·         From a business owner's perspective, a sign should not be viewed as an expense, but as a capital investment. When you factor in your return on investment, signs are not expensive. An effective sign will most likely pay for itself many times over.  

·         The price for signage will vary greatly depending upon the size, design, style, manufacturer, and mounting type.  

In addition, please review the Understanding the Value of Signage section of this site.

How do I go about obtaining a UPC Bar Code for a product I am manufacturing?  

In order for you to be able to print UPC bar code symbols, you will need to become a member of the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC). Once a member, you will be assigned an identification number that will be specific for your company only. To learn more about obtaining a UPC bar code symbol visit the Uniform Code Council, Inc. web site. 

I am interested in making my first big sale to a customer that I don't know much about, and therefore I am worried about whether or not I am going to get paid on time. Where can I go to find out more about a company's credit worthiness?  

Try Dunn & Bradstreet's Small Business Solutions. D&B Small Business Solutions gives you easy access to a suite of online tools and services that will help you make better informed credit decisions, find new customers, monitor your competition, and more.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Yellow Pages advertising?  

Advantages of Yellow Pages advertising: 

·         One ad works all year long.  

·         It gives your prospect a method of easily locating and contacting your business, even if they didn't initially know your name.  

·         It can help you describe the differences between you and your competition.