By: Jacob Maslow

In our increasingly digital world, it might seem like the paper check is a relic of the past. But for millions of small businesses, it remains a vital and indispensable tool for paying vendors, managing payroll, and handling a wide range of B2B transactions. The way businesses acquire their checks, however, has changed dramatically. For years, the default option was to simply order them directly from your bank at a significant markup.

Thankfully, there is a much more affordable, secure, and efficient alternative. Reputable third-party printers offer high-quality, secure paper checks that are fully compatible with your accounting software, often at a fraction of the cost your bank charges. But making the switch requires a little bit of knowledge to ensure you’re getting a product that is both professional and secure.

If you’re ready to stop overpaying your bank for checks, here is a simple guide to finding the right supplier and the right product for your business needs.

Tip 1: Prioritize Compatibility with Your Accounting Software

This is the most critical factor in modern business check ordering. Most businesses today don’t write checks by hand; they print them directly from their accounting software, like QuickBooks, Sage, or others. This process is incredibly efficient, but it requires that your check stock is perfectly formatted for your specific software.

When choosing a supplier, the first thing you should verify is that they ensure their checks are 100% compatible with your software and version. A good supplier will have a simple way for you to select your accounting program to ensure the check layout, the micro-perforations, and the alignment are all a perfect match. This prevents frustrating printing errors and wasted check stock.

Tip 2: Demand High-Security Features

Check fraud is a serious and costly threat to small businesses. A standard, low-security check is an easy target for criminals. A high-security check, on the other hand, has multiple layers of defense built directly into the paper, making it incredibly difficult to counterfeit or alter.

Don’t settle for basic checks. Look for a supplier that offers a multi-point security system. Key features to look for include the following:

Chemically Reactive Paper: The paper will stain or show spots if a forger tries to use chemicals to “wash” the ink off the check.

Microprinting: The signature line or border is made up of incredibly tiny text that is sharp and clear when printed but becomes blurry and unreadable when photocopied.

Watermark: A faint image that is only visible when you hold the check up to the light, which cannot be reproduced by a scanner or copier.

Holographic Foil: A reflective, three-dimensional image that is nearly impossible to forge.

Implementing strong financial controls is a key part of protecting your business from fraud. Using high-security checks is a simple and effective part of that strategy.

Tip 3: Understand the Different Check Formats

Business checks generally come in two main formats. The right one for you will depend on your specific bookkeeping needs.

Voucher Checks: These are the most popular format for businesses that use accounting software. They typically come one per page, with the check itself on the top or in the middle, and one or two stubs (vouchers) attached. These stubs are used to provide detailed payment information for the recipient and for your own records.

3-Per-Page Checks: This is a more basic and economical format, often used for handwriting checks or for businesses that don’t need detailed stubs. As the name implies, it’s a standard letter-sized sheet with three checks and small, simple stubs on the side.

Tip 4: Have Your Banking Information Ready

To order checks from any source other than your bank, you’ll need to have your specific banking information on hand. This ensures that the checks will be printed correctly and will be accepted by your financial institution.

Find one of your existing checks and locate your bank’s official name and address, your business’s legal name and address as it appears on the account, the routing number, and the bank account number.

A reputable printer will have a secure ordering process and will often perform additional verification steps to protect your account.

By being a savvy, informed shopper, you can save a significant amount of money on your next check order while simultaneously increasing the security of your payments.