Did you know that you can save a lot of time, money and hassle using check printing software capable of printing MICR numbers compared to either pre-printed checkbook checks or pre-printed computer checks?
Federal regulations require checks to have routing transit number and account numbers printed in MICR to reduce check fraud. If you checks don’t have MICR numbers, banks will reject them. MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition, which is a system for printing and reading numbers on a check. It uses a unique number font and prints them with a magnetic ink. This specialized printing speeds up bank processing and makes counterfeiting and forgeries more difficult.
There are two ways to get your checks encoded with MICR numbers. You can have your checks pre-printed with the required information printed in MICR, either in checkbook format or in page format for printing from your computer. Or you can print MICR numbers on blank check stock using MICR-capable check printing software.
There are several advantages to printing on blank check stock over using pre-printed checks:
Security
Printing checks when you need them, rather than having pre-printed checks lying around, minimizes opportunities for someone to steal your checks. Plus, password-protected computerized data is safer from prying eyes than ledger books. It’s also easy to create back-ups of the data should something happen to your computer or premises.
Convenience
Running out of checks is a pain. But when you use software to print on blank check stock, you never run out of checks and have to wait for new checks to arrive. A new supply of checks is as close as your local business supply store.
Save time
You can import your check data and print hundreds of check with just a few clicks. If you’ve ever written out payroll checks or paid bills by hand, you know how time consuming this is. Not only do you have to write each check individually, but then you have to log the payroll data into your accounting software. With check printing software, you input the data into your accounting software and a few more click exports it for printing.
Save money
Using blank check stock is much less expensive than having checks pre-printed. Plus, if you ever have to change banks or change your address or other information on your checks, you don’t have to have new checks printed—you just change the information in your check printing software and it prints the new information on the checks.
Report for tax time
Tax time is simplified with check printing software. Just a few clicks of the mouse generate a full report of all the checks you’ve written in the past year.
Customize your check with logo to get your brand in the market place.
Pre-printed checks cost more than blank check stock, but getting those pre-printed checks customized with your logo and slogan runs up a really hefty price tag. Check software allows you to personalize your checks easily. Just upload your logo image to the software and it prints automatically. Customized checks are an easy way to promote your brand in the marketplace as you pay for goods and services.
One MICR-capable check printing software title that is popular with small businesses is ezCheckPrinting from www.halfpricesoft.com/product_ezCheck.asp. EzCheckPrinting has all the features that high-end check printing software titles offer for small businesses without the high-end price tag. Starting at just $29 per installation or FREE through online special offer, ezCheckPrinting is affordable for any size business and is compatible with all popular brands of laser printers (most of which can print bank-accepted MICR numbers) and specialized MICR printers.
