Help & FAQ

SimpleChex is a check-printing platform for small businesses, bookkeepers, and anyone who needs to send a real, bank-deposit-ready check from a laptop in under a minute. We print and email professional business checks with real MICR encoding — the kind your bank's scanner reads — so recipients can deposit them through mobile apps, ATMs, or in branch like any other check.

Visit simplechex.com and click “Get started free.” Enter your email and a password — no credit card required. You'll get a confirmation email; click the link to finish creating your account.

Yes. The Free plan gives you 1 business, unlimited bank accounts, and 10 checks per month with real MICR encoding and eCheck emailing — no credit card, no time limit. Upgrade only if you outgrow it.

Cancel anytime from Settings → Billing. We schedule the cancellation for the end of your current billing period, so you keep paid features until what you already paid for runs out, then drop to the Free plan automatically. No retention calls.

To keep the free plan generous without abuse. Most one-person operations write fewer than 10 checks a month — Free covers them indefinitely. If you cross 10 in a month, the next check prompts you to upgrade to Solo.

No. The Free plan never asks for a card. You only enter payment when you upgrade.

Yes — upgrade or downgrade anytime from Settings → Billing. Upgrades take effect immediately; downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing period so you don't lose paid time you already bought.

Sidebar → Bank Accounts → Add. You'll need: bank name, account holder name and address, routing number, account number, and a starting check number. One-time setup.

We encode them into the MICR line at the bottom of the check, exactly the way pre-printed business checks do. Your bank scans this when the check is deposited. Without it, the check is just a piece of paper. Your numbers stay encrypted in our database — they're never displayed back to you in plain text after entry.

Sidebar → Payees → Add. Save names, addresses, and (optional) emails for vendors you pay regularly. Then when you write a check, pick from the list instead of retyping.

Sidebar → Write Check. Pick the business, bank account, and payee. Enter the amount — the dollar-in-words line fills in automatically. Pick a check date and memo if needed. Click Save & Print to download a PDF.

You have two options:

• Plain white paper (recommended). Real MICR encoding works on plain paper because the MICR specification is about font shape and ink reflectivity, both of which work in standard laser printers with normal toner. Recipients deposit through mobile apps, ATMs, or in branch.
• Pre-printed blank check stock. If you already buy NL-VT-style check stock for QuickBooks, SimpleChex prints into the same positions. Adjust the layout per bank account if needed (Bank Accounts → Layout).

Yes. On the Write Check page, enter the recipient's email and click Save & Email. They receive a clean PDF and can print it on their end.

When you email a check, SimpleChex attaches two PDFs:

• check-N.pdf is the eCheck — a full check image. The recipient prints on plain white paper.
• check-N-paper.pdf is the paper version — data only. The recipient prints on pre-printed blank check stock.

The recipient picks whichever way works for them. Both have the same MICR line and deposit the same way.

Yes — that's the whole point. SimpleChex uses the E-13B MICR font specified by ANSI X9.13 (the standard your bank's scanner reads). The check format follows the NL-VT layout used by Costco-style pre-printed stock. We've tested with major U.S. retail banks.

Email is the same channel banks already use to send eStatements and invoices — it's a routine business communication channel. We sign every outgoing email with DKIM + SPF for sender authentication. The PDF itself contains no information a fraudster couldn't get from a paper check sitting on your desk. The only practical risk is the recipient's email being compromised — and that risk applies to any document you email them.

In our hosted PostgreSQL database, encrypted at rest and in transit (TLS 1.3). Account and routing numbers are never displayed back to you in plain text after entry. Only the MICR encoding step uses them, and only the workspace owner can edit bank account details.

Every database row is tagged with a workspace ID, and every query enforces “this workspace only.” Inviting a team member to a specific business gives them access to that business's data only — never to other workspaces or even to other businesses inside your own workspace if you scope their invite.

Settings → Team → Invite a new member. Enter their email and pick the scope — full workspace, specific businesses, or specific bank accounts. They get an invite email with an Accept link.

Yes. When you invite someone, you can restrict their access to specific businesses and even specific bank accounts within those businesses. They'll only see what you scope them to.

• Free / Solo: 1 user (you).
• Firm: Unlimited team members included.

No. Only the workspace owner can change billing or cancel.

Yes. SimpleChex is a real check-printing platform. The PDF you received contains a real check with a real MICR line that your bank's scanner reads. Open the PDF, print it on plain white paper (don't shrink or “fit to page”), and deposit it via your bank's mobile app, ATM, or in branch — the same way you'd deposit any other check.

Each SimpleChex check has a unique URL at simplechex.com/verify/<id> printed on the check or included in the email. Open it to see check details and confirm it was issued through our system. (Verification confirms issuance — it doesn't guarantee available funds, just like any other check.)

A few common causes:

1. Printed at the wrong scale. Print at 100% — don't use “fit to page.”
2. Wrong paper. Plain white printer paper works. Colored or recycled paper sometimes confuses scanners.
3. Smudged or damaged MICR line. Reprint cleanly.
4. The issuer's account doesn't have funds. That's between you and the issuer — same as any bounced check.

If none of those apply, email support@simplechex.com with the check number and we'll look into it.

Settings → Billing → Manage billing. This opens our Stripe-hosted portal where you can update your card, view past invoices, and cancel.

Yes — every Stripe charge generates a receipt emailed automatically. Past invoices live in your Stripe portal (Settings → Billing → Manage billing).

Stripe retries the charge over a few days. If it still fails, your workspace drops to the Free plan automatically — you keep your data and can update your card anytime to resume Solo or Firm.

Email support@simplechex.com and we'll wipe your workspace within 7 business days. We do not retain data after account deletion.

Try a different PDF reader — Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview (Mac), or your browser's built-in viewer. If the PDF is corrupted on download, regenerate it from Check History → click the row → Download PDF.

Upload a higher-resolution image. We recommend at least 600×200 pixels at 300 DPI. PNG with transparent background works best.

Try refreshing and re-submitting. If the error persists, email support@simplechex.com with the bank name and a screenshot — we get an alert when these fail and can usually diagnose quickly.

Check Settings → Team → their row. Did you scope their invite to specific businesses/bank accounts? If yes, they'll only see those. To give them full access, remove them and re-invite without restrictions.