Where to find a printing company

Most cities have printing companies that take care of the printing needs of local businesses. However, if you need something beyond a brochure or business cards, such as a book or catalog, you might need to look nationwide for a good deal on commercial printing.

I recommend: The Print Guide breaks down printing companies by type. This is a good place to find commercial printing companies that specialize in specific areas of printing. John Kremer offers a selection of reputable book printers at Book Market.

Toss your project in the ring for bids

If you use a local printing company for most of your printing needs, it may take on a larger project and outsource it to another printer just to keep your business. You should put your larger project out for bid to several companies so you can get the best deal possible.

I recommend: Printing Industry Exchange and Bid for Printing offer free quotes from multiple printing companies specializing in printing services that run the gamut from Post-It-type notes to billboards.

Use a digital printing company for the greatest of ease

You can send files electronically to a digital printing company. Other advantages of working with digital printers include the ability to make changes easier and to have shorter print runs. Costs are usually less than with a traditional commercial printing company because set-up fees are lower.

I recommend: Miami Systems Corporation offers a full line of digital commercial printing services for small or large jobs.  Also try VistaPrint for business cards or marketing materials. And don't forget the national office supply and service chains: FedEx Kinko's, Office Depot and Staples all offer online on-demand printing, too.