500 signs.
Then another 500.
A postcard.
Then another postcard.
An event banner.
More palm cards.
A rush order because inventory ran out.
Instead, build the printing budget by category before production begins.
You don't need every exact quantity.
You need to know what is likely to be printed.
Where the Budget Goes
01
Yard Signs
Estimate:
Read more about Budget Category 1: Yard Signs
- Initial quantity
- Expected replenishment
- Sizes
- Stakes
- Number of versions
- Freight
Then compare quantity breaks.
If you expect to eventually require 1,500 signs, don't look only at pricing for 250.
Understand the larger quantities too.
Related guide
How Much Do Political Yard Signs Cost?02
Direct Mail
Direct mail deserves its own budget because the project can contain more than printing.
Read more about Budget Category 2: Direct Mail
Include:
- Print production
- Mailing data
- Addressing
- Mail preparation
- Postage
- Versioning
At high quantities, even a few cents per piece can materially affect the total budget.
Related guide
Political Direct Mail Cost03
Palm Cards and Handouts
Estimate how many pieces campaign workers actually expect to distribute.
Read more about Budget Category 3: Palm Cards and Handouts
Consider:
- Events
- Door-to-door activity
- Volunteer groups
- Replenishment
Avoid ordering based solely on a round number.
04
Door Hangers
Door hangers can have different finishing requirements from a flat flyer.
Read more about Budget Category 4: Door Hangers
Budget for the actual finished product rather than comparing it against generic flyer pricing.
05
Events
Possible requirements include:
Read more about Budget Category 5: Events
- Banners
- Directional signs
- Podium signs
- Table signage
- Backdrops
- Temporary rigid signs
Create an event-print allocation rather than approving each item with no overall view.
06
Reorders
A perfect initial forecast is unlikely.
Read more about Budget Category 6: Reorders
Build a reasonable amount of flexibility into the print plan.
But don't confuse a reserve budget with a strategy of intentionally under-ordering every product.
Repeated small runs can be expensive.
07
Rush Production
Rush production should not be the default workflow.
Read more about Budget Category 7: Rush Production
It exists for exceptions.
Better inventory tracking and earlier approvals can reduce the number of projects requiring compressed schedules.
08
Freight and Delivery
This becomes particularly important with:
Read more about Budget Category 8: Freight and Delivery
- Yard signs
- Large-format graphics
- Large quantities
- Multiple destinations
Quote delivered cost whenever possible.
Create a Campaign Print Worksheet
Build a table on this page with these columns:
| Product | Initial Qty | Possible Total Qty | Versions | Needed By | Delivery Location | Quote Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yard Signs | ||||||
| Postcards | ||||||
| Palm Cards | ||||||
| Door Hangers | ||||||
| Banners | ||||||
| Event Signs |
Style this like a useful worksheet rather than a decorative table.
Work Backward From the Total Budget
If there is a defined print budget, don't automatically divide it evenly among products.
Identify:
- 01What absolutely must be produced?
- 02What quantity is actually required?
- 03Which projects contain large postage or freight components?
- 04Which materials may need replenishment?
- 05Which pieces have hard dates?
Then obtain actual production estimates.
Have a quantity already?
Building the Whole Campaign Print Budget?
Send us the complete product list.
We can look at the project as a program instead of ten unrelated print orders.
For higher-volume campaign programs, quantities, materials, finishing, freight and distribution can materially affect the final cost. PrintScale can review the actual specifications through its political campaign printing service.
GET A CAMPAIGN QUOTEWhy Price Per Piece Can Be Misleading
Imagine:
Product A costs $0.20 each.
Product B costs $1.75 each.
Without knowing what they are, those numbers mean almost nothing.
A proper campaign budget looks at:
Total quantity
Total production
Finishing
Postage
Freight
Schedule
Total delivered cost
not merely the lowest unit price.
What to Send a Printer
A campaign print-plan spreadsheet can be surprisingly simple.
For each product provide:
Product
Quantity
Size
Material
Printed sides
Versions
Finishing
Delivery ZIP
Required date
Artwork status
That can turn a vague conversation into an actionable production plan.
The Takeaway
Budget the Delivered Job.
Campaign print budgeting becomes easier when you stop treating printing as a series of unrelated purchases.
Map the full program.
Estimate quantities.
Identify hard dates.
Separate postage and freight.
Then quote the major products before the schedule becomes urgent.
