Importance of Customizing Checks for Your Business

Payment processing is a crucial aspect of any business. In addition to building trust with coworkers, having checks on hand ensures you'll always have the appropriate payment method, whether to pay an employee's paycheck or pay a creditor.

However, checks, including secure checks, can be open to fraud since writing and signing a check is relatively easy for most people and difficult to trace. You can improve your checks' security by getting custom business checks.

What are Custom Business Checks?

The term "custom check" has varied meanings for different individuals. For some, this entails prefixing check numbers with a specific number or adding personalized company or personal information. For others, custom business checks entail the addition of a personalized business logo or a custom backdrop image. Some businesses make unique personalized checks for different accounts.

The Difference between Business Checks and Personal Checks

Personal checks can be personalized. Individuals can choose their style, sometimes have pictures or cartoons on them, etc. Personal checks can also include savings and other investments that are not part of your business.

On the other hand, business checks are usually bigger than personal checks. This is so they can be printed more quickly and so that the company logo has room to be printed. They also have a larger memo, and payee line business checks usually have a set color of blue. Technically, business checks could be personalized with kittens or cartoons, but they would not look as professional. Additionally, business checks have more security features than personal checks since they usually deal with a lot of money.

Deciding on the Design of Your Check

A custom check can give your business and brand the value and reputation it deserves. The whole process of creating one can be pretty overwhelming, and you might want to hire the services of a professional. Before customizing check designs for your business, you may need to determine which elements are acceptable and which are not. Examine existing templates to get a few ideas on the best approach for your business.

Choose a Layout

The layout of the check lays its foundation. This includes the size, color, and shape of fonts. Check layout is essential because even a slight compromise in one of these factors can negatively affect your brand's value. The standard dimensions of a check are 8.24 by 3 inches. On an A4 page, it is possible to print three checks.

After determining the dimensions of the check, the next step is to select colors. Check your brand's color scheme and apply it to your checks. Obtaining the colors used on a business card or other stationery is a quick way to determine the color scheme. Utilize the same color for the background. Choose only your company's primary color if you prefer a monochromatic background. However, if you are unsure what color to use, you can stick to black.

When customizing a layout, it is natural to alter the shapes to make them more appealing. Based on the dimensions mentioned above, the shape of the check is rectangular. Utilizing the same font type as your business cards is a good idea. This is intended to ensure consistency. Avoid using wider and larger fonts. These can impact the spacing on the business check.

Design the Check

If you are customizing a check for your business, you are probably aware of the check's fundamental components. Ensure that there are placeholders for essential information so that you can add additional elements or enhance the design based on your interests. There must be placeholders for the recipient's name, the number of words and numbers, the date, the check number, the routing number, the account number, and the bank's name. The company name can be printed as standard information on all checks. You can also include a watermark of your business's logo on the check such that everyone can always know that the check is from your business.

Why You Should Have Separate Checks For Personal and Business

Financial management is an unavoidable aspect of life. It requires patience and careful consideration. Respecting the distinction between business and personal finances can pay to help you manage your finances even better. Keeping business and personal finances separate is important because doing so allows you to manage your business without creating unnecessary complications.

If you do not know how to distinguish the business from personal expenses, you may not have a decent grasp on cash flow, which can harm the day-to-day operations of your business. For instance, you may assume there are sufficient funds to cover accounts payable, but the money may not be in the business.

As a result, you may fall short on payments for business expenses. Unless you stay on top of your business's expense management, it can hinder your power to continue doing business and negatively impact your company's credit. Other benefits of separating your personal and business checks include:

Separating business and personal checks improves the image of your business. You want your business to appear professional, and that will be hindered if you are using personal checks in your business.
It makes it easy to manage your business taxes, saving you time and time that you can use to pursue other meaningful goals.
Separating the two can help improve your personal and business credit scores.
You can avoid negative legal problems because creditors will be able to differentiate between personal and business finances.

Benefits of Using Custom Business Checks

Even though the majority of businesses prefer using credit cards and online money transfers, there are still some that prefer checks. If you use checks, you should consider using customized ones. Customized business checks come with many advantages.

It gives your business a sense of professionalism.

No matter the size of your business, it is always paramount to ensure that it looks as professional as possible. Using customized checks can make your business look professional. The custom design of your check will also serve as a marketing tool in the hands of prospective customers and business associates.

Business checks don't have processing charges.

When businesses use credit cards and debits cards, their customers must pay processing charges. Furthermore, the business has to pay processing fees to accept the payments. Personalized company checks can help your business save additional vendor costs, which might encourage other businesses to transact with your business even more. Additionally, since the checks are customized, they make your customers know that you care about them; you use checks to help them save on transaction costs.

Customized checks provide consistency.

Your logo appears on your website, business card, front door, marketing materials, etc. Why not also include it on your business checks? To strengthen brand recognition, your content should be consistent. Therefore, although a business check is not technically "content," including your logo will still increase brand recognition. Customers are significantly more likely to purchase recognizable brands. Keep in mind that not only the payee will see these checks. They are likely to pass through to other people before being deposited. This is an automatic endorsement for your business.

A customized check establishes trust.

When you go the extra mile to improve brand awareness through consistency, you demonstrate to a potential customer that you are not a fly-by-night operation. This demonstrates that your organization is committed to excellence and should be taken seriously. You demonstrate your dedication by including the logo and other customization options on your check. With dedication comes trust. With trust comes brand success.

When to Use Business Checks

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) advises all owners of small businesses to keep their business checking accounts distinct from their personal bank accounts. You can use the company checking account to write checks for the firm if your organization maintains its own checking account. These checks might be used to pay for payroll, insurance, utility bills, stock purchases, or any other major purchases.

If you own a small business, it is in your best interest to open a checking account for your company. This makes the accounting process easier to understand. It also identifies your organization as a distinct legal entity in the eyes of the law. As a result, the business's creditors cannot seize your personal property. You are also protected from loss if the company is unable to fulfill its financial commitments. In addition, by keeping your company's finances separate from your personal finances, your company will be eligible for certain tax benefits.

What to Provide When Ordering Custom Checks for Your Business

In most cases, many businesses don't have the time to design custom business checks. For that reason, they often hire outside sources to help them come up with fantastic checks. The business checks often carry your company's name, address, logo, and other formal information, so decide what you want to have on it. If you have special customization requests, let the company know. However, always ensure to provide the following information to the company you intend to hire:

The design and type of paper
What you need on it
Bank routing number
Account number
Check number
Personal information
Bank contact info
Logo of your company
Color of your choosing

Custom business checks are designed with your business in mind, incorporating colors, logos, and baking details of your business. The IRS recommends having a separate business account from your personal account for anyone owning a small business.