8 Best Printers for Small Businesses in 2026
8 best printers for small businesses in 2026, from color laser workhorses to ink-tank picks. Compare cost per page, volume, and business-type fit.
At a Glance
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser
↓ See why we picked itHP OfficeJet Pro 8139 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet
↓ See why we picked itEpson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
↓ See why we picked itHP Smart Tank Plus 651 Wireless All-in-One Ink Tank Printer
↓ See why we picked itHP Smart Tank 5101 Wireless All-in-One Refillable Printer
↓ See why we picked itA small business printer has to survive daily use that a home printer was never designed for, whether that means printing shipping labels at a retail counter, running high-volume black-and-white contracts at a law office, or turning out color proofs at a design studio. The right pick depends less on brand and more on matching duty cycle, color needs, and true cost per page to how your specific business actually prints.
Below are 8 printers for small businesses we evaluated on print speed, duty cycle, paper handling, and real cost per page rather than sticker price alone, ranging from a $99.99 basic all-in-one to a $284.99 color laser built for a 250-sheet daily workload.
5 Criteria to Look For Before Buying a Printers for Small Business
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Match actual size and capacity to your real need, not the category label alone
Listings for a printer often use a size or capacity label ("compact," "large," "heavy-duty") that isn't standardized across brands, so the same label can mean meaningfully different actual dimensions or capacity from one product to the next.
This matters because buying based on the category label rather than the specific listed dimensions or capacity is a common way to end up with something that doesn't actually fit your space or handle your real load.
Check the listing for exact measurements or a stated capacity figure, and compare that directly against your actual space or need, not just the marketing size category.
Verify build material and construction quality from reviews, not just spec-sheet claims
A product description can describe material or construction in flattering terms that don't always hold up under real, sustained use, and the gap between a listing's claimed quality and its actual durability only shows up in how the product performs after weeks or months of real use, not in day-one photos.
This matters more for anything you'll use daily or under real load, less for occasional light use where durability matters less.
Check reviews specifically for mentions of how the printer holds up over time, not just unboxing-day impressions, and treat a listing's own quality claims as a starting point to verify, not a guarantee.
Confirm any headline feature actually works as advertised, not just that it's listed
A feature appearing in a product's bullet points doesn't guarantee it performs well in practice, some features are functional but limited, and a few are closer to a marketing checkbox than a genuinely useful capability.
This matters directly if a specific feature is the main reason you're choosing this printer over a simpler, cheaper alternative, since a feature that underperforms in practice undermines the whole reason for paying more.
Check reviews specifically for real-world experiences with the exact feature that matters most to you, not just whether the feature is listed at all.
Weigh review count alongside rating, not rating alone
A high star rating built on a small number of reviews carries meaningfully less confidence than a slightly lower rating built on a large, established review base, since a small sample can be skewed by a handful of early, enthusiastic buyers before any longer-term issues would show up in later reviews.
This matters more for a purchase you're relying on to perform consistently over time, less for a low-stakes, easily replaceable item.
Check both the star rating and the review count together for any printer you're considering, and treat a high rating on a very small review count as a promising but less-proven signal.
Check compatibility and fit with your existing setup before ordering
A printer that looks like a straightforward fit in photos can still have a compatibility detail, a connector type, a mounting requirement, a size threshold, that doesn't match your existing setup, and this kind of mismatch is one of the most common and avoidable reasons for a return.
This matters directly if the product needs to physically connect to, mount on, or otherwise integrate with something you already own.
Check the listing's specific compatibility details against your exact existing setup, not just the general product category, before ordering.
8 Best Printers for Small Businesses in 2026
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser
About this pick
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is a monochrome laser built for the kind of steady, high-volume black-and-white output a law office, accounting firm, or general service business runs every day, with duplex printing, copy, and scan built into a compact chassis. Toner-based printing keeps cost per page low compared to inkjet, which matters once monthly volume climbs past a few hundred pages.
Wireless and mobile printing cover a small office with 2-3 people sharing the same unit. It skips color entirely, so it is the wrong pick for a business that regularly needs marketing materials or product photos, but for a text-heavy workload it is the most efficient option in this list.
Duplex printing saves paper automatically. That's a real strength, but weigh it against the flip side: no color output at all.
Best for: Law offices, accounting firms, and text-heavy service businesses
Check price on AmazonPros
- +Low cost per page for high text volume
- +Duplex printing saves paper automatically
- +Compact enough for a shared office desk
- +Toner does not dry out during slow weeks the way ink does
Cons
- −No color output at all
- −Higher upfront cost than a basic inkjet
- −Overkill for a business printing under 50 pages a month
Brother HL-L3220CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer
About this pick
The HL-L3220CDW is the only true color laser in this list, printing at up to 19 pages per minute with a 250-sheet paper tray that can absorb a full day of client handouts, proposals, or marketing sheets without a refill. Color laser toner holds up better than inkjet under infrequent color use, which suits a business that prints color materials in bursts rather than daily.
Duplex printing and mobile compatibility round it out for a small design studio, real estate office, or any business where a color logo or chart needs to look professional on paper. It is the most expensive pick here, and that upfront cost only pays off once your print volume justifies laser over inkjet.
Worth calling out specifically: large 250-sheet tray reduces refill frequency. The catch is highest price in this list.
Best for: Design studios, real estate offices, and businesses needing professional color output
Check price on AmazonPros
- +Genuine color laser output, not inkjet color
- +Large 250-sheet tray reduces refill frequency
- +Fast 19 PPM output speed
- +Toner does not dry out like idle inkjet cartridges
Cons
- −Highest price in this list
- −Larger footprint than the compact mono laser
- −Color laser toner costs more per cartridge than mono toner
HP OfficeJet Pro 8139 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet
About this pick
The OfficeJet Pro 8139 covers print, scan, copy, and fax in one machine with an automatic document feeder for multi-page originals, a combination that still matters for businesses dealing with signed contracts, insurance paperwork, or vendor forms that require fax confirmation. Duplex printing keeps paper costs down on longer documents.
A year of Instant Ink is included, which offsets the higher per-cartridge cost of inkjet during the trial period, but a business should plan for standard cartridge or subscription pricing after that window closes. It fits a general small office that needs the full suite of document functions rather than pure print volume.
Included Instant Ink trial lowers first-year ink cost. Set against that, inkjet cost per page rises after the Instant Ink trial ends. Both matter when comparing it to the other picks here.
Best for: General small offices that still need fax and multi-page scanning
Check price on AmazonPros
- +Fax and ADF cover document-heavy small office needs
- +Included Instant Ink trial lowers first-year ink cost
- +Full color output for mixed text and graphics
- +Duplex printing built in
Cons
- −Inkjet cost per page rises after the Instant Ink trial ends
- −Slower than the laser picks for pure text volume
- −Ink can dry out if the printer sits idle for weeks
Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser
About this pick
The HL-L2405W strips a laser printer down to its essentials, print only, no scan or copy, which keeps the price well under the DCP model above while still delivering the low cost-per-page toner economics that make laser worth it for high-volume text. It is wireless and mobile-ready, so it fits into a shared office network without extra cabling.
This is the pick for a business that already owns a scanner or copier and just needs a dedicated, reliable printer for invoices, forms, or shipping paperwork. Skipping scan and copy keeps the footprint and the price both smaller than the multifunction laser above it.
A genuine advantage here is that low cost per page for pure text printing. The tradeoff is no scan or copy, print only.
Best for: Businesses that already have a scanner and just need a dedicated print workhorse
Check price on AmazonPros
- +Cheapest laser pick in this list
- +Low cost per page for pure text printing
- +Compact footprint for a small counter or shelf
- +Reliable wireless setup for shared office use
Cons
- −No scan or copy, print only
- −No color output
- −Needs a separate device for document scanning
Epson Workforce WF-2930 Wireless All-in-One Printer
About this pick
The Workforce WF-2930 is the lowest-cost all-in-one in this list still built for office duty, with scan, copy, fax, an automatic document feeder, and duplex printing on a small color display. It suits a very small business or a home-based side business that needs basic office functions without a laser-level budget.
Because it runs on standard cartridges rather than an ink tank, cost per page will climb faster than the EcoTank pick below once monthly volume grows, so this is best suited to lighter, occasional office printing rather than a daily high-volume workload.
Full office function set: scan, copy, fax, ADF. On the other hand, cartridge ink costs more per page than an ink-tank system. Neither should be a surprise once you know to look for it.
Best for: Very small or home-based businesses with light, occasional office printing
Check price on AmazonPros
- +Lowest price in this list
- +Full office function set: scan, copy, fax, ADF
- +Compact and easy to fit on a small counter
- +Simple color display for quick status checks
Cons
- −Cartridge ink costs more per page than an ink-tank system
- −Not built for high daily volume
- −Ink can dry out with infrequent use like other cartridge inkjets
Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
About this pick
The EcoTank ET-2400 replaces disposable cartridges with refillable ink tanks, and that single design change is what makes it worth considering for a small business over a standard inkjet: bottle refills run a fraction of the cost of cartridges once you're printing regularly, which changes the math for any business doing steady color output. Scan and copy are included alongside print.
The upfront cost is higher than the basic cartridge all-in-ones in this list, but it pays back over months of use rather than years for a business printing color materials on any kind of regular schedule, retail signage, menus, or client handouts included.
Handles regular color printing without high ongoing cost. That's a real strength, but weigh it against the flip side: higher upfront price than basic cartridge inkjets.
Best for: Businesses printing color materials regularly enough to justify ink-tank economics
Check price on AmazonPros
- +Ink bottle refills cost far less per page than cartridges
- +Handles regular color printing without high ongoing cost
- +Scan and copy included
- +No cartridges to run out mid-job
Cons
- −Higher upfront price than basic cartridge inkjets
- −Larger footprint due to the ink tanks
- −No fax or automatic document feeder
HP Smart Tank Plus 651 Wireless All-in-One Ink Tank Printer
About this pick
The Smart Tank Plus 651 pairs an ink-tank system with a full office feature set: automatic document feeder, fax, scan, copy, and 2 years of ink included in the box. For a small business that needs both high color volume and document handling in one machine, this is the most complete pick in this list.
The included 2 years of ink is a meaningful cost offset compared to buying cartridges or even refill bottles separately during that window, though the printer itself costs more upfront than the ET-2400. Once the included ink runs out, refill economics remain similar to any other ink-tank system.
Worth calling out specifically: full document feeder and fax for office paperwork. The catch is most expensive ink-tank pick in this list.
Best for: Businesses that need both an ink-tank cost structure and full document handling
Check price on AmazonPros
- +2 years of ink included lowers early running costs
- +Full document feeder and fax for office paperwork
- +Ink-tank economics for ongoing color volume
- +Handles both high volume and multifunction needs
Cons
- −Most expensive ink-tank pick in this list
- −Larger footprint than cartridge-based all-in-ones
- −Overkill for a business printing only occasionally
HP Smart Tank 5101 Wireless All-in-One Refillable Printer
About this pick
The Smart Tank 5101 brings ink-tank economics to a smaller, more affordable package than the Plus 651 above, with 2 years of ink included and print, scan, and copy covered. It is a solid entry point for a small business that wants lower cost per page without paying for a document feeder or fax it may not need.
Wireless printing works over 2.4GHz only, worth checking against your office router setup before buying, since some newer routers default to 5GHz-only guest networks that this printer will not join without adjustment.
Lower upfront price than the Plus 651 ink-tank model. Set against that, 2.4GHz-only wireless can be a setup snag on some routers. Both matter when comparing it to the other picks here.
Best for: Small businesses wanting ink-tank savings in the smallest available footprint
Check price on AmazonPros
- +2 years of ink included
- +Lower upfront price than the Plus 651 ink-tank model
- +Compact for an ink-tank printer
- +Low cost per page for ongoing color and text printing
Cons
- −2.4GHz-only wireless can be a setup snag on some routers
- −No fax or document feeder
- −No automatic duplex printing listed
How We Evaluated These Printers for Small Businesses
Each pick was assessed across 5 criteria weighted for real-world use.
True cost per page
Weighed toner and ink-tank economics against cartridge-based inkjet, since sticker price alone misleads on ongoing cost once monthly volume climbs.
Duty cycle and daily volume fit
Compared paper tray size, print speed, and duplex support against realistic small-business daily output rather than best-case lab numbers.
Document workflow completeness
Checked which picks include an automatic document feeder, fax, and duplex printing, since a business handling multi-page paperwork needs more than a basic print-only unit.
Color needs by business type
Separated genuine color laser and color inkjet options from monochrome-only picks, since retail, design, and marketing-facing businesses need color while legal and accounting workflows often don't.
Network and multi-user reliability
Considered wireless band support and mobile compatibility for a printer that 2 or more people in a small office will connect to and share.
How to Choose the Right Printers for Small Businesses
By Rating Confidence: Highest Rated vs Most Reviewed
| Your priority | Recommended pick |
|---|---|
| Highest average rating | Brother DCP |
| Largest review base, strongest reliability signal | Brother DCP |
By Budget
| Budget | Recommended pick |
|---|---|
| Under $100 | Epson Workforce WF |
| Up to $285 | Brother HL |
Epson Workforce WF vs Brother HL
Epson Workforce WF
The lower-priced option in this comparison, worth checking its actual specs and review history against your specific need before assuming it's enough.
Brother HL
The higher-priced option, worth it if it offers real, checkable headroom in build quality, capacity, or features over the cheaper pick.
Default to Epson Workforce WF unless your specific need genuinely calls for the pricier pick's extra headroom.
By Review Base Confidence
| Your priority | Recommended pick |
|---|---|
| Largest, most-established review base | Brother DCP |
For a First-Time Buyer Specifically
Look for
Clear, specific dimensions or capacity and a real, established review history, not just marketing language.
In this comparison
Brother DCP is worth checking against its listed specs before buying, given its strong review base.
When to Spend More
Spend more if
You need real durability and feature depth for regular use, where Brother HL's build gives real headroom over the cheaper picks.
Save if
You only need this for light or occasional use, where Epson Workforce WF covers the same job at a lower price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a laser or inkjet printer better for a small business?
It depends on volume and color needs. A monochrome laser like the Brother DCP-L2640DW has the lowest cost per page for high-volume black-and-white text, common in legal and accounting work. A color laser like the HL-L3220CDW covers professional color at moderate volume, while an ink-tank inkjet like the EcoTank ET-2400 offers the lowest cost per page for regular color printing without laser's higher upfront cost.
Can I use third-party toner or ink to save money?
Often, but not always. Third-party laser toner can run $0.01 to $0.02 per page versus $0.04 to $0.08 for OEM toner, a real savings at business volume. Some brands, HP included, have used firmware updates to block non-OEM cartridges from functioning, so check a specific model's policy before assuming third-party supplies will work long-term.
How much should a small business expect to print each month?
It varies widely by business type, but under 100 pages a month suits a basic all-in-one like the Workforce WF-2930, 100 to 500 pages a month justifies a laser or ink-tank printer, and past 500 pages a month it's worth comparing buying outright against a managed print service with toner included for a fixed monthly cost.
Is leasing a printer ever better than buying one?
For businesses printing past roughly 500 pages a month, a managed print service or lease with toner included at a fixed monthly cost can beat the total cost of buying and restocking supplies yourself, and it removes the hassle of managing consumables. Below that volume, buying one of the printers in this list outright is usually simpler and cheaper.
Is a business printer purchase tax deductible?
Generally yes, a printer bought for business use is typically deductible as a business expense, and a higher-upfront-cost laser or ink-tank printer can mean a larger deduction than a cheap basic inkjet. Confirm the specifics with a tax professional rather than assuming a blanket rule applies to your situation.
Should I keep my business printer on the same network as my other systems?
It's safer not to. A printer left on default settings on the same network as point-of-sale systems or customer data is a soft target for a breach. Keep firmware updated and consider isolating the printer on a separate guest network rather than sharing it with sensitive business systems.
Bottom Line
best overall: Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser - best for high-volume text pick in this roundup.
See the full rankings above for all picks with pros, cons, and best-for summaries.
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