Printcomparison.com uses printers that have registered on the site to provide a quote for enquiries logged through the service.

It is free for customers requiring a quote while printers registered on the site pay a subscription fee to be listed on the facility.

Russell Knight, joint managing director of Printcomparison.com, said: "Coming from a design background, it was often time consuming to get individual quotes from many companies."

The company claims by using the site, customers can obtain the best price and service for the job in hand.

Knight said: "We've got nearly 300 printers on board already and are obviously aiming for an even spread to ensure that the customer will always get the most comprehensive, competitive quote available."

Neil Long, managing director of Longridge Print, said that, while comparison services benefit printers wanting to fill production gaps, time is often still an issue.

He said: "While they have their good points, I would want to know who my customer is and whether they have a good credit rating, especially in this current climate."