With so many options, vendors, and price points, it’s easy to make choices that seem smart at the time but quietly drive up your costs.  Most print buyers learn through trial and error. Sometimes expensive error. The good news? A few simple principles can help you avoid the most common mistakes and save money on every print order. Whether you’re ordering business cards, brochures, catalogs, or direct mail, here are four lessons business owners say they wish they’d learned sooner.

1. Ordering More Doesn’t Always Save Money

The Mistake

Many first-time print buyers order larger quantities because the cost per piece drops. While the unit price may be lower, the total cost increases—especially if those extra pieces never get used.

The Smarter Approach

Print what you actually need. Branding, messaging, and promotions change faster than most businesses expect. Extra materials often end up outdated, unused, or discarded.

Why this matters:

• Unused print equals wasted money
• Smaller runs reduce risk
• Reordering isn’t a mistake—it’s flexibility

As you learn how quickly materials are used, ordering becomes more intuitive. Until then, resist the urge to overprint just to save a few cents per piece.

Hillview can help you determine the right quantities and where real savings exist.

2. Not Using a Digital Web-to-Print Partner

The Mistake

Many businesses assume local printers always offer the best value. In reality, smaller print shops often can’t match the efficiency or pricing of high-volume digital operations.

The Smarter Approach

Web-to-print partners that use digital presses—like Hillview DPM—run large volumes every day. That scale keeps costs low and turnaround times fast.

Benefits include:

• Professional-quality printing without extra overhead
• Consistent results from job to job
• Affordable short runs that make sense for growing businesses

Online printing isn’t just convenient—it’s a strategic way to control print costs. Simplify your ordering process at Hillviewdpm.com

3. Skipping Paper Samples

The Mistake

Ordering print without reviewing paper samples is a gamble. What looks good on a screen doesn’t always translate well on paper.

The Smarter Approach

Paper samples allow you to:

• Feel paper weight and texture
• Compare coated vs. uncoated stocks
• See how ink prints on different papers
• Avoid unexpected results and reprints

A few minutes reviewing samples can prevent costly mistakes, missed deadlines, and disappointment when the final product arrives.

4. Treating Proofing as Optional

The Mistake

Rushing artwork to print without thorough proofing is one of the most expensive mistakes a business can make.

The Smarter Approach

Proofing costs nothing—and can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Before sending artwork to print:

• Proof it carefully
• Step away and review it again
• Have someone else check it
• Print a draft when possible

Errors often hide on screens but stand out immediately on paper.

A true (and painful) example:
A client once requested 15,000 postcards for a Christian school and asked for a quick turnaround. While reviewing the piece, our customer service representative noticed the postcard said the school would “neuter your children” instead of “nurture your children.”

Typos happen—but without proofing, they can be unforgettable.

Final Thoughts

Printing doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. By ordering only what you need, working with a digital web-to-print partner, reviewing paper samples, and taking proofing seriously, you can avoid the most common—and costly—print mistakes.

With the right approach, every print order becomes more confident, more efficient, and more cost-effective.

Revised by: Beth Walker