Checks are available from three primary sources: direct sales catalogs, local forms distributors, and banking or accounting service providers.

Direct check vendors primarily sell through catalogs. By eliminating the middleman, these vendors tend to provide the best value for companies buying only a few thousand checks at a time. Direct vendors can handle simple customization such as logos but usually do not offer custom designs.

Local distributors are typically used for higher volume purchases or situations where a special design is required. Distributors do not print the checks themselves but will work with one or more printers to complete the job. This method saves you the time of having to find a suitable printer, but it usually results in somewhat higher prices than a direct vendor.

Banks and software vendors sell checks only to supplement their other services. They have very little incentive to provide competitive pricing, since checks are not their main line of business. As a result, prices from these vendors tend to be quite high.