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Check ordering is one of the biggest hidden costs of having a checking account. In order to turn a profit banks may offer free checking, but you pay dearly for the checks. By actually check printing yourself, you can save those costs and benefit financially. Before you begin the task of check printing, there are vital parts that should be considered. Contrary to what you may initially think, it is never quite as simple as merely having them come out on a piece of paper. Definitely purchase a check printing program. There are many quality programs available that are inexpensive. Furthermore, we have listed some guidelines to help you get started. What is Required? In addition to the aforementioned software that you should pick up, there are some equipment standards that you will need to meet in order to successfully print your own checks. The convenient thing is that you can use your own home printer. You should go out and pick up magnetic ink, though. Getting your hands on this ink can sometimes be challenging, so a little searching might be required. In addition to that ink, you will need special paper, so that your checks can’t be easily changed. You can purchase check stock paper from a number of online and offline retail outlets. This blank check stock can be purchased by the hundreds of sheets, so they will last for years if you don’t write a lot of checks. This paper will resemble the checks that you might receive at your bank. The most important thing about these checks is that they come with full security features, so that people will have a difficult time trying to change around the information held there. Those among us who enjoy employing money management programs also have the option of purchasing checks for Quicken and other programs. This kind of check stock is made in particular for those programs; therefore, you can automatically print checks for particular expenses that are partial to your bookkeeping program. More on Magnetic Ink Magnetic ink is imperative for numerous reasons. Most importantly, after you write a check, it will subsequently be run through a reader and non-optical readers can only read checks printed in magnetic ink. If you don’t print with magnetic ink the bank will have to manually process the check. This can lead to delays and additional fees, defeating the purpose of saving money. What are MICR Fonts? Have you ever given any thought to why exactly the bank account information and the routing data printed upon your check look so peculiar? It is due to the fact that they are written in what is called an MICR font. For most banks to consider honoring a check, the numbers must either be printed in the MICR or a similar font, known as E-13B. These fonts often require a laser quality printer in order to print properly, so you should check the compatibility of your printer first. Overall, check printing from home is something that can save you money, especially if you write a lot of checks. Though the extra equipment might cost a little bit more at the beginning, you will reap the benefits on the back end. Make sure to take all of these security measures to heart, though. If you don’t, then you might end up having someone alter one of your checks, which can be a real headache.