We are moving more and more into a paperless age with technology rendering the paper obsolete. Sadly, we are not there yet and you still need to print documents for a lot of statutory and business reasons. For this reason, you will need a printer for your small business at some point. Below are some tips for selecting the best printer for small business.
- Inkjet vs. Laser
The first decision you will need to make is whether to go for an inkjet or a laser printer. The difference between these two is that an inkjet uses ink while a laser printer uses a toner. The difference in the price is negligible nowadays. Choose the kind of ink you prefer depending on your budget as you will have to keep replenishing toners or cartridges.
- Functionality
You might prefer working with a printer only or buying an all-in-one printer that can fax, scan, photocopy, and print. Take stock of existing equipment in your business and decide what you need. If you have a scanner, then you might not need a printer that comes with one.
- Image Quality
You need to decide beforehand the kind of image quality you need for your business. If you do design work, then you might need a high-quality printer to show off your work to clients. However, if all you need to print is text, then there’s no need to spend too much as a lesser quality printer will do just fine.
- Printer Speed
The printer speed you go with will depend on the volume of paper you want to print. The more you need, the faster the printer will need to be.
- Connectivity
Need to have the printer connected to your network wirelessly? Then you can go for one with Wi-Fi. If you need to print from your mobile device, then the printer might need to be Bluetooth enabled. You can also go for one with a wired connection. Go for what works best for you.
- Type of Paper
You will have to consider the type of paper you want to print on before purchasing a printer. The type of printer you will use to print on cardstock or photo paper is not the same one you will use for documents. Also remember to consider the size of paper you will be printing on.
- Portability
If you’re always on the move and don’t need any specialized printing apart from a few documents every now and then, you might want to consider a portable printer.
- Office Size
Do you have enough space in the office for the printer you want to buy? While this might not seem important at first, things can get really cramped in a small office. You will need tons of space to spare if you buy large scale business printers.
- Running Costs
Printer running costs can add up if not well thought out. Replacing cartridges and toners can be an expensive affair especially if you print in large volumes. Using refillable cartridges can help, but you have to make sure they do not run out completely to avoid damaging your printer. Make sure to factor in repair costs should the printer break down.
