How to Find a Document Shredding Service
Decide What Type of Service You Need
There are several types of document shredding services that one may need. For small businesses there are companies that you can watch shred your documents to know they are fully dissolved. If you have a larger company with lots of documents needing shredding frequently, there are providers who will come to your business and pick up the documents and take them to a place to be shredded. Deciding what exactly it is you need before searching can help narrow down the search and find a reputable provider. After all, document shredding is important and a provider you choose could be doing work with your company for years to come.
Calculate Costs
There are several different factors that will influence the cost of the document shredding service you choose. The first factor is the amount of documents you need shredded. For smaller businesses, you may pay a flat fee if you have a small number of documents. Larger corporations can expect to pay a discounted rate, usually calculated by pound. The second factor that determines costs is if you need the documents picked up. If you have a larger business or have a large number of files that need to be shredded, taking them to a provider can be a difficult task. Many document shredding providers will come to you and pick up your documents using a secure trash bin with a lock box on it, and then take it to the shredding location.
Finding a Reputable Provider
Finding a reputable provider in the document shredding industry is not as hard as one might think. Many companies offer great services, but shopping around is important. The best way to find a provider is to get recommendations from other business owners. If someone you know highly recommends a service, chances are they are a good provider. If you don’t get any recommendations, reading online reviews can also lead you in the right direction. Once you have a few providers to choose from, meet with them or speak on the phone to see if they would be a good fit. Be sure to check for National Association for Information Destruction accreditation. This ensures that the company you're working with follows guidelines to protect your information.
Decide on Short Term or Long Term Contracts
Most shredding companies will want to speak to you about long term paper shredding needs. They do work with providers on a one time basis, but it's much more economically efficient for both them and you to work long term. These companies can work with you long term the same way you work with a trash provider. The shredding provider will put a bin at your company building and pick it up on a monthly, bi-monthly, or even a weekly basis to help you remain stress-free about the process. Deciding what you’re looking for before moving forward is helpful to them and you.
Prepare For Shredding
Once you have found a provider, calculated costs, and decided on a short term or long term contract, it’s time to prepare for the documents to be shredded. Most shredding companies will give you a dedicated bin to store your documents. These bins have a lock on them to prevent people from getting inside and seeing valuable documents. You will need to inform your employees about the bin and how to handle it. Be sure not to put trash in there. Not only is that not what the bin is for, but any extra weight will add up costs. Once you prepared for the documents to be shredded, call the company and have them pick it up.