How to Save Money on Printing

• The real way to save money is to print it yourself on a high-quality color office printer...are you willing to learn how to do this?
  

TIP:  The cost per print can be as low as six cents per color page, significantly lower than sending a printing job out.  And with the new color printers, the print quality will look the same.  So the trade-off is your time to print it yourself.  How to Print Using Your Color Office Printer covers what you need to know if you choose to do it yourself and how to get your printing costs down to the six cent range. 

If you want to have someone else do your printing, here are things to know

• If you do not need pre-designed templates, then your choice is easier.  You can compare prices and use any printing supplier that offers the best price for the quantity and type of paper you want to use.

• If you want to use pre-designed templates, then you'll want to spend more time choosing a printer
  

  • Your marketing will look much more professional if it's integrated with a coordinated look in the graphic design for your business cards, brochures, flyers, letterhead, direct mail postcards and your website.  You'll want to find a template design you like that's part of a matching, coordinated set.  Once you do that, you've just committed yourself to a printing company because you can't buy the templates from them.  They are "free" if you use them to print whatever you create. 

  • Most of the printing companies offer templates and software you can use for free to add your logo, text and photos. Some make it easy to search for templates for particular types of small businesses (like pet shops, hair salons, attorneys, etc.).  Other suppliers offer hundreds of templates that you need to sort through to determine what is and isn't appropriate for your business. 

  • You can buy templates from companies that sell professionally designed templates for marketing and then you won't be locked into using a particular printer.  You can upload whatever it is you want to print to any printer and shop for the best prices, turnaround and paper stock.  And you can then print with the templates on your office color printer which will save you a lot of money.  Top Marketing Template Suppliers gives you the information you need about who offers what, and their pricing. 

• If you're printing anything that is 2-sided, be sure to choose a heavy enough paper stock so it won't bleed through.

• The printing companies that come up on page one of Google search results aren't the top suppliers

  • Many of the companies that are listed have far fewer unique visitors than the top suppliers we've chosen to compare prices for.  They may (or may not) be fine companies to deal with but they aren't the largest online printing companies.

Your alternatives for printing

• Use a local quick-print shop. Good if you want to email them something to print or go in and talk to someone.  But know you're paying a premium for this convenience and service. They often charge more because people don't plan ahead or comparison shop.  You can use the pricing from the top national printing suppliers as a benchmark to ensure you're not paying too much. 

• Choose an online printing supplier.  You can upload a flyer, brochure, direct mail postcards or business cards (and many other things) that you want to print.  Or you can use the supplier's online software and pre-designed templates where you add your logo, text and photos or illustrations.  This is a good way to go to save money and get nice quality printing done but you need to plan ahead at least three days to have something printed and then shipped to you.  Even with the shipping costs, the prices are lower than local print shops.  And it's very convenient because you don't have to leave your office or home.  You can do everything online.  Read the reviews about these suppliers.

• Choose a national supplier with local stores that offer printing services.  Like the quick print shops, they charge premium prices for the convenience and service.  Read the reviews about these suppliers.  Some are much better than others. 

• Select a commercial printer.  Always a good option especially if you are printing large quantities, want personal service, or are printing complex direct mailers or brochures.  And they're local so you won't be paying for shipping what you've had printed. 

  • How to Select and Hire a Commercial Printer

  • Print on Demand and Personalized Printing (also called Variable Data Printing, or VDP) are newer printing techniques offered by commercial printers who have invested in digital press equipment. 

  • If you choose this route, here are a few tips to save you money.  Ask about what printers call a "gang run".  This is when they print multiple items on a single sheet of paper (gang them together) and then cut it into separate pieces. Also, ask about house sheets (which are like house wine at a restaurant).  House sheets (of paper) cost less than specialty papers.  Ask to see a sample to determine if it's acceptable for what you're printing.

• Print your marketing flyers, letterhead, brochures and even direct mail postcards and business cards on your color office printer.  This is a good way to save money.  Learn more about Printing on Your Office Printer.

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