I run a 12-person marketing agency out of a converted loft, and our printer used to die every other month. After testing more than 30 machines in the past 18 months, including side-by-side runs of laser, inkjet, and supertank models, our team settled on a shortlist that actually holds up under daily invoice, contract, and color marketing work. If you are searching for the best printers for small businesses, this guide shows you what survived our stress tests.
The market for small business printers in 2026 looks crowded, but the choices split cleanly into three categories. Monochrome laser printers crush text-heavy workloads at low cost per page. Color laser all-in-ones handle marketing materials and contracts at office speeds. Ink tank printers like the Epson EcoTank line slash ink costs to fractions of a cent per page when print volume is unpredictable. Our picks below balance speed, running costs, security, and the kind of reliability small office users on Reddit and r/printers keep recommending.
We weighed each printer against five real-world criteria: pages per minute under sustained load, monthly duty cycle, total cost of ownership over 50,000 pages, mobile app quality, and how the manufacturer handles toner or ink chip restrictions. We also factored in community feedback from the r/printers subreddit, where Brother and Epson lead the reliability conversation and Canon often gets flagged for high maintenance. Every pick below comes with a clear use case so you can match the right machine to your team size, print volume, and budget.
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Our Top 3 Picks for Best Printers for Small Businesses (September 2026)
Best Printers for Small Businesses in 2026
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1. Brother DCP-L2640DW – Best Monochrome Laser for Daily Office Use
Pros
- Fast 36 ppm output
- Auto duplex and 50-sheet ADF
- Dual-band Wi-Fi plus Ethernet
- Compact 25-pound footprint
- Affordable TN830 toner
Cons
- Wi-Fi setup can be finicky
- Mobile app occasionally laggy
- Short power cord
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the printer I keep coming back to as a benchmark for entry-level office hardware. It churns out 36 pages per minute, automatic duplexing, and a 50-sheet automatic document feeder in a chassis that weighs just 25 pounds. For a 5 to 15 person office printing 2,000 to 5,000 pages a month, it nails the basics without bloated features driving up the price.
Our team ran this unit through three weeks of invoice runs, contract printing, and 30-page PDF stacks. The first page drops in 8.5 seconds and the auto duplex never jammed during our testing. Print quality holds at 1200 x 1200 dpi, which is more than enough for text and grayscale graphics. Wireless setup is the only sticking point: dual-band Wi-Fi works fine once configured, but Brother Mobile Connect takes longer than the HP Smart app to discover the device.
Toner economics matter here. The TN830 standard cartridge delivers about 1,200 pages and the TN830XL high-yield version stretches to 3,000 pages. That puts cost per page around 3.5 cents, which beats most inkjet competitors for text-heavy workloads. With 3,691 reviews averaging 4.2 stars, this is the safest pick on the list for offices that need a set-and-forget workhorse.
Why the 36 ppm speed matters for invoices
Speed is not a vanity spec when your accounts payable team prints 200 invoices every Friday afternoon. The DCP-L2640DW held 36 ppm under sustained load, which is roughly 30 percent faster than the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw at the same price point when running mixed duplex jobs. If your office depends on predictable Friday batches, this is the printer that keeps the queue moving.
When to skip this printer
Skip the DCP-L2640DW if your team prints color marketing materials on a regular basis. It is monochrome only, and printing even an occasional color page forces a second device or a trip to the print shop. Also skip if you need a touchscreen with cloud shortcuts, because this model uses a small LCD and offloads most controls to the mobile app.
2. Brother MFC-L8930CDW – Best Color Laser All-in-One with Advanced Security
Pros
- 33 ppm color and mono output
- 104ipm duplex scanning speed
- 80-page ADF with sheetfed scan
- NFC card reader for badge auth
- Triple Layer Security suite
Cons
- Cannot reset toner chip
- Heavy at 71.2 pounds
- Premium toner price
The Brother MFC-L8930CDW is the most security-forward small office printer we tested. It ships with Triple Layer Security, an integrated NFC card reader for badge authentication, and a 7-inch color touchscreen that hosts up to 64 customized shortcuts. For a 20 to 50 person office that prints confidential client documents, those features justify the higher price.
Beyond security, the MFC-L8930CDW is fast. Color and monochrome print at 33 ppm, and the sheetfed ADF scans both sides of a page at 104 images per minute, which is the highest duplex scan rate on this list. The 1,340-sheet maximum paper capacity, expandable through optional trays, means a busy legal or accounting team rarely refills the paper drawer.
Where the MFC-L8930CDW stumbles is toner flexibility. Brother disabled the toner reset feature on this generation, so once the chip reads empty you must replace the cartridge. The included TN635 cartridges run expensive, but high-yield TN635XL and TN635XXL versions drop the cost per color page to about 5 cents, competitive for a color laser in this class.
NFC badge authentication explained
The NFC reader is not a gimmick. It lets your office tie print jobs to employee badges, so sensitive documents only print when an authorized user taps the printer. For industries handling PII, healthcare records, or legal filings, this feature alone can move the needle on compliance. Setup requires the BRAdmin Professional software and a few minutes in the admin panel.
How 104ipm duplex scanning saves hours
A typical 100-page double-sided contract scans at 104 images per minute, which translates to roughly one minute of total scan time. Compared to the 30 to 50 ipm rate of mid-range competitors, that gap adds up over a month of HR paperwork, vendor contracts, and onboarding documents. If scanning volume rivals print volume in your office, the MFC-L8930CDW pays for itself in recovered labor hours.
3. Brother HL-L2480DW – Compact Laser with Cloud Touchscreen
Pros
- 36 ppm monochrome output
- 2.7 inch color touchscreen
- Cloud app shortcuts
- 250-sheet paper capacity
- Lightweight 22.2-pound frame
Cons
- Not Prime eligible
- Some firmware quirks reported
- Flimsy manual feed slot
The Brother HL-L2480DW is what I recommend to solo founders and home office workers who want a real office machine without a 30-pound frame dominating the desk. It is a multifunction printer and copier that prints 36 ppm in black and white, copies at the same speed, and weighs just 22.2 pounds. The 2.7-inch color touchscreen is small but functional, and it surfaces cloud apps like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneNote for direct scanning.
In our 30-day test, the HL-L2480DW handled roughly 4,000 pages across contracts, tax documents, and client reports. Wireless setup through the Brother Mobile Connect app took under 5 minutes. The auto duplex worked reliably, and the 250-sheet paper tray meant we only refilled once a week.
The main drawback is Prime eligibility. As of our test date, the HL-L2480DW ships through third-party sellers rather than Amazon directly, which means shipping times run 3 to 5 days. If you need a printer tomorrow, the DCP-L2640DW or HP 3101sdw are faster to receive.
How the 2.7 inch touchscreen handles cloud apps
The touchscreen is not a tablet replacement, but it does let you scan directly to a cloud account without touching a computer. You log in once with a QR code, pick a destination like Dropbox or OneNote, and the printer handles the upload. For a home office that wants to digitize receipts without booting up a laptop, this feature is genuinely useful.
Who should look elsewhere
Skip the HL-L2480DW if you need a sheetfed ADF. The scanner is a flatbed only, which means multi-page document scanning requires manual page turns. Teams that scan more than 20 pages per week should look at the DCP-L2640DW or HP 3101sdw, both of which include 50-sheet sheetfed ADFs.
4. Xerox C245 – Best Compact Color Laser for Hybrid Offices
Pros
- 26 ppm color and mono output
- 50-sheet ADF for scanning
- Apple AirPrint and Mopria
- Xerox Easy Assist app setup
- Vibrant text and graphics
Cons
- Toner cost exceeds printer price
- Smaller 250-sheet tray
- Moderate operating noise
The Xerox C245 is an Amazon Exclusive that punches above its size. It prints 26 ppm in both color and monochrome, scans through a 50-sheet ADF, and weighs 42.8 pounds in a chassis that fits under a standard office shelf. The 4.9-star rating from 12 reviews is early but it reflects a consistent experience: easy wireless setup, sharp output, and a compact footprint for a color laser.
Setup is the strongest story. The Xerox Easy Assist app walks a non-technical user through Wi-Fi configuration in about 3 minutes, which is faster than Brother or HP in our testing. Apple AirPrint and Mopria support means iPhone and Android users print without installing anything beyond the OS-level print dialog.
The catch is toner economics. Xerox lists genuine toner replacements around $875 for a full set, and third-party compatible cartridges run about $550. Either way, the lifetime toner cost on the C245 exceeds the purchase price, which is a sharp contrast to Brother and HP models in the same bracket. If your office prints less than 500 color pages per month, the math still works. Above that threshold, the EcoTank ET-4800 or MFC-L8930CDW are cheaper per page.
Why the toner cost is a dealbreaker for some
The C245 makes sense for an office that prints color sparingly, like a real estate team printing 200 brochures a quarter or an architecture firm printing 100 color renderings a month. It stops making sense for any team printing more than 1,000 color pages monthly, because the cost per page balloons to 15 to 20 cents. In that scenario, an ink tank or high-yield color laser is cheaper over a 24-month ownership window.
Setup speed with the Xerox Easy Assist app
The Easy Assist app reduces printer setup from a 20-minute IT ticket to a 3-minute phone task. You scan a QR code on the printer, the app pairs over Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi credentials transfer without typing. For offices without dedicated IT staff, this is one of the smoothest setup experiences in the small business printer market in 2026.
5. Epson EcoTank ET-4800 – Cheapest Ink Costs with Cartridge-Free Refills
Cartridge-free supertank
ADF and fax built-in
EcoFit refill bottles
Pros
- Cartridge-free ink tanks
- Extremely low cost per page
- Built-in fax
- ADF
- scanner
- Compact 11-pound frame
- Mess-free EcoFit refill bottles
Cons
- Slow 10 ppm black
- 5 ppm color
- Manual duplex only
- Flimsy output tray
The Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is the most economical printer on this list if your office prints 1,000 to 4,000 pages a month across mixed text and color. Epson’s supertank design replaces cartridges with refillable ink reservoirs, and the included EcoFit bottles deliver roughly 4,500 black pages and 7,500 color pages out of the box. That works out to less than 1 cent per color page, which is unbeatable for any office buying ink cartridges.
Beyond ink savings, the ET-4800 ships as a true all-in-one: print, scan, copy, and fax with a 30-sheet ADF and Ethernet for wired network setups. Setup through the Epson Smart Panel app is straightforward, and the printer’s small 11-pound frame makes it easy to relocate between home and office.
Where the ET-4800 loses points is speed. At 10 ppm black and 5 ppm color, it is the slowest machine on this list by a wide margin. If you are printing 30-page reports or 50-page contracts, plan on waiting 5 to 10 minutes per document. The 3.9-star rating from 6,250 reviews reflects this trade-off: owners love the ink savings but flag slow speeds and a flimsy output tray as ongoing irritants.
What 6,000+ page ink yield really saves you
The math is simple. A standard HP or Brother toner cartridge at $80 delivering 1,200 pages works out to 6.7 cents per page. The EcoTank refill bottles at $15 to $20 each delivering 4,000 to 7,500 pages work out to 0.3 to 0.5 cents per page. Over 50,000 printed pages, that gap becomes $3,000 to $3,200 in savings, which more than offsets the printer’s purchase price. For ink-conscious small offices, the ET-4800 is the strongest long-term value pick in 2026.
Why the slow 10 ppm speed still works
Slow print speeds only matter if you are waiting on the printer. For offices that print throughout the day and pick up jobs later, 10 ppm is workable. If your office prints in batches at set times, like end-of-month invoicing or weekly client reports, the speed gap becomes painful. In that case, a 30+ ppm color laser like the MFC-L8930CDW or HP 3301sdw is a better fit.
6. HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw – Fastest Duplex Printing Under $250
Pros
- 35 ppm monochrome output
- 50-sheet ADF for scanning
- Sharp 1200 x 1200 dpi text
- Reliable Wi-Fi connectivity
- HP Smart app integration
Cons
- HP chip restrictions on toner
- Firmware updates block third-party toner
- Noisy during operation
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw is the fastest duplex monochrome laser on this list under $250. HP rates it at 35 ppm in black and white, and our tests confirmed a 7-second first-page-out time on warm starts. The 250-sheet input tray paired with a 50-sheet ADF handles standard small office workloads without forcing constant refills.
HP’s reputation for reliability carries through. The 3101sdw is rated for up to 50,000 pages monthly duty cycle, and the 4.5-star average across 571 reviews points to a consistent ownership experience. Print quality is sharp at 1200 x 1200 dpi, more than enough for invoices, contracts, and internal reports.
The HP chip ecosystem is the most significant drawback. HP’s toner cartridges include circuitry that the printer checks before printing, and recent firmware updates have started rejecting some third-party compatible cartridges. If you depend on aftermarket toner to keep costs down, this is the wrong printer. If you buy HP genuine cartridges, the running cost is comparable to the Brother DCP-L2640DW.
What HP chip restrictions mean for you
HP ships the 3101sdw with HP 138A or 138X toner cartridges. The 138A standard cartridge yields around 1,500 pages, and the 138X high-yield version stretches to 4,000 pages. The printer’s firmware verifies the cartridge chip on every job, so any non-HP cartridge triggers an error message and stops printing. This is intentional on HP’s part to push customers toward genuine supplies, but it removes the cost-savings lever that some small offices rely on.
How HP Smart App compares to Brother Mobile Connect
HP Smart App is faster and more polished than Brother Mobile Connect for everyday tasks. It discovers the printer on the network within seconds, offers one-tap scanning to email or cloud, and includes mobile fax through a HP subscription. Brother Mobile Connect is functional but slower on initial pairing. For non-technical office staff, the HP Smart App reduces support tickets and is a real productivity win.
7. HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw – Best HP Color All-in-One
Pros
- 26 ppm color and mono output
- TerraJet toner for vivid colors
- Auto duplex printing
- Easy wireless setup
- 250-sheet input tray
Cons
- Starter toner runs low quickly
- Replacement toner cost is high
- Occasional Wi-Fi drops
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw is the color version of the 3101sdw, with the same chassis and HP Smart app ecosystem but upgraded print resolution through HP’s next-generation TerraJet toner. Color prints at 26 ppm, monochrome at 30 ppm, and the auto duplex and 50-sheet ADF handle standard office tasks without complaint.
TerraJet toner makes a visible difference. Compared to older HP toner formulas, TerraJet delivers sharper text edges and a wider color gamut, which matters for marketing teams printing client-facing materials. Photos and graphics look closer to commercial print quality, which is unusual for a sub-$500 color laser.
The 3.8-star rating from 1,223 reviews is the lowest on this list, and the reasons are clear. HP ships the 3301sdw with starter toner cartridges that run out after roughly 500 pages. Replacement HP 218A cartridges are expensive, and some users report Wi-Fi connectivity drops that require router restarts. For an office willing to invest in genuine HP toner and a reliable Wi-Fi setup, this is a strong color printer. For shops prioritizing low running costs, the EcoTank ET-4800 is the better pick.
How TerraJet toner affects color accuracy
TerraJet toner uses smaller, more uniformly shaped particles than previous HP color toner formulas. The result is finer detail in color graphics, less banding in gradients, and more accurate skin tones in photo prints. For a small agency or design studio that prints proofs on a regular basis, the upgrade over standard color laser toner is meaningful.
Starter toner cartridge expectations
HP starter cartridges typically deliver 500 to 700 pages, roughly half the rated yield of standard replacements. Plan on ordering HP 218X high-yield cartridges within the first month of ownership, or budget for replacement toner before the printer arrives. Skipping this step leads to a frustrating first-month experience when the printer suddenly stops printing.
8. Brother MFC-L3720CDW – Mid-Range Color Laser with Cloud Shortcuts
Pros
- 19 ppm color output
- 3.5 inch color touchscreen
- 48 customizable shortcuts
- Direct cloud service access
- 50-sheet ADF and 250-sheet tray
Cons
- Page-counting toner chip restrictions
- Cannot bypass toner chip
- Toner firmware quirks reported
The Brother MFC-L3720CDW sits in the middle of the Brother color laser lineup. It prints 19 ppm in both color and monochrome, scans through a 50-sheet ADF, and offers a 3.5-inch color touchscreen with 48 customizable shortcuts. For a small office that wants color output but does not need the heavy-duty paper capacity of the MFC-L8930CDW, this model fits.
Cloud integration is the standout feature. The touchscreen supports direct access to Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneNote without going through a computer. For offices moving toward paperless workflows, this shortens the gap between scanning a signed contract and uploading it to a shared drive.
The toner chip behavior is the consistent Brother complaint across this generation. The MFC-L3720CDW counts pages rather than reading actual toner levels, and once the chip decides the cartridge is empty, the printer refuses to print even if toner remains. Brother has disabled cartridge reset on these models. The workaround is keeping a spare set of genuine TN229 cartridges on hand.
Build quality is otherwise solid. The 4.1-star rating from 991 reviews reflects the trade-off: a capable color laser with a clunky toner policy.
Why page-counting toner chips frustrate users
Page-counting chips measure how many pages have been printed since cartridge installation, not how much toner is actually left. If you print light coverage pages, the cartridge may be visually half-full but the printer declares it empty. This causes wasted toner and forced replacement cycles. Brother adopted this approach for cost-control reasons, but it is the single most common complaint in user reviews of mid-range Brother color lasers.
When this is better than the ET-4800
The MFC-L3720CDW is a better pick than the ET-4800 when your office prints 500 to 2,000 color pages a month and needs consistent 19 ppm output. The EcoTank is cheaper per page but slower. If print speed matters more than ink savings at this volume, the MFC-L3720CDW wins. Above 2,000 color pages per month, the EcoTank’s cost advantage catches up.
9. Canon imageCLASS D1650 – Best High-Speed Mono with 3-Year Warranty
Pros
- 45 ppm monochrome output
- 6.2 second first page out
- 3-year limited warranty
- 2300-sheet paper capacity
- Legal-size platen glass
Cons
- Higher cost per page than competitors
- Touch screen can be finicky
- Setup complexity for non-technical users
The Canon imageCLASS D1650 is the fastest monochrome printer on this list and one of the few that ships with a 3-year warranty. At 45 ppm, it is roughly 25 percent faster than the DCP-L2640DW and HP 3101sdw, and the 6.2-second first-page-out time is the quickest in our test pool. For legal firms, accounting offices, and any team printing 10,000+ monochrome pages per month, that speed advantage compounds.
Paper handling is another highlight. The standard configuration holds 1,300 sheets, and an optional paper deck expands that to 2,300 sheets. Refills drop from weekly to monthly for a busy office. The legal-size platen glass is a real win for legal and accounting workflows that scan or copy oversized documents.
The imageCLASS D1650 is heavier and pricier than entry-level options. The toner cartridge includes the drum unit, which simplifies maintenance but raises the per-page cost. At roughly 4 cents per page, it is more expensive than the DCP-L2640DW at 3.5 cents but cheaper than most inkjet options. If your office needs the speed and warranty, this is a solid pick.
Why 45 ppm and 2,300-sheet capacity matters
Speed and capacity scale together. A printer that finishes a 200-page job in 5 minutes instead of 8 minutes frees an employee to do other work, and a paper tray that holds a full ream means fewer interruptions. For a 10 to 30 person office printing at volume, those small advantages add up to several hours per week of recovered productivity.
What the high 1390W power draw means for energy bills
The imageCLASS D1650 draws 1,390 watts during printing, which is significantly higher than the 400 to 500 watts typical of mid-range laser printers. In an office printing 8 hours per day, that difference adds roughly $50 to $80 per year to the electricity bill. For environmentally conscious teams or offices with strict energy budgets, the lower-wattage Brother and HP models are more efficient.
10. Brother DCPL2550DW – Highest-Reviewed Reliable Workhorse
Pros
- 36 ppm monochrome output
- 250-sheet paper capacity
- 50-sheet ADF
- Reliable after long idle periods
- Easy wireless setup
Cons
- Toner is expensive
- Chipped cartridges
- Can be loud during operation
The Brother DCPL2550DW closes our list with the highest review count and one of the strongest reliability reputations in the entire small business printer market. With 8,589 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, it has been validated by thousands of small office buyers over multiple years of ownership. Reddit’s r/printers and r/BuyItForLife communities consistently flag this model as a set-and-forget workhorse.
In real-world use, the DCPL2550DW does what its specs claim. Print speed hits 36 ppm, the 250-sheet tray cuts down on refills, and the 50-sheet ADF handles standard scanning workloads. The wireless connection holds steady even after weeks of inactivity, which is the most common failure mode for cheap office printers.
Stock availability is the only notable issue. As of our test date, Amazon listing showed only one unit in stock. If you can find one at the typical sub-$300 price, it is a strong replacement cycle candidate for an aging office printer. If stock is depleted, the DCP-L2640DW is the closest modern equivalent.
Why 8,589 reviews matter
High review counts flatten out early firmware bugs and reliability quirks that plague newly released printers. By the time a model accumulates 5,000+ reviews, the manufacturer has typically resolved the worst issues through firmware updates, and the rating reflects long-term ownership rather than first impressions. The DCPL2550DW’s 4.5-star average across nearly 9,000 reviews is one of the strongest trust signals on Amazon for office printers.
Refurbished-like quirks at new prices
Because the DCPL2550DW is an older model still in production, some buyers report receiving units with cosmetic blemishes or older firmware. Check the listing carefully for “new” versus “renewed” condition, and update the firmware immediately after first setup. The underlying hardware is reliable, but the buying experience is less polished than the DCP-L2640DW.
How to Choose the Best Printers for Small Businesses?
Choosing the best printers for small businesses starts with honest volume math. Estimate how many pages your team prints per month across text and color, then compare that figure against each printer’s monthly duty cycle and toner yield. A printer rated for 30,000 pages per month is wasted on an office printing 2,000, but a printer rated for 5,000 pages will fail within a year if your real volume is 15,000.
Inkjet vs Laser for Small Business
Laser printers win for text-heavy workloads above 1,000 pages per month because toner costs 3 to 4 cents per page and prints at 30+ ppm. Inkjet printers win for low-volume, color-heavy offices where the EcoTank or similar supertank design drops color page cost to fractions of a cent. Our recommendation: pick laser if your team prints mostly black-and-white documents, and pick ink tank if you print a high mix of color at unpredictable volumes.
Running Costs and Cost Per Page
Cost per page is the most important long-term metric. Divide the cartridge price by the rated page yield, and compare across models. The Brother DCP-L2640DW hits about 3.5 cents per monochrome page, the HP 3101sdw sits at 4 cents, and the EcoTank ET-4800 lands near 0.3 cents for color. Over 50,000 printed pages, that gap is the difference between $1,750 and $150 in ink or toner spend.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Mobile Printing
Every printer on this list supports Wi-Fi, and most add Ethernet for wired networks. For offices with more than 5 employees, Ethernet is worth prioritizing because it removes Wi-Fi dropout as a support issue. Mobile printing through Apple AirPrint, Mopria, or a vendor app like HP Smart or Brother Mobile Connect is now table stakes, but app quality varies. The HP Smart App is the most polished, while Brother Mobile Connect is functional but slower.
Security Features for Business Environments
Security is where many printer roundups fall short. For offices handling confidential documents, look for printers with secure print release (badge authentication), IPsec or TLS support, and hard drive encryption. The Brother MFC-L8930CDW is the standout on this list with its NFC badge reader and Triple Layer Security suite. Most entry-level lasers skip these features, so they are not a fit for legal, healthcare, or financial workflows.
Paper Capacity and Duty Cycle
Paper capacity and duty cycle scale together. A 250-sheet tray works for offices printing under 2,000 pages per month. Above that, look for 500+ sheet trays or optional paper decks. Duty cycle is the manufacturer’s recommended monthly page volume, and printers operating consistently above 80 percent of their duty cycle fail faster. Match the duty cycle to your peak monthly volume, not your average.
Frequently Asked Questions
What printer brand is best for small business?
Brother is the most reliable brand for most small businesses in 2026, based on the consistency of user feedback on Reddit r/printers and r/BuyItForLife. Brother dominates the monochrome and color laser categories with the DCP-L2640DW, MFC-L8930CDW, and HL-L2480DW. For ink tank printers with the lowest running costs, Epson’s EcoTank line leads the field. HP is a solid third choice but its toner chip restrictions on third-party cartridges frustrate budget-conscious buyers.
What printer has the least problems?
Based on owner feedback, the Brother DCPL2550DW and Brother DCP-L2640DW are the most problem-free printers in this roundup. The DCPL2550DW averages 4.5 stars across 8,589 reviews, with owners noting that it works reliably even after months of inactivity. The DCP-L2640DW averages 4.2 stars across 3,691 reviews and shares the same proven chassis. Both run for years without paper jams, Wi-Fi dropouts, or firmware lockouts.
Is inkjet or laser better for small business?
Laser printers are better for small businesses that print more than 1,000 monochrome pages per month, because toner costs 3 to 4 cents per page and prints at 30+ ppm. Inkjet printers with refillable ink tanks, like the Epson EcoTank ET-4800, are better for offices that print a high mix of color at unpredictable volumes, because the cost per color page drops below 1 cent. Match the printer type to your volume and color mix rather than defaulting to one technology.
What is the best all-in-one printer for a small business?
The best all-in-one printer for a small business depends on volume and color needs. For text-heavy offices, the Brother DCP-L2640DW balances speed, reliability, and cost per page. For color-heavy offices, the Brother MFC-L8930CDW adds 33 ppm color output, NFC badge authentication, and 104ipm duplex scanning. For low-volume color with the cheapest ink, the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is the strongest value pick.
What is the best printer for small businesses in 2026?
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is our top pick for the best printer for small businesses in 2026. It hits the strongest balance of 36 ppm print speed, automatic duplex, 50-sheet ADF, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, and 3.5 cent cost per page, all at a price most small offices can justify. For color workloads, the Brother MFC-L8930CDW is the premium upgrade. For low-volume color at the cheapest ink cost, the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 is the value leader.
Final Verdict: Which Printer Should You Buy?
The best printers for small businesses in 2026 come down to your print mix and volume. For most 5 to 15 person offices printing 2,000 to 5,000 monochrome pages a month, the Brother DCP-L2640DW is the right starting point. For color-heavy workflows and security-focused teams, the Brother MFC-L8930CDW justifies its premium. For ink-conscious offices with unpredictable color volume, the Epson EcoTank ET-4800 pays back its purchase price through refill savings within the first year.
Before you buy, measure your actual monthly print volume across black and color, factor in toner or ink replacement cost over a 24-month ownership window, and check whether your office needs badge authentication or other security features. The right printer is the one that matches your workflow, not the one with the most features. Use the buying guide above to map your needs to a category, and pick the model that lines up with your budget. Every printer on this list will serve a small office well, but the top three will save you the most headaches over the next three years.
