How to Invest in Billboards (2024)

How to Invest in Billboards (1)

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Advertising is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, driven by need for businesses to create awareness about their goods and services. You can make money by making investments in billboards, the kind you see along busy streets or off the freeway. They are effective in delivery of the marketing message and have become the go-to media for many businesses. Investing in billboards can be a lucrative venture with potential for growth. You just need to have the right strategy to maximize your investment.

Lay of the Land

Conduct initial research to gain ample knowledge about the billboard industry so as to determine your break-even point as part of your business plan. Understand the latest technologies used in billboards and what the top outdoor advertising companies are doing to be successful. Find out about federal, state, city or local government zoning regulations that govern outdoor advertising in your area. In most cases a billboard can only be built on commercial property. You will have to decide whether to build billboards or invest in those already built by someone else. Find out about the rates for buying or leasing land at potential locations.

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Location: Lease or Buy?

Your target audience determines the location for your billboards. Determine if a freeway, city street or residential neighborhood is adequate for getting your message out. You will need land to invest in billboards. Determine if the particular site is ideal due to the amount of traffic. In addition, get pertinent information about prevailing zoning ordinances before purchasing the piece of land. Alternatively, leasing may be the best option if you do not have enough capital for the land or if the billboard is temporary. Once you have the location, erect your billboards and sell advertising space to businesses or individuals that need to advertise.

Invest in Existing Billboards Companies

If raising money to buy the land and build billboards is a challenge, there are other options available. You can have the perfect opportunity to own part of already built billboards by buying shares in a billboards company. This can be done in two ways: invest via the stock exchange in a public company that specializes in outdoor advertising, or partner with existing companies by contributing equity for their expansion or technology upgrade in exchange for proceeds from their business.

Buy and Flip

Making an investment in a billboard business does not necessarily mean that you must actively run it. You can invest in billboards, wait for the market prices to soar and then sell them. Note that you continue to generate passive income while waiting for the highest bidder for the property. To expedite the sale, have the billboards strategically placed in prime locations, use the billboard to advertise itself by placing a notice on it that it is for sale, and list your billboard on Internet sites that match buyers with sellers.

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Writer Bio

Dr Jack Gordon, the Chief Technology Officer at Strontium Logistics, is a 20-year veteran of the engineering and marketing business who favors stiff drinks, good debates and developing innovative digital marketing strategies to help companies grow.

How to Invest in Billboards (2024)

FAQs

How to invest in a billboard? ›

To own a billboard, you either have to buy one that's already in place, place one on your land, buy one and rent land, or lease a billboard and have land to place it on. Typically speaking, a location should have advantages like heavy foot traffic or a large population that passes by the billboard.

How profitable is owning a billboard? ›

Owning a billboard provides large companies a regular income cash flow. The revenue generated by billboard companies may reach up to 40 to 50 percent before counting the depreciation, taxes, amortization and interest. The rate of income grows higher on highway billboards that may go higher as 60 percent of revenue.

How much money do you need for a billboard? ›

Plan to spend from $750 to $2,000 a month for physical billboard campaigns in rural areas, $2,500 to $4,000 in small to midsize cities, and $14,000 and up in larger markets. Digital billboards can cost from $10 per seven-second spot to over $15,000, depending on the billboard's location, ad duration, and frequency.

Are electronic billboards a good investment? ›

Digital billboards offer ENHANCED visibility, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, making them a worthwhile investment that could be very profitable for your brand or business.

How much does 1 billboard cost? ›

The cost of renting a billboard varies depending on many factors, including the size and location of the billboard. A small billboard in a rural area may cost as little as $200 per month, while a large billboard in a major city can cost more than $10,000 per month.

Can you finance a billboard? ›

Billboard Loans Are Increasingly Hard To Find

However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain billboard loans. As a result, finding the funding you need to get your project off the ground can be difficult. YESCO has a wide variety of in-house billboard financing options to choose from.

How do you make a successful billboard? ›

Memorable, easy to understand, clear and easy to read are all factors in a good billboard ad. It should convey a concise message that is not overbearing to read or acknowledge while also being eye-catching. We've all seen catchy ads that we remember but cannot remember what the ad was for.

Is billboard a good business? ›

Wakati Outdoor Advertising

In fact, research shows that billboard advertising has an almost five-times return on investment (ROI) for companies who advertise on them. Billboards are cost-effective and provide continuous exposure for your business or brand.

How to start a billboard business? ›

Understand the financial cost and legal ramifications first to ensure profitability.
  1. Run the Numbers.
  2. Research local billboard advertising rates and compare them against anticipated business expenses, such as insurance, billboard construction, lighting costs, permits and taxes to ensure profitability. ...
  3. Learn the Law.

How much is the cheapest billboard? ›

Classic billboards can cost as little as $250 per month when they're in rural areas and as much as $14,000 per month if they're located in midsize or large cities. Digital billboards are more expensive, costing between $1,200 and $15,000 per month.

What is the ROI of owning a billboard? ›

Outdoor ads have the lowest cost per thousand (CPM) of almost any medium, ranging from $2 to $7, and that efficiency also means they deliver high return on the relatively low investment. Billboards have an astounding 497% return on investment, according to the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA).

What is the future of billboards? ›

The future of billboards is DIGITAL. In recent years, advancements in technology have allowed these giant billboards to become more dynamic and interactive. With the integration of digital screens, billboards can now display high-resolution images and videos, providing a more engaging experience for viewers.

How successful are billboards? ›

According to the Out of Home Advertising Association of America, OOH advertising methods—including billboards—are between 38% and 86% effective at provoking a consumer response.

How are billboards valued? ›

To determine the hypothetical lease payment, most billboard operators will calculate 10-30% of the billboard's actual or anticipated advertising revenue. They will then take this “hypothetical rent” and multiply it by 8-12 to determine the easem*nt's value.

How much does it cost to buy a billboard in Times Square? ›

As one of the most famous and high-traffic areas in the world, Times Square billboards can command a premium price. According to some estimates, the cost of a billboard in Times Square can range from $10,000 to $22,000 per month or more, depending on the specific location and other factors.

Is billboard advertising a good business? ›

Industry reports often suggest a favorable return on investment (ROI) for well-placed and well-designed billboard ads, making them a valuable component of a successful marketing strategy.

How many sales do you need to get on billboard? ›

How many albums do you need to sell to land on the Billboard charts? You don't have to push millions of records to get on a Billboard chart; you only need to sell about 500 albums in the first week or pull between half a million and 1.5 million streams (or a combination of the two).

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