New Business Stationery Checklist for Canadian Businesses — Complete 90-Day Setup Guide

Starting a Canadian business in 2026 means juggling incorporation paperwork, business banking, branding, software setup, tax registration, and the dozens of small administrative decisions that determine whether your first months feel professional or improvised. This complete checklist walks you through the printed stationery and supplies every new Canadian business needs in the first 90 days — from business cheques and bank-deposit slips to business cards, letterhead, logo stamps, and presentation folders. Built from 25 years of supplying the first-stationery-order to 15,000+ Canadian businesses.

Why First-Order Stationery Matters More Than People Think

The stationery you order in your first 90 days does three things that compound over years:

• It signals legitimacy to clients, suppliers and banks. A custom business cheque, a branded letterhead, and a professional business card make the new business read as established even on day one. A new business sending invoices on plain printer paper signals “freshly hatched” — which costs deals.
• It locks in your brand identity. The colours, fonts and design choices on your first business cards and letterhead set the template for everything that follows. Investing in a coherent first kit prevents the “every piece looks different” problem that haunts businesses that piecemeal as they grow.
• It establishes operational workflows. Once you have business cheques, deposit slip books and an endorsement stamp on hand, your weekly banking routine snaps into place. Without them, you improvise — and improvised AP cycles compound errors over time.

The Complete 90-Day Stationery Checklist

Within the first 30 days — Banking and Identity

• Business cheques. Choose Manual Business Cheques ($49) if you do not use accounting software yet, or Premium Laser Business Cheques ($69) if you have QuickBooks, Sage or Xero set up. See our manual cheques buying guide or laser cheques buying guide.
• Deposit slip book. Personalized 2-part deposit slip books ($39) with pre-printed bank info eliminate handwriting errors at the teller window.
• Business cards. Even if you have no clients yet — you need them for networking events, vendor meetings, and accidental opportunities. Start with AQ Coated Business Cards ($49) as the best price-quality balance, or upgrade to Silk Laminated ($89) if your industry demands premium first impressions.
• Self-inking endorsement stamp. $36. “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY” with your business name and account. Use on the back of every cheque you receive before depositing.

Days 30-60 — Formal Correspondence Infrastructure

• Letterhead. Premium Letterheads ($119) for formal client correspondence, quotes, contracts, invoices. 500 sheets typically lasts new businesses 6-12 months.
• Matching envelopes. Standard ($159) or Premium ($219) No. 10 envelopes with matching brand. Double Window Blank ($89) for mailing cheques.
• Corporate seal (if incorporated). Pocket Embossing Seal ($74) for share certificates, board resolutions and formal corporate documents. Not legally mandatory in Ontario but expected by many banks, brokerages and counterparties.
• Date stamp and basic office stamps. $36 each. Date stamps for incoming mail and supplier invoice receipt. “PAID” stamp for AP processing.

Days 60-90 — Marketing and Client-Facing Materials

• Brochure or service overview. Tri-fold Brochures ($119) for leave-behinds at client meetings, networking events, and waiting rooms.
• Presentation folder (for B2B services). $949. Client proposal packages, contract delivery, formal engagement materials.
• Promotional materials specific to your model. Real estate: Postcards ($64) and Door Hangers ($169). Restaurant: Flyers ($59) and Vinyl Banners ($54). Trade show or event presence: Roll-Up Banner ($195).
• Branded promotional items. Ceramic Mugs ($7.99) for client gifts, Car Magnets ($45) for vehicle branding if relevant.

The Three Starter Kit Tiers — Budget Recommendations

Lean startup kit — $250 total

• Manual cheques ($49) + Deposit slip book ($39) + AQ business cards ($49) + Endorsement stamp ($36) + Self-inking date stamp ($36) + 1 corporate seal if incorporated ($74). Suitable for solo consultants, freelancers, side businesses going legitimate.

Standard small business kit — $600 total

• Premium laser cheques ($69) + 2-part deposit slips ($39) + AQ business cards ($49) + Endorsement stamp ($36) + Date stamp ($36) + Letterhead ($119) + Standard envelopes ($159) + Pocket embossing seal ($74). Suitable for SMB with accounting software, formal client correspondence, established operations from day one.

Professional services kit — $1,500 total

• Premium laser cheques ($69) + 3-part deposit slips ($39) + Silk laminated business cards ($89) + Endorsement stamp ($36) + Multiple office stamps ($108) + Premium letterhead ($119) + Premium envelopes ($219) + Pocket embossing seal ($74) + Tri-fold brochures ($119) + Presentation folders ($949). Suitable for accountants, lawyers, consultants, doctors, financial advisors where first impressions drive deal flow.

Industry-Specific Add-Ons

• Law firms. Add Extreme Security trust account cheques ($89). See our complete law firm kit.
• Accountants and bookkeepers. Set up wholesale account for multi-client orders.
• Restaurants and food service. Add brochure menus, takeout flyers, deposit slip books. See our restaurant print kit.
• Real estate agents. Add postcards, door hangers, listing brochures, presentation folders. See our real estate marketing print kit.
• Construction and trades. Add carbonless work order forms, manual cheques for field payments, vehicle magnets. See our construction stationery kit.
• Property managers and brokerages. Add extreme security trust cheques, 3-part deposit slips. See our property management kit.
• Dental and healthcare practices. Add branded note pads, recall postcards. See our healthcare practice kit.

The Single Most Common First-Order Mistake

New businesses underbuy on quantity because they want to stay lean. Then they pay more per unit on reorders within 60 days. The math: 250 business cards at $45 = 18 cents/card; 500 at the same effective per-card price = $90 — not $90 more, just the next size up. The economy of scale on print is real. Order what you will use over 6-12 months on the first order, not just what you will use this month.

Where to Order Everything in One Shipment

Cheque Store handles the entire kit — cheques, deposit slips, business cards, letterhead, envelopes, stamps, brochures, presentation folders, posters, banners, promotional products — from our King Street East facility in downtown Toronto. Order online or call. Same Toronto facility for everything means consistent brand colours, matching paper stocks, single shipment, free GTHA delivery on orders over $150.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon after starting my business should I order cheques?

The moment your business bank account is open. You will need cheques before your first supplier payment, and the lead time from order to delivery is 24-48 hours after PDF proof approval. Order in the first 7 days.

Do I need letterhead if everything is digital?

You need it less often than 20 years ago, but the few times you do need it (formal correspondence, signed agreements, government letters, lawyer-handled communications) matter more than the everyday emails. 500 sheets of letterhead lasts most new businesses 1-2 years.

Should I order business cards if I do not have clients yet?

Yes — your first networking event, accidental opportunity meeting, or vendor relationship needs them. Business cards are the lowest-risk first stationery item to over-order.

Do I need a corporate seal?

Ontario corporations are not legally required to use a corporate seal under modernized OBCA, but seals are expected on share certificates and many corporate contracts. $74 for a pocket embossing seal is trivial cost; most new corporations order one regardless.

What software should I use for accounting?

Most new SMBs in Canada start with QuickBooks Online ($30/mo) or Xero ($25/mo). Our Premium Laser cheques are pre-aligned for both. See our QuickBooks cheques guide.

How much should I budget for first-90-day stationery?

The three tiers above range from $250 (lean startup) to $600 (standard SMB) to $1,500 (professional services). Most new businesses fall in the $400-$700 range for the complete starter kit.

What happens if I run out of cheques?

Call us. We have your specifications, bank info and template on file from your first order; reorders take 60 seconds and ship within 24 hours of confirmation. Most established Cheque Store customers keep us on standing reorder so cheques arrive before they run out.

Start Your New Business Stationery Order Today

Call (647) 501-7200 Mon-Fri 9-5 ET. Our team will walk you through your specific business model and recommend the right tier and product mix.

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