Your office printer may be costing you more money than you realize. Sure, there’s the cost of toner and paper. But how often do you find yourself:
Old, inefficient equipment could be weighing your company down and reducing office productivity. Don’t let outdated technology hold you back from gaining a competitive advantage against your competition.
It might be time to enlist the assistance of an expert Managed Print Services (MPS) provider to conduct a business technology needs assessment. Identifying gaps and opportunities to increase your office productivity is the first step towards creating a plan to redesign your office equipment fleet.
RELATED: 4 Compelling Benefits of Leasing vs. Buying
If it’s time for an office equipment refresh, you might be wondering whether it’s best to buy or lease your next copier or printer. Purchasing equipment outright can be expensive and requires a large upfront investment of money. That’s why our customers have found that leasing is often the better option.
Leasing is a cost-effective way to obtain newer & more efficient equipment, have steady monthly payments for predictable budgeting and allows your business to enjoy long-term ROI.
The underlying challenge that many businesses find is that not all printer leasing companies are the same. In fact, the details within their contracts can be wildly different and therefore can produce different results.
For example, most companies looking for a business equipment lease often seek out the lowest lease rate available. However, while getting a fair price is always a key piece of any leasing arrangement, it’s not the only standard for getting the best lease or leasing experience.
So, how can you get the best commercial printer lease? You’ll need answers to the following questions.
GET THE INFOGRAPHIC! To Lease or Not to Lease? The Pros & Cons
To get the best possible lease options, make sure you first choose reputable leasing companies to bid on your project. Choosing the wrong Managed Print services and leasing partner could result in hidden fees, inflated end-of-term buy-outs or renewals, or the wrong technology solutions for your company.
Leasing companies are not all alike. Most specialize in specific industries, some in lease types, some in certain equipment types and still others in transaction sizes. To find the best deal suited for your business, stick with lessors who focus on the types of printer equipment and transactions you need.
Some criteria to consider for a leasing arrangement include:
Leasing companies also differ in their resources and capabilities. Many large leasing companies are owned by banks or large financial companies. These firms usually have nearly unlimited resources but typically don’t have experience or expertise in servicing any particular type of equipment lease. To them, your printer is just a line item on a balance sheet, not an important technology investment.
These large banks obviously have the money, but do not often understand the flexibility or ideal terms for your particular company’s needs.
Financially sound mid-size and smaller leasing companies often have highly skilled professionals, sufficient resources and more flexibility to meet lessee needs. The question is whether you simply need access to capital or a lease agreement that is more flexible and customizable.
We recommend finding a print provider that can work with your organization’s unique requirements. The company should be able to structure leases to fit your needs, including lease terms, lease length and flexible lease purchase options at the end of the contract. When your lease term is up, you should be able to purchase your machine at a fair market value, return it or lease it again — whichever makes the most sense for your business.
Be sure to ask whether they will finance your lease using internal funding or whether they will broker the lease to an outside funding source. Also read the fine print of the lease terms to determine if the leasing company has the option to sell your lease to another servicer. This a common practice among many leasing companies that may not benefit the customer.
Interview prospective bidders carefully. Ask about their experience with the type of transaction you are looking for, history with similar firms in your industry and the types of lease products they offer. Some products might include:
Ask for references and financial information to evaluate their financial condition. Search online for unresolved problems, fraud, financial issues, poor reviews, success stories and awards.
Lastly, prospective bidders should belong to one or more industry trade associations. While membership alone does not speak for the integrity or expertise of a company, most of the associations set standards of conduct for their members.
And, as with anything in life, avoid high-pressure lease sellers. Your lease terms should offer flexible terms and options so that you can:
By taking a few easy steps during the planning and bidding phases of the lease process, you can find printer leasing companies with high integrity, great reputations and authentic and excellent communication skills. Invest a little time upfront researching your possibilities and your company’s bottom line will be thanking you later.
Gordon Flesch Company has been in the leasing business since 1974 and customizes each lease agreement to align with your goals and budget. Learn more about leasing and financing solutions through Gordon Flesch Company. Or contact us to request a complimentary Business Technology Needs Assessment .