Business Checks - Getting it Right

So it's time to order more business checks. It would be an understatement to say you have a few options. It might seem simple- order your business checks, get on with your day. But it can easily become confusing when you starting seeing all the different formats and styles that come under the category of "business checks."

There are a lot of different business check terms out there: voucher, 3-per-page, payroll, laser, draft, manual, etc. You might be asking yourself: What style of checks do I actually need? You may have started off knowing you simply needed business checks, but now the waters have become muddied. We will delineate some of the more commonplace formats of business checks to make your check buying experience a more painless one.

* 3-Per-Page Checks: Probably the most common type of business checks, the 3-per-page style is aptly named and easy to identify. But even within the 3-per-page format there are many variations. Some may be meant to print from your computer on your laser or inkjet printer, while others may be meant to be written manually. They also may come with additional options such as Voucher or Payroll, both discussed below.

* Voucher Checks: There exist two basic types of voucher checks. One is similar to a 3-per-page design in the way it looks except it actually only has one check on the sheet of paper. The two other panels are almost blank, save for the amount of the check and your business name. The second type of voucher check is a 3-per-page format but has a small table printed on the left side of the check. This table is used to record the date and amount of an invoice being paid, and at times can also allow for discount calculations.

* Laser Checks: Laser checks are pretty self-explanatory: they are checks meant to be printed through a laser printer. They can be of the 3-per-page check format or the single check voucher style described above. It is worth mentioning that some type of accounting software is needed to print laser checks.

* Payroll Checks: There's no big mystery for what payroll checks are used: to pay your employees. There is a removable stub that comes with payroll checks. The stub is used to record your common deductions: State Income Tax, F.I.C.A., Medicare, etc. Not surprisingly there are additional options as well. Customarily the stubs are either in a salary or hourly type structure.

You may be looking to order business checks for a certain type of accounting software, the most popular ones being QuickBooks, Quicken and Microsoft Money. Any well-respected business check printer will have laser checks available in each of these 3 programs. Most check printers will also have several other software options available as well.

It all boils down to this: when looking for "business checks," first identify precisely what type of style you need. If you use an accounting software, have that in mind as well. Being prepared ahead of time with this information will help you avoid confusion and lead to a fast and effortless check buying experience.

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