Printing your checks lets you modify the checks you purchase and keep them from running out suddenly. It’s also cheaper than purchasing your checks at the banks. However, adhering to the usual banking procedures (like magnetic ink) could cause printing your checks to be more hassle than it’s worth the effort. Be familiar with the process, the software and other equipment required for check printing at home, and how many you’ll need each month or over a year to determine whether it’s worth the effort.
In order to optimize the check printing process, you should understand your needs prior to embarking on the process. Instant checks by mail can make a tremendous difference in streamlining financial transactions, saving time, and managing pre-printed checks effectively. By opting for modern check printing solutions such as instant checks by mail, on-demand check issuance becomes possible and saves you both hassle and time.
To create your checks, you’ll need the following items:
- Software to format checks
- Check stock paper with security features to prevent your check from being duplicated or altered.
- A printer
- Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) font for printing the computer-friendly numbers at the end of each check
- Magnetic ink
Magnetic in software for Printing Checks
Making your checks requires specialized skills in graphic design, and checks need to be designed the way you want them to be. But check printing software does this work for you, and the software is relatively inexpensive–especially if you can spread the cost out over a high volume of checks.
You already have the items you require. The most popular money management software programs like Quicken and QuickBooks help you make a payment by filling out the components of a check and printing the check. Additionally, these programs can help you keep track of the payments you make by recording them within your ledger after you print your check.
Other alternative software vendors assist you in creating checks. For instance, the cloud-based accounting software Xero allows you to modify the design of your check and include bank details in MICR format. You can then make the checks.
Check Stock Paper
The stock of Check Stock paper works with a wide range of printers and printing software. It’s designed to print checks and typically comes with additional security features like microprinting, security alerts, and watermarks. Some check stock comes pre-perforated to make cutting easier.
You can purchase paper check stock in office supply stores and online retailers. It’s more expensive than normal paper due to security features; however, their security is well worth the cost.
A Printer (or Printing Company)
Print your checks using nearly every printer, including inkjet, laserjet, and offset printers. Some check printers feature features that enhance their security checks, including watermarks and thermochromatic ink, but you can also use any standard home office printer. All you need to do is ensure that the printer can work with the magnetic ink that is used in printing a MICR code.
Consider hiring an organization that prints checks to create checks with your MICR number. You can then put the checks printed in your printer, including the date, payee, amount, and memos. By doing this, using special inks and downloading MICR font is unnecessary.
MICR
The bank’s information is entered, including the routing and account numbers, in MICR font at the bottom of your check. The MICR code, also known as the MICR line, is crucial to the character-reading technology utilized by the computers that process checks.3 The benefit of this is that humans can read the characters easily. Once the information is processed, the bank’s information is converted to digital data, which is then used to facilitate the transaction.
Magnetic Ink
The MICR line can be recognized by computers even when it is obscured by other inks or marks because magnetic ink functions in conjunction with MICR technology.
Nowadays, it’s okay to make use of magnetic ink. The mobile check deposit, for instance, takes a photo of a check to deposit the check, removing the requirement to use magnetic ink. Many banks also use scanners at the branch for checks that allow optical instead of magnetic readings.23
Counter Checks
If you need one check but want to avoid printing one by yourself, your bank may be able to issue counter-checks. In this case, you may require a check that has been canceled to set direct deposits, or you could need an actual paper check. Banks generally offer small amounts of checks with the account details printed for a nominal cost. Contact them beforehand and inquire whether it’s possible to obtain counter-checks before you visit the location.