§1What this business is
The sign is designed on a computer; acrylic sheet goes through a channel bending machine and the letters are cut on a CNC router, cured in a UV curing machine for about 2 hours, finished, fitted with LED lights and tested before packing. Buyers are shops, corporates, hospitals and builders who need lobby, directional and building signs.
Capacity: 100 sq ft a day; 30,000 a year at full capacity (report plans 50% in year 1 to 70% in year 5).
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone from printing, advertising or interior work who can design and win local business orders.
Who it is not for
Someone without design sense or sales contacts.
Advantages
- Every shop, office and hospital needs signs
- Good gross margin — about 32–37% in the report
- Made to order, so little finished stock
- CNC cutting gives a neat, premium look
Drawbacks
- Year 1 profit is thin (1.6% net) because staff and selling costs are high
- 16 people to manage
- Many local sign makers compete on price
- Payments from businesses can be slow
Skills you need
- Graphic design and CAD for letters
- CNC router operation
- LED wiring and testing
- Selling to shops, builders and corporates
Why difficulty 3/5: Machines are easy to learn; design skill and steady orders decide profit.
§3Market
Who buys
- Shops and showrooms
- Corporate offices
- Hospitals, schools and builders
How it sells
- Direct orders
- Advertising and interior agencies
Good to know
- The report prices boards at ₹550 per sq ft in year 1.
- Raw material cost works out to ₹249 per sq ft in the report.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| CNC router machine | 1 | ₹5,00,000 |
| Channel bending machine | 1 | ₹4,50,000 |
| UV curing machine | 1 | ₹3,50,000 |
| Installation and electrification | 1 | ₹1,00,000 |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Acrylic Signage Board Manufacturing Unit (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Acrylic sheet (8 × 4 ft)35,000 sq ft a year at ₹100/sq ft at full capacity
- Aluminium composite panel35,000 sq ft a year at ₹90/sq ft
- LED strips15,000 m a year at ₹25/m
- Colour paste, curing glue, power supply drivers and packinglump sums in the report
From: PMEGP sample project report — Acrylic Signage Board Manufacturing Unit (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam
- GST
- Trade licence
- Pollution consent as per state category
- Trademark for the brand (optional)
§6Schemes & subsidies
PMEGP sample project at ₹21.11 L; CGTMSE can cover the collateral-free loan.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Plant & machinery ₹14.00 L + furniture ₹1.00 L + working capital ₹6.11 L = ₹21.11 L. Land and 1,500 sq ft shed own or rented (not in cost). Finance: own ₹2.11 L, term loan ₹13.50 L, working capital ₹5.50 L.
Working capital: Working capital ₹6.11 L, of which ₹5.50 L is bank finance; debtors are the largest part.
Year not printed on the report — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Export council / board: PLEXCONCIL
- The report prints no HS code; confirm the ITC(HS) line with DGFT before exporting.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Price competition from local sign shops
- Slow collections
- Acrylic sheet and ACP price changes
- Municipal rules on outdoor signs affecting demand
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working acrylic signage boards unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Acrylic Signage Boards?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
- PMEGP sample project report — Acrylic Signage Board Manufacturing Unit (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.