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What Is a Commercial Printer Lease?
A commercial printer lease is a financing agreement that allows your business to use a professional-grade multifunction printer or copier for a fixed monthly payment over a set term — typically 36 to 60 months. Instead of paying $5,000 to $25,000 upfront to purchase, you pay a low monthly fee that includes the machine, all maintenance, all toner and supplies, and full repair service.
Leasing is the most popular way to acquire office printing equipment. Industry data from the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association shows that more than 80% of U.S. businesses lease at least some of their office equipment. Printers and copiers are at the top of that list because the technology evolves quickly and ongoing service is essential.
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Types of Printer Leases
FMV lease · most popular
Lower monthly payments
At lease end you can return, renew, or purchase the printer at its current fair market value.
$1 buyout lease
Higher monthly payments
You own the machine outright at the end for $1.
The two main types of commercial printer leases are the Fair Market Value (FMV) lease and the $1 Buyout lease. An FMV lease offers lower monthly payments because you are not financing the full cost of the machine — at lease end you can return, renew, or purchase the printer at its current fair market value. A $1 Buyout lease has higher monthly payments but you own the machine outright at the end for $1.
Most businesses choose FMV leases because printer technology evolves quickly, and an FMV lease makes it easy to upgrade to a newer machine every few years without being stuck with outdated equipment.
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How to Choose the Right Printer for Your Business
Under 5,000 pages/mo
$79–$200
Black and white multifunction printer, per month.
5,000–20,000 pages/mo
$200–$450
Color multifunction unit, per month.
Architecture, engineering, construction
By quote
Wide format plotters, quoted separately.
Selecting the right printer depends on your monthly print volume, whether you need color, and the features your team relies on most. A small office printing fewer than 5,000 pages per month may do well with a black and white multifunction printer in the $79–$200/month range. A growing office that prints 5,000–20,000 pages a month often needs a color multifunction unit at $200–$450/month. Architecture, engineering, and construction firms typically need wide format plotters, which we quote separately.
At 1-800 Office Solutions, our account managers assess your current and projected print volumes, workflow requirements, and budget to recommend the right machine. We carry all major brands — Canon, Ricoh, Xerox, HP, Kyocera, Konica Minolta, Sharp, Brother, Toshiba, KIP, and Oce — so we can match the equipment to the job, not the other way around.
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What to Look for in a Printer Lease Provider
- Maintenance, toner and supplies in the monthly payment
- Free delivery and installation
- Option to upgrade your machine mid-lease
- End-of-lease options confirmed in writing
Not all printer lease providers are the same. Before you sign, look for a provider that includes maintenance, toner, and supplies in the monthly payment so there are no surprise costs. Ask whether delivery and installation are free. Check whether you can upgrade your machine mid-lease. And confirm in writing what happens at the end of the lease term — you want clear options, not gotchas.
1-800 Office Solutions serves businesses in 48 states and DC. Every lease includes free delivery, free installation, 2,000 free prints per month, all toner and supplies, full maintenance, and clear upgrade and end-of-lease options. We also carry every major brand so you are not pushed into one manufacturer.
