Write one brief for every quote
A comparison becomes useful when each company receives the same information. Name the finished item, dimensions, quantity, number of versions, printed sides or pages, material and finish. Include the date and place where the completed work is needed.
If a detail is undecided, say so. Ask the companies to identify their proposed specification and any alternatives separately. Otherwise, two different papers or finishing arrangements can look like a simple price difference.
Match the questions to the job
Start with what could make the finished piece unusable. That differs by product:
- Business cards need readable, current details for each version.
- Brochures and flyers need a suitable layout, image quality and any agreed folds.
- NCR forms need the right fields, parts, set quantities, numbering and binding.
For a mailing or multi-item packet, add the insert order, envelope and handover responsibilities. For a display, add the physical dimensions and mounting needs. A broad service list does not establish the scope of your particular order.
Ask what the proof will establish
Discuss the proposed proof and, where useful, inspect a relevant material sample. A screen proof can help check content and layout, but ask how paper, finish and color-sensitive work will be assessed.
Look at the parts that matter to use: small type, fine lines, folds, alignment and the feel of the chosen material. Describe the result you need instead of relying on adjectives such as premium or professional.
Also clarify who checks the file and who approves the content. The printer’s file review does not replace your check of names, prices, dates and contact details.
Read the differences beside the total
Compare design work, printing, finishing, assembly and delivery on the same basis. Identify exclusions and any outside preparation. Confirm what happens if the artwork changes after approval or a material substitution is needed.
A nearby shop may make a sample review or collection easier. An online order may have a fixed set of product choices. Compare those arrangements with the time and work your own team will need to contribute; neither location nor ordering method settles the decision alone.
Choose a record you can reorder from
Before accepting the job, make sure the agreed specification and handover are clear. Save the final quote, approval and artwork together. For recurring work, record the version and quantity actually used, and check them again before the next run.
A print quote request with that level of detail gives the team something concrete to assess. It also gives you a fair basis for comparing the response with another provider.