Printing checks in-house often presents a viable cost-cutting alternative to purchasing books of pre-printed checks from check manufacturers or banks. In addition to the cost savings, printing checks in-house allows businesses and individuals to customize check formats and design while printing only as many checks are as needed. Most printers can be used to print checks, from large office printers to home office printer scanner copiers, but before checks can be printed, software must be used to design the check’s format.
Some types of accounting and bookkeeping software include check printing in their application packages. Other types of software concentrate solely on check printing, without other bookkeeping applications.
Software for Check Printing Only
Software which is designed only for printing checks rather than full-service accounting may provide a cost-effective solution for certain applications. While small businesses and in-home offices may find it most convenient to rely on all-in-one software applications, larger businesses and offices may want to dedicate a particular printer and computer to printing checks only, without having check creation be tied through a software system to the business’s other bookkeeping activities.
By using software for check printing alone, businesses avoid having to purchase multiple editions of bookkeeping software, which may help to cut costs. Software applications for printing checks range in cost from $15 to $130, a range which is comparable to combination bookkeeping software.
VersaCheck Gold, Checksoft, InstiCheck and Just Checking are a few of the highest rated software applications currently available.
Bookkeeping and Check Printing Combination Software
Whether a check printing or combination bookkeeping software application is best for a business depends largely on the size of the business and how bookkeeping transactions are handled. For small business owners, work-from-home professionals and individuals, it’s likely that all accounting activities are performed together, so combination accounting software is most likely the most appropriate software. Costs for both types of software vary significantly, so neither type of software has a significant cost advantage.
Accounting software applications with the highest rated applications include: Quicken, Quickbooks and Goldenseal, although VersaCheck Gold does include invoicing and credit card transaction tracking capabilities.
Other Features to Consider
Accounting and payroll software program capabilities vary, so it’s a good idea to first determine exactly what you need from your software before purchasing. Some software programs include MICR check line printing, allowing custom MICR printing, while others exclude this, expecting the business owner to use check stock with pre-printed MICR data. Other features which vary from program to program include custom logo and graphic options, font customization, printable signature and personal check options.
