Should small businesses lease or buy printers?

For most small businesses, buying is more cost-effective. Leasing makes sense only for high-volume offices (5,000+ pages/month) that need managed print services and automatic supply replenishment. A $250-500 printer with aftermarket toner cartridges provides the lowest total cost for businesses printing 200-2,000 pages monthly. Leasing contracts often lock you into expensive per-page rates and multi-year commitments.

Are aftermarket toner cartridges safe to use?

Quality aftermarket toner from reputable brands (LD Products, Lemero, Amazon Basics) works well and saves 50-70% over OEM cartridges. The print quality difference is minimal for business documents. However, using aftermarket toner may void the printer warranty on some HP models (check your warranty terms). Brother printers are generally more compatible with aftermarket toner without warranty issues.

Best Printers for Small Business 2026