Small businesses might be printing less than before but setting up a good printer is still an essential part of your setup when starting a new business. Some customers could ask for a printed invoice, you might want to print out marketing flyers, posters, or contracts.
A good printer for small business is one that can multitask and supports printing in black-and-white or in colour, and for maximum versatility you should look for a model that also allows you to scan documents, such as a signed contract, back onto your computer.
Many factors are in play when you choose a printer—for instance, the features, printing style, and your budget. Our team has tested all the main brands to compile a short-list of our recommendations. We have only included our pick of the top five printers with the best features relevant for a small business and backed up with great customer reviews.
Our picks for the best printers in 2023 are:
- EPSON EcoTank ET-15000
- Canon ImageCLASS MF743Cdw
- Brother MFC-L2750DW
- EPSON WorkForce ET-4750
- HP Color LaserJet Pro M454DW
1. EPSON EcoTank ET-15000
If you want expect to print marketing materials such as flyers and posters, then the EPSON EcoTank ET-15000 is a great option. It’s an inkjet all-in-one printer that you can also connect to Bluetooth. The ink tank in the EcoTank ET-15000 is perfect for printing in bulk and ink is generally available at a low price. The maintenance cost of this printer is also low.
There is a high-resolution scanner with an ADF. But, it can get slow because the scanner can only scan five one-sided sheets per minute. The good part is that it has both sheet-fed and flatbed scanners. Hence you can easily print multiple pages at a time. Since there is a lack of duplex scanning capability, you will have to scan the double-sided sheets manually. Also, the black and white pages come out faster than the printed ones.
The printer is robust and well-built and comes with a front and rear input tray with adjustable sliders to accommodate different paper sizes. However, the colour accuracy of the printer could be better, but the final result is more detailed and precise. It also has a detachable power cable in case you need to go wireless.
Furthermore, the EPSON EcoTank ET-15000 has a good display screen, which you can tilt vertically to get a better view. Also, there are side buttons for Home and Info on either side of the screen. Ideally, this printer is perfect for small offices and is pocket-friendly while offering you good value for money.
Pros
- Perfect for printing on large paper
- It is inexpensive to run
Cons
- Can only scan documents with a single side
- It can only scan paper that is A4 or smaller
2. Canon ImageCLASS MF743Cdw
Our second recommendation is the Canon Color ImageCLASS printer. Our team tested and tried out this bulky but good quality built printer. This printer comes with many connectivity options, such as Wi-Fi or USB. Other than that, it has laser technology that will be perfect for your small business. The built-in high-resolution flatbed scanner is automated to scan long and multi-page documents making the task easier for you.
Also, the Canon printer has the feature of duplex scanning in one go. The resolution may be lower than other printers, but it is still an excellent option for small businesses that are not looking for photo-quality scans. Although, keep in mind that this printer takes a little longer than usual printers to start and warm up. However, it can get the job done quickly once warmed up.
The scanner can scan 29 pages per minute, saving you time and energy. The toner cartridges can yield about two to three thousand pages, so you may only need the refill ink for a while. However, the cost of ink cartridges for Canon Color ImageCLASS is higher than usual.
Like all other printers that fall under the imageCLASS line, this printer, too, is very efficient, well-built, and perfect for small offices. It is entirely made of plastic, and there is an input tray at the front with adjustable sliders for different paper sizes. Moreover, you can also adjust the hinges for the scanner lid to fit thicker documents such as a manual or an article. The printer has a beginner-friendly design, so you can easily access paper trays or toner cartridges.
The printer has a power cable that can be plugged off or even replaced if damaged. Other than that, the display screen is excellent. It has a massive touchscreen with buttons on the sides that allow you to access different features of the printer. The screen has remarkable sensitivity and can operate fast enough on a single touch.
However, you may have better options if you have limited space to put the printer. The printer is large and bulky, and the screen comes from the right side. So you must avoid pressing the printer against the wall from the right side. It is a good option for small businesses, especially if you want a good, long-term printer.
Pros
- It has a significant 5-inch colour touchscreen
- It has fast print, scan, and copy speeds
Cons
- It takes up alot of space
- It has slow duplex printing
3. Brother MFC-L2750DW
If you run a small business that only needs to print black-and-white pages, then the Brother MFC-L2750DW is an excellent choice. This monochrome laser printer has nearly all the features you need to run a small office. Moreover, it is cost-efficient and has Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet connection ports. The digital scanner has a high resolution with an automatic feeder and single-pass duplex setting. Hence you will have to manually switch the paper for a double-sided scan.
Other than that, the toner cartridge is available at a meagre price and can yield about 1200 prints. You will only have to replace one cartridge because it is a monochrome printer for your small office. You can access the toner cartridge through the front side of the printer, and the printer can print up to 36 pages in a single minute. Moreover, you can quickly fix paper jams through the back end of the printer.
However, you will have to replace the drum after about 12,000 prints. Hence, you may not have to go through the hassle of replacing the printer drum so often. The printer is robust and produces detailed printed documents. Besides that, this printer will not take long to warm up and will save you a lot of time and effort.
Other than that, it comes with a power cord that is not detachable. Hence, it is difficult to unplug or replace it once damaged. Brother MFC-L2750DW is a superb option if you are running a casual business on a budget, and it has excellent scanning features and very low maintenance.
Pros
- It runs at a low cost
- It prints rapidly
- It has wide connectivity selections
Cons
- The graphics and image quality are not so good
- It has a small paper capacity, considering the cost
4. Epson WorkForce ET-4750
Our fourth pick is Epson WorkForce ET-4750 for small businesses. We like it because it runs on very innovative printing technology. The printer comes with four refillable ink tanks that produce high-quality printing documents. The ink tanks can print at least 7,500 pages reducing the cost and time between refills.
Other than that, by using ink tanks, you will be producing a lot less waste than cartridges. The printer can still deliver high-resolution and colour accuracy on your printing documents. Also, the paper tray can fit upto 250 sheets of paper. The printer has a flatbed scanner and an automatic document feeder for efficient and quick scanning.
The touch screen is on the smaller side of the printer, from which you can navigate through the menu. Also, the printer’s brand-new box includes gloves you will need while refilling the ink tanks. The copying feature is the most distinct feature of this printer. The touch screen can copy single to double-sided sheets and remove shadows, punch holes, or staple marks.
Moreover, the printer is also compatible with mobile devices, Wi-Fi, and USB. The printer may get a little slow sometimes, but it produces high-quality prints at a low cost. Our team tested both colored and black-and-white pages with this printer. The colored images are well-saturated and have no concentrated strands or blotches. Moreover, the colours looked relatively natural and sophisticated. However, scanning pages with the ADF could have been better, and the pages were dark and needed more precise detail.
The bottom line is that ink tanks are the only effective way to reduce costs if you run your startup on a budget. Only Epson WorkForce ET-4750 comes with refillable ink tanks that produce plenty of details and accuracy in your printing pages through the scanner.
Pros
- It is portable and takes up little space
- It can work with Wifi
- Connects to Phones
- It comes with ink when you buy
Cons
- It’s a bit pricey
- It does not come with NFC support
5. HP Color LaserJet Pro M454DW
Our fifth pick is the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454DW which is ideal for small startups. This compact, well-built printer is sturdy and has many user connectivity options wrapped into a device with a small carbon footprint.
It is energy efficient, mainly because of the automated on-and-off feature. Also, the printer is Energy Star certified. The HP Color LaserJet Pro M454DW supports connection with Wi-Fi, Airprint, and Google Cloud Printing. And this printer is the perfect sleek and modern fit for efficient businesses. Furthermore, it comes with a 50-page multipurpose tray and an input tray with a capacity of 300 sheets.
The HP Color LaserJet Pro M454DW can also handle 50,000 printing sheets every month. The produced printing documents are detailed and well-saturated. It has a 2.7-inch compact screen on the panel, and you can use the screen to configure security settings and other useful reports.
Other than that, the printer also supports the duplex-scanning feature. Hence you will not have to manually switch sides to produce a double-sided printing sheet. The scanner can print up to 17 pages in sixty seconds. The text documents we printed through the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454DW came out in sharp detail and quality-sized readable fonts. Moreover, the colours were also vibrant, bright, and blended accurately.
One drawback of the HP Color LaserJet Pro M454DW is that it is less pocket friendly than the printers we mentioned above. The toner replacement cartridge alone can cost a lot; however, you will only have to replace the cartridge occasionally. However, the laser jet printer is a solid choice for your small office.
It is not extremely expensive to use, but it is not cheap either. It is one the best printers among the other colour printers in the market. We are sure that you will love working with it. However, if you are tight on a budget, we recommend choosing from the other options mentioned above.
Pros
- Excellent mobile connection
- Print quality is excellent
Cons
- Can have high running cost
- It is on the more expensive side
Tips For Buying The Appropriate Printer For Your Small Business
Buying the right printer for your business will ensure your enterprise functions as efficiently as possible. Therefore you must do your due diligence before purchasing a printer. Here are some things to think about before buying:
Assess the Needs of your Company
First, take time to go through and understand your company’s needs and ask your employees. Doing this will help you choose the best printer for your company.
Size
Ensure the size will work for the space you have. So measure your workspace and look at the printer’s dimensions before buying.
Print Quality and Speed
You should check all the reviews on a printer before buying to ensure that the printer will produce quality according to your needs. In addition, it should produce at the speed that allows you to keep your deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Should my printer be WiFi compatible?
It should be, especially in 2022. However, this would depend on your needs as a business.
2. Will my operating system work with this printer?
You need to check if your operating system will be compatible with the machine you plan to get, as some printers are becoming more advanced and won’t work with older systems.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the right printer for your small business or startup is not straightforward thanks to a huge range of potential brands and products. We’ve looked at the features and functions you’re likely to need and compiled our list of the top five printers for small businesses.
When comparing models, take a good look at the role the printer will have and the types of document it will need to manage. You should then look at long-term costs for ink, toner and other consumables. It’s energy requirements and carbon footprint are important and together these can give you a good idea of the likely running costs and environmental impact of your new business printer.
