Custom Notebooks: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Planning a corporate event, designing a custom line for your shop, or ordering a single personalized journal? We are here to help you bring your ideas to life. Below, you will find everything you need to know about our small-batch manufacturing process, artwork guidelines, bulk discounts, and eco-friendly materials.
If you have a unique request or don't see your question answered below, feel free to reach out to our Michigan workshop team directly—we love walking our customers through the creation process!
Ordering, Minimums & Bulk Pricing
How do I order custom notebooks?
Ordering custom notebooks is easy. Choose your notebook style, size, and page layout, upload your artwork or logo, and place your order online. If you need help with setup, file prep, or choosing the right notebook, you can always contact us and we’ll walk you through the process.
What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
You can order as few as 1 or as many as 5,000+. Bulk volume discounts automatically trigger for orders of 10+ units.
Can I order just one notebook?
Yes! There's no minimum to place an order — you can order a single custom notebook for a personal project, gift, or sample, or scale up to 5,000+ for a full bulk run. Bulk discounts simply kick in automatically once your order reaches 10+ units.
Do you offer bulk discounts for businesses and nonprofits?
Yes. Submit a price quote request and we'll send you an exclusive pricing tier via email. We offer dedicated discounts for nonprofits, schools, and corporate businesses to get you the best possible price on custom notebooks.
Can I order a sample notebook before placing a large order?
Yes. You can order a sample so you can physically review our the quality, materials, and print before committing to a larger bulk order. Learn more about our sample program.
Can I reorder the same custom notebook design later?
Yes! Reordering is easy, especially if you create an account or contact us with your previous order details or order number. We keep your design assets securely archived.
Do I need to create an account to place an order?
No account is required to checkout. However, creating a free account allows you to track real-time shipments, view your complete order history, and reorder past custom designs instantly.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards and standard secure online checkout options. For larger business, school, or organizational orders, corporate purchase orders may be accepted upon request.
Do you accept official Purchase Orders (POs)?
Yes! We proudly accept purchase orders from schools, libraries, established nonprofits, and pre-approved businesses. Please contact us directly to get your organization set up for PO ordering and tax-exempt profiling.
Do your discount codes work with bulk or PO orders?
Promo codes and bulk pricing discounts can be applied. If you're ordering via Purchase Order or have a custom nonprofit/school pricing tier from a quote request, contact us for a custom invoice and we'll make sure you're getting the best available price.
What's required to set up tax-exempt or PO ordering?
For tax-exempt purchasing, we'll need a copy of your organization's sales tax exemption certificate on file. For Purchase Order ordering, we'll typically ask for your PO document and basic billing/organization details to set up your invoice. Contact us and we'll walk you through exactly what's needed to get set up — it's usually a quick one-time process.
Design, Artwork & Proofing Requirements
What file formats do you accept for custom artwork?
We accept EPS, PDF, PNG, JPG, and SVG files. High-resolution artwork (300 DPI preferred) produces the absolute best, crispest print results. If you’re unsure about your file quality, send it over anyway—we’re happy to take a look and check it before you order!
Will I receive a digital print proof before printing begins?
Yes. For all custom notebook orders, you will receive a digital PDF and/or JPEG mockup of your cover art for approval within one business day. We never print your order until we receive your explicit approval.
Is there a limit on logo colors or file size?
There's no strict file size limit, but smaller, optimized files (under 25MB) tend to upload and process fastest. For logo colors, full-color digital printing using standard CMYK, we can print that— but if you're interested in a single-color print technique like foil stamping or embossing, we currently don't offer anything beyond CMYK digital printing.
Materials, Layouts & Sustainability
Where are your custom notebooks made?
All Beech Tree Paper notebooks are proudly made in the USA—handcrafted and manufactured in small batches right from our Michigan workshop.
What materials are used to manufacture your notebooks?
Our notebooks are constructed using high-quality paper and heavy cardstock covers engineered for daily use. Our paper and cardstock are strictly recycled or FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) and sustainably sourced right here in the USA.
Are your custom notebooks eco-friendly?
Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We utilize recycled covers and FSC-certified or recycled interior paper options. To close the loop entirely, 100% of our production paper scraps are donated to local charities and schools to support our community.
What interior page layouts can I choose from?
We offer several standard structural formats to fit your writing style:
- Lined Pages: Standard horizontal rules for daily journaling and longform notes.
- Dot Grid: Minimalist, clean tracking dots for bullet journal layouts and web mockups.
- Graph/Grid Squares: Geometric squares for blueprint sketching and technical engineering.
- Blank Pages: Uninterrupted, freehand space for sketch artists and brainstorming.
- The Hodgepodge Journal™: Our signature creative blend featuring a mix off all the page styles above into a single unique book.
Production, Shipping & Returns
How long does custom notebook production take?
After you reply and approve your digital print proof, most orders are manufactured, packaged, and shipped within 7 business days from our Michigan workshop.
Do you offer rush production for tight deadlines?
Rush production may be available depending on our current print queue and project scale. If you are on a tight deadline, please contact us before ordering and we will do our absolute best to accommodate your event timeline.
How much faster is rush production, and does it cost extra?
Rush turnaround depends on our current production queue, but when available, it can often bring standard 7-business-day production down to 3–4 business days. Rush orders may include an additional fee depending on order size and timeline. The best approach is to contact us before ordering with your deadline so we can confirm what's possible and quote any rush fee upfront.
Where do you ship?
We ship throughout the United States. Exact shipping rates and estimated delivery times are calculated automatically at checkout based on your order size. If you have a special shipping request (like split-shipping), feel free to reach out.
Do you ship internationally?
Right now, we only ship within the United States. If you're located outside the US and interested in placing an order, reach out to us directly — we may be able to help depending on the situation, but we can't guarantee international shipping at this time.
What is your policy regarding missing or lost packages?
Please double-check your shipping address carefully at checkout. Beech Tree Paper is not able to replace or refund packages that are lost, stolen, or delivered to an incorrect address once tracking marks them as delivered by the carrier. Orders affected by incorrect address details will need to be repurchased.
What is your return policy for custom notebooks?
Because custom notebooks are uniquely made to order, returns or exchanges are not accepted. If there is an unexpected issue with your order due to a manufacturing error or transit damage, simply contact us and we will make it right. Learn more about our complete return policy.
What if my order arrives damaged or incorrect?
Please contact our team as soon as possible with your order details and clear photos of the damage or printing error. We will work quickly resolve the issue.