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Buying a new laser printer is something that needs to be taken seriously since procuring new office equipment can take a big chunk out of any organization's budget. As with any other office equipment, management should take several factors into consideration when selecting the best laser printer to meet business needs. This applies particularly to home, small and medium scale businesses operating on a limited budget.

The following are recommended guidelines in choosing the best among the hundreds of laser printers in the market. Though every organization has its unique needs and criteria in selecting office equipment, it helps to have a simplified guide to facilitate office equipment selection and purchasing.

Is it for a home business or office? Determining where the laser printer will be used will help decide how many units will be bought. With the prices of laser printers nowadays, it won't hurt to buy two units if the budget allows it. In addition, it is a good idea to buy a laser printer that can accommodate the anticipated workload in the office.

Is there a need for a multifunction printer? A laser printer can be enhanced with scanning, photocopying, and fax functions. Although it may sound tempting to have a multifunction printer in the office, management should consider if it is really worth the added cost. If the added functionality will not be useful in the office then plain laser printers would be the best option.

What is the anticipated workload in the office? Having an idea on how much printing demand an office has can help determine which laser printer to choose. For light workloads, it is best to settle for an entry level laser printer. On the other hand, if a medium to heavy workload is expected it is best to choose a heavy duty laser printer, especially if it will be used in a networked environment where multiple users will be using the printer.

How much am I (or the company) willing to spend on a new laser printer? This is a good question considering that not everyone operates on the same budget. While some may have more leeway with regards to equipment spending, most have a budget to stick to. Therefore, caution should be taken not to over- or underestimate printer costs. Moreover, it is recommended to include cost of consumables such as printer toners since these are replaced from time to time.

Is the cost of printer ownership justifiable? Once you have determined the cost of acquisition, the next move is to calculate how much it costs to maintain the printer. This is normally determined through calculation of cartridge yield which is usually the cost of the cartridge divided by the estimated total number of pages printed.