The Benefits Of Leasing A Printer For Your Business Instead Of Buying One

While increasing amounts of work are being done on computers and via email, the idea of the 'paperless office' has still not come to pass. All businesses need a printer as an essential part of their IT infrastructure, but a surprising number of businesses have not yet realised the benefits that leasing a printer can bring. Indeed, many small and medium enterprises are not even aware that leasing a printer is an option. So, what are the benefits of leasing a printer for businesses?

1) Reduced Capital Expenditure

The purchase of a new printer outright requires the spending of a significant sum of money - money that has to come from somewhere. It is either liquid cash that is no longer available for running costs or other purchases or requires a line of credit that could better be used for other requirements. Both of these options could be better used in other aspects of the business.

2) Enhanced Budget

A leasing option is in essence a one stop shop for a business's printing needs. The business simply pays an agreed monthly fee for its printing infrastructure needs, allowing the cost to be spread out across the budget, with maintenance and replacement fees included in the price. This has important connotations for the next benefit.

3) No Surprise Expenditure

When a business owns its own printer it is responsible for repairing or replacing the printer should it wear out or malfunction. With a leasing option, these costs are covered in the price of the lease. A leasing option avoids a budget crunch when a printer needs to be replaced and removes the need to keep money in an emergency fund for printer expenses.

4) No Maintenance Worries

Money is not the only consideration - the time of a business and its employees is also valuable. Rather than having to organise printer replacement, maintenance or repairs themselves, a business with a leased printer can leave these activities to the leasing company, freeing up employee time for the core aspects of the business.

5) Avoidance of Obsolescence

Capital expenditure on a printer is basically a money-sink. IT infrastructure is constantly developing and hence a printer depreciates at a rapid pace. These factors reduce the benefit of having such an 'asset' on the company's balance sheet.

6) Easy Upgrading

Should a business's printing requirements change then those that own their own printers will need to write off their old hardware and make a new purchase. With a leasing option the business avoids such costly capital expenditure as they can simply renegotiate their lease with the supplying company. This is equally valuable in the case where printing requirements decrease, allowing the business to decrease the cost of their monthly lease without needing to purchase a whole new printer. This benefit is particularly advantageous to new or rapidly-growing businesses who may have quickly-changing requirements.

7) Removal of Disposal Worries

The responsibilities and worries associated with your IT infrastructure do not end when the printer has reached the end of its life. As with all IT hardware, the disposal of printers is covered by a plethora of rules and regulations. With a leasing option, this responsibility and its associated costs is removed from the business.

8) Increased Flexibility

With so many rapid and game-changing developments in printing technology and business practices occurring on a daily basis businesses need to be able to be flexible in their IT infrastructure. A printer lease increases this flexibility by requiring only a change in the lease rather than the purchase of new hardware by the company.