NAICS 339950 Quarterly Industry Report
Sign Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 339950Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value provides this NAICS 339950 industry profile using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's County Business Patterns[8], Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data[6], and SBA size standard tables[7]. Our research team reviews sign industry trade association publications and municipal procurement data to verify production trends. This report receives quarterly updates reflecting workforce changes, material cost shifts, and market conditions affecting sign manufacturers.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the sign manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Sign Manufacturing (NAICS 339950) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing signs and related displays of all materials, except printing paper and paperboard signs, notices, and displays. Products include illuminated and non-illuminated commercial signs, neon signs, billboards, electronic message displays, traffic signs, channel letters, and architectural signage. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies this industry within miscellaneous manufacturing.
Production methods vary by sign type and material. Metal fabrication shops cut, weld, and finish aluminum and steel sign structures. Plastic thermoforming and vacuum forming produce sign faces and dimensional letters. LED module assembly and wiring create illuminated displays. Digital printing on vinyl, fabric, and rigid substrates has expanded production capabilities for custom graphics. CNC routing machines cut precise letter forms and decorative elements from wood, foam, and composite panels. Many shops handle both fabrication and on-site installation, blurring lines between manufacturing and construction trades. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] tracks employment within the miscellaneous manufacturing subsector.
Under SBA size standards[7], NAICS 339950 carries a threshold of 500 employees. Most sign companies operate as small regional shops serving local commercial clients, though several national firms handle large-scale projects for retail chains and corporate campus installations. Municipal and state government contracts for traffic and regulatory signage provide steady demand independent of private-sector commercial cycles. Raw material costs for aluminum, steel, and LED components directly affect production margins across the industry.
What's Included in This Industry
- Illuminated commercial sign manufacturing
- Neon sign fabrication and tube bending
- Billboard and outdoor advertising structure production
- Electronic message center and LED display manufacturing
- Traffic and regulatory sign production
- Channel letter and dimensional letter fabrication
- Architectural and wayfinding signage manufacturing
- Vehicle wrap and fleet graphics production
- Monument and pylon sign construction
- Point-of-purchase display manufacturing
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339 |
| Industry Group | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3399 |
| NAICS Industry | Sign Manufacturing | 33995 |
| National Industry | Sign Manufacturing | 339950 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 339920 | Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing | Sporting goods manufacturing shares the miscellaneous manufacturing classification and similar metal fabrication and assembly production processes |
| 339940 | Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing | Office supplies manufacturing falls within the same miscellaneous manufacturing subsector and uses overlapping printing and assembly methods |
| 332312 | Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing | Fabricated structural metal manufacturing shares welding, cutting, and metal finishing processes used in large sign structure production |
| 541890 | Other Services Related to Advertising | Other services related to advertising includes sign lettering and painting services excluded from the manufacturing classification for sign producers |
| 541850 | Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising | Outdoor advertising provides the billboard and display demand that drives production volume for large-format sign manufacturing operations |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 10.3% | 611 |
| 2 | Texas | 9.5% | 564 |
| 3 | Florida | 7.6% | 451 |
| 4 | New York | 5.7% | 334 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 3.8% | 224 |
| 6 | Ohio | 3.8% | 222 |
| 7 | Illinois | 3.7% | 218 |
| 8 | Georgia | 3.6% | 215 |
| 9 | Michigan | 3.0% | 175 |
| 10 | New Jersey | 2.8% | 164 |
% Of Establishments
0%
10%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
928
Total SBA Loans
$431.2M
Total Loan Volume
$465K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.93%
Average Interest Rate
9,120
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[7] assigns NAICS 339950 a size standard of 500 employees. Most sign manufacturers operate as small regional shops with fewer than 50 workers. Qualifying firms access 7(a) loans for CNC equipment, wide-format printers, and LED inventory. The 504 loan program supports facility purchases for shops expanding production floor space or adding paint booth and welding bay capacity.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Climate First Bank | 8 | $35.2M | $4.4M |
| 2 | Banc of California | 8 | $28.4M | $3.5M |
| 3 | Live Oak Banking Company | 48 | $27.3M | $569K |
| 4 | PromiseOne Bank | 16 | $23.0M | $1.4M |
| 5 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 16 | $22.2M | $1.4M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 339950?
NAICS 339950 covers manufacturers of signs and related displays from all materials, excluding paper and paperboard signs. This includes illuminated commercial signs, neon signs, billboards, electronic message displays, traffic signs, channel letters, vehicle wraps, and point-of-purchase displays. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies these producers within miscellaneous manufacturing.
How is sign manufacturing structured?
Most firms operate as small regional shops serving local commercial clients with custom signage. Production combines metal fabrication, plastic forming, digital printing, and electrical assembly depending on sign type. Several national firms handle large-scale retail chain and corporate projects. Many shops offer both fabrication and installation services, creating vertically integrated operations from design through on-site mounting.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 339950?
The SBA sets the size standard at 500 employees for sign manufacturing. Most firms operate well below this threshold as small shops. The SBA size standard table[7] applies this employee count for small business certification and federal contracting eligibility in this industry.
What NAICS codes are related to sign manufacturing?
Related manufacturing codes include 339920 (sporting goods) and 339940 (office supplies) within miscellaneous manufacturing. Metal fabrication code 332312 covers structural metal work. Service codes include 541890 (advertising services), 238210 (electrical contractors), and 541850 (outdoor advertising). The Census Bureau[5] groups this industry within miscellaneous manufacturing.
What industries are closely related to sign manufacturing?
Structural metal fabricators (332312) share production equipment. Electrical contractors (238210) install illuminated products. Outdoor advertising firms (541850) commission billboards and displays. Advertising service providers (541890) handle sign lettering and painting. Plastics manufacturers (326199) supply thermoformed components used in sign face production.
What activities are included in NAICS 339950?
Covered activities include illuminated and non-illuminated sign fabrication, neon tube bending, billboard construction, LED display assembly, traffic sign production, channel letter fabrication, monument sign construction, and vehicle graphics production. Excluded activities include sign lettering and painting (541890) and paper sign printing (32311). The Census Bureau[5] defines the full scope.
Can sign manufacturers qualify for SBA loans?
Yes, manufacturers with 500 or fewer employees qualify as small businesses under SBA guidelines[7]. The 7(a) loan program supports equipment purchases including CNC routers, wide-format printers, and LED inventory. Industry 504 program covers facility expansion and real estate acquisition. Government signage contracts through GSA provide additional revenue opportunities.
Where is sign manufacturing concentrated in the United States?
Sign shops distribute broadly across the country, clustering near commercial and population centers that generate demand. Texas, California, Florida, and the Midwest host notable concentrations of sign manufacturing establishments. Proximity to construction activity and commercial development drives location patterns. The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns[8] tracks establishment counts by state for this industry.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [8]U.S. Census Bureau's County Business Patterns census.gov
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