Which Software to use for Printing on Blank Check Paper

Any entrepreneur or business owner will tell you that checks are smart for business, even in today's digital world. Many landlords and small vendors don't accept credit cards due to the processing fees, and there are some occasions when tracking the payment through a check is essential. Small businesses write more checks than you might think, and companies may also use checks as opposed to credit cards to:

• Increase security by limiting access to funds and account numbers. (Hackers aren't likely to get your account information.)
• Control how payments are made, to whom, and how you control them.
• Gain extra cash flow by freeing up funds for use until payments clear the bank, which can take several days to two weeks, depending on the vendor, the banks involved, etc.

Pros and cons of using blank check paper.

The decision to use checks is often much more straightforward than choosing whether to buy pre-printed checks or blank check paper. Here are some pros and cons to consider before choosing blank check stock.
 

Pro: Flexibility to print from multiple accounts at the same cost.

If you use multiple accounts, for example, one for payroll and one for vendors, each account number is unique. You cannot use the same check for both accounts. Using blank check paper allows you to print the appropriate account number on each check at an overall lower cost. However, you must ensure that you have magnetic ink cartridges.

Con: Checks may not be presentable or accepted by financial institutions.

Pre-printed checks are printed to ANSI standards using industry-standard security features for guaranteed acceptance. Not all blank check paper is created equally, and some may not be accepted everywhere. The account numbers must be printed with special MICR ink to be accepted by all financial institutions. Ensure you're following your bank's security policies when printing checks.

Pro: Proof before printing to avoid errors.

Writing checks with an ink pen is wasteful if you make a mistake. When you print your own checks, you can proof the document before printing to avoid errors. You'll also be able to enter the information only once, as your bookkeeping software will log the check information for you. Alternatively, writing pre-printed checks requires a double-entry recording method to catch errors quickly.

Con: Getting the wrong supplies is expensive and far too easy to do.

Which check printing supplies you need depends on several factors. What bookkeeping software do you have, and what is its default check size? You also need to know the capabilities of your printer. Will it accept the magnetic ink? Can it feed through the heavier blank check stock?

With so many necessary specifications and supplies, it is not surprising that people often fail when they purchase check printing supplies for the first time. You could be out hundreds of dollars before successfully printing a single check if you're not working with a reputable company with a fair return policy.

Getting started with blank checks

Setting up the check-writing system requires correct setup, and higher startup costs are higher than buying pre-printed checks. Why? It's because you have