Printing Companies Basics

Guidelines for choosing the right printing company for your print job

Searching for printing companies on the Internet reveals that there are many to choose from. They are not all the same, however. Aside from price, there are other differences as well, and it's important to know how to choose the best one.

Pricing structures and other features vary with your selection of printing companies. Basics of choosing a printing company for any given print job include the following factors:

1. Turnaround time: some print companies charge extra for faster service, and almost all companies will require more time if you need design services as well as printing.

2. Quantity: though all printers offer you a range of quantities, the minimum and maximum will vary depending on the printer.

3. Shipping costs: this varies tremendously and can add to the bill if you order high quantities.

Find printing companies that print small pieces

Most printers will print business cards and letterhead, but you generally get a better price from printers who do this type of printing exclusively. Look for printers that offer many options: different weight paper, the option for color or black and white and different types of folds. If you order a card or flyer that is blank on one side, compare prices to make sure the company doesn't charge the same price as it would if you ordered it printed on both sides.

Look for a printing company capable of printing magazines, catalogs and books

Many online digital printing companies print mostly items made from one sheet of paper or card stock. Printing documents with multiple pages generally requires more expertise. Look for printers with experience producing these types of products.

Choose a digital printing company for large quantities

A big part of the cost of printing is setup, and as the quantity goes up, the price per piece goes down. Digital printing brings the overall price down, so that sometimes doubling the quantity only slightly raises the price of the order. Look for printers that specialize in large quantities to save the most money.

• The days when a company had one corporate printing firm may be gone forever. Choose several quality firms that specialize in a variety of types of printing to get the best price on each kind of printing you need.

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