Custom signs, quoted before the coffee cools
Hivara is inventory and production software for sign makers. Cost boards, paint and hardware per size, keep made-to-order work moving without stock surprises, and quote every custom sign from a recipe instead of a guess.
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A sign in Hivara
Product
Custom Wood Sign (12 in)
SKU SIGN-WOOD-12
Material
Pine Board
tracked in board-ft · Lumber
Supplier
Timber & Tools Supply
Variations
Size, Color
Track everything that goes into a sign
From raw materials to finished stock, Hivara keeps sign makers on top of:
- lumber by the board-foot
- blanks
- finish and stain
- hardware
- sandpaper and consumables
A sign in Hivara
Product
Custom Wood Sign (12 in)
SKU SIGN-WOOD-12
Material
Pine Board
tracked in board-ft · Lumber
Supplier
Timber & Tools Supply
Variations
Size, Color
Built around how sign makers actually work
Every order is a little different
Names, dates, sizes, colors — custom is the product. Size-tier recipes carry the material math so the personalization stays creative and the pricing stays fixed.
Three sizes, three real costs
A 24-inch sign isn't just a bigger 12-inch — it's more board, more paint, more shipping weight. Per-size costing keeps the big sizes from quietly earning less than the small ones.
Paint and stencils are consumables, not decor
Paint by the ounce, stencil film by the sheet, sealer by the coat. In the recipe they're priced; outside it they're a hobby subsidy.
Big items, real shipping
An 18-inch wood sign ships like furniture, not like a sticker. Packaging and freight per size tier belong in the price the moment the listing goes live.
What a custom wood sign (12 in) really costs
This is the math Hivara does for every product you make — every line from a real bill of materials, updated whenever a supplier price changes.
The 24-inch version costs $11.40 in materials and ships heavier — its price should say so.
Custom Wood Sign (12 in)
- Pine board (1.1 bd-ft)
- $3.85
- Paint + sealer
- $0.75
- Hanging hardware
- $0.45
- Protective wrap
- $0.55
A day in Hivara, for sign makers
- 1
Stock boards and finishes
Pine by the board-foot, paint and sealer by the ounce, hangers and wrap by the piece.
- 2
Recipe each size tier
12-, 18- and 24-inch signs each carry their own board-feet, paint and packaging — costed and priced apart.
- 3
Take the order, check the shelf
A made-to-order sign confirms board stock instantly — commit with a real date, not a hopeful one.
- 4
Paint, seal, ship, log
Finishing the sign draws down materials and closes the order with its true cost on record.
Questions sign makers ask
How do I price custom wood signs?
Cost the board-feet, paint, hardware and packaging per size tier, add design and painting time, then margin. Customization itself is premium labor — the name on the sign is why it sells, so the hours behind it belong in the price.
How should I handle different sign sizes?
As separate size variations with separate recipes. Board, paint and shipping all scale with size — three tiers with three honest costs beat one averaged price that overcharges small and undercharges large.
Can I manage made-to-order signs without holding finished stock?
Yes — made-to-order products check raw material stock when the order lands and draw it down when you build. You hold boards and paint, not guesses about which name someone will want next.
What does it cost to ship large signs?
Often more than the materials: oversize boxes, padding and dimensional-weight pricing add up fast. Cost packaging per size tier and check carrier dimensional rates before setting a flat shipping price on the big sizes.
How do I keep up with seasonal sign demand?
Wedding season and Q4 both hit sign makers hard. Sales history shows the wave coming, and material alerts sized to your lead times keep boards and paint ahead of the rush instead of behind it.
Hivara for other crafts
Guides for sign makers
All guidesHow to Forecast Demand for a Seasonal Handmade Business
The holiday rush makes or breaks a maker's year. Here's how to forecast demand so you make enough of the right things — without drowning in leftovers.
How to Track Your Shipping and Packaging Costs
Boxes, tissue, labels, postage — the costs after the product is made. Most makers forget them, and it quietly shrinks every sale. Here's how to track them.
Run your signs business like a business
Know your true cost and profit, track every material, and produce by scan. Start free — no credit card. Or try the free pricing calculator first.