Table of Contents
Introduction
A reliable printer is essential for any small office. It can help you to stay organised, productive, and efficient. But with so many different printers on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you.
This guide will help you to choose the best printer for your small office by discussing the factors you need to consider, such as printing volume, colour requirements, connectivity options, and budget. We will also recommend some of the top-rated printers that are suitable for small offices.Â
If you have any further questions about the best printing solution for your small office, or just want to expedite the comparison process, please feel free to contact us.Â
With years of experience in the field, CopierChoice can answer any questions that you may have, find you the right printing solution for your exact business or commercial needs, as well as provide you with copier and printer quotations from our established network of suppliers to ensure the best price.
Here at CopierChoice, our aim is to provide buyers hassle-free, business-grade and commercial printer solution quotations. Let us help make your next printer purchasing decision expertly informed!
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Printer
Here are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a printer for your small office:
- Printing volume: How much printing do you do on a regular basis? If you only print a few documents per day, you can get away with a less expensive printer. But if you print a lot of documents, you’ll need a printer that can handle the workload.
- Colour requirements: Do you need a colour printer or will a black and white printer suffice? If you need to print colour documents, you’ll need to factor in the cost of colour ink.
- Connectivity options: How do you want to connect your printer to your devices? Do you want a wired printer or a wireless printer? If you have a lot of mobile devices, you may want a printer with Wi-Fi Direct or AirPrint capabilities.
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a printer? There are printers available at all price points, so it’s important to set a budget before you start shopping.
Top Picks for Best Small Office Printers
Here are a few examples of the top-rated printers that CopierChoice can facilitate acquisition of that are suitable for small offices:
Toshiba e-STUDIO2020AC
This compact and reasonably priced printer is an excellent choice for small offices with limited space. It boasts a wide range of features, including printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, making it a versatile solution for various office tasks. With a print speed of 20 pages per minute (ppm) in black and white and 15 ppm in colour, it meets the printing needs of most small offices. Its paper capacity of 250 sheets is also typically sufficient for such environments.
Konica Minolta bizhub C250i
 This printer is another excellent choice for small offices. It shares the traits of being compact and budget-friendly, similar to the Toshiba e-STUDIO2020AC. However, it distinguishes itself with a slightly faster print speed of 22 pages per minute (ppm) in black and white and 16 ppm in color. Additionally, the Konica Minolta bizhub C250i comes equipped with a built-in Ethernet port, simplifying network connectivity without the need for a separate adapter.
Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE C3530i
This printer may require a larger initial investment than the previous two printers, but it offers a few additional features that may be important for some businesses. For example, it has a larger paper capacity of 500 sheets, and it can also print double-sided documents automatically. It also has a built-in Wi-Fi adapter, so you can print wirelessly from your mobile devices.
Best Multifunction Printers for Enhanced Productivity
A multifunction printer can be a great way to save space and improve productivity in a small office. These printers combine the functions of a printer, scanner, and copier into one device. This can free up desk space and make it easier to share resources.
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Some of the best multifunction printers for small offices include:
Toshiba e-STUDIO2525AC
This printer is a good choice for businesses that need a high-performance printer with a large paper capacity. It has a print speed of 25 ppm in black and white and 20 ppm in colour, which is faster than the other printers in this category. It also has a paper capacity of 500 sheets, which is larger than the other printers in this category. It also has a few advanced features that are not found on the other printers in this category, such as a 50-sheet automatic document feeder and a duplexing unit. The automatic document feeder allows you to scan or copy multiple pages automatically, and the duplexing unit allows you to print double-sided documents without having to manually flip the pages.
Konica Minolta bizhub C360i
This printer is another good choice for businesses that need a high-performance printer. It offers similar features to the Toshiba e-STUDIO2525AC, but it has a slightly faster print speed of 30 ppm in black and white and 24 ppm in color. It also has a few additional features that are not found on the Toshiba e-STUDIO2525AC, such as a 100-sheet automatic document feeder and a finishing unit. The 100-sheet automatic document feeder allows you to scan or copy even more pages automatically, and the finishing unit allows you to add features to your printed documents, such as stapling, folding, and punching.
Kyocera TASKalfa 2554ci
This printer offers more features than the previous models. It has a print speed of 25 ppm in black and white and in color, and it also has a large paper capacity of 1,150 sheets, expandable to 7,150 sheets. It also has a variety of advanced features that can be added, such as a 50-sheet automatic document feeder, duplexing unit, finishing unit, and 5GHz wireless printing. The wireless printing feature allows you to print from your mobile devices without having to connect them to the printer directly.
Printer Performance and Efficiency
The printing speed and efficiency of a printer can have a big impact on office productivity. If you need to print a lot of documents quickly, you’ll need a printer that can keep up with the workload.
Some of the printers that we recommend for small offices are known for their fast printing speeds and efficient operation. For example, the Konica Minolta Bizhub C287 can print up to 28 pages per minute, and the Canon ImageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5735i can print up to 35 pages per minute.
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Connectivity and Mobile Printing
In today’s mobile-first world, it’s important for printers to offer wireless connectivity and mobile printing capabilities. This allows users to print from their smartphones, tablets, and laptops without having to be connected to the printer directly.
Some of the printers that we recommend for small offices offer a variety of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth. They also offer mobile printing capabilities, such as Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print.
Price-Performance Balance
When choosing a printer for your small office, it’s important to find a balance between price and performance. You don’t want to spend too much money on a printer that you don’t need, but you also don’t want to buy a printer that won’t meet your needs.
The printers that we recommend for small offices offer a good balance between price and performance. They are reliable, efficient, and easy to use.
Conclusion
Choosing the right printer for your small office can be a daunting task. But by considering the factors we’ve discussed in this guide, you can narrow down your choices and find the perfect printer for your needs.
Here are some additional tips for choosing a printer for your small office:
- Read reviews from other users. This can be a great way to get an unbiased opinion of a printer before you buy it.
- Talk to your colleagues. See what printers they use and recommend.
- By requesting a quote from CopierChoice, prices and recommendations from our network of trusted and pre-vetted suppliers are carefully collated and provided to you for maximum convenience. This can be a great way to defer to our many years of expertise and have all the most appropriate information laid out for your important purchase decision.
We hope this guide has been helpful. To learn more about the printers that we recommend for small offices, please contact us or get copier and printer quotations today. We would be happy to help you choose the right printer for your needs.
FAQ: How to Choose the Best Printer for Your Small Office
What factors should I consider when choosing a printer for my small office? Here are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a printer for your small office:
Here are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a printer for your small office:
- Printing volume: How much printing do you do on a regular basis? If you only print a few documents per day, you can get away with a less expensive printer. But if you print a lot of documents, you’ll need a printer that can handle the workload.
- Colour requirements: Do you need a colour printer or will a black and white printer suffice? If you need to print colour documents, you’ll need to factor in the cost of colour toner or ink cartridges..
- Connectivity options: How do you want to connect your printer to your devices? Do you want a wired printer or a wireless printer? If you have a lot of mobile devices, you may want a printer with Wi-Fi Direct or AirPrint capabilities.
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a printer? There are printers available at all price points, so it’s important to set a budget before you start shopping.
- Features: What features are important to you? Do you need a printer with automatic duplex printing? A built-in scanner? A fax machine?
- Durability: How long do you expect to use the printer? If you plan on using it for a long time, you’ll want to choose a printer that is built to last.
To determine the right printing volume for your office, you need to consider how many pages you print on a regular basis. You can also ask your employees how often they print and what types of documents they print.
Once you know your average printing volume, you can start to narrow down your choices of printers. If you only print a few pages per day, you can get away with a less expensive printer. But if you print a lot of pages, you’ll need a printer that can handle the workload.
Whether or not colour printing is essential for your small office environment depends on your needs. If you only need to print black and white documents, then a monochrome printer will be sufficient. However, if you need to print colour documents, such as marketing materials or presentations, then you’ll need a colour printer.
A multifunction printer is a printer that combines the functions of a printer, scanner, copier, and sometimes fax machine into one device. This can save space and money, as you don’t need to buy separate devices for each function.
Multifunction printers can also be more convenient to use, as you can print, scan, copy, and fax documents from one place.
The connectivity options you prioritise for your small office printer will depend on your needs and preferences. If you have a lot of mobile devices, you’ll want a printer with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. If you need to print from a computer, you’ll need a printer with a USB port.
Some printers also offer cloud printing capabilities, which allow you to print from anywhere in the world.
Yes, there are eco-friendly printer options available for small businesses. These printers use less energy and produce less waste than traditional printers.
Some eco-friendly printers use recycled materials or renewable energy sources. Others have features that help to conserve ink, such as automatic duplex printing.
There are a few things you can do to ensure cost-effective printing over the long term:
- Choose a printer that is energy efficient.
- Use recycled paper.
- Purchase high-quality ink consumables.
- Optimise your printing settings.
- Avoid printing unnecessary documents.
User-friendly setup is important for small office printers because it can save time and frustration. A printer that is easy to set up will be easier to use and maintain, which can lead to cost savings in the long run.
When choosing a printer, look for one that has a clear and concise instruction manual. You should also be able to find helpful videos and tutorials online.
Yes, there are budget-friendly options available for small office printers. These printers may not have all the features of more expensive printers, but they can still meet your basic printing needs.