What Are Laser Checks
Laser checks are pre-printed check stock that works with a laser or inkjet printer and accounting software to produce professional, ABA-compliant business checks. The stock arrives with your business name, address, ABA routing number, and account number already printed. When you record a payment in your accounting software, the software generates the variable fields (payee name, dollar amount, date) and sends them to your printer, which prints them in the correct positions on the pre-printed form.
The result is a fully completed, professionally printed check that required no handwriting, no bank visit, and no wait. You sign it and send it. The term "laser checks" refers to the laser printer compatibility of the check stock , though most modern laser check stock works equally well with inkjet printers. The stock is the same ABA-compliant MICR paper used by banks, which is why laser checks clear identically to bank-printed checks.
For a complete guide to how laser checks work with accounting software, see our guide to how to print laser checks.
The Five Benefits of Using Laser Checks
In the past if you needed to write a check and were completely out it could take up to two weeks for a replacement.
Laser checks provide you with the ability to get what you need right away without the hassle of going through your bank, or paying exorbitant fees. You can do some from the comfort of your home or office and if you desire obtain software to print them out yourself.
There are endless choices that were not available in the past. There are five benefits to obtaining them for yourself.
There is no waiting when you use laser checks. With current technology depending on what you decide you can have access to checks within minutes.
There are no shipping cost or extra rush fees to get them to your location right away. Every one now wants the ability to get their hands on what they need right away. Current software provides this ability to you. The old way of going to your banker and picking out a specific check type from a catalog or book that they provide is history. Laser checks are the new way of doing business. Why pay extra money to your bank and help their bottom line when you can keep additional savings for yourself? Discounts can be as high as 75 percent when you change from past actions.
Laser checks can be used for an individual account or a company business. When you order them for your company the expense can be written off on your taxes as a cost of operation. There are many compatible software programs which allow you to incorporate them with your computer and business. The cost to you is minimal for the advantages that you achieve.
Another reason that you may not realize comes with using laser checks is the decreased chances for theft. Now days you can have a hacker or other individual that is looking to get your information and wreck havoc on your company. All they need is access to your account number and they can recreate information. When you choose the option of printing them yourself you lower your risk as nothing personal is entered online. All actions are created on your own computer offline.
People often had a fear that laser checks would not be accepted at regular businesses or entities. When you make a payment and use your checks they are just as good as a standard bank printed check. The design is created to where they will not get rejected. You do not have to fear that you have wasted money on something that will not get used.
If you are still going to your bank to order checks then you are doing yourself a disservice. You can save yourself the hassle of ordering and create your own in your office. You can also save a lot of money by shaving the cost and profit that your bank gets. You do not have to worry about whether or not they will get accepted as people have been using them for years. Laser checks when printed with your software lowers your chances of identity theft.
Benefit 1: No Waiting for Checks When You Need Them
The original content captures this perfectly: bank check orders once took up to two weeks. The underlying reason is that banks do not manufacture checks. They route your order through a contracted third-party printer on a batch schedule. Your order waits for the next batch run, gets printed, ships to the bank or directly to you, and arrives one to two weeks later.
A direct manufacturer like Checkomatic produces laser checks in-house and ships on a daily schedule. Standard production ships in 3 to 5 business days. Rush production ships in 1 to 2 business days. And if your situation is truly urgent, overnight delivery of your first 50 checks is available for orders placed before 3 PM EST. For current delivery options and timelines, see shipping and handling.
Why In-House Manufacturing Eliminates the Wait
When a manufacturer owns its printing equipment and controls its production schedule, your order does not enter a third-party queue. It enters the manufacturer's own production line. Same-day production is possible because the manufacturer can prioritize your order without coordinating with a separate company. The wait that used to define check ordering is eliminated by cutting out the intermediary entirely.
Benefit 2: No Extra Fees or Bank Markup
The original content states that discounts can be as high as 75 percent compared to bank pricing. This is not a marketing claim , it reflects the actual cost difference between bank-brokered check orders and direct manufacturer pricing.
Banks charge retail price for checks because they order from printers at wholesale and mark up the price before passing it to you. They add their margin to an already-marked-up printer price. You pay multiple layers of profit for a product you could buy directly from the source. A direct manufacturer eliminates every intermediary layer and prices checks at manufacturing cost plus a single margin.
What the Savings Look Like
Multiple verified Checkomatic customers have confirmed receiving 500 laser checks for less than what their bank charged for 200 equivalent checks. That is a per-check cost reduction of more than 60 percent on the same ABA-compliant, MICR-encoded, security-featured check stock. For the complete cost comparison between ordering sources, see our guide to what is the best place to order checks online.
Benefit 3: Tax Deductible as a Business Expense
The original content notes that laser checks ordered for your company can be written off on your taxes as a cost of operation. This applies to business check stock ordered for legitimate business use.
Laser checks used for accounts payable, payroll, vendor payments, and other business transactions are an ordinary and necessary business expense under IRS guidelines. The cost of the check stock, any software used to generate checks, and laser printer supplies used exclusively for business check printing can all contribute to your deductible business expenses. Consult your accountant for the specific tax treatment that applies to your business situation.
Personal vs Business Account Laser Checks
The original content correctly notes that laser checks work for both individual and company accounts. Personal check stock ordered for non-business use is not a business deduction. Business check stock ordered for company accounts payable, payroll, or vendor payments is. If you run a business and a personal account, order separate check stock for each account with the correct information pre-printed on each.
Benefit 4: Lower Identity Theft Risk When Printing Yourself
The original content identifies something that most discussions about laser checks overlook: printing checks from your own computer reduces the number of external systems that handle your banking information.
When you order pre-printed checks from a manufacturer, your routing number and account number are transmitted once to complete the order. After that, the check stock sits in your office. When you print a check from your accounting software, the variable payment details (payee and amount) are generated locally on your computer and sent to your local printer. Your account number and routing number are already on the pre-printed stock , they do not go anywhere online during the printing process.
What This Means in Practice
Every time banking information travels across a network, it passes through systems that could theoretically be intercepted. Laser check printing from your own computer removes the account number from that transmission path for every check you generate. The exposure happens once (when you order the stock), not once per check. For businesses generating dozens of checks per week, this is a meaningful risk reduction compared to entering payment details into an external system for every transaction.
The security paper itself adds another layer of protection. Checkomatic's laser check stock includes chemically sensitive paper, microprinting, UV fluorescent fibers, and a void pantograph that prints VOID if the check is photocopied. These six built-in security features protect each physical check from alteration and counterfeiting after it leaves your printer.
Benefit 5: Universally Accepted at All US Banks
The original content addresses the fear that laser checks might be rejected by banks or businesses. This concern is understandable but unfounded. Laser checks printed on ABA-compliant MICR check stock clear at any US bank exactly like bank-printed checks.
The reason is simple: banks do not distinguish between laser-printed checks and checks printed on their own equipment. They read the MICR line at the bottom of every check magnetically, regardless of who printed it or how. A laser check printed from your QuickBooks account on Checkomatic check stock is processed by the same automated reader-sorter machines that process handwritten checks and bank-printed checks. The check clears or bounces based on your account balance , not on who printed the check.
ABA Compliance Is the Standard
ABA (American Bankers Association) compliance means the check meets the physical dimensions, MICR line position, and encoding standards that all US banks require for automated processing. Any check that meets ABA specifications clears at any US bank. Checkomatic verifies every routing number against the Federal Reserve E-Payments Routing Directory before production begins and manufactures every laser check to ABA specifications as standard.
What You Need to Print Laser Checks
Getting started with laser checks requires four items. Most businesses already have three of them.
- Accounting software: QuickBooks, Sage, MYOB, Xero, Quicken, or any platform that supports check printing. The software generates the variable fields and sends the print job to your printer.
- A laser or inkjet printer: Both work. Laser printers produce sharper output and are preferred for high-volume printing. Inkjet printers work well for lower volume operations.
- Laser check stock: Pre-printed with your business name, address, routing number, and account number. Must match your software's print template format (QuickBooks uses voucher format by default).
- Your ABA routing number and account number: Needed to order the pre-printed stock. Found at the bottom of any existing check from your bank.
For the complete step-by-step setup guide, see how to print laser checks. For QuickBooks-compatible laser check stock in all formats, see QuickBooks checks.
Which Laser Check Format Is Right for Your Business
Laser checks are available in several formats that match different accounting software templates and business needs. Choosing the wrong format causes misaligned printing that makes the entire batch unusable.
- Voucher (check on top): One check plus two detachable stubs per page. Default format for QuickBooks payroll and accounts payable. Best when a paper record of each payment matters. See the full comparison of check formats at voucher checks vs wallet checks.
- 3-on-a-page: Three checks per sheet with no stubs. Lower cost per check. Best for high-volume accounts payable where digital records replace paper stubs.
- Check in middle: One check centered with stubs above and below. Default for Sage 50 and Peachtree accounting software.
- Check on bottom: One check at the bottom of the page with stubs above. Used by platforms where the payment detail is designed to appear at the top.
Browse all laser check formats at computer checks for business. For businesses comparing the benefits of using QuickBooks checks, the voucher format is the standard starting point.
Accepted by the World's Leading Banks
Every laser check from Checkomatic meets and exceeds ABA (American Bankers Association) specifications. The MICR line is pre-printed in certified magnetic iron oxide toner and verified against the Federal Reserve E-Payments Routing Directory before production begins. Laser checks generated from Checkomatic pre-printed stock clear through any US bank's reader-sorter system without rejection. ABA compliance is standard on every order regardless of format or quantity. Browse the full laser check catalog at business checks at Checkomatic.
What Customers Say About Checkomatic Laser Checks
All reviews below are published on checkomatic.com and reproduced verbatim. Source: checkomatic.com/quickbooks-starter-pack-product, 4.5 stars from 166 verified reviews.
"I got 500 checks for less than half of what the bank wanted for 200!"
VVA Voucher Checks (Vietnam Veterans of America) | ★★★★★ 5/5 | July 6, 2024 | Source: checkomatic.com/quickbooks-starter-pack-product
"Been with them for 15 years. Always reliable, always good quality, good service. What more can you ask for?"
ATV Inc. | ★★★★★ 5/5 | April 5, 2024 | Source: checkomatic.com/quickbooks-starter-pack-product
"We use CheckoMatic for all of our check needs! They have great prices and we receive our products in a timely manner!"
CG's Tax Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 | September 18, 2024 | Source: checkomatic.com/quickbooks-starter-pack-product
"First time ordering and I am super impressed with the quality of the checks. No issues with delivery. I will be ordering again!"
TClinton | ★★★★★ 5/5 | April 9, 2025 | Source: checkomatic.com/quickbooks-starter-pack-product
"ASJ Wilson Construction has been a client of checkomatic for some years now and they've never disappointed this company. Thank you checkomatic for all that you do."
ASJ Wilson Construction | ★★★★★ 5/5 | June 6, 2024 | Source: checkomatic.com/quickbooks-starter-pack-product
"Affordable and efficient. My go-to business check printer."
Doe | ★★★★★ 5/5 | January 24, 2025 | Source: checkomatic.com/quickbooks-starter-pack-product
Why Choose Checkomatic for Laser Checks
In-House Manufacturing Since 1997
All laser check stock is manufactured at Checkomatic's own facility in Monroe, NY. No third-party printers. No batch-schedule delays. Standard production ships in 3 to 5 business days. Rush production ships in 1 to 2 business days for urgent restocks.
Six Security Features at Base Price
Chemically sensitive paper, microprinting, void pantograph, UV fluorescent fibers, heat-sensitive ink, and pre-encoded MICR are standard on every laser check order. No security upgrade required for full protection.
Free Logo Printing on Every Order
Black-and-white logo printing is included on every laser check order at no extra charge, regardless of quantity. Your business name and logo appear on every check you generate.
Compatible With Over 500 Accounting Platforms
QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Online, Sage 50, MYOB, Xero, Quicken, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, and over 500 other platforms. Pre-calibrated stock means alignment is correct on the first print without test runs.
50 to 75 Percent Below Bank Pricing
Direct in-house manufacturing eliminates the bank's retail markup. Volume discounts reduce per-check cost as order size increases. Browse computer checks for business for current pricing across all laser check formats.
