Copiers by Brand

Black and white copier capacity Making fewer than 700 copies per month? Go with a light-duty copier designed for personal use or for small offices. Making thousands of copies per month? Consider a business model.

I recommend:  Check reviews and prices for light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty copiers from major vendors at Epinions.com.

Black and white copier speed Most dealers advertise speed in terms of copies per minute (cpm). For a home office or small office, a copier with up to 20 cpm will probably suffice. But if your business requires fast output, look for a copier that can handle more than 30 cpm.

I recommend:  Find copiers that produce 30 to 90 cpm from Xerox or Konica Minolta.

Consider a multifunction copier Most new copiers come with built-in options for printing, scanning and faxing that turn copiers into all-in-one machines. Although most all-in-ones come with color copying and printing capabilities, you can choose to copy solely in black and white.

I recommend:  Check out ten things you should know before buying multifunctional copiers from Xerox. Learn more benefits of purchasing a multifunctional copier/printer at HP.com. Locate dealers that sell multifunctional machines at Business.com.

Buy a refurbished or used black and white copier Since high capacity copiers can cost upwards of $10,000, a way to cut costs is to invest in a pre-owned or refurbished copier.

I recommend:  Learn what to ask dealers about their refurbishing process at Copierresearch.com. Copier Consultants sells refurbished copiers that have been maintained under service agreements and re-guaranteed eligible for manufacturers' service agreements. Search for vendors of refurbished copy machines at Business.com.

Cheap copiers Another way to get a deal on a copier is to bargain hunt for dealers that offer closeouts or Internet stores with low overhead.

I recommend:  The Copier Superstore guarantees to offer the lowest price on any given copier or they’ll match it. EBU Direct offers copiers that are 30-60 percent lower than retail.

Think about renting or leasing If you have a large project that requires copies or an event, a short-term rental is the answer. If you’d like the convenience of a large capacity machine, but can’t afford one, opt for leasing. Leasing agreements typically include ongoing service and maintenance and some also allow you to upgrade to a newer model when technology changes.

I recommend:  Search for companies that provide rentals of photocopiers and other related imaging machines at Business.com. Check out Work.com’s guide to buying or leasing business copiers.