You've got a tender due and the capability statement has to go in the pack, printed, looking like a firm that wins work. Here's what to print it as, what paper to put it on, how many you need and how fast we can turn it around, from a shop that prints them every week. The short version: a 4-page half fold, the 6-page trifold most firms choose, or a 8 to 16 page stitched booklet for the full story. All A4.
What format should a capability statement be?
Three that work, depending on how much you need to say.
The 4-page half fold is one sheet folded once. Front cover, two inside pages, back. Enough for who you are, what you do, your credentials and how to reach you.
The 6-page trifold is the one most firms go for. Six panels give you room for services, past work, the team and contact details without turning into a booklet, and it slips into an envelope or a tender pack without a fuss.
The 8 to 16 page booklet is for tenders that want the lot: case studies, team profiles, certifications, financials. It's saddle stitched, which means folded and stapled through the spine, so the page count has to be a multiple of four.
What paper should it be on?
For the half fold, the trifold and anything up to 12 pages, 200gsm satin: a firm sheet with a soft sheen that stands up in the hand and takes colour well. If the tender has a sustainability line in it, the same weight in Impact Recycled, which is 100 per cent recycled and FSC certified, and prints clean with none of the grey look people expect from recycled paper.
For a stitched booklet you can run the same paper right through, or put a 300gsm laminated card on the cover with lighter pages inside. If it's going to be handled by a panel, passed round a table and kept, the heavier cover is worth it.
How many copies do I need?
The half fold ones start at 50 and booklets at 10. Most tenders need a handful for the submission itself and the rest for the meetings that follow. If you're on an account with us, there's no minimum: order the ten you need and reprint when the next one comes up.
How long does it take?
Folded statements are 2 to 3 business days from artwork approval. Booklets are 3 to 5. Tell us the tender date when you order and we'll tell you straight away whether it fits, before you pay. Collect from our South Perth shop on Mill Point Road, or we deliver across Perth.
What usually needs fixing before it prints?
Three things, most weeks. The page count: a stitched booklet has to be a multiple of four, and a trifold is six panels, so a file with ten pages or seven panels can't be made without a rethink. The fold lines: on a trifold the panel that folds inside has to be slightly narrower than the other two, or the piece buckles, and most templates don't allow for it. And blurry artwork: a logo or photo that looked fine on screen is often too small for an A4 page. We check every file before it goes near the press and fix what we can. If something needs you, you hear about it at proofing, not when you open the box.
Should the business cards match?
Most capability statements go out on their own. Some firms take the chance to update their cards at the same time, so the card clipped inside the pack matches the statement it's sitting in. If that's you, here's how we handle cards for a whole team in one order.
What if we don't have one yet?
We design them as well as print them. Design is a fixed price by page count: $800 for four pages up to $2,500 for sixteen, including two concepts, two rounds of revisions, a print-ready PDF and digital files, with printed copies added at the quantity you choose. Pick your page count on the Capability Statement Design and Print page, and if you haven't written it yet, start with what goes in a capability statement.
At a glance
| Format | Pages | Paper | Minimum | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half fold | 4 | 200gsm satin or Impact Recycled | 50 | 2 to 3 business days |
| Trifold | 6 | 200gsm satin or Impact Recycled | 50 | 2 to 3 business days |
| Stitched booklet | 8 to 16 | Same paper throughout, or a 300gsm laminated cover | 10 | 3 to 5 business days |
Folded statements are priced on the capability statements page from $185, and booklets on the booklets page. Both show the exact figure as you set your options.
Ready to go? Upload your artwork and tell us the tender date, or email Heather or call 08 6107 6756 and we'll take it from there.