How to buy a printer for your business Advances in printing technology have led businesses to embrace the do-it-yourself spirit while imperiling print shops and photo labs--brochures, flyers, and posters are easy and inexpensive to print from even the smallest office. Laser printers that master text are no longer a luxury, and photo-friendly inkjets are cheap up front despite their pricey upkeep. Whether you're a work-at-home parent or a corporate citizen, chances are you'll find a printer tailored to your office.

Don't be seduced into buying a printer simply because it comes with a low price tag. Ink or toner is likely to cost you far more over the unit's lifetime than the printer itself, and a cheap but noisy printer can unnecessarily aggravate an already stressful work environment. Features such as built-in Ethernet, duplexing for double-sided pages, and fast output performance can quickly help you recoup the expenses of a more expensive printer through added productivity.