There are a number of factors that influence the cost of a print job. Short run jobs have a higher cost per unit than high run jobs, for example, you will often pay not much less for 500 business cards compared to 1,000.

The cost per unit of your printing job is one thing to consider when in the planning stage. There is the set up or ‘make ready’ time it takes to get the machine to the stage where it is making good copies. If you are printing a digital job this set up time is eliminated however it is only economical for short runs. Additionally, any special finishing will also add to the cost, sometimes significantly.

Often you are better off purchasing your years worth of stationery instead of ordering it a few times during the year, as long as you are sure your contact details won’t be changing. And if you have multiple items that are printed in your corporate colours, it will be more economical for you to print them at the same time, there are less set up costs this way.

If you are shoping around for quotes, you need to be very specific with your request. As with any trade quoting for a prospective job there is a lot of room for variables. You should know what stock (paper) you require, how many copies, how many colours, and finishing options required (laminating, binding, padding etc), delivery suburb and if you have an electronic copy of the artwork it is helpful to provide this to the printer as well.

And remember, the cheapest isn’t always necessarily the best. Be comfortable with who you are dealing with and make sure you communicate throughout the process.

What do you look for when choosing a printer?