How To Cut Your Costs On Office Printers and Copiers
How To Cut Your Costs On Office Printers and Copiers
Computer Printers
Every business needs at least one computer and printer, yet many business owners waste hundreds of dollars every year by making a bad initial purchasing decision and buying a “cheap” unit. Printer manufacturers make their money on the consumables, not the machinery.
When buying or replacing your printer, the key question is not how much it costs to buy, but how much per page it costs to use. Black inkjet cartridges often work out to around 10 cents per page. By contrast, laser printing can often work out less than 4 cents per page to print.
Some laser printers cannot be trusted to handle sticky labels. The paper path bends around sharply on some models, and labels can wrap themselves around the guide rollers, which can result in expensive servicing problems. If you are going to print labels, buy a printer with a fairly straight paper path.
Look at the warranty conditions - “on site” service is much better than “return to base,” where you have to take the unit to a service centre. Also consider how the features might save you labour time - a printer that can print directly onto envelopes can save you mucking around with labels and “double handling” each mailing piece you send out.
When purchasing, look for power-saver features, such as economy-star ratings and automatic power-saver timing when not in use. Not only do these features reduce your long-term running costs, they increase the life of the machine and benefit the environment at the same time.
Photocopiers
A copier is an expensive piece of equipment. If you really have to buy one, make sure you get one with all the features you normally need (e.g. enlargement capability, double-sided capability), or you’ll still be using of a copy centre.
If you do high volume copying and think you want your own photocopy machine, get detailed cost comparisons from competing manufacturers. Add in routine servicing and maintenance costs, and reconsider whether you really do need a lot of money tied up in your own photocopier.
For my part, I compare the quality and prices at local copy centres, and use whichever has properly serviced machines and is best and cheapest at the time. Serviced copying (where they copy and bind for you) can be more efficient and cost-effective than doing it all yourself.
Ask your local copy centre if you can provide your own paper for cheaper copying. Some will let you, some won’t - but special paper buys from office supply companies can create saving opportunities here.
Also, consider the multifunction units now available, that can copy, print, fax, scan, act as an answering machine, and more. These are ideal for many offices, and can reduce equipment clutter at the same time as taking care of most typical everyday needs.
How To Cut Your Costs On Office Printers and Copiers - To learn more about this author, visit Susan Regier's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
One of the issues that keeps turning up in conversations with business people is the cost of office equipment and supplies. Here are cost-cutting tips for two common pieces of equipment that can save you a lot of money in the long term.
Computer Printers
Every business needs at least one computer and printer, yet many business owners waste hundreds of dollars every year by making a bad initial purchasing decision and buying a “cheap” unit. Printer manufacturers make their money on the consumables, not the machinery.
When buying or replacing your printer, the key question is not how much it costs to buy, but how much per page it costs to use. Black inkjet cartridges often work out to around 10 cents per page. By contrast, laser printing can often work out less than 4 cents per page to print.
Some laser printers cannot be trusted to handle sticky labels. The paper path bends around sharply on some models, and labels can wrap themselves around the guide rollers, which can result in expensive servicing problems. If you are going to print labels, buy a printer with a fairly straight paper path.
Look at the warranty conditions - “on site” service is much better than “return to base,” where you have to take the unit to a service centre. Also consider how the features might save you labour time - a printer that can print directly onto envelopes can save you mucking around with labels and “double handling” each mailing piece you send out.
When purchasing, look for power-saver features, such as economy-star ratings and automatic power-saver timing when not in use. Not only do these features reduce your long-term running costs, they increase the life of the machine and benefit the environment at the same time.
Photocopiers
A copier is an expensive piece of equipment. If you really have to buy one, make sure you get one with all the features you normally need (e.g. enlargement capability, double-sided capability), or you’ll still be using of a copy centre.
If you do high volume copying and think you want your own photocopy machine, get detailed cost comparisons from competing manufacturers. Add in routine servicing and maintenance costs, and reconsider whether you really do need a lot of money tied up in your own photocopier.
For my part, I compare the quality and prices at local copy centres, and use whichever has properly serviced machines and is best and cheapest at the time. Serviced copying (where they copy and bind for you) can be more efficient and cost-effective than doing it all yourself.
Ask your local copy centre if you can provide your own paper for cheaper copying. Some will let you, some won’t - but special paper buys from office supply companies can create saving opportunities here.
Also, consider the multifunction units now available, that can copy, print, fax, scan, act as an answering machine, and more. These are ideal for many offices, and can reduce equipment clutter at the same time as taking care of most typical everyday needs.
How To Cut Your Costs On Office Printers and Copiers - To learn more about this author, visit Susan Regier's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
|||
David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Susan's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Take the Lead Spring Cleaning JV Considerations Super Productivity Instant Classified Advertising |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Debt Blogs
Learn To Get Out Of Debt | |
 |
Top Social Business Blogs
Top Social Entrepreneur Blogs | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||