Small Business Blog from Atlantic Canada

I am "CA" Atreya (PMP, MBA), the author of this blog. I help businesses in Atlantic Canada achieve their BHAG successfully. You may subscribe to this blog using a feed reader (RSS).

Marc Raul is today’s guest. He is the product specialist with Brother Canada. He talks about how to go about acquiring good quality small business infrastructure such as printer.

Most small business owners working in their home office require three key pieces of equipment: a phone, a computer and a printer. Yet when you want to buy a printer, there are so many different models and features to consider that the task can be daunting. To facilitate the decision-making process, here is a list of what to consider before you buy:

• Confirm that your computer’s operating system is compatible with the printer’s drivers. Drivers usually come with the machine but can also be downloaded from the manufacturer’s Web site. If you are using an operating system other than Windows (such as Mac OS or Linux), double check that the drivers are compatible.
• Determine what you will print: documents, charts, pictures, or all of the above. This will help you analyse the quality you need. If you usually print a lot of text, pick a laser printer which will give you fast printing for only a few cents a page. If your documents incorporate graphics and colour images, you could opt for a colour laser printer. On the other hand, if you mainly print photos, then inkjet is your best option.
• Calculate how many people will use the printer. This will determine how fast the printer needs to be. Print speed is measured in ppm (pages per minute) which is listed by the manufacturer. Most colour laser printers print all documents - colour or monochrome – as fast as monochrome lasers can. As for inkjet printers, they are not as fast as laser printers but will suit your needs if your printing volume is not significant. If you have a small workgroup that needs to share the printer, look for one with networking and expandability features.
• Figure out how many functions you need. Depending on your requirements, investing in an all-in-one printer could be a great idea. Brother has several models which incorporate printer, fax, scanner and photocopier as well as wireless networking features and a large LCD screen. Since an MFC replaces several pieces of equipment, it can also save you a lot of money. It also takes up much less space and saves energy consumption by using only one power cord.
• Keep in mind the price of ink or toner. You need to consider the cost per page for each type of printer, depending on your needs in terms of print volume and type of documents to be printed.
• Carefully review the type of guarantee that comes with the printer. Look for a manufacturer that will supply you with a replacement machine if yours has a problem. Other important customer service features are toll free telephone lines for product and software assistance, as well as 24/7 online support.

Disclaimer: The blog owners have not received any compensation for this post. Pictures courtesy cossette.com

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