Copier Distributors and Wholesalers

Daiko Denshi Tsushin Limited

Guide to Color Copiers

Make your presentation materials snap with a color copier
By Jenni Simcoe

Many professional office businesses need dedicated color copiers, whereas some can get by with going to a copy store on occasion. If you regularly print color presentation materials for multiple clients, the investment in a good color copier may be worth the expense. Before you begin shopping for color copiers you need to examine:

1. How many copies will you make per hour/day/week?
2. What is your budget?
3. What kind of service plan do you need?

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Options for color copiers One of the first steps in selecting the right color copier for your business is to assess your needs. Do you need to have multiple features such as duplexing, collating and multiple paper trays?

I recommend:  Learn all about copier features at BuyerZone.com and at Ebay's copier buying guide.

Capacity The color copier that’s right for your business depends in large part on the number of color copies you need. If you only need to make a few color copies a day, you can probably get by with a lower-end model whereas if you’re churning out thousands of color copies each week, you’ll need a high performance model.

I recommend:  Konica Minolta, Xerox, Canon and Sharp’s websites allow you to compare models by page per minute capacity. You can also find color copiers sorted by the number of copies per minute at DigitalCopiers.org.

Get multiple quotes on color copiers Make sure to comparison shop from an impartial source to find the right copier.

I recommend:  Get free quotes from multiple suppliers by completing a questionnaire at BuyerZone.com.

Consider renting a color copier If you have a large project that you need a color printer for or you don’t want to commit to a purchase, consider renting or leasing a color copier.

I recommend:  Marathon Service allows you to rent a copier from one day to over one year and gives you the ability to upgrade your copier if your needs change without penalty. Graphic Savings also offers flexible leasing options and consulting to find the right copier for your needs.

Hire an expert If buying or leasing office equipment is about as confusing as it gets, consider letting a professional do the copier shopping for you.

I recommend:  ETB shops from multiple vendors to find the best price guaranteed. Copier Geeks also do all of the homework for you.

Buy used color copiers Consider saving money by opting for a used or refurbished color copier.

I recommend:  Business.com lists numerous suppliers of used and refurbished color copiers.

All-in-one machines Can’t afford an expensive laser color copier? You’re not alone. They can range anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000. Many small business owners opt to buy one machine that serves as a color printer, color copier, scanner and fax machine. All-in-one inkjet models prices start at under $100, while all-in-one laser models start at $200.

I recommend:  Shop for all-in-one copiers/printers at Bestbuy.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• If you plan on having multiple users networked to one printer, ask questions about memory and networking capabilities when shopping for your copier.
• When budgeting for your new color copier, make sure to add in costs for special paper, toner and service.
• If you can’t afford an expensive color copier, consider starting out with an all in one printer that copies, prints, faxes and scans and upgrading later.