With today’s technology, you could do almost 100% of your work electronically, never having to touch or use a piece of paper. But in reality, printing on paper is still extremely essential to most business practices for documents that need to be signed, marketing materials that need to be sent to clients, and more. If you’re a business owner, and you’re looking for a printer for your business needs, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. And each type of printer will offer you different services.
Laser Printers
Laser printers are really great at printing high-volumes of documents quickly and still retaining a crisp, clean look. Laser printers are also very cost effective. When you add up printer cost, maintenance, ink, and more, printing on a laser printer usually tends to come out at a lower price per page than other types of printers. Low-end laser printers can be found for under $200, but those models will generally only print black and white. For a couple hundred dollars more, you can get a color version. Most laser printers also come in a workgroup model that is larger and meant to be used by multiple people, usually in a business setting.
Inkjet Printers
Inkjets are great printers if you need to print high-quality, color graphics or photos from time to time. But you’ll need to keep your color printing to a minimum. The paper and ink cartridges needed to print high-quality graphics and photos can be expensive for a large business. Also, speed may be a consideration if you have a multiple people who need to use the printer. Inkjets are much slower than lasers, but what they lack in speed, they make up for in quality.
All-in-one Printers
Multifunction, or all-in-one, printers are probably the best solution for small businesses. As the name suggests, they include a number of functions in one device. Most all-in-ones combines the functions of a printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine into one compact device. All-in-ones can come equipped with either a laser of an inkjet printer. Prices will vary widely based on the function they perform and the type of printer they house.
Other Printers
Depending on the type of business you have, you may need a specialized printer. For example, if you print a lot of high-quality photos, you’ll probably need to look in to a photo printer. On the other hand, if you are constantly on the run and need to print documents while traveling, there are a number of great compact, portable printers that might be good for you.
The printing needs of your business are unique to you, so it’s best to understand the qualities of each type of printer and research different brands, so you’ll know which printer is best for your business needs.
About the author: Diane Johnson primarily writes about online schools, and anything else that interests her. She enjoys traveling, reading, sledding, and shopping.
