Photocopiers
Photocopiers are used by many businesses in the UK and they are no longer limited to simply making copies of documents. The gadgets that can be included on modern day digital photocopiers include; scanners, automatic binding, image editing software, fax and email capability. All this means a modern photocopier can be an important way of saving time and space in a modern office. When choosing what photocopier would meet your requirements the purchaser should consider whether they want black and white or colour printing, what speed of copying and printing they require, how many copies they are likely to make a month, will they be using different size paper and what types of paper will be used. All these different options affect how much photocopiers cost and it is helpful for a purchaser to be clear what they require before getting quotes.
Purchasing Photocopiers
To purchase a photocopier not only depends on the specification required, but the manufacturer and supplier. There is a large range of photocopiers available on the market and when comparing prices it is useful to consider the cost of maintenance and consumables such as paper and toner to give a true cost of ownership of the machine. The smallest low volume machines can cost from a few hundred pounds while the most sophisticated high volume photocopiers can cost tens of thousands of pounds.
It is possible to save money by purchasing second hand photocopiers with many businesses offering these for sale. When purchasing a photocopier it is important to consider its product life, typically photocopiers and printers are considered to have a life of around five years so any costs should be spread over this time period.
Leasing Photocopiers
Purchasing a photocopier can represent a significant investment for a company. To avoid this a popular choice is to lease a photocopier. Leases generally include maintenance costs and entitle the leasee to upgrades at no cost. However, it is important to be clear as to what is covered by the lease when comparing prices. As with purchasing there can be a huge difference in rental costs, with small low density machines starting from a few pounds a month up to the highest density machines costing several hundred pounds a month. As with purchasing it is possible to reduce costs by leasing a second hand photocopier. Whilst leasing has the benefits of no large one off costs it business run the risk of being trapped in a photocopier equipment lease which no longer meets the needs of the business so research is important.
