Receipt Paper for Business That Work On The Go

How do you go about buying receipt paper? Picture this; you are running out of thermal receipt paper and are due to order a new batch; how will you know what you are purchasing is quality?

Perhaps you key in a google search, but what this does is present you with thousands of thermal or non-thermal paper roll dealers.

In the end, you might feel a little bit confused and with your quest unsolved. Ideally, it would be best if you first nailed the basics – like the difference between the two, which is suitable for your business.

It is extremely important to purchase a receipt paper roll from a reputable source. Undoubtedly, buying receipt paper that is subpar harms your business more than you can imagine. So, here is all information to help you make the pivotal decision for your business.

Thermal Vs. Non-Thermal Receipt Paper rolls

Receipt paper rolls are either thermal or non-thermal. What sets them apart is that thermal rolls use heat while non-thermal rolls use ink. Thermal paper is unique in that its surface is a special coating chemical that darkens when heat from the thermal print head strikes it, leaving imprints of text or images on it. Usually, thermal paper is smoother and brighter than its counterpart.

Because thermal printing is inkless, companies save more money since they don't purchase cartridges or ink. Moreover, fewer moveable parts mean that revenue is not lost in maintenance and replacing worn-out components. Thermal printing is also faster, and the paper roll has some superior quality, such as increased scratch and weather resistance. Thermal receipt paper is preferred because, in the long run, you save more than your initial investment.

Now that you are up-to-date about thermal papers, you can accurately deduce that non-thermal receipt rolls are a less affordable alternative. On top of that, because using non-thermal printing requires complimentary supplies such as ribbons and cartridges, you are bound to spend more. Where things need to move faster, ink printing is a waste of time and money, making thermal printing a sound investment for profit-oriented businesses. 

The Number of Plies and GSM

There is a wider selection of thermal paper to pick from based on your business requirements these days. However, you should be informed about the characteristics of the various types of thermal paper rolls and what each is meant for. You must know two details: the number of plies and gram per square meters (or GSM).

Gram per square meters is the measure of mass per unit area in the metric system. In simple terms, GSM is the weight of one square meter of thermal paper.

This means that you can use GSM to approximate the weight of a paper roll but not thickness. Two thermal paper rolls can have the same GSM, but their thickness is not always the same.

Another feature to wrap your head around is whether you need one, two, or three-ply paper. Your business practices will determine which type of roll is suitable. For example, a one-ply receipt paper roll prints a single receipt per customer, similarly the two-ply roll prints two receipts – one for the business and the other for the customer. A three-ply paper prints two receipts for the business and one for the customer. The type of receipt paper roll to invest in is based on the number of receipts your business requires for each sale.

Customizability

Without a doubt, many of you are creative and can come up with stunning logos to represent your brand from scratch. If you agree with this, then consider whether the paper roll is customizable. Like many other businesses out there, you will want to stick your logo at the back of a receipt, as well as contact information, all of which clients will find useful after the transaction is complete.

Colored paper rolls are cheaper than color printing, and they put you one step ahead of the competition. They make your business stand out and can be the it-factor that identifies your brand amidst the competition.

Wood-free Paper

Also called bond paper, wood-free paper is a common sight at the office. It comes in an assortment of sizes depending on what you will be printing, but the popular one is the A4. While the wood-free paper is instrumental both at home or office, it requires an ink ribbon or cartridge.

The striking difference between bond paper and thermal paper is straightforward – when placed side by side, you notice that both sides of bond paper don't have a coating and are less smooth, making a receipt appear less bright.

However, wood-free paper can be used in thermal transfer printers to transfer the image to the paper surface to generate texts or images. The only limiting aspect when using bond paper is that, like non-thermal printing, you must factor in losses accrued to purchase ink cartridges as well as maintenance costs on a daily basis.

Recycling Receipt Paper

Even though receipt paper is recyclable, there are many details to hammer out. For example, some thermal receipt papers have a Bisphenol A (BPA) coating. The state of California outlines that BPA is a compound that causes congenital disabilities as well as myriads of reproductive illnesses. Recycling receipts with this compound can transfer it to other recycled paper, inadvertently exposing others to it. Since the only way of identifying if papers have BPA is through laboratory procedures, it is extremely hard to know and separate papers with BPA from those that don't.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the receipt paper roll you invest in hinges on your business and client needs. As there is a variety of paper sizes, thermal paper rolls work with EFTPOS (Electronic funds transfer at point of sale) terminals and thermal printers only. On the other hand, non-thermal receipt rolls can be used with all printers. However, non-thermal printing is costly, slower, and not as optimized as thermal printing. Owing to thermal printers' accuracy and speed, it has found use in X-ray scans, CT-scans, and more. Due to all its advantages, it's reasonable to invest in top-notch thermal printing.