QuickBooks bundles check printing with its accounting features, but that's a big, expensive tool if all you actually need is to print checks. There are a few lighter-weight ways to do it.
Your main options
- Dedicated check printing software — built specifically for laying out and printing checks, usually far cheaper than a full accounting suite.
- Word or Excel templates — workable for very low volume, but you'll be formatting the amount-in-words line and MICR positioning by hand.
- Your bank's own bill pay service — they print and mail a physical check on your behalf, though you lose control over timing and design.
What to look for in dedicated software
- Support for printing on blank check stock, not just pre-printed forms
- Automatic MICR line generation
- A check register so you have a record of what you've printed, independent of any accounting software
Check Writer 123 was built for exactly this gap — full check printing, without needing to adopt an entire accounting system to get it.