Protecting your business, employees and finances is the responsibility of any small-business owner, so you might be interested in doing some research about ordering business checks online before you actually purchase them. Though buying checks directly from your bank may seem like the safest way to make your purchase, you’ll have to commit to the bank’s schedule, the limited types of checks they carry and the expensive price tag. Buying your checks online can take just a few minutes and can be done on your schedule rather than the bank’s. But most importantly, it’s completely safe and secure. You’ll also save money and get customized checks that reflect your brand identity without going over-budget and without having to worry about whether or not your financial information might get compromised.

Safety First – Keeping Your Information Secure

So how do you know if it is safe to order your business checks online? When you order checks at Vistaprint, you can rest assured that your purchase is entirely secure. Numerous security standards and precautions are implemented to protect you. Sensitive information (such as your business’s checking account number) is protected by Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, which is designed to prevent eavesdropping and forgery and to provide a secure place for confidential communication. When you are on a secure page, look for the lock icon at the bottom of a web page to make sure your information is safe.

Designed for Safety

Now that you know you are secure, you can create checks that will positively reflect your business’s image. Choose a design that compliments your brand and other business materials, then change the font or add an icon or monogram for additional customization. You can even match your design to your other marketing and print products like business cards, postcards and more. As you add text like your business’s account number, routing number and contact information to your checks, make sure you only put the most relevant information on them. To keep your business checks as secure as possible and to avoid identity theft, do not include unnecessary personal information like your social security number, driver’s license number or passport number.

Securely Delivered Right to You

Once you place your order, your business checks will be validated to ensure that everything you put on them is correct. Your checks are then printed at a secure location to provide you with the utmost privacy. To further protect your financial information, your checks are only shipped to the address that you entered on the check. This guarantees that the checks reach the intended recipient and don’t fall into the wrong hands. With all these safety measures in place, you can now reap the benefits of ordering your business checks online. No matter where you are in the shopping process, your information is guaranteed to be secure!

It’s no secret – if you want to earn customer loyalty your business should exude a consistent, professional image. When customers trust you it’s easy to keep them coming back for more. But how can you cultivate your business image without breaking the bank? It’s simple – make sure that every touch point with your customers mirrors your business identity.

Why not customize your own business checks? Custom checks will help keep your finances in order but will also have the added benefit of reinforcing your professionalism every time you pass them on to a vendor, customer or employee. Ready to start personalizing a check that reflects your business? Follow these easy steps:

1. The Perfect Design

You wouldn’t create traditional marketing materials that reflect poorly on your business. The same wisdom applies to picking the right checkbook design to suit your image. If your business is conservative, a business wallet check with traditional design elements like monograms and conventional color schemes would accurately reflect your image.

Similarly, a business with a more fun or whimsical brand might choose a playful or unconventional design for consistency. Don’t make the mistake of selecting a design that reflects your personal tastes – your primary goal is to convey a consistent business identity!

1. Get Creative

Now that you’ve selected a checkbook design that speaks volumes about your small business, it’s time to get creative. You can still create inspired, original business checkbooks that won’t sacrifice your professionalism. Add an icon or monogram to ensure your business checks are unique. These accent images offer the perfect way to infuse a little professional personality into your standard business identity. And that’s not all – you can even include a short company message! This is the perfect opportunity to reinforce your tagline every time a payment is made!

1. The Right Check for Your Business

Whether your business is small or large, you can be sure there’s a checkbook format to fit your needs. Vistaprint offers a wide selection and makes it easy to enter your account information for easy reordering. Do you run your business from home or in order to supplement the income of a full-time job? Then standard business wallet checks are perfect for you! These high-quality checks are affordable and offer you a stress-free way to build your business identity.

Is business booming? Then consider customizing three-to-a-page checks to simplify your life and streamline your finances. These general purpose checks are ideal for a small business owner stretched to the max. Three-to-a-page checks are also perfect for paying invoices involving complex calculations. A single-stub journal on the left side makes keeping track of payments easy; and you can be sure that the standard size of these checks fits most binders. You can even choose from blue, green, gray, pink or yellow versions to suit your image.

If hassle-free is more your style, print checks directly from your computer. Computer checks are ideal for a small business with demanding accounting needs. These checks are compatible with several popular accounting programs so you can keep your bookkeeping fully organized. Computer checks fit in double window envelopes and are available in blue, green, tan, maroon or purple.

Completing your business identity with professional looking business checks isn’t hard. Whatever you choose, make sure your checks send the right message about your small business. And don’t forget – high-quality business checks are just one of many ways to boost your business identity.