The best printers for small businesses: inkjets and lasers

Small businesses need dependable multifunction printers that can make copies, scan, and print with reliable quality and performance. The best printer deals can save you money and might look inviting, but work needs often demand more durability.

If a big job comes in, your daily workload might double or triple, so a small-business printer must withstand sudden volume increases, along with normal daily printing, and copying. We’ve collected the best small-business printers, each with unique features that suit the rigorous requirements of busy offices.

Epson EcoTank ET-3850

Best inkjet tank all-in-one printer

The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is an ideal solution for small businesses seeking to streamline their printing operations while minimizing costs. This all-in-one printer boasts a cartridge-free design, using refillable tanks instead. Each tank holds enough ink for thousands of pages so small businesses can enjoy uninterrupted printing during heavy workloads.

The Epson EcoTank ET-3850’s cost per page estimates are remarkably low, approximately 0.3 cents per monochrome page and 0.9 cents per color page. Color documents are crisp and have accurate colors. The printer’s compact design and quiet operation make it ideal for small offices or workspaces.

The EcoTank ET3850 isn’t as fast as a laser printer but is quick for an inkjet with 15.5 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 8.5 ppm in color. Epson included an automatic document feeder (ADF) and a flatbed scanner with 1,200 dpi resolution for crisp, clear documents and photo archiving.

The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 offers impressive ink yield with low running costs and high-quality color prints with good speed, a good choice for budget-conscious small businesses.

Canon imageClass MF753cdw

Best all-in-one color laser printer

The Canon imageClass MF753Cdw is a high-performance multifunction color laser printer designed to meet the demanding needs of fast-paced small businesses. With impressive print speeds of up to 35 pages per minute, this printer can keep up in the most hectic work environments.

Whether printing, scanning, or copying, the imageClass MF753cdw delivers exceptional performance with a duty cycle of 4,000 pages per month, making it an ideal choice for small businesses requiring high-volume output. Print quality is exceptional, producing crisp text and vibrant colors.

The 5-inch color touchscreen display simplifies operation, allowing users to quickly access various functions and settings. An optional 550-sheet cassette expands paper capacity to 800 sheets, so the flow of documents doesn’t have to stop. The imageClass MF753cdw’s ADF keeps pace with the printer, so multi-page copies roll out quickly. It supports full duplex operation, so you can save paper by printing and copying on both sides.

For small businesses seeking a dependable workhorse printer, Canon’s imageClass MF753Cdw is an outstanding option. Its exceptional performance, top-quality prints, and robust design make it well-suited for busy offices.

Canon Pixma G3270

Best budget office printer

The Canon MegaTank Pixma G3270 is a great choice for small offices or home-based businesses looking for a budget-priced, compact printing solution. Canon held costs low but didn’t sacrifice quality. The Pixma G3270 delivers impressive print quality and incredible value thanks to its refillable ink tanks, which hold enough ink for 6,000 monochrome and 7,700 color pages. This makes it an excellent choice for small businesses with moderate printing needs.

With an estimated cost per page of around 0.3 cents for black and white and 0.8 cents for color, running costs are minimal. This economical printing capability, combined with the Pixma G3270’s low price, makes it a good startup printer to fill your needs as your business grows.

The Pixma G3270 is an all-in-one that can print, scan, and copy, saving trips to the office store during a busy day. While it may not be the fastest printer, its reliability, cost-effectiveness, and quality make it an excellent choice for small businesses and home offices.

Brother DCP-L2550DW

Best low-cost monochrome laser printer

The Brother DCP-L2550DW is a low-cost, compact laser multifunction printer designed to meet the fast-paced demands of small offices. With print speeds of up to 36 pages per minute, this printer quickly produces high-quality documents, making it ideal for workgroups that demand rapid output.

Whether printing, scanning, or copying, the DCP-L2550DW is fast enough to serve multiple users. Durability is a key consideration for small businesses, and Brother designed the DCP-L2550DW to withstand a sustained duty cycle of 2,000 pages per month.

It’s hard to beat the DCP-L2550DW’s price/performance ratio. Since most offices print in black-and-white frequently, a case can be made for a fast, affordable monochrome laser printer and a slower inkjet for color documents.

For small offices or home-based businesses prioritizing speed, durability, and affordability, the Brother DCP-L2550DW is an excellent choice. Its rapid print speeds, robust construction, and low upfront costs make it an ideal solution for entrepreneurs and small teams seeking a dependable printer.

HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw

Best low-cost color laser printer

The HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw is a budget-friendly, high-performance printer designed to meet the demands of small businesses. With an affordable purchase price and a durable design, this printer offers high-speed color document production for proofing and small-volume output.

The HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw delivers exceptional print quality, producing sharp text, even as fine print, and bright, accurate colors. With rapid print speeds of up to 35 pages per minute, this printer can quickly produce eye-catching color documents, presentations, and marketing materials.

Epson EcoTank ET-8500

Best photographic quality all-in-one printer

The Epson EcoTank ET-8500 is a unique all-in-one printer designed to deliver exceptional photographic quality prints, making it a top pick for professional photographers, artists, and businesses requiring high-end image output.

Epson gave the EcoTank ET-8500 a six-ink color system with the standard cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, as well as “photo black” and gray. The added colors were carefully selected to extend the dynamic range while keeping color accuracy. The black is pigment, while the rest are dye-based durable Claria ET Premium inks.

Beyond its impressive printing capabilities, Epson’s EcoTank ET-8500 also excels at scanning and copying. With a high-resolution flatbed scanner, this printer captures intricate details and subtle color nuances, preserving the original quality of documents and images. The ET-8500’s scanning resolution reaches up to 1,200 dpi, ideal for digitizing photographs, artwork, or important documents.

One of the key benefits of the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 is its cost-effective operation. Its refillable ink tanks, eliminate the waste, expense, and time required to replace ink cartridges. Each tank holds enough ink for thousands of pages, so businesses can minimize downtime.

For professionals and businesses requiring exceptional print quality, the Epson EcoTank ET-8500 is a top-tier solution for photographic prints, crisp documents, and eye-catching marketing materials.

More small-business printers

While the printers above are great options for small-business users, there are plenty more choices. We can help you find the best deals on well-rated printers for cost savings and versatile all-in-one printers if copying and faxing are critical features. Our guide to the best color laser printers includes models we’ve tested and reviewed to verify quality and performance.