Copier: Top Best Copiers For Your Business

A copier is an essential piece of equipment for the majority of small businesses. The machine can copy original files, mass-produce marketing materials, and create employee documents in bulk. Your specific copying requirements including the type of paper should guide the purchasing process to ensure you strike a balance between the cost and the features of the copier. Here’s everything you need to know about a copier and how to make purchasing decisions.

What Is A Copier?

A copier, also known as a photocopier or copy machine, creates paper copies of documents. Most copiers employ xerography, a dry printing process that employs electrostatic charges to transfer toner onto paper in the same position as the original document, which is then bonded using heat and pressure. Modern digital copiers typically include an integrated scanner and laser printer (which also uses a xerographic printing method), though some may include an integrated scanner and inkjet printer. To produce black and white copies, standard copiers typically use black toner, but color copiers are also available.

What Is A Copier Paper?

Copier paper is a thin, high-quality paper that is intended for use with copiers, printers, and other office machines.

It is typically sold in reams of 500 or 1,000 sheets and is available in a variety of sizes. A4 and A3 are two of the most common sizes.

What Is the Purpose of Copier Paper?

Copier paper is primarily used to print documents such as memos, reports, letters, and other correspondence. It is also useful for printing flyers, presentations, and other marketing materials.

Copier paper is used to make copies (hence the name Copier Paper!). Manufacturers create copier paper to withstand the heat and pressure of copiers. This ensures that the final product is clear and easy to read.

Some artists even use copier paper as a drawing or sketching medium.

Simple Guidelines for Purchasing the Best Copier Paper

There are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for copier paper.

Consider the paper’s weight and brightness. Heavier paper (91-121 gsm) is preferable for printing important documents or materials used in presentations or marketing materials.

The brightness of the paper refers to how white it is. Higher numbers represent a brighter white. A brightness level of 92 or 94 is adequate for most daily tasks.

Best Copiers For Small Business

As a small business with 100 or fewer employees, you require a multifunction copier that meets your organization’s needs, is dependable, and is priced within your budget.

Perhaps you’ve contacted a local copier dealer or manufacturer and have narrowed your options to the devices they recommend. Or, perhaps you are just starting your search and want to be more informed before speaking with a vendor. Here are the best copier options for your small business.

Best Color Office Copier for Small Businesses

#1. Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5840i

The Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C5840i is at the top of its class, with exceptional dependability that is unrivaled by other brands. It’s no surprise that Canon is the world’s print solutions market leader. This device has a robust set of features, making it an excellent choice for small and medium-sized offices.

#2. Ricoh IM C4500

The Ricoh IM C4500 stands out with new features and enhancements to boost productivity. No better example is the newly designed Android-designed intuitive interface. It’s no surprise that Buyer’s Lab recommends this device for mid-size to large groups; however, a smaller workgroup may find the machine to be a bit more robust than necessary.

#3. Sharp MX-4071

A fantastic option for small and medium-sized workgroups. Users can expect increased efficiency over time with improved reliability and fast speeds. Sharp is known for user-friendly maintenance and simple guides to help keep machines running, such as paper limit guides in drawers to prevent misfeeds. Sections can be easily removed to retrieve paper if there is a misfeed. Although the image quality is good, this is not the best machine for printing marketing materials.

#4. Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX C3830i

The C3830i has a reputation for dependability, as well as an array of productivity-enhancing features. Users will appreciate the ease of use provided by the large touchscreen panel and intuitive interface. In addition, onscreen maintenance videos show users how to perform simple tasks such as replacing toner.

#5. Copystar CS 3253ci

With only one misfeed in 125,000 jobs, the CS 3253ci proves to be a highly reliable device and a strong overall choice. Color has been proven to be very effective, and high yields mean you’ll be able to print for longer than the average machine before needing more toner. The machine’s navigation control panel falls a little short. In this regard, the technology appears to lag behind its competitors.

Best Monochrome Office Copier for Small Businesses

#1. Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX 4735i

Canon’s DX 4735i is an excellent choice for small and medium-sized workgroups/offices that do not require color output. This MFP is not as fast as some models at 35 pages per minute, but it makes up for it in reliability.

#2. HP LaserJet Enterprise MFP M725dn

If your small to mid-size office workgroup requires ledger-sized outputs but is on a tight budget, this HP is an excellent choice. Buyer’s Lab rates this machine consistently high across the board and at a reasonable price when compared to comparable models.

#3. Konica Minolta bizhub 360i

The 360i is a user-friendly black-and-white multifunction device that is ideal for small to medium-sized workgroups. This machine’s high uptime is due to its high reliability and simple maintenance procedures. However, what you gain in uptime comes at the expense of image quality, so this machine is not ideal for print shops or businesses that require high-quality in-house printing.

#4. Sharp MX-M4071

Where the M4071 lags behind other machines on the list in terms of reliability, it makes up for it in terms of value, often at a lower price point that is more appealing to business owners. Excellent for small and medium-sized workgroups that require high usability and productivity. This device also includes, as with all Sharp devices, a highly intuitive control panel and the ultra-helpful pullout keyboard for making destination inputs simple.

#5. Toshiba e-STUDIO4518A

If your office requires a multifunction printer that reliably performs basic tasks without a plethora of extra features, the e-STUDIO4518A is an excellent choice. In addition to its high reliability, this Toshiba printer has some of the fastest print speeds in its class, as well as a 300-sheet two-sided single-pass feeder.

How to Choose the Best Copier

Here are some things to consider when making copier purchasing decisions.

#1. Budget

One of the primary guiding factors is the budget you have for purchasing a copier. The cost of the actual machine provides a starting point for comparing different types of copiers. Consider the cost of the toner as well as the number of copies it will produce before needing to be replaced. Another factor influencing the budget is the cost of maintenance and repairs. A complicated copier with numerous functions may result in additional problems that must be repaired. You must pay for labor and parts each time it is repaired. You also devote time and resources to teaching employees how to use the various functions. In some cases, renting a copier is more cost effective, especially if maintenance and repairs are included.

#2. The Print Volume

The number of sheets you copy on a regular basis influences the size and features you require in a copy machine. Estimating your average monthly page volume enables you to find a copier that can handle the volume without requiring frequent toner changes. If you sign up for a service agreement at the time of purchase, the number of pages printed on the copier each month may be limited. If you already have a copier, estimate your volume by recording the number of pages printed each week using the copy machine’s meter. Also, if you use a copy shop, use the sales slips to keep track of how much you copy.

#3. Paper Management

The items you copy have an impact on your purchase as well. Larger paper sizes may be inaccessible to a basic copier. Consider how frequently you will need to print larger pages to determine whether this capability is critical for your business. If you need to print large volumes quickly, the number of pages the machine can copy per minute, abbreviated as CPM, is an issue. Advanced copiers can also print on both sides, collate pages, change the printing scale, and staple pages together.

#4. Other Purposes

The other applications for the machine help you narrow down your choices. A multifunction printer is an option for a small business because it can do copying, printing, scanning, and faxing all from one machine. This saves money over purchasing individual machines and saves office space. If you have multiple employees who will be using the same machine, consider networking it so that all workstations have access to the printing function. Regular copy machines may be capable of scanning as well.

#5. Energy Conservation

Choosing an ENERGY STAR® labeled energy-efficient copy machine saves you money on utility bills while reducing the environmental damage caused by high energy consumption. The machine also keeps cool as it works, preventing an increase in office temperature from frequent use.

#6. Controls

The machine’s controls influence how easy it is to use the copier. Choose a machine with simple controls that allow all office users to understand how to perform all functions. Examine the displays on the copier and put the controls through their paces. Try different functions to see if switching between them is difficult.

What Does A Copier Do?

A copier uses light, heat, chemicals, or electrostatic charges to make copies of text or graphic material.

What Is The Difference In Printer and Copier?

A photocopier duplicates physical documents without being connected to a computer network. In contrast, a printer allows a user to send documents from a computer network to be printed on the device.

What Is A Personal Copier?

Personal copiers are ideal for one person who performs personal copying tasks on a regular basis, such as someone who runs their own business from home and requires a compact machine that can function as both a printer and a scanner/copier.

How Much Does A Copier Cost?

The average small office copier machine costs $1,500, with higher-end commercial copiers costing between $15,000 and $40,000 depending on printing speed, quality, and advanced features such as stapling, scanning, and faxing capabilities.

Can Copiers Also Print?

A copier, in addition to copying, can also print and scan documents.

Can I Use My Printer As A Copier?

Most printers also have a physical copier function, and multifunction printers have many more features.

In Conclusion

A copier is a machine that creates paper copies of documents. A copier paper is a versatile and necessary component of any office or home printer setup. Copier paper produces high-quality results and ensures that your printed materials look professional and easy to read, whether printing documents or making copies.