.
Approve the design and drawings; check letter heights for the viewing distance.
Submit landlord approval, then BCA, Town Council or URA as needed. Allow for revisions.
Confirm the power point, switch and timer location for lit signs with your contractor.
3 to 5 weeks before
Fabrication of the permanent sign starts once approvals are in. See our lead time guide.
Order printed items: menus, door decals, opening hours, roll-ups.
Put up hoarding graphics or a "coming soon" sign if the landlord allows.
Order statutory signs: exits, fire equipment, safety signs.
1 to 2 weeks before
Install the permanent sign; test the lighting and timer.
Install door and window graphics: opening hours, phone, payment methods.
Install internal signs: menu boards, room signs, wayfinding, toilets.
Photograph the finished shopfront for your Google Business Profile and website, and check the business name matches the sign.
Opening week
Put out opening-week signs: roll-up banners, A-frames, flags and window promotions. See our portable signs guide.
Check any outdoor banners have the approvals they need; see our banners guide.
After opening
Set up GIRO for the annual BCA license renewal, if you have a licensed sign.
Diary a cleaning and inspection routine.
The signs most new businesses need
Category | Signs |
Identity | Fascia sign, projecting sign, door decal with logo |
Information | Opening hours, contact, payment methods, menus or price lists |
Inside | Counters, toilets, fitting rooms or meeting rooms, wayfinding |
Statutory | Exit signs, fire equipment, safety signs, any license or certificate you must display |
Opening | Roll-up banners, A-frames, window promotions, flags |
A starter budget
Item | Typical price (SGD) |
Shopfront lightbox, 2 m by 0.6 m | $600 to $1,500 |
3D acrylic letters, up to 2 m wide | $400 to $1,200 unlit |
BCA license application, handled | $300 to $700 |
Printed acrylic sign, A4 | $80 to $180 |
Roll-up banner with print | $100 to $180 |
See the full signage cost guide.
Mistakes that delay openings
Ordering the sign before the landlord approves it.
Leaving the BCA application until the sign is made.
No power point where the lit sign goes.
Artwork in low-resolution image files instead of vector.
Assuming the old tenant's license can be reused; licenses aren't transferable.
Forgetting statutory signs until the fire safety inspection.
Opening-week signage ideas
An opening offer on the door or window in large, simple type, with the end date.
A QR code to your menu, booking page or social account, at eye level by the door.
Roll-up banners inside the entrance, clear of the doorway.
An A-frame on the walkway where the landlord or Town Council allows it.
A "now open" banner if approved; outdoor banners may need a BCA license or other consent.
Remove opening-week signs after a few weeks so the shopfront looks settled and the permanent sign does the work.
Sample timeline: a café opening on 1 March
Date | Signage task |
Early December | Read the tenancy and fit-out rules; gather logo files; set the budget |
Mid December | Site survey and brief |
Early January | Approve design; submit landlord and authority approvals |
Late January | Approvals in; fabrication starts; order printed items |
Mid February | Install the main sign; test lighting and timer; install interior signs |
Late February | Door decals, menus, opening-week signs; photograph the shopfront |
1 March | Open |
Work back from your own date, and allow extra time around Chinese New Year, when many businesses open and suppliers are busy.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I order signage for a new shop?
Start 8 to 12 weeks before opening, so approvals and fabrication don't delay the launch.
How long does BCA signage approval take?
BCA typically processes applications in about 7 working days, plus about two weeks if URA evaluation is needed.
What signs do I need to open a shop in Singapore?
A fascia sign, opening hours and contact information, internal signs, statutory safety signs and, if you like, opening-week promotional signs.
Can I use the previous tenant's signage license?
No. BCA licenses are not transferable; you need a new application.
Should my sign match my Google Business Profile name?
Yes. Using the same business name on your sign, Google profile and website helps customers recognise you and keeps your listing consistent.
Do grand opening banners need approval?
Often. Outdoor banners may need a BCA license, Town Council consent on HDB property or the landlord's approval. See our banners guide.
Sources
Opening soon? WhatsApp your opening date and shopfront photo to Advert & Signs at +65 9862 5243, or request a quote.
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