There are many document folders types and styles to keep documents organized, private and easy to access. When choosing folders for your business, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of document folders types and styles, but some business folders are used quite commonly, and these are most likely the ones you'll use as well.

When you're ready to shop, consider your needs: You may want office folders simply so you can keep your desk more organized, but in other cases, you may want something more professional for meetings with clients. You may even just want something to use around the office. Consider the following types of folders:

1. Design great presentation folders to give out at sales meetings. Your clients will see your brand right off the bat.

2. Get office folders to keep your workplace organized. These include the standard file folders, hanging folders and expanding accordion folders, and come in many colors.

3. Decide on a style of business folder designed for interoffice transport. These are important for offices with many departments.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make an impression with business presentation folders

Your presentation folder makes can make a lasting impresssion at business meetings, so choose carefully. These custom document folders should bear the name and logo of your company on the front as well as on one of the inside pockets. Usually, there is a space cut out to insert a business card, and you can opt for a cutout to hold a CD. Printing companies always offer an assortment of colors and stock graphics to choose from. You may also use your own graphics and content.

I recommend: Play around with your own design at PrintingForLess.com. Order free product samples before you buy at My1Stop and USA Printing Online.

Keep your daily files in standard-sized office folders

As far as file folders are concerned, you have your basic file folders, hanging file folders and wallet-style file folders. All of these come in every color of the rainbow, and some can even be customized with your company's logo. The wallet-style folders are the most appropriate when going to meetings as they have a professional look about them.

I recommend: Choose your colors and buy file folders in bulk at MFGdirect. You can get hanging folders as well as frames at Rapidsupplies.com. The expanding wallet file folders at InstaOffice.com come in assorted colors and styles.

Transfer files through departments with an interoffice document folder

Interoffice envelopes keep things moving around the workplace. These come in different colors and sizes, so you get to choose whatever is best for your office. Some companies use different colors for different things, like using a red folder for accounting information. Most of these types of folders have a chart showing where the folder is from and who it's going to, as well as sections for time, date and signature. They usually have a tang and a small string at the top flap to keep the folder safely secured.

I recommend: Check out the interoffice folders at My Supply Depot and OnTimeSupplies.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Document binders work very well during times when there is a lot of material to include in one package. Lengthy sales reports and specifications sheets often contain many pages, and a three-ring binder can provide support as well as easy viewing.

Business presentation folder creation has never been as easy to do as it is now. You can use computers, in-house printers and custom paper and presentation folder products to produce professional-looking presentations. You can use the Internet to access many printing companies that inexpensively print the business presentation folders you design. The pre-designed templates and online design options give you more control over the presentation folder creation process than ever before.

Choose from many methods to create business presentation folders using the Internet. You have many more options than in the past, when your choices would have been limited to the local printing firm or a quick-copy outlet. Don't let the extensive number of choices overwhelm you.

Consider these factors in deciding the document folder creation method that best suits your needs:

1. Cost: You will usually save money by producing folders for presentation in-house.
2. Turn-around time: You have to plan ahead in order to allow time for outside printing or design services.
3. Creative ability: Decide whether your business staff has the ability to design custom document folders or if you want to pay for outside design services.

Action Steps
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Design and print your own business presentation folders and their contents in-house

Choose this option if you have a small budget or need quick turn-around. If your business produces a lot of presentations, keep supplies on hand to ensure the ability to customize business folders and document binders quickly. Your creativity will be limited by the quality of your in-house printing machines.

I recommend: Use downloadable templates from Avery, or download software products that work with Avery products. Order presentation folders of all types from Company Folders, Inc. Buy custom-looking paper and folders at PaperDirect to make your in-house products look professionally printed. Buy document binders of all shapes and sizes at VIP Presentation Products; get a price quote or download the complete product catalog.

Upload your design for a custom document folder and have it printed without leaving your chair

Produce eye-catching and attractive folders for presentations using one of the online printing companies below. Use one of their online design tools to create your business folders, or create the design on your own computer using their downloadable templates and upload the file. Put your company name and your own text into their pre-designed templates.

I recommend: Design, upload and order printed presentation folders at VistaPrint. Use the downloadable template at Printing for Less. Use the Online Folder Designer or choose a pre-designed folder at TheFolderStore.com.

Enlist the services of a graphic designer for custom document folders

Choose this option when your budget allows it for quality custom presentation folders. Allow extra time to work with the designer to get the product that best suits your needs. Do it all without leaving your office by engaging graphic design services from an online printing and design firm.

I recommend: Obtain custom graphic design services from My1Stop, Inc. or PrintGlobe.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your business produces many presentation folders and other in-house printed products, create an in-house document processing area. Fill it with paper, labels, folders, binders and other printing supplies, organized in stackable document organizing modules, and consider purchasing items such as a paper cutter, laminator, comb-binding machine, specialty label printers and a high-quality color printer and copier.

Cut your office supply budget by saving money on document folders. Many businesses use document folders to organize and group documents and important papers. Employee use document presentation folders to store information and paperwork during meetings. Industries such as real estate companies, lawyer offices, and hospitals place important papers in document folders to give to customers and clients.

There are several different ways that businesses reduce the amount of money that they spend each year on document folders. If purchasing document folders is taking a chunk out of your company budget, consider the following methods for saving money on document folders:

1. Companies offer discounts for purchases of larger quantities of document and business presentation folders.

2. Simple, single ink document folders are cheaper than colorful custom printed document folders and document binders.

3. Single fold document folders cost less than tri-fold and other designs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy document folders in bulk quantity

Search for companies that offer cheaper pricing per document folder as the number purchased increases. Most distributors offer percentage discounts for larger quantities of document folders purchased. Purchase more than you need at cheaper prices and store the leftovers until needed.

I recommend: US Folders reduces the cost of document folders with increase quantities. Quantities range from 500 to 5,000 folders and the price decreases with each unit. Print Globe sells imprinted presentation folders. They offer discounts by quantity from 500 to 4,000 folders.

Keep printed document folders as simple as possible

Colorful printed custom document folders are eye-appealing. However, they are also more costly. Purchase plain generic folders to save money. Most printing companies offer generic designs to choose from in addition to custom document folders. Choose a pre-made business folder design and add your business name using a single ink color. Typically, black ink is cheapest. These folders cost less and serve the same purpose. If you feel the need for a more detailed business logo or advertisement, consider placing a business card inside the folder.

I recommend: Company Folders sell generic document folders with a basic pre-made print design. These are cheaper than creating your own design. Admore Online actually offers a budget cutter folder section on its website. Save money on document folders by ordering folders from this section rather than custom design folders.

Purchase single-fold, card stock document business folders

Manufacturers create different types and sizes of document folders. Purchasing basic material and style folders helps save money on document folders. Choose simple single-fold and opening folders that are cheaper than tri-fold or accordion fold folders. Plastic material folders are also more expensive than card stock folders.

I recommend: Folder Solutions sells standard folders at a cheaper rate than custom folders. Actual Print offers both plastic and standard folders, but the plastic folders are more costly than the standard folders.

Document folders are machines that can save you time and money by quickly folding hundreds of sheets of paper in just minutes. There are different types, and they have different features and parts. Knowing some of the vocabulary terms can help you choose the right one.

Different models have different kinds of feeds. They may perform the task of folding only, or they may fold and insert or fold and seal. In some cases, they may also perforate. It's good to know what types of folds a machine performs to make sure it's what you need for your purposes.

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Feed

A feed refers to how and where the paper enters the folding machine. Machines can have automatic or manual feeds, air or suction feed, or top or bottom feed.

I recommend: Find a glossary of terms related to document folders at Office Zone.

Folder inserter or folder sealer

A folder inserter folds pages and then inserts them into envelopes. A folder sealer folds forms and seals them closed to create a self-mailer that you can mail without an envelope.

I recommend: Read an explanation of paper folder inserters and folder sealers and find how they work at Factory Express.

Half fold, C fold, Z fold

Most folders fold paper in half, called a half or V fold. There are also C and Z folds, which fold paper into three relatively equal panels. C folds like a typical letter, and Z is an accordion shape.

I recommend: Take a look at diagrams showing various types of paper folds at Heavenly Office.

Perforate

Some document folders have the ability to perforate paper. This means to punch holes in the paper so you can tear it neatly and easily.

I recommend: Browse through a glossary of words relating to document folders, including perforate, at General Graphic.

Tray

A paper tray is where you might put the paper that you want to fold. A catch tray is where the folded papers land when they come out of the folder. Take note of the size of the paper tray and whether or not a folder has a catch tray when you shop for a document folder.

I recommend: Read through this glossary with an explanation of trays, at the Paper Folder Store.

Roller

A roller is one of the most important parts of a document folder. It can become dirty or loose, resulting in poor performance. You can buy cleaners or replacement rollers, if necessary.

I recommend: Check out an example of document folder roller cleaner at MyBinding.com.