The Right Printer & Copier Setup for a Small Office

The one-question test

Do you print more than 500 pages a month? Yes → black-and-white laser, always. No → an ink tank all-in-one. That's 90% of the decision.

The three setups we recommend

• The 2–8 person office: Brother or HP monochrome laser all-in-one ($200–350). Toner costs ~3¢/page, cartridges last years, nothing dries out. See our printer glossary for why inkjets lose here.
• The 8–20 person office: mid-volume laser (Brother MFC-L8900CDW class, ~$500) with a second paper tray. Still cheaper than any contract at this scale.
• The 20+ person office: NOW look at managed print contracts (~1–3¢/page, includes toner, service, and a copier-grade machine). Get three quotes — prices vary wildly and everything is negotiable.

The traps

• Cheap printer + expensive cartridges: always check toner price ÷ page yield before buying.
• "Free" copier contracts: read the overage rates. 500 "included" pages goes fast.
• No duplex: automatic double-sided printing saves a tree and a filing cabinet — require it.

For home-office-sized needs, our full printer buying guide has the consumer side covered.