1. Equipment Lease or Purchase Price
You must understand more than simply the cost listed at the bottom of the invoice if you have acquired your own printers and copiers. Additional costs, such as unanticipated repairs, components, and service fees, should also be taken into account. Older machines tend to break down more frequently and cost more to operate, so you’ll probably discover that those residual expenses increase with time. As the machinery and parts age, it will also be more challenging to get replacement parts for many older machines.
TIP FOR COST SAVINGS: Reconsider any current equipment service contracts, and consult a Managed Print provider to determine whether leasing or renting may yield more savings. Leasing or renting printers helps level out cash flow by providing an inclusive service agreement with a set monthly charge, including labour, parts and even toner for most plans.
2. Ink or Toner Cartridges
Because they are frequently inexpensive or may not even be connected to a network, inkjet desktop printers and colour laser printers are commonly overlooked.
However, the cost of printer ink for various kinds of equipment is far more than that of fuel. In fact, with a gallon price of over $2,700, black ink for printers is among the top 10 most costly liquids in the world. It can cost three to four times as much to operate desktop printers when you take into account that they can use up to 300 percent more ink than a multifunction printer.
ADVICE FOR SAVING MONEY: Avoiding the use of inkjet printer cartridges whenever possible can save a lot of money due to the high cost of toner used in them.Because they are frequently inexpensive or may not even be connected to a network, inkjet desktop printers and colour laser printers are commonly overlooked.
However, the cost of printer ink for various kinds of equipment is far more than that of fuel. In fact, with a gallon price of over $2,700, black ink for printers is among the top 10 most costly liquids in the world. It can cost three to four times as much to operate desktop printers when you take into account that they can use up to 300 percent more ink than a multifunction printer.
3. Desktop Inkjet Printers
More on those desktop printers in a moment. We presume that because desktop printers are affordable, their influence on printing expenses and the overall budget will probably be minor.
Although the purchase price has decreased for many, their lifespan has decreased as well, necessitating more frequent repairs and replacements. Due of these factors, desktop inkjet printers are essentially disposable, particularly in professional environments. The cheaper purchase price may give the impression that you are saving money, but when you consider the cost of replacement over time and the price of printer ink, the true cost may be substantially greater.
CHEAP SAVINGS TIP: If the message isn’t obvious, avoid using low-cost desktop printers wherever possible and think about the effect of putting additional plastic in landfills.
4. Black & White and Colour Usage
Modern multifunction printers not only offer information on the quantity of copies printed, but also on the proportion of coloured copies to black-and-white copies. Three times as much as black-and-white copies can be paid for colour copies. Regularly reviewing these reports can provide chances for savings. Remember that the entire document counts as a colour copy even if it just contains a single phrase or logo in colour.
AVERAGE COST SAVINGS TIP: Make sure your printer’s default settings are set to black and white in order to reduce unused colour printing. A managed print service provider can schedule quarterly evaluations to evaluate your use and make suggestions for reducing pointless colour copies.
5. Paper
Your true paper costs can be determined by taking a quick look at an invoice. Knowing how much of that paper is wasted each month is a little more challenging. According to studies, anything between 17 and 45 percent of paper printed in offices is thrown away.
Despite the fact that paper only costs, on average, 50 cents per sheet, the expense soon adds up, especially for larger corporations. You can readily see the potential savings when you consider that the average office worker uses a startling 10,000 sheets of copy paper annually.
COST SAVINGS TIP: Printing on both sides of the page can cut expenses in half, and using print management software and following best practises for printing will help you stop using the majority of your printer’s ink and paper inefficiently.