Midwest Signs

What Midwest Signs does

Midwest Signs is an Indianapolis-based B2B sign installation and services company operating as a dedicated subcontractor for national and regional sign companies across Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky. Founded in 1988 by Ron Courtney, the firm employs 11-50 staff organized around seven fully-equipped service crews operating specialized trucks with 60-foot reach capability, enabling rapid response and multi-site rollout execution without equipment rental dependencies. Service offerings span the full signage lifecycle: site surveys, permit acquisition and variance handling, sign installation (channel letters, cabinet signs, pole signs, monument signs), electronic message center and LED digital display installation via Watchfire partnership, commercial lighting service and LED retrofits, de-branding and removal, seasonal cleaning, and ongoing maintenance programs.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees on a project-based pricing model with Net 30 terms for qualified commercial customers, supplemented by recurring maintenance contracts and a wholesale signage division. The customer base comprises national and regional sign companies (Fast Signs National Accounts, National Sign Corporation, Identiti Resources, PrismView, Sign-A-Rama) whose end-clients include Starbucks, Skechers, Discount Tire, Buick GMC, 76 Gas Station, and Valvoline, plus facilities management firms managing multi-location commercial properties. The firm holds UL Certified manufacturer status allowing in-house production of UL-labeled signage without outsourcing, operates paperless electronic documentation systems delivering warranty documentation within 24-48 hours of project completion, and has expanded through the 2025 launch of Fast Wholesale Signs (FWS) for continental US wholesale distribution and sister company Killer Wraps for vehicle wraps and fleet graphics.

Name

Midwest Signs

Legal name

RJ Courtney LLC

Website

https://midwestsigns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Midwest Signs is an Indianapolis-based B2B sign installation and services contractor serving national and regional sign companies across Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky, providing site surveys, permitting, installation, LED retrofits, and maintenance via seven specialized service crews.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Signage Services

NAICS

Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850), Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (54185)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Static Billboards & Posters (Roadside, Wallscapes) (BPAFALAA)

Keywords

• Commercial sign installation
• Sign maintenance services
• LED digital displays
• Regional signage rollouts
• Commercial lighting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Sign Installation Services: Professional installation of commercial signage including channel letters, cabinet signs, pole signs, monument signs, electronic message centers, and comprehensive lighting systems for national and regional sign companies. Revenue generated through project-based installation fees with Net 30 payment terms for qualified commercial customers.
2. Sign Maintenance and Repair Services: Ongoing maintenance programs and emergency repair services for installed signage. Includes scheduled LED component replacement, electrical system inspections, structural integrity checks, cleaning, and emergency repair response. Revenue generated through service call fees and contracted maintenance agreements.
3. Permit and Survey Services: Comprehensive site survey and permit acquisition services as part of full-service approach. Site surveys deliver detailed assessments of location visibility, building structure compatibility, electrical access, and municipal code compliance requirements.
4. Regional Rollout Coordination: Multi-location branding and signage roll-out management services ensuring consistent quality and scheduling across multiple Indiana locations. Includes permitting, compliance management, and installation coordination.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Midwest Signs is an Indianapolis-based B2B sign installation and service company that installs, services, and maintains commercial signage for national and regional sign companies across Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky. The company operates seven fully-equipped service crews with 60-foot reach equipment to deliver turnkey projects spanning site surveys, permitting, installation of channel letters, monument signs, pylon signs, EMC/LED digital displays, commercial lighting, LED retrofits, and ongoing maintenance programs.

Product overview

Midwest Signs is a service-based company offering a comprehensive suite of commercial signage and lighting services primarily to national and regional sign companies. The portfolio consists of 11 core service offerings: Sign Installation & Service (core), EMC/LED Digital Displays, Lighting Service & Installation, Project Surveys, Permits & Variances, Graphics & Digital Printing Services, Regional Roll Outs, De-Branding Services, Green Services, Sign & Lighting Placement Consultation, and Seasonal Cleaning. Two related brands operate under the Midwest Signs umbrella: Fast Wholesale Signs (FWS) as a wholesale pricing division, and Killer Wraps as a sister company for vehicle wraps and fleet graphics. The offerings form an end-to-end signage lifecycle solution covering surveys, permitting, installation, maintenance, and removal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sign Installation & Service Professional installation and ongoing maintenance services for commercial signage across Indiana, including pylon signs, monument signs, channel letters, and electronic message centers, primarily serving national and regional sign companies.
• EMC – Message Centers – LED Digital Displays Installation and servicing of electronic message centers (EMCs) and LED digital displays for regional and national sign companies, schools, municipalities, and businesses, leveraging Watchfire Certified Service Partner status.
• Lighting Service & Installation Professional installation, repair, and maintenance for outdoor and indoor commercial lighting systems including parking lot lighting, canopy lights, and LED conversions.
• Project Surveys Comprehensive site surveys and project assessments providing detailed measurements, photos, visibility analysis, and code compliance documentation for sign and lighting projects.
• Permits & Variances Expert handling of signage permits, variance applications, and code compliance for projects across Indiana municipalities.
• Regional Roll Outs Expert coordination and management of multi-location branding and signage rollouts across Indiana with consistent quality, scheduling, permitting, and compliance management.
• De-Branding Services Safe sign removal, facade repair, and site restoration services meeting landlord and property management requirements for rebranding or location closures.
• Green Services Energy-efficient LED retrofits and eco-friendly signage upgrades including lighting conversions and solar film installation that reduce energy consumption by 60-75%.
• Seasonal Cleaning – Signage & Lighting Professional cleaning and maintenance to keep signage and lighting performing at its best year-round.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60-75% reduction in energy consumption for LED retrofits compared to fluorescent and neon systems
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Fast Wholesale Signs (FWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFast Wholesale Signs is a division of Midwest Signs offering decades of experience designing, engineering, and manufacturing quality signage to meet all location needs at wholesale prices. Ships anywhere in the continental US. Positioned as go-to source for repetitive buyers for all signage, graphics, and wrapping needs.
• Killer WrapscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company specializing in vehicle wraps and graphics. Offers cutting-edge printing technology and creative design expertise. Can print wraps on a volume basis ensuring consistency and ship to local installers, with capability to handle coordination of installation projects.
• WatchfirecoreTechnology or IntegrationWatchfire Certified Service Partner status for electronic message centers and LED digital displays. Midwest Signs is trained to handle every aspect of EMC installation including mounting, wiring, programming, and maintenance using Watchfire products.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• North American Signs: Full-service commercial sign company offering design, fabrication, installation, and service for national accounts. Directly comparable service mix and customer profile to Midwest Signs with stronger manufacturing depth.
• Image360: Sign and graphics franchise network offering design, fabrication, and installation of commercial signage. Comparable to Midwest Signs in service mix and target customer base, though Image360 also manufactures in-house at most locations.
• Sign-A-Rama: International sign franchise providing custom sign design, manufacturing, and installation. Sign-A-Rama Triad NC is a named customer of Midwest Signs, making Sign-A-Rama both a peer and a customer in the broader network.
• Signs By Tomorrow: Franchise sign company with national coverage offering design, production, and installation of commercial signs. Comparable to Midwest Signs in serving national brands and operating regional service capacity.
• FASTSIGNS International: National sign franchise network and a named customer of Midwest Signs. FASTSIGNS combines signage manufacturing with installation services across North America, directly overlapping Midwest's commercial sign installation, EMC, and maintenance offerings.

Others

• Watchfire Signs: Manufacturer of LED signs and electronic message centers, and a strategic technology partner to Midwest Signs (Watchfire Certified Service Partner). Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Poblocki Sign Company: Long-established commercial sign company serving national retail, restaurant, and petroleum brands with full design-to-installation capabilities across multiple U.S. regions. Overlaps Midwest Signs in serving enterprise multi-location customers.
• YESCO: Large, established sign and lighting solutions company operating across the western U.S. with in-house manufacturing, installation, and service capabilities. YESCO is a broader incumbent with a wider geographic and product footprint than Midwest Signs.
• Lamar Advertising: Large publicly-traded outdoor advertising company operating billboards and digital displays across the U.S. Shares the broader OOH/advertising-display category with Midwest Signs' commercial sign installations but at vastly different scale and business model.
• Federal Heath: National commercial sign company providing design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance for multi-location retail and restaurant brands. Comparable service portfolio to Midwest Signs but at significantly greater national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Midwest Signs