Merge Ahead

The first step in this process is to find out how much printing is being done at the other company, either in-house or at outside printers, and figure out how this volume will affect your cost calculations.

"You need to be prepared to show not only your rates but also your cost buildup," says Walker. "We had some pretty good contracts and the best price [at the time of the mergers], but when we took the volume from the other regions and put it together with ours, we got an even better price for equipment and supplies."