Things You Need to Start Printing Your Own Checks (Check Printing 101)

For a personal user printing checks at home may seem like an unnecessary hassle, but for a business enterprise, it’s almost essential. Running a successful business is all about keeping the costs low. Ordering pre-printed checks from banks is way more expensive than ordering blank checks and printing them in-house. 

In this post, we will reveal the basic hardware and software requirements of printing checks in offices and other businesses locations. When it comes to printing your own checks, there are two ways to go forward. 

Firstly, you can order blank check paper and print the entire check from scratch. In that case, you need a printer with MICR toner to print the routing number and other details. Blank check papers are available at supermarkets and online checks stores at really cheap prices, which makes taking the extra effort worthwhile. 

If you want a simpler check printing process, then you can order printed checks and then print the payee and amount details using your computer. This frees you from the hassle of buying MICR toner for your printer and ensures a faster printing process. 

Selecting a Check Printing Software 

There is no law or banking regulation that mandates the use of special check printing software. You can design a check format on a regular word processors and then print them on check papers. While checks printed using your word processor is legally valid, it takes a lot of effort and skill to do correctly. 

A much simpler way is to buy a check printing software. Now, if you are running a business then there is a good chance you use accounting software packages. Quickbooks, for example, has an in-built check printing feature that allows you to print on blank checks and printed business checks. You have to start by ordering Quickbooks checks online or from the bank. Once you have a check that’s compatible with the software, you can use a laser printer to start printing checks in bulk. 

The great thing about Quickbooks is that it’s not just a check printing software. It keeps a database record of all the checks printed and attaches it to invoices. 

The Basic Setup: 

Before you can start printing checks, you do need to have a basic setup. Following is a brief list of all the things you need to start printing your own checks at home or office. 

• Printing on Printed Business Checks 
• Check Printing Software or an Accounting Software with Check Printing Feature 
• Computer or Laptop 
• Printed Business Checks with Pre-printed Routing and Account Number 
• Laser or Inkjet Printer 
• Printing on Blank Check Paper 
• Check Printing Software or an Accounting Software with Check Printing Feature 
• MICR Toner to Print Banking Details Such as Routing Number and Account Number 
• MICR Font to Ensure the Printed Character are Readable by MICR Scanners (Can be downloaded for free from font websites) 
• Blank Check Paper 
• Computer or Laptop 
• Laser or Inkjet Printer 

Once you have all the things you need you are ready to print your first check. Watch an online tutorial of the check printing software you are using to find out the exact steps you need to follow to print checks.