Are Print Brokers Really Worth It? 5 Ways Small Businesses Save 15+ Hours on Custom Printing Projects

Are Print Brokers Really Worth It? 5 Ways Small Businesses Save 15+ Hours on Custom Printing Projects

Picture this: You’re a small business owner juggling marketing campaigns, client meetings, and daily operations. Then your team drops a bombshell: you need 500 custom brochures, branded merchandise for a trade show, and new business cards, all within three weeks. Your stomach drops as you imagine hours spent researching printers, comparing quotes, and managing multiple vendors.

What if there was a better way? That’s exactly where print brokers like AKOR Services come in, and spoiler alert: we’re about to save you a massive amount of time and headaches.

What Exactly Is a Print Broker?

Think of a print broker as your personal printing concierge. Instead of you becoming an overnight expert in printing techniques, paper weights, and vendor capabilities, we handle everything behind the scenes. At AKOR Services, we’ve built relationships with a network of trusted printing partners, which means we know exactly who can deliver what you need, when you need it, and at the best possible price.

The beauty of working with a print broker isn’t just convenience: it’s about leveraging years of industry knowledge and established relationships that would take you months or even years to develop on your own.

The 5 Time-Saving Superpowers of Print Brokers

1. Vendor Research and Sourcing (Time Saved: 4-6 Hours)

When you need custom printing, where do you even start? Most small business owners begin with a Google search, then spend hours scrolling through websites, reading reviews, and trying to figure out which printer actually specializes in what they need.

At AKOR Services, we skip this entire process. Our extensive network includes specialty printers for everything from eco-friendly materials to luxury finishes. Need embossed business cards? We know exactly which printer has the best equipment and pricing. Looking for sustainable promotional products? We’ve got partners who specialize in environmentally conscious materials.

This isn’t just about having a list of phone numbers: it’s about knowing each printer’s strengths, lead times, and quality standards. While you’d be making cold calls and explaining your project repeatedly, we’re already connecting you with the perfect match.

2. Artwork and Design Coordination (Time Saved: 3-5 Hours)

Here’s where things get tricky for most businesses. You have a logo, maybe some marketing materials, but getting everything print-ready is a whole different challenge. File formats, resolution requirements, color profiles, bleed areas: it’s like learning a new language.

We handle all the technical coordination between your design team (or help you find one if needed) and the printer. Our team reviews artwork for print readiness, catches potential issues before they become expensive problems, and ensures your final product looks exactly like you envisioned.

3. Proof Management and Revisions (Time Saved: 2-4 Hours)

The proof process can be a nightmare of back-and-forth communication. Digital proofs, physical samples, color corrections: each round of revisions means more emails, more phone calls, and more opportunities for miscommunication.

As your print broker, we streamline this entire process. We coordinate all proof reviews, consolidate feedback from your team, and communicate changes clearly to the printer. Instead of playing telephone between your marketing team and three different vendors, you have one point of contact who speaks both languages fluently.

4. Vendor Management and Communication (Time Saved: 3-5 Hours)

Managing multiple printing projects means juggling multiple vendor relationships, each with their own processes, timelines, and communication styles. It’s exhausting and inefficient.

AKOR Services becomes your single point of contact for all printing needs. We manage production schedules, track progress, and provide regular updates without you having to check in with multiple vendors. When issues arise (and they sometimes do), we handle the problem-solving so you can focus on running your business.

Our established relationships mean we can often expedite timelines or resolve quality concerns much faster than a new customer could on their own.

5. Delivery Coordination and Quality Control (Time Saved: 2-3 Hours)

The final stretch of any printing project involves logistics coordination, quality inspection, and delivery management. Are the colors right? Is the quantity correct? Will everything arrive on time for your event?

We handle final quality control checks, coordinate delivery logistics, and ensure everything meets your specifications before it reaches your door. If there’s an issue, we catch it and resolve it before it becomes your problem.

The AKOR Services Process: Simplicity in Action

Our approach is straightforward: Understand, Source, Manage, Deliver.

Understand: We start by really listening to your needs, timeline, and budget. What’s the purpose of this project? Who’s your target audience? When do you absolutely need it completed?

Source: Using our network and expertise, we identify the best printer for your specific project. This isn’t always the cheapest option: it’s the right balance of quality, timeline, and budget for your needs.

Manage: We coordinate every step of the production process, from artwork review to final inspection. You get regular updates without having to chase down information.

Deliver: We ensure your finished products meet your expectations and arrive when promised. If something isn’t right, we make it right.

Custom Solutions for Every Business Size and Budget

One of the biggest misconceptions about print brokers is that we’re only for large corporations with massive printing budgets. That’s simply not true. At AKOR Services, we work with businesses of all sizes, from startups ordering their first business cards to established companies managing complex multi-piece campaigns.

Our network includes printers who specialize in small runs and those who excel at large-scale production. This flexibility means we can find cost-effective solutions whether you need 50 custom t-shirts or 5,000 branded notebooks.

The Real Cost of Going It Alone

Let’s talk numbers. The 15+ hours we typically save clients isn’t just about convenience: it’s about real money. If your time is worth $50 per hour (and it probably should be valued higher), that’s $750+ in opportunity cost for every printing project you manage yourself.

But the hidden costs go beyond time. Without industry expertise, small businesses often:

Pay higher prices due to lack of negotiating power
Experience delays due to artwork issues that could have been prevented
End up with subpar results because they chose the wrong printer for their specific needs
Face stress and frustration that affects other areas of their business

Why AKOR Services Makes the Difference

Our broad network isn’t just about having options: it’s about having the right options. We’ve spent years building relationships with printers who share our commitment to quality and customer service. When you work with us, you’re not just getting access to our vendors; you’re getting our reputation and leverage working for you.

We also understand that every project is unique. The printer perfect for your trade show banners might not be the best choice for your luxury product packaging. Our expertise lies in matching your specific needs with the ideal production partner.

Making the Smart Choice

The question isn’t whether print brokers are worth it: it’s whether you can afford not to use one. In today’s competitive business environment, every hour you spend managing printing logistics is an hour not spent growing your business, serving customers, or developing new opportunities.

At AKOR Services, we don’t just save you time; we deliver better results through expertise, relationships, and genuine care for your success. Whether you’re planning a major rebranding effort or just need reliable support for ongoing printing needs, we’re here to make the complex simple and the stressful seamless.

Your time is valuable. Let us handle the printing so you can focus on what you do best.

Allen Beck
AKOR Services
Website: https://akorservices.com/promotional-products-and-printing/
Phone: (360) 334-3373
Email: info@akorservices.com