Fast Signs in Baltimore: Custom Signage and Print for Local Businesses
Fast Signs on North Charles Street is a full-service sign and print shop that handles everything from vinyl banners and vehicle wraps to business cards and promotional materials for Baltimore retailers, offices, and contractors.
What Fast Signs actually does
Fast Signs operates as a production-focused printing and signage vendor serving the Baltimore market with same-day and next-day turnaround on many jobs. The shop prints and fabricates physical signage on-site rather than drop-shipping; this means custom work moves faster than mail-order alternatives and allows for in-person proofing before production. The business handles both short runs (50 business cards, a single banner) and larger campaigns (fleet wraps, retail displays for multiple locations), making it useful for one-time events and ongoing corporate needs alike.
Services and pricing
Fast Signs produces vinyl banners starting around $50 for a 2-by-3-foot banner and scaling up based on size and material. Coroplast yard signs (common for real estate and political campaigns) typically run $15 to $25 per sign for orders of 10 or more, with per-unit cost dropping for larger quantities. Vehicle wraps, which require custom design and vinyl application, generally cost $1,500 to $3,500 depending on coverage (full wrap versus partial) and vehicle size; partial wraps on sedans start lower than full wraps on vans or box trucks. Business cards in full color start around $25 to $40 per 500 cards. Prices shift with material choices (matte versus gloss, specialty paper stocks) and design complexity, so calling for a quote on custom projects is standard.
The shop offers in-house design services for an additional fee, typically $50 to $150 per hour, or accepts files from the customer's own designer. Rush fees apply for same-day or next-day completion and can add 15 to 25 percent depending on job size.
How Fast Signs compares to other Baltimore printing options
Fast Signs competes primarily against national mail-order printers like Vistaprint and local independent print shops. Mail-order services offer lower unit costs on standardized items (business cards, postcards, simple banners) for orders placed weeks in advance, but turnaround is 5 to 10 business days and design changes require reordering. Fast Signs' advantage is speed and on-site customization. If you need a banner for an event this week or want to see a proof in person before committing to 500 cards, Fast Signs accommodates that; if you're ordering 5,000 identical letterheads at the lowest possible per-unit cost, a mail-order service will beat the price. For vehicle wraps and large custom installations, Fast Signs operates in a category separate from card-and-banner printers; local competitors offering wrap services include print shops in Towson and Glen Burnie, but few offer the same combination of in-house design, vinyl inventory, and application crew on one site.
Who Fast Signs suits and does not suit
The shop works well for Baltimore small businesses, nonprofits, and event organizers who need printing and signage in days rather than weeks, and who value the ability to walk in, discuss design with staff, and see a physical proof. It also serves contractors and real estate agents ordering custom yard signs and vehicle decals regularly. Fast Signs is less ideal for organizations with extremely tight budgets ordering thousands of identical items, where mail-order shipping costs nothing and per-unit pricing matters more than speed, or for jobs requiring specialized finishes (embossing, foil stamping, specialty binding) that most sign shops do not produce in-house.
What the first visit involves
Walk-ins are welcome. Bring a sketch, a logo file, or a detailed description of what you need. Staff will review options (material, size, finish), show samples of past work if available, and provide a quote on the spot for standard jobs. For custom design, Fast Signs can create mockups for approval, usually within a day. Once approved, production begins immediately; jobs often ship or are ready for pickup within 48 hours. If you have files ready (Adobe Illustrator or PDF), turnaround shortens further.
Hours, parking, and location
Fast Signs operates Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (verify current hours before visiting). The North Charles Street location sits in a commercial corridor with street parking and nearby lots. Public parking garages are within a few blocks if street spots are full. Call ahead for large orders or same-day requests to ensure staff availability.
Fast Signs fills a practical gap in Baltimore's printing and signage market for anyone who cannot wait weeks for a mail-order service and needs someone to help solve a design problem on the fly.
