Portable Copier

Looking for a compact side photocopier? Get to know the considerations

Compact photocopier has become more popular for many home users and small businesses recently, in particular when they don’t have too much space. Thanks to the technology that has made it possible to achieve high-end photocopiers at affordable rates while having most of the features a larger standard copier contains. These include duplex copying and automatic document handling amongst others.

The modern desktop photocopiers are multifunctional. It can also function like a scanner, fax and printer, being a multiple-purpose machine. This is a nice extra for home or small businesses users having no technical assistance or department. If you are planning to make your purchase, here are some considerations.

Buying a cheap desktop photocopier

Getting a used copier that is near to the end of the lease term (usually 3 to 5 years lease) and comes with complete maintenance and timely replacement of broken or worn parts. These refurbished desktop photocopiers are re-sold at reduced prices, presenting the cheapest options. Refurbished photocopiers are eco-friendly options for home users and small businesses that also enable them saving 50% to 75% of the new, rented or leased desktop photocopier’s cost.

Feature considerations

One of the key factor to consider before making a purchase is the usage rate the photocopier will be performing at. For an example, you won’t want to purchase a compact copier machine that could only handle 50 percent of your print load. The result is faster wear and tear and experience frequent downtime.

Some other important considerations include:

• The copying speed (including time to deliver the first copy from the standby)
• Whether a color or mono (black & white) copier is needed
• Portability (dimensions suitable for moving around)

Leasing consideration

Though many desktop copiers are available on lease, dispelling the immediate purchase need, we would recommend you to check copier’s total lease cost and compare it with the price of the one that bought outright. Leasing makes getting a copier affordable, however, the downside is you have to commit for a duration usually between 3 to 5 years. Alternatively, you can rent copier machine if you are not ready to commit to a fixed loan for that long.

Examining your budget

You also need to determine the total budget you have for purchasing or leasing a desktop copier. This must not just include the purchasing or leasing cost, but also the toner cost, maintenance, and consumables cost incurred monthly. For most instance, cheap desktop copier may be tempting to purchase but it may come with a higher price to maintain and run. Hence, do your math and add up the total expenses incur for the copier model in your cart before committing the sales. For more information, check on my previous blog on the cost of owning a photocopier machine.