On the whole, business forms fall into two categories: stock forms and custom forms.

If your company is image-conscious, or if you have very particular needs for your forms, custom forms can differentiate you from others in your industry or satisfy your firm's unique needs. However, for most businesses, stock forms will be adequate--they are actually more diverse than you might think.

Pre-formatted stock forms are designed to be used by multiple companies. Most forms are printed with an area designed specifically for adding a company's name or logo. Yet, while the basic stock-form price usually includes the cost of adding a company name, you'll need to figure in $25-$100 more for a logo. Overall, stock forms tend to be rather economical.

On the other hand, custom-designed forms (especially when ordered in quantitites less than 2500) tend to be considerably more expensive. This is because they require a separate print run each time they are ordered. In addition, custom-designed forms usually require a longer lead time to print. Nevertheless, their advantages in accommodating specific needs are undeniable.