The PDF has become the standard way to make an electronic duplicate of a formatted document. But Adobe Acrobat can do so much more than duplicate a printed page. Consider the standard business report. When printed out, it’s informative, but static.

Prepare that report as a PDF using Acrobat, and you can include interactive features such as simple links to supportive documents and websites, and video clips embedded in the file that can viewed by anybody who has Acrobat Reader, which is pretty much everybody. The interactivity available in an Acrobat PDF allows a business document to come alive and make a company’s message clear and compelling.

The advantages of Acrobat, however, begin well before that final document. It starts with a collaborative review process that compiles comments and editing markups of drafts from coworkers and clients. Acrobat protects your sensitive documents with security settings that control who can copy and print PDF files, who can edit the documents, and who can access them.

Because you can secure your documents, you can send contracts and agreements as a PDF. More importantly, Acrobat makes it easy for them to be returned with a verified and legally recognized electronic signature. To gather information, Acrobat quickly creates forms from layouts created in Word or other applications, or even scanned in from paper forms. The information gathered can be exported into a spreadsheet program for easy compilation. Try to do that with a paper form. Bottom line, Acrobat eases the workflow, producing better and more useful business documents.

Collaboration
When you start a “Shared Review” in Acrobat, you send a draft of a document converted to a PDF that automatically includes the Comment and Markup toolbar only to people you designate. This toolbar, available even to users of the free Adobe Reader who normally don’t have access to those tools, allows members of your collaborative team to insert editing markups, highlight text, and add comments. Basically you get to do everything you did when marking a paper draft with a pencil and yellow highlighter, except now you know your comments are legible when you send the draft back. The originator of the review will see comments from all members of the review team in a single PDF file, making it easy to edit the original document as needed. In a Shared Review, the PDF document can be sent by email or posted to a server including a free, secure web service on Acrobat.com. When posted to a server at Acrobat.com, you can specify who can download the file and comment on it. Posting a PDF on Acrobat.com also allows you to collaborate live with a shared view of the document during an online chat session.

Interactive and Multimedia
When a business releases an evaluation of a product, think of the value a video embedded in the document can have as it shows how the product works. In a non-profit organization’s annual report, consider the impact of a video report from the field showing the results of its efforts. Acrobat now runs Flash and other video natively within the program that can be viewed by users of Reader without any additional applications. Video and audio files can be placed in other document design programs and converted to an Acrobat PDF, or can be placed directly from the Acrobat program. Coupled with live links in a table of contents that jump to the designated pages, as well as links to websites and other documents in a PDF Portfolio, a business document transforms from a few pages of static presentation to an interactive informational tool.

Compilation of documents.
Acrobat allows you to merge several documents into a single PDF as sequential pages by selecting a Combine command in the Acrobat menu, then selecting the files. They can be PDF, or they can be in other formats that can be converted into a PDF. You can also package files in different formats and created in different application into an integrated PDF unit, a PDF Portfolio. The portfolio may include text documents as PDF, spreadsheets, CAD drawings, and a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. Each file can be opened individually, but can be sent as a unit and viewed through a menu defined by the Portfolio author. Rather than send a proposal with attached files, a PDF Portfolio enhances the polished, professional look of your proposal by presenting an organized and interactive package to a prospective client.

Security
You can set passwords in an Acrobat PDF to restrict users from opening, printing and editing PDFs. You can also encrypt a PDF file so only an approved list of users can open them. Choose from different security methods for document encryption and permission settings that limit a user’s actions. Password security is fairly simple, and does not require you to specify the document’s recipients. Certificate security, however, gives a high level of security while eliminating the need for passwords. With certificate security, you can assign different sets of permissions for different users.

Legally binding
With the ability to send a secure PDF, you only need an e-signature to create a legally binding document. Since 2000, U.S. law recognizes the validity of e-signatures on contracts and other agreements. You can use a self-signed digital ID in Acrobat, useful for internal sign-offs on documents. For contracts and letters of agreement, obtain a digital ID available form third-party providers with with encryption and keys that validates your e-signature. Then when you’re ready to sign, just click the Sign button in the Acrobat task bar to place a graphic representation of your signature and approval.

Electronic forms
The Form Wizard in Adobe Acrobat allows you to easily create forms, and post them online or in emails to collect information in applications, orders and surveys, and distill the results in a spreadsheet program. You design the form in a text or design program of your choice and convert it to the PDF. The Form Wizard examines the document and identifies form fields, check boxes and buttons. You then edit the form fields to ensure accuracy, add any additional fields, pop-up buttons, or text boxes you need, and name the fields for easy data recovery. A Submit button lets the user send the responses back in email or post it to a server. You can choose to receive either the complete form or just the data in an FDF file that you can import into a spreadsheet program.

Easing the workflow, expanding your reach
Instant collaboration from a coworker next door, interactivity and multimedia viewable by anyone, security that restricts access to only the people you want, professional presentation, e-mail exchange of legal agreements and electronic information collection – Adobe Acrobat streamlines the workflow and allows you to do business with customers from the next town or the other side of the globe, no matter how big or small your company is. Adobe is currently streamlining the ability to purchase volume licensing for Acrobat Standard or Pro with a buy 4 and get a fifth license free, a savings of up to $449. The offer runs until April 23, 2010. You can also get three free upgrades when you buy 3 full Acrobat licenses in an offer that ends Sept. 3, 2010. Get it Now

Posted by Sok on March 26, 2010     Tags: Small Business Savings Center

Since it was founded in 1983, software giant Intuit has dominated the market as far as personal and business finance is concerned. While its Quicken program – designed for individuals and used by clients all over the globe – revolutionized the way average people organized their finances, the later-developed Quickbooks has found its niche in helping small businesses to keep on top of their cash flow. In fact, the latter product has become so synonymous with small business financial management that in 2005, Business Week suggested a market share of 74%; an Intuit press release in 2008, on the other hand, put the figure at over 94%. Either way, as the 2010 edition hits shelves, it’s clear that Quickbooks is here to stay. However, at a minimum of $159.95 for PC and $199.95 for Mac users, is it worth the outlay?

In its efforts to appeal to a much wider market base than ever before, the new Quickbooks has dramatically improved and polished its user interface. Everything from document management to spreadsheet use to the install has been tweaked and simplified in order to make the finished produced that much more user-friendly; while the install took fifteen separate steps in past releases, it now takes just six. It’s this desire to really open up their products to as many people as possible that sets Inuit software apart from its competitors. If this is still too complex, however – or the Professional package offers you more than you need – Quickbooks offers a $99.95, stripped-down package called ‘Simple Start’, designed to give you the bare bones of the program. On the other end of the line is the $399.95 Premier package (currently selling at $319.95, or a 20% discount), designed for professionals who really want to push the Quickbooks software to its limits. If neither of those meets your needs, however, there’s also the option to use an online-only service for $34.95 per month. As you can see, the folks at Intuit have really gone all out to personalize their services as far as possible, culminating in the latest trend sweeping the world of technology: an App Store, where additional widgets and gizmos can be downloaded (some free of charge, others for a small fee) to help you redesign your Quickbooks to meet your business or personal needs.

Additionally, there are problems for Mac users. One of the most commonly-cited complaints about the new software is that, despite the associated previews looking slick and professional, the reports Quickbooks puts out are distinctly old-school, and wouldn’t look out of place as part of a program from a decade or more ago – a design flaw that’s missing in many other (often less-expensive) alternatives.

Although you might consider checking accounts to be a thing of the past, your clients might not, and Quickbooks’s new Check Scanning feature is a great new way to save time. It allows you to pay checks into your bank through the Quickbooks software itself, cutting down on time spent in a bank queue or at a teller window. While this might sound ideal for everyone, you might want to think about doing a cost-benefit analysis beforehand: every check that goes through this system incurs a small fee, plus a monthly fee for access to the service in the first place. If, on the other hand, you frequently use checks yourself, the new check signing feature could help you cut your workload down to size, as it allows you to authorize your checks automatically and instantaneously – all of which adds to up man hours per week that could easily be spent on something else. Another plus point is the inclusion of merchant services, allowing users to accept credit card payments online right there in the program. Again, this is a fee-based service, with a $60 initial outlay for setup costs plus a $20 charge on top, but if you can afford the extra it’s a great way to streamline your incoming cash and your accounting all in one go.

That’s not to say that there aren’t problems with the software: they’re there, and they’re often pretty major. Take online bill paying, for example. While it’s present in the PC version, it’s conspicuously absent for Mac users; similarly, multi-user support doesn’t seem to have been high on their list of priorities either (although Intuit has said they’re looking into it). It’s not an ideal situation for Windows users either, as shared editing of files from two different terminals requires the purchase of an additional license. Similarly, if you’re still working with Quickbooks 2007, there’s a word of warning for potential buyers: the payroll service (available for a separate fee) requires you to upgrade every three years as the service is gradually phased out and discontinued.

If this seems like an attempt by the company to get as much money out of you as possible, you may not be entirely thrilled by the pitchy tutorials and ‘product recommendations’ that pervade the software – tutorials that, unfortunately, can’t be turned off completely. It’s these little things that stop Intuit’s latest entry into the Quickbooks catalogue from feeling quite as good as it might otherwise; instead of coming across as a fresh and interesting new product, there are times when it seems to have been rushed through in order to have something for the company to have on the shelves for tax season.

If it sounds as though I’m being unfairly harsh on Intuit and their latest offering, it’s not in comparison to many of the other products on the market today. The navigation is slick and easy to use; similarly, its ability to work with not only Microsoft Excel but also Quicken and Microsoft Office Accounting makes transferring files across a breeze. It’s also on the lower end of the scale as far as costs are concerned, with the Pro model coming in sometimes as much as 50% cheaper than other leading products. There are also dozens of reports available (more than many of its competitors), and the option to back up your data online – once again, a service that most other companies haven’t included (although the storage is an optional extra; beyond a set limit, a small additional monthly fee is charge).

So is it worth it? It depends. If you’re trading up from the 2009 edition, perhaps not; although there are changes between the two, shelling out upwards of $200 per year (especially once you consider the cost of apps and other add-ons) might not seem like a shrewd business decision. However, if you’re new to Quickbooks, or looking to upgrade from an older model, there’s a lot to like about the new software, and it should come as no surprise that Intuit maintains their foothold on personal accounting software. Although it isn’t perfect, their many years providing financial software has taught the company more than a few things about what the average customer is looking for. The fact that they significantly improved its user-friendliness for the lay community (while at the same time keeping it useful for more advanced users) is probably Quickbooks 2010’s biggest triumph.

Get 20% off QuickBooks SimpleStart, QuickBooks Pro, and QuickBooks Premier
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Posted by Sok on March 19, 2010     Tags: Small Business Savings Center

According to TurboTax the average refund for early filers is greater than those that file on the April 15th deadline. Early tax filers get an average of $2,869 in tax refunds versus $2,753 for those who file later. (see here) For most of us, that's a lot of money. So what are you going to do with your refund? Well, first and foremost, I'd say adjust your withholding. Many of us like having that refund check every year. Some of us even consider it a savings tool. That kind of thinking, though, is ridiculous! Have you checked to see how much Uncle Sam pays you in interest for that money? Zero, zilch, nada! So why pay extra in withholding when you don't have to? If you have trouble saving, try setting up an automatic savings plan with a high yield savings account or make automatic payments to your IRA account. (see my Recession Survival Guide for more tips) After that, I'd suggest putting your refund to good use. Don't splurge on something you really don't need. Here are some tips on what to do with your income tax refund.

1. Pay off debt: This is a no-brainer. If you have credit card debt, pay it off first. Then, cut it up and never use it again! (maybe a little extreme, but you know what I mean)
2. Spend it on smart resources: Get a warehouse club membership. Examples include Sams, Costco, BJ's, etc. If you're investing your own money, subscribe to some newsletters, publications, or services that you might not normally subscribe to. Subscribe to the Wall Street Journal (tip: this is also a deduction for next year) Buy a do-it-yourself book to make those repairs you've been putting off. (tip: buy it used at Alibris and use a coupon on your purchase)
3. Go Green: Look for home improvement options that can improve energy efficiency or reduce your utility bills. Check out our Go Green savers page where we not only offer tips on energy savings but also help you save money on making those improvements with exclusive "Go Green" coupons.
4. Invest in your future: If you have an IRA plan, make a contribution to it. The more money you save now, the more you will exponentially have later. If you don't have an IRA plan, consider opening up one. I have my IRA plan through E*Trade. It was simple to set up and took a matter of minutes.
5. Invest in your kids' future: To quote Suze Orman, "Take care of yourself first, then take care of your kids' future." If you're already putting money towards retirement, put some of your refund towards your kid's college fund. The 529 plan is also a tax deduction.
6. Refinance your house: The interest rates are still remarkably low. If you plan of staying in your home for the next 5 years or so, refinance your loan. I suggest using LowerMyBills to find the cheapest lender.
7. Quit a habit: Are you still trying to quit smoking? Get some help from Drugstore.com and save money while doing it. (tip: check out our coupon section for a $5 printable coupon for Nicorette)
8. Invest in yourself: Learn a new skill or hone your existing skills. Example: Software experts are always in high demand. Check out Total Training for some great software training aids.
9. Take a much needed vacation: I suggest either a cruise or an all inclusive resort if you want to go somewhere exotic. For more travel tips check out our Online Travel Savings page.
10. Start a new business: Have you dreamed of starting your own business but have put it off because you didn't have sufficient capital? Use your tax refund money to help start a new business. Plus to help you save money on your business expenses, CouponShack.com has a great Small Business Savings Center that's filled with tips and coupons.

Whatever you do with your tax refund, just make sure you put it to good use. Use these tips to really get the most out of your refund. You'll thank yourself later!

Posted by Sok on March 18, 2010     Tags: Travel Savings , Small Business Savings Center , Income Tax Savings

Well, we're through the first month of the new decade and hopefully everyone is hangin in there with your new year's resolution. Whether it be to lose weight, quit smoking, or save money, all personal resolutions lead to a positive result (hopefully anyway), so stick with it.

How about resolutions for your business? I bet not too many people think about this, but why not? The new year is all about new beginnings, and I'm sure if you took some time to think about it, there would be a number of changes you could make to help your business run more efficiently. It's not too late to make a new year's resolution for your business, and I thought I'd help you out with a couple friendly suggestions:

1. Reduce spending. Here's a resolution I'm sure every business could afford. 2. Go Green. Not only is this good for the environment, it can help to reduce costs.

So how do you implement these resolutions? Well, I'm glad you asked! There are a great deal of tools and resources available to help businesses, as well as households, reduce costs and become more eco-friendly. For starters, you can check out CouponShack's Small Business Savings and Go Green blogs, where Sok outlines a number of helpful hints and tips. Additionally, here are a few more ways to go green and reduce spending.

In one of his previous posts, Sok discussed vampire or phantom power which is energy that's used by electronics and appliances that are kept running or idle. The remedy for eliminating phantom power is simply to turn off or unplug these items when you're not using them. A power strip is the easiest way to accomplish this because with the flip of one switch you can turn off five or six devices. Well the EcoStrip 2.0 from Smarthome takes the convenience of a power strip one step further and makes reducing phantom power that much easier. The EcoStrip 2.0 is USB controlled and acts as a normal power strip and surge protector for your computer and peripheral devices. But because it's USB controlled, when your computer is shut off it automatically shuts down all the peripheral devices as well. So this means at the end of the day when you shut down your computer, you will also be turning off your printer, fax, copier, or any other peripheral device that would normally drain idle power if left on. You might not think that phantom power adds that much more to your energy bill, but reduce it for a month and you'll be surprised at the savings.

Another great tool to utilize if you want to make your business more eco-friendly is DocuSign which is a service that allows you to send, receive, and electronically sign important documents and contracts. Now, I love this service because it not only reduces the use of paper, it allows you to network, negotiate, and close deals faster, and on a much broader scale. For instance, I could send a contract from New York to a client in California and he or she could sign it and have it back to me that same day. This process would normally require either one of us flying cross country, or waiting a couple weeks for snail mail. DocuSign allows your business to run just a little smoother, and would certainly reduce the monthly cost of paper, not to mention you'd be going green!

New year's resolutions often take time and don't always yield immediate results. They require planning, implementation, and stick-to-itness. Make this year one of positive change, both on a personal and occupational level. By reducing costs and going green, you'll be surprised at the changes you can make!

Small Business Savings While Going Green part 1

Posted by Ryan on February 01, 2010     Tags: Small Business Savings Center , Go Green

Shipping is arguably the largest expense of a small business. Aside from the freight cost, there's the cost of packaging, labor, and inventory management. With all that said, there are ways to drastically reduce the cost. Here are some tips on reducing each aspect of the shipping cost.

If you ship by the postal service or by FedEx, I urge you to check out Stamps.com for their shipping services. Their software seamlessly integrates with most inventory management software as well as QuickBooks accounting software. If you have an eBay or Amazon store, the software is already equipped and ready to integrate. All of these features can save you both time and money, but the best part is you also get a shipping discount as well. If you ship with the USPS there's up to a 10% discount on all shipping rates and services. Ship with FedEx? If you do, you'll also get up to a 21% discount on their shipping rates.

The only draw back I could find the the Stamps.com service is that it is currently only PC compatible. If you have a Mac, it's not the end of the world though. You just need Parallels. If you're not familiar, Parallels allows you to run any PC software on a Mac. The program runs in it's own secure environment so you won't affect anything else on your Mac while running a PC application.

Need shipping supplies? Get them in bulk from ReStockIt. I've found that they've got the lowest prices on mailroom supplies. That includes boxes, tape, packing, and labels. You can purchase in any quantity, but buying them in case quantity gives you the biggest savings, especially when using a coupon for your purchase.

I hope these tips can help you drastically reduce your shipping overhead. At the very least, take advantage of the 4 week free trial from Stamps.com to see if it's worth it for your business.

Posted by Sok on November 02, 2009     Tags: Small Business Savings Center

As mentioned in previous posts, there are a number of steps that can be taken to save money while running a successful business. If you look back on CouponShack's Small Business Savings Tips you will find many useful suggestions on ways to make every dollar count, and have a little left over to put back into your business, or your pocket!

Going green, or utilizing eco-friendly solutions, is a huge step that can be taken to better your business, and not to mention the environment. You'll be surprised at how much money can be saved by just being aware of the products you use and the energy your business consumes. In Small Business Savings Tips Part 7 Sok outlined a number of suggestions that can be helpful when it comes to reducing the energy consumption of your business.

Reducing the amount of energy your business consumes is a great way to save money while going green, but it's not the only eco-friendly solution. Environmentally friendly office products are not only a great way to pitch in to help the environment, they could also be an effective way to stretch your dollar. Staples is a great resource when it comes to finding office supplies, and they have thousands of products that are eco-friendly. Products such as recycled paper, filing folders, eco-friendly batteries, and energy star rated technology. If it's good for the environment, and you need it in your office, Staples has you covered. They also have programs which allow you to send or bring in your old computers, printers, and ink cartridges for recycling. Staples will even reward you with store credits and new ink for sending in old ink and toner cartridges for recycling. Just visit Staples Eco-Easy center to find all of your environmentally friendly office supplies. So remember to be aware of the energy you consume and the products you use to go green while saving green!

Posted by Ryan on November 09, 2009     Tags: Small Business Savings Center , Go Green

The most effective way to bring both bring in new customers and to retain existing customers is to go online. It used to be fairly difficult and expensive to start an e-commerce site, but if you check out sites like Yahoo Merchant Solutions you'll see that you can save 35% on their merchant solutions packages.

It can be fairly difficult (and not to mention time consuming) to find the right web hosting service, set up your website and shopping cart, and integrate it with your inventory. Yahoo makes it really easy now to e-commerce store up and running in no time for a minimal cost.

If you have a small business and are just starting out, try the Yahoo merchant starter package. It costs just $25.97 a month for the first 3 months. After that, the cost is just $39.95 a month. It makes for a low barrier to entry for e-commerce. You cost is fixed and with it, you get a free domain name with email and unlimited storage, secure shopping cart integration with credit card and Paypal processing, powerful and easy to use store design software, and more. The cost of payment processing ($20 per month w/ Authorize.net) and e-commerce web hosting (costs $7.49 a month with Yahoo Web Hosting) alone just about makes up for the monthly cost of the complete package with Yahoo Merchant Solutions.

If you do not already have an e-commerce site then I urge you to do so. It doesn't cost much and is not nearly as intimidating as it used to be. It's a sure fire way to both retain your current customers as well as gain new ones.

P.S. make your payments automatic with your American Express card and get an additional 5% off the monthly cost.

Posted by Sok on October 19, 2009     Tags: Small Business Savings Center

One of the most over-looked ways to lower overhead costs is to reduce energy consumption. Simple habits such as turning off lights, computers, and copying machines can save hundreds of dollars annually for small business. Take for instance a copying machine. When left on standby overnight, the copier consumes enough power in one month to print 1500 pages. That's just one copier! So just turn the copier off at night and save yourself the money!

Light bulbs also consume a lot of energy. Go ahead and switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. A 65W equivalent compact fluorescent light bulb consumes just 15W. These bulbs are a bit more expensive up front but the average savings over the life of the bulb is around $200 each. Save yourself even more money by buying them in bulk from online retailers such as 1000Bulbs. You'll save about 80 cents a bulb (includes shipping).

Another way to lower energy costs in the office is to replace all CRT monitors (those old bulky monitors that take up half the desk) with LCD monitors. Take for instance the Viewsonic G220fb 21-inch CRT Monitor (top rated CRT monitor on Cnet). Power consumption is 115W in operational mode and 4W in standby mode. Compare this to the Samsung SyncMaster XL2370 (top rated LCD monitor on Cnet) which only consumes 21W in operational mode and just 1.42W on standby. That's over an 80% reduction in power consumption! By the way, Buy.com seems to have the best prices (when using a coupon) on LCD monitors.

There are a ton of other ways to reduce power consumption such as adjusting the thermostat 1 degree. All of these actions, when added up, can save you a tremendous amount of money on your energy bill and bottom line. It's easy to come up with ideas. You just have to be more conscience of the normal every day items.

Posted by Sok on October 07, 2009     Tags: Small Business Savings Center , Go Green

Businesses are evolving and are becoming more mobile. In today's business climate, you are at a disadvantage if you don't have access to all of your files at all times. Services such remote access, online file storage, and online backups can mean the difference between closing the deal and losing it.

Remote access allows you to access your computer from anywhere. GoToMyPC gives you the freedom to work from virtually anywhere. Access files, emails, and presentations from you office computer like you were sitting right there in the office. There is no need to worry about compatibility either because it works through your web browser so it is compatible across all platforms.

Another option to increase productivity is to utilize online file storage from sites like Drop.io and Box.net. This gives you simple real time file sharing. You can upload files to the online server and your associates can access it collaborate with you on the project. All of this is done in real time, giving you the ability to collaborate with someone half way around the world without either of you leaving the office.

A third difference maker is the ability to automatically backup your hard drive to a remote location. For piece of mind, this is worth every penny. We all know that at some point in our career that our hard drive will fail on us and if it is not backed up it could mean the end of your career. Two of my recommendations are Carbonite and Mozy. These services are simple and automatic and run while you're away.

These are just a few of the online tools you can use to increase your productivity. They come at a minimal cost, yet offer a tremendous advantage because the more you can do online the more you can save to your bottom line!

Posted by Sok on September 28, 2009     Tags: Small Business Savings Center

Printing supplies are essential for practically any business, but they can be a huge drain on the budget. Costs, quickly add up as your business grows. That's why it is imperative that you start now with good practices to cut down on printing costs.

The first and obviously most logical practice is to cut down on the amount that you print. Download Adobe Reader from Adobe. It's easier to share a PDF across multiple platforms than it is to share a word processor document. Adobe Reader will convert any file or image into a PDF. You can share the document right from the Reader if you sign up for a free account with Acrobat.com or you can just upload it to your Google Docs (if you have a Google account) and share it from there. The bottom line is you save money by not printing a copy for each collaborator.

There are times when you must print and if you do, then try and plan ahead. It's convenient to go to your local office supply store to purchase ink and paper, but it's not cheaper. Let's take the HP Officejet 5610 as an example. It requires the HP 56 black ink cartridge. To buy this at the office store it would cost $23.99. The same retail package costs $22.99 at 4inkjets. That's not where you get the real savings. A re-manufactured HP 56 cartridge costs just $12.99 (or $12 ea when purchased as a 3 pack). Now you're almost at half cost, but it gets better. Going with a refill kit costs just $11.95. That gives you 2 refills so the per unit cost is really just $6. Now you're all the way down to a 75% discount! To get the last bit of savings you'll need to order $50 or more. That will get you free shipping as well as allow you to use one of our 10% off coupons. That means if you order 9 of these refill kits your total cost will be $54 minus the 10% discount or $48.60, making the unit cost just $2.70 per cartridge. That's about an 85% discount and probably a few years worth of ink!

Need paper? It's cheaper online as well. You'll find that your local office store sells a case (5 reams of 500 sheets) for about $21. Quill on the other hand sells a carton (10 reams of 500 sheets) for $30. That's $3 per ream at Quill as opposed to $4.20 per ream at your local office store. Order two cartons at Quill and shipping is free.

Keep in mind these supplies are for normal every day use. For large printing jobs, it is much cheaper, especially or color prints, to outsource it to someone like VistaPrint or PrintPlace. Just figure 1 ink cartridge (4 if you are printing in color) per ream of paper for your unit cost calculations.

Posted by Sok on September 10, 2009     Tags: Coupon , Small Business Savings Center