Business Checks

© 2001 Linda Alexander

Per client specification and as originally published by:
Articleinsider.com

Business checks are not all that different from personal checks. Businesses use them to pay bills, to track expenses, and as receipts for purchases made. They are also hard copy backups in addition to their computerized financial tracking system.

If you want your business to have a professional image, be sure that you are using checks designed for businesses. Personal checks with pretty flowers or cartoon characters just aren't serious enough for business. Go with a traditional design or a solid color and people will know your checks mean business.

Business checks come in different styles. There are wallet-style checks that look just like personal checks. These are mostly used by small businesses and home-based entrepreneurs who write few checks. You can get a binder system where you can record all of the checks you write and keep a running total of your bank balance. There are also payroll checks so you can track deductions.

Computer-generated Checks
If you are the do-it-yourself type, you might also consider computer checks. These are blank checks that you print from your computer. You can either print the entire check yourself, including your address and bank account numbers, or you can have such information preprinted. Then when you are ready to write a check, you just print the date, payee, and amounts.

Ordering business checks online is a pretty easy process. There are literally thousands of designs, colors, and styles to choose from. All you need are your bank account number, your bank's routing number, and a credit card to pay for your order. The website will walk you through the ordering process.

Ordering Checks Online

Ordering checks online or through the mail can save you a lot of time and trouble. Banks aren't the only places you can get checks anymore. Very often, by purchasing your business checks from a third party instead of through the bank, you are saving money because you cut out the middleman. If your business writes a lot of checks each month, this can add up quickly!

If you are new in business, ordering checks is one of the first things you will need to do. After all, you need a bank account to receive payments, and you will also need a way to pay your bills. So make it a fun process by looking at all your choices in design, color, and style.

Along with letterhead, envelopes, a website, a customized logo, and an endorsement stamp, you'll be on your way to looking like a true professional. Image is important in the business world, so make sure that your checks conform to what is acceptable. For even more convenience, consider ordering a startup kit that has everything you need for banking.

Computer Laser Checks for Business

If you own a small business, chances are you do not outsource your payroll check printing to someone else. How can you help your accounts payable department to be more efficient? Allowing them to print their own payroll checks will make their jobs easier and their productivity improve.

Laser checks are used in laser printers to print checks. They come with many security features to fend off fraud, such as watermarks, special fibers, and intricately designed backgrounds that cannot be copied. You can also get them pre-printed with your company information, bank account and routing numbers, and even your company logo.

Many popular accounting software programs require you to use these kinds of payroll checks. In fact, there is no other way to print them off the computer. Of course, you could go with old-fashioned handwritten checks, but that would be a big waste of time and give you hand cramps. It is too time consuming and also looks unprofessional. Choose a more sophisticated look by printing the checks off of your company's computers.

You can special order customized payroll checks from many sources online. Before you have them printed, double check your bank's routing number. If that number is wrong, nobody will be able to process your checks. At payroll time, you don't want to anger your employees! So be sure to scrutinize those numbers before you place your order and once you receive it.

Check Vouchers

Check vouchers serve as receipts that you have paid for something. In most cases, they are used in business to business transactions, such as companies purchasing supplies or paying employees with payroll checks. Payroll vouchers, for example, record the amount of the check and any deductions taken for federal, state and local taxes or social security. Click Here for a Leading Voucher Checks Resource!

Voucher checks also come in handy when companies pay their employees through direct deposit. Mailing vouchers to employees serves as hard copy proof that the employee was paid, since electronic payments can sometimes be hard to track. Also, many people just feel more comfortable having a "receipt" that proves they were paid.

Business people also record vouchers for their own record keeping purposes. When a company pays them by check, for example, they might file the voucher somewhere as a record that the payment was received. That way, if there is ever a dispute with the bank, they have proof that they had the actual check.

Voucher checks are essential to any business that writes a lot of checks. In my opinion, you can't keep too many records. Having things written down in a place that is easy to find helps keep you organized. It also makes it easier when you need to go back and look something up because you will find the exact amount of payments and deductions recorded on the voucher.

Blank Checks and Other Printing Savings

Are you tired of paying excessive printing costs? Many offices and homes use inkjet and laser printers to automate their financial tasks. With a little frugality, you could be saving big dollars on your printing needs.

Instead of paying for preprinted checks, you could be printing your own checks on blank check stock with a financial software program. Software like Quicken or Checkmagic is easy to use, although it does have a slight learning curve. Blank check paper comes with security features, just like preprinted checks, and is a lot less costly than what your bank charges for preprinted checks.

Besides blank checks, there are other ways to save money on printing. Ink jet printers keep getting cheaper, but the ink cartridges do not. However, you can beat this cost! Use no-name replacement cartridges. I have used these successfully for many years. I cannot tell a difference in the print quality between HP or Office Depot cartridges and third-party ink.

There are also remanufactured cartridges you can buy for your laser printer. At less than half the cost of a new toner cartridge, you can replace your toner with a remanufactured cartridge. The print quality is the same.

You can also save money on paper by printing drafts on the back of used paper. While you are at it, recycle your used paper to help the environment! Or, you can use the back of printed paper for doodling, writing yourself notes, or taking phone messages. You'll save a lot of money on memo pads in addition to the money you are saving on check printing and ink.

Printable Deposit Slips

Laser printers have proven that they are well-suited to the task of printing computer checks. This has made the check writing process infinitely easier for many office personnel as well as those managing household finances. There are also deposit slips that you can print from your laser printer. This is a blessing when you have a large amount of items to deposit at once.

Printable deposit slips look neat and professional when you print them out. Like the checks, they save the time and hassle of writing everything out by hand. Once you get used to the process, you will wonder how you ever did without this technology.

In addition to printable deposit slips, you should also order printable checks and window envelopes that fit the checks. These can be hard to find if you do not buy them from the same supplier. The checks will fit inside the envelopes but the windows and addresses might not line up correctly.

Endorsement stamps also improve efficiency for office workers. Instead of having somebody sign each check and hand write the account number on each one of them followed by the words "for deposit only," a worker can stamp that information on it. Banks will accept the stamps in lieu of a hand written signature. Stamps not only save time, but they are also cost-effective. You can print thousand of impressions before you have to re-ink them or purchase a new stamp.

Check Printing

Why is check printing so specific? Scanning machines are picky when it comes to the placement of numbers and symbols. When you order checks from a discount printer, you usually have to provide a voided check with your order. That is so the printer can make sure the account and routing numbers are printed in the right places. If they are off, they must be sorted by hand, as the scanners will not read them.

Scanners might also reject checks for other reasons. For example, if the paper is torn or wrinkled, or if the magnetic ink doesn't work properly, those checks might have to be sorted by hand. This costs banks millions of dollars annually, which is why it is so important that you get your checks from a reputable printer.

There are two types of computer checks you can purchase from a check printer. The first is impact checks, which are designed to work with dot matrix and daisy wheel printers. Yes, people still use those! These checks are multi-part checks so businesses can keep copies of them, and they are usually continuous feed so businesses can print many checks in a row.

Laser computer checks are used in laser printers. They usually come one or three to a sheet. If you only print a few checks at a time, you might want to get the ones that come one per sheet. It can be difficult to use the three-to-a-page ones if you only want to print one check.

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