What printing actually costs.
We don't publish a price list. Here's the honest reason why — and exactly what to tell us so a real, itemized number comes back within one business day.
Why there's no price list on this page
Every printer's site you've clicked through today either hides its pricing behind a form or shows a number that turns out to apply only to the cheapest possible version of what you asked for. Neither is much help, so here's how it actually works instead.
Commercial print isn't a catalog product. The same business card costs three quite different amounts depending on the stock, the finish, whether it's printed one side or two, and how many you need — and the per-piece price falls sharply as the quantity climbs. One published number would be wrong for nearly everybody who read it, which is worse than no number at all.
So we quote. Tell us what you're trying to print and we send back an itemized figure, usually within one business day. It's free, there's no obligation, there's no account to open first, and nobody adds you to a sales sequence for asking.
What actually moves the price
Six variables account for nearly all of the difference between one quote and another.
Quantity
The largest single factor, and it works in your favor as it grows. The cost of setting a job up is spread across the run, so per-piece pricing falls quickly. It also means a small run costs more each — arithmetic, not a penalty.
Digital or offset
Digital has almost no setup, which makes short runs affordable. Offset costs more to start and far less per piece, so it wins once quantities climb. We pick whichever is cheaper for your actual number and tell you why.
Paper stock
Weight, coating and finish change both the cost and how the piece feels in someone's hand. A heavier card is a real upgrade; sometimes it's also the wrong place to spend your budget, and we'll say so.
Color and sides
Full color on both sides costs more than black on one. On some jobs that difference is worth every penny and on others nobody will ever notice — worth asking before you assume.
Finishing
Folding, scoring, cutting, numbering, binding, foil, spot UV and die-cutting each add a step. Most are modest; a few are not. We itemize them so you can see what each one costs and drop the ones you don't want.
Turnaround
A normal schedule costs what it costs. Compressing it can mean rearranging other work or sourcing material quickly, and if that changes the price you'll see the number before we start.
About minimums
There's no minimum on most of what we print. A hundred business cards, one banner, fifty copies or a couple of pads of carbonless forms are all real orders, quoted properly. That's a deliberate choice about what kind of shop this is — see short-run printing.
Two honest exceptions. Promotional products carry minimums set by the manufacturers rather than by us, though we'll steer you to the items with the lowest ones. And qualifying for USPS bulk or EDDM postage on direct mail has thresholds set by the Postal Service — printing a small mailing doesn't, but the cheap postage rate does.
You'll hear about either of those before you commit to anything, not afterwards.
How to get a quote back fast
The more of this you can tell us up front, the faster and more accurate the quote. None of it is mandatory — a rough idea still gets an answer.
- What you're printing. Product or service — business cards, a banner, a booklet, copies. A rough idea is enough to start.
- How many. Even a range helps. If you genuinely don't know, ask us to quote two quantities and compare.
- Size, and any folding or finishing. If you're not sure what's possible, describe what you want it to do and we'll suggest the options.
- When you need it. A real date, not a padded one. If it's urgent, see rush printing and call rather than email.
- Whether you have files. Print-ready PDF, something rough, or nothing at all — all three are fine, and our design team covers the last two.
Get a real number
Free, itemized and with no obligation — usually back within one business day.
Rather just talk?(320) 240-8880Money questions, answered plainly.
More in the general printing FAQ, or call (320) 240-8880 and ask.
Is the quote free?
Yes — free, itemized, and with no obligation. Ask us to quote two different quantities or two different stocks if it helps you decide; that's a normal request, not an imposition.
How long does a quote take?
Usually within one business day. Complicated jobs involving outside materials or unusual finishing occasionally take a little longer, and we'll tell you if yours is one of them rather than leaving you waiting.
Is there a minimum order?
Not on most products. The genuine exceptions are manufacturer minimums on promotional products and USPS thresholds for bulk and EDDM postage on direct mail — both of them somebody else's rules, and both flagged before you commit.
Why does a small order cost more per piece?
Because setup cost is divided across the run. A hundred pieces carry the whole setup between them; ten thousand share it out. The right comparison isn't per-piece — it's whether you'd rather pay a little more each for the hundred you need or pay for a thousand and bin most of them.
How do I pay?
Cash, checks or major credit cards. Terms are available for larger or ongoing accounts — just ask us to set one up.
Can you match a price I've been quoted elsewhere?
Send us the quote and we'll look at it honestly. Sometimes we can beat it; sometimes the other quote is for a lighter stock or a different finish and isn't the same job at all, which is worth knowing either way. If they're genuinely cheaper for identical work, we'll tell you that too.
Find out what yours costs. Free.
Tell us what you're printing and how many. Itemized quote back, usually within one business day.