Finding the ideal printer for your office is an important investment in your business. Regardless of how much your company prints and how much budget is allocated for the purchase, finding the perfect printing solution is crucial in increasing output and boosting productivity. Maybe printer expertise isn’t in your wheelhouse, or maybe you just don’t know what to choose from the abundance of options. That’s okay – we can guide you along the steps for your next printer purchase!

1. Choose what type of printer works for you
   

   It may seem like a printer is simply a printer, but all printers are not made equally. The different types of printers cater to various needs, and it’s necessary to consider that within your search. Learn about a few major printer categories below.

   • Multi-Function Systems

   Multi-function systems are exactly how they sound – they provide various functions at once. The ultimate multitasker, these devices offer printing, copying, faxing, and scanning capabilities. They are engineered not only to complete all these tasks, but also to perform with the utmost efficiency.

   If your business needs to print a high volume of pages, a MFS may be one of the best IT solutions for you. These devices can print, copy, and scan en masse, completing hundreds of pages in a matter of minutes. They have duplex printing, stapling, and hole-punching functions, saving employees time and energy that can be put to better use elsewhere.

   • Laser Printers

   Laser printers differ from other printers in the fact that they use a laser beam and toner to transfer text or images onto paper rather than printing with ink. If your company mostly prints in black and white, a laser printer would be an ideal solution. Although many have color functionality, laser printers that print in color typically cost more. Toner cartridges also usually cost more than the typical ink cartridges, but they also last longer and yield more pages on average.

   These printers aren’t built with photo quality in mind, more suitable for printing text documents or spreadsheets. This technology is great for large volumes of printing as well, allowing your business to yield a high output of pages in a short timeframe.

   • Production Printers

   Production printers are perfect to print professional quality jobs in a high resolution. If your business is looking to print brochures, booklets, posters, or other types of image-heavy content in-house, production printers provide what you’re seeking. These are typically large units that offer options to print on various media of differing weights.

   These printers can complete tasks such as stapling, binding, saddle stitching, folding, and trimming. The capabilities offered by these devices are essential for creating the highest quality print pieces right within your office.

   • Wide Format Printers

   Just like the name suggests, wide format printers are able to print on wider pages, allowing you to produce larger projects. These devices can beautifully produce large, full-color posters with ease. They are ideal for companies who work in industries such as architecture. Additionally, some wide format printers even feature drying technology.

   • Inkjet Printers

   Inkjet printers are extremely common, accounting for most home printers. As the name suggests, they use ink cartridges. These printers cannot print at the same volume or quality as the aforementioned options, but they offer greater affordability. They can accommodate both text-based jobs and image printing, but they will work more slowly than others.

2. Determine your budget

   Like any other business decision, deciding how much budget to allot for your printer is an important aspect. And as with anything else, you typically get what you pay for. Each of the printer categories above have a low end and a high end in terms of price, and those price differences usually account for differences in quality as well. Whichever type of printer you need, you can opt for varying price points depending on what works for your business.

   With MFS, for instance, you’re essentially paying for many devices in one. For this reason, you can expect a much higher price point in comparison to, say, an inkjet printer which would typically be for home use. Laser printers also have a reputation of being on the pricier side, but there are more cost-effective options available too.

   Plus, it’s important to remember the long-term costs associated with a printer. From toner to ink cartridges as well as any maintenance required for device upkeep, these considerations all factor into the budget.

3. Consider a system

   One solution that can make a huge difference in your office is investing in managed service providers. They provide comprehensive information technology solutions, remotely managing aspects like security and network management. Within the MSP umbrella, you can more specifically hone in on printing with managed print services.

   Managed print services provide the option for businesses’ printing (and scanning, faxing, and copying, if applicable) to be streamlined and analyzed by outside professionals. Your company may have an IT department, or maybe you just have one or two people who specialize with IT. Either way, you may benefit from allocating their time to other areas and having a separate team to provide printing help.

Printing made easy

With these details in mind, you have the tools to make the best choice for your office’s needs. If you’re looking to discuss with printing professionals and ensure your decision is the right one, book a consultation with GoodSuite today. GoodSuite provides technology guidance of the highest caliber and offers solutions to move your business forward.