Best Printers for Small Business Owners in 2026

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Looking for the best printers for small business owners? We tested and compared the top options based on performance, price, and real-world use. Whether you’re printing invoices, marketing materials, or contracts, the right printer can save you hours and hundreds of dollars every year.

Why Small Business Owners Need the Right Printer

Choosing the wrong printer for your small business isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a real financial drain. Slow print speeds create bottlenecks during busy periods, unreliable wireless connectivity wastes staff time, and high per-page ink costs quietly eat into your margins month after month. According to IDC research, the average office worker prints around 10,000 pages per year, meaning even a difference of just a few cents per page can add up to hundreds of dollars in unnecessary annual spending. A printer that can’t keep up with your workload doesn’t just frustrate your team — it actively costs your business money and momentum.

The right printer, on the other hand, becomes an invisible productivity engine. It handles multi-function tasks like scanning, copying, and faxing without a second thought, integrates seamlessly with cloud services and mobile workflows, and keeps your cost-per-page low enough that you stop worrying about the print button altogether. Choosing well from the start means fewer IT headaches, fewer supply runs, and more time focused on what actually grows your business. Also, don’t miss our recommendations below for optimizing your entire operation — See our AI tools guides for small business owners to pair your new printer with smarter workflows.

Quick Comparison

1. Brother MFC-L3780CDW — Best Overall

The Brother MFC-L3780CDW is the most well-rounded small business printer on the market in 2026, combining speed, quality, and affordability into one powerhouse machine.

Why it’s great:

• Prints up to 33 pages per minute in both color and black-and-white — one of the fastest in its class for the price
• Full multi-function capability including print, scan, copy, and fax with a large 70-page automatic document feeder
• Robust wireless connectivity including Wi-Fi Direct, NFC tap-to-print, and full cloud printing support for remote teams

Downsides:

• Toner cartridges, while cost-effective long-term, require an upfront investment when it’s time to replace all four colors
• The physical footprint is larger than inkjet alternatives, which may be an issue for very tight office spaces

Best for: Small business owners who print high volumes of both color and black-and-white documents daily and need a reliable all-in-one that just works without constant maintenance.

Price range: ~$350–$400

👉 Check latest price & reviews on Amazon →

2. Canon PIXMA TR4720 — Best Budget

The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is the smartest sub-$120 printer you can buy in 2026, delivering surprisingly solid quality for startups and solo business owners watching every dollar.

Why it’s great:

• Compact all-in-one design with print, scan, copy, and fax packed into a desktop-friendly footprint perfect for small offices
• Seamless wireless printing via the Canon PRINT app, Apple AirPrint, and Google Cloud Print for maximum workflow flexibility
• Automatic two-sided printing included at this price point — a feature many budget printers still charge extra for

Downsides:

• Print speeds are modest at around 8.8 pages per minute for black — not ideal if your team prints in high volume throughout the day
• Ink cartridge costs can accumulate quickly without an ink subscription plan, making total cost of ownership higher than it first appears

Best for: Solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, and home-based small business owners who print occasionally and need a reliable, space-saving machine without a large upfront investment.

Price range: ~$100–$120

👉 Check latest price & reviews on Amazon →

3. HP LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw — Best for Professionals

The HP LaserJet Pro MFP M479fdw is a professional-grade color laser powerhouse that produces boardroom-quality documents and handles demanding daily workloads without breaking a sweat.

Why it’s great:

• Produces stunning color laser prints at up to 28 pages per minute — sharp enough for client-facing presentations, brochures, and reports
• HP Wolf Pro Security built right into the firmware protects sensitive business documents and prevents unauthorized network access
• Dual-sided automatic document feeder with 50-sheet capacity and a 300-sheet input tray means less time reloading paper mid-task

Downsides:

• Premium toner cartridges are among the pricier replacement options in the laser printer market, so factor that into your ongoing budget
• Initial setup through the HP Smart app can feel unnecessarily complex for users who just want to print out of the box

Best for: Professional services firms, law offices, real estate agencies, and any small business that regularly produces high-quality color materials for clients and needs enterprise-level print security.

Price range: ~$350–$400

👉 Check latest price & reviews on Amazon →

4. Epson EcoTank ET-4850 — Best Value

The Epson EcoTank ET-4850 flips the ink cost model on its head with its refillable tank system, saving small business owners up to 90% on ink compared to traditional cartridge printers.

Why it’s great:

• Ink tank system eliminates expensive cartridges — included ink bottles in the box alone are worth up to $400 in cartridge equivalent value
• Prints up to 7,500 pages in black and 6,000 pages in color per fill — an extraordinary yield that transforms your monthly printing budget
• Full all-in-one functionality with a 30-sheet automatic document feeder, flatbed scanner, and seamless smartphone printing via Epson Smart Panel

Downsides:

• The higher upfront purchase price (~$270–$300) can feel like a barrier, even though the long-term ink savings easily justify the investment within months
• Color print speeds are slower than laser alternatives at around 5 pages per minute — this is an inkjet, not a speed champion

Best for: Small businesses with consistent, moderate-to-high print volumes who are tired of constantly buying expensive ink cartridges and want to dramatically lower their cost per page over the long haul.

Price range: ~$250–$300

👉 Check latest price & reviews on Amazon →

5. Brother HL-L8360CDW — Best Premium

The Brother HL-L8360CDW is a dedicated high-speed color laser printer built for businesses that need professional output at serious volume without sacrificing desk space to a full MFP chassis.

Why it’s great:

• Blazing 33 pages per minute color print speed with automatic duplex printing keeps your busiest print days moving without bottlenecks
• Massive 250-sheet paper tray with optional additional tray upgrades — built from the ground up to handle sustained high-volume workloads
• Advanced wireless and wired network connectivity with mobile printing support makes it a seamless fit for multi-user office environments

Downsides:

• No built-in scanner or copier — this is a dedicated printer only, so you’ll need a separate scanning solution if your workflow requires it
• At the top of the $300–$380 price range, it’s a meaningful investment best justified by teams printing 500+ pages per week consistently

Best for: Growing small businesses and multi-person office teams that print high volumes of color documents daily and prioritize print speed and output quality above all else.

Price range: ~$300–$380

👉 Check latest price & reviews on Amazon →

How to Choose the Best Printer for Your Small Business

When choosing a printer for small business owners, consider these factors carefully before you commit to a purchase:

• Performance: Look at pages per minute (PPM) for both color and black-and-white output. If your team prints continuously throughout the day, a laser printer with 25+ PPM will prevent frustrating bottlenecks, while occasional users can get away with a capable inkjet at lower speeds.
• Budget: Factor in the total cost of ownership — not just the sticker price. A $120 inkjet might cost you $400 in ink annually, while a $300 EcoTank or laser printer could cut that cost by 70% or more. Always calculate your cost per page before deciding.
• Durability: Small business printers need to handle daily use without jamming, streaking, or breaking down. Laser printers generally outperform inkjets for durability and consistent quality over tens of thousands of pages. Look for a monthly duty cycle of at least