Most companies both large and small have a need to outsource a few printing jobs every year. Finding a reliable printing company with affordable pricing and high quality prints is not always an easy task. When beginning your search it is important to get at least 3-5 quotes from a variety of sources. Getting a few recommendations from friends and colleagues is a good place to start, but don’t stop there, have a look in your phone book and check out a few online printing companies. By doing your own research, you will ensure you find a printer that is an appropriate match for your print job.

Getting 3-5 quotes is a good start, but once you have those quotes, how do you decide which printer to choose. On large print jobs I have had quotes where there has been over a $5000 difference between the high and low bids. Choosing the printer with the cheapest quote is not always the best idea. Often the cheapest price also means the lowest printing quality, but not always. When choosing a printer, your goal should be to find a printer who gives you the best quality at the lowest price.

Before you commit to a printing house make sure you have a look at some of their past work. If you are planning on printing a brochure, make sure you get a chance to see several brochures the printing company has done in the past. If you are happy with their quality and their price then you will feel a lot more confident giving them your work. Another important step in the printing process is having proofs made. A proof is usually a full quality print that you need to approve for typos and print quality before giving the go ahead for the entire printing job. Your printer will explain the proof process based on your specific print job.

Many businesses after they have had one good printing experience end up sticking with the same printer for years. When this happens, the print company no longer feels like it is competing for you business and ends up charging you their highest price. Even if you are happy with the price and quality of your current print company, it is a good idea to continue getting quotes on all large print jobs. This way you will feel secure you are getting the best price, and it will keep your current print company honest.

Many experienced printing buyers have a variety of printers that they will go to depending on the type of print job they need. Different printers have different equipment and specialize in specific printing methods. Some printers focus on newsletters, business cards and brochures, while other focus on posters and large format printing. If you are not careful some printers will accept jobs they don’t even have the equipment for, then outsource the work to another company, and you end up paying significantly more than you should. You can avoid this scenario just by getting a few quotes.

When getting your 3-5 quotes, it is a good idea to look at a few online printing companies. In my experience there are a growing number of online printers who offer high quality printing at discount prices. Most online printing shops are just regular print shops who have realized that they can reach a lot more customers by taking their services online. By doing this they have increased their printing volume and as a result can offer lower prices. To compete with each other, these online printers use a variety of techniques including discount printing, printing coupons, and free shipping. When shopping for printing online, don’t forget to have a look at print samples before you commit to a large printing job. Getting a few quotes and examining a few print samples will leave you feeling confident you are getting the best printing quality at the best price.