Why we're doing this
We've wrapped Chicago vehicles for 25 years. In that time we've watched thousands of new businesses launch. Some grow into our biggest fleet accounts. Some don't make it to year two. The single biggest predictor we've seen is how visible they were in the first 90 days.
An unmarked van does no work for you when it's parked. A storefront with no signage gets walked past. The first 30 days after the city issues your license is when you should be putting your name on something visible.
So we're handing out free vinyl. Three lines of text, your choice of font and color, free install on a Saturday. Walk in with your license, walk out with your name on the truck.
Call it a welcome to the neighborhood.
What you get
Three lines of plotter-cut vinyl lettering — typically business name, phone number, and website. Sized for vehicle application on both sides and the rear. Weeded, masked, transfer-tape ready. Production-grade Avery or Oracal cast vinyl.
Pick black or white. Both are 7-year outdoor durable. Black reads on light vehicles and storefront windows. White reads on dark vehicles and tinted glass. Tell us which works for your application.
Bring your vehicle to our Portage Park shop on a Saturday and we install the graphics on both sides and the rear — no charge. Professional install, normally $150+, free as part of the Grow Chicago program.
The sticker exchange
Here's the trade. You get $799 worth of die-cut vinyl plus a free install. We get a small CFW decal on your vehicle for 24 months. That's it.
The decal goes on the rear quarter, rear window, or back bumper. About 4 to 6 inches wide. Big enough to read at a stoplight, small enough that it doesn't crowd your branding.
Why this works: your new business gets street presence on day one. We get a moving billboard for the next two years on a truck that's driving around Chicago anyway. We've done this same trade with hundreds of clients over the last 20 years.
Saturday install: Bring the vehicle in on a Saturday. We apply the graphics to both sides and the rear. You drive it out the same day. No charge.
A one-page agreement gets signed at pickup. That's the only paperwork.
How it works
Walk into our Portage Park shop with your Chicago business license. Issued within the last 30 days. We'll verify the date.
Logo file, business name, contact info — whatever you want cut. Vector preferred (.ai, .eps, .svg, .pdf). No vector? Our Design Labs team can build one for $300 flat — also waived if you upgrade to a full wrap.
Tell us which vinyl color fits your application. Black for light surfaces, white for dark. Both are premium cast vinyl rated for 7-year outdoor service.
Bring your vehicle to our Portage Park shop on a Saturday. We install the graphics on both sides and rear — no charge. Out the door same day with your business looking legit on the road.
Wall of new Chicago businesses
Every participant gets their name on our shop wall. Real wall, real names. We've been tracking the businesses we've helped launch for 20 years. Some of those names are now Chicago staples.
If your business makes it to year five and grows into a fleet account, we'll point at the wall and remind you where you started.
The fine print
- Eligibility: Chicago business license issued within 30 days of your visit. We verify the issue date.
- One per business: One free die-cut graphics package per licensed business. Not transferable.
- Size cap: Up to 24" × 36" total cut area in the free package. Larger jobs are quoted at standard rates.
- Color: Black or white vinyl only on the free package. Color vinyl, full-color print, or specialty materials are quoted at standard rates.
- Artwork: Vector files preferred. Raster artwork can be vectorized at our standard $300 vector conversion rate (waived if you upgrade to a full wrap within 90 days).
- Install: Free Saturday installation included at our Portage Park shop. Schedule on pickup day or via the form below. Weekday installs available at standard rates.
- Turnaround: 3 business days from artwork approval.
- Promotion runs: Ongoing — every newly licensed Chicago business qualifies during their first 30 days.
Pick your vinyl color
Black for light vehicles and clear glass. White for dark vehicles and tinted glass. Both 7-year cast vinyl, both look exactly like this on the road.
Claim your free graphics
Fill out the form below. We'll email you back within 24 hours with next steps and a list of what to bring when you walk in.
Already outgrowing decals?
If your business is rolling with a vehicle and you want to skip decals entirely, ask us about a full wrap. Single cargo van wraps start at $4,650 (design, print, install, materials, 7-year warranty all included). Fleet pricing on 3+ vehicles drops the per-unit cost to $3,250.
If you take the Grow Chicago decals first and upgrade to a full wrap within 12 months, the full $799 applies as credit. Decals today, wrap tomorrow.