With thousands of printing companies across the UK, it can be difficult to select just one. Whilst price is undoubtedly likely to dominate a decision, there are an array of factors that should be considered to ensure that the printing company you choose is right for the job.

First and foremost the choice of printer will be dependent upon your requirements. It may sound obvious but a printing company needs to be able to cater to your demands and your timescales and at a price that you deem appropriate. However, bear in mind that there can be a trade-off between price and quality and a good printer will allow you to discuss your requirements with them, and provide cost saving advice without compromising on quality.

Printing companies sometimes offer in-house services that can fulfil all stages of the printing process from designing the artwork to delivering the item(s) to your doorstep. Some also offer a half way house where they are happy to design some of the simpler items such as business cards and corporate stationery but leave more complex work to professional designers. Most have at least one design expert as an in house overhead to help resolve any last minute issues.

Many reputable printing companies will allow you to view samples of previous work as an assurance of their quality. If possible, request a sample of a similar type of printing material and format (e.g. gloss posters or pulp flyers) to that of your needs as this will be the best indication of what your material could look like. Samples can also be especially useful if you are unsure of your requirements as it can be an ideal opportunity to see some examples of previous work in context.

The lead time of printing services has diminished over the years and some companies are able to offer remarkably low turnaround times. However, this is often for more generic, standard printing services and therefore if you have additional or slightly more unusual requirements it is may be necessary to allocate extra time for printing.

It is also important to bear in mind any delivery costs that may be incurred or whether the printing company will allow you to collect from them if you are situated within the local area. Furthermore, if using a delivery service it is imperative to factor into account delivery times and how often deliveries are made to the area, especially if you are working to a tight deadline. If you are using an on-line printing company it is useful to check whether this information is provided on the site before placing an order.

It may sound obvious but if environmental factors are important to you, then check that the printing company can cater to your demands, whether this means using recycled paper or eco inks.

Finally, it is important to consider whether the printing company offers a reliable and dependable customer service support system in case of any queries or problems. Have a look at the company’s Twitter account and see how active they are in being helpful and responding to customer queries.