How to lease a business printer: a complete guide for UK businesses

Supporting smart printing decisions

Although it seems like a small job, getting your business printing setup right is key to keeping your organisation running smoothly. There’s lots to consider, from leasing to buying, or a print management service – and the right choice can depend on your business needs, budget and long-term goals.

When you’re choosing between leasing and buying, you also need to keep in mind who you’re partnering with. Brother is always “At your side” to reduce the cost and complexity of business printing.

Let’s explore leasing, and how it compares to a managed print service.

Brother Managed Print Services (MPS) explained

From connection issues to running out of ink or toner at exactly the wrong moment, printing isn’t always simple for businesses. Brother’s Managed Print Service, a combination of printer hardware and services, can help stop these small print jobs from turning into bigger problems.

With Brother MPS, you get automatic ink and toner delivery, guaranteed support and maintenance, flexible plans that suit your needs and access to our online portal to monitor your print usage. Plus, we remanufacture your used supplies for free when you return them to us  – helping to divert them from landfill.

If you’re looking for a way to minimise downtime, control costs and simplify your business printing, Brother MPS is here.

What is printer leasing – and how does it differ from MPS?

Printer leasing is a contract-based agreement where a business pays to use a printer over a fixed term instead of buying it. This model can help businesses avoid a large upfront purchase cost while still accessing up-to-date technology – with the added benefit of support, maintenance and supplies. Contracts typically have a specific term that you are committed to, such as 3 to 5 years, and are paid in monthly instalments.

While printer leasing can help businesses, Brother MPS has a lot of the same benefits – and can offer you more flexibility. You’ll get automatic ink and toner deliveries, tech support and printer maintenance, with no long-term commitments. If you’re looking for a service that can adapt with your business, rather than being committed to a service agreement, MPS may be a more efficient choice.

Why do businesses choose to lease printers?

There are a few strategic reasons why businesses prefer leasing over buying, including lower upfront costs, predictable monthly budgeting and the inclusion of maintenance and repairs. When you’re analysing your businesses finances, leasing can seem like a cost-effective option.

Often, these benefits can be met by a managed print service. When you sign up to Brother MPS, we’ll respond to any printer issues within four business hours over the phone, or send an engineer the next business day if it’s not resolved. You’ll also always have complete cost transparency, with our print management service being the cheapest way to get genuine supplies.

Key benefits of leasing and MPS

• Control
  Combining award-winning hardware, innovative software features and unbeatable service levels, Brother MPS is designed specifically to meet your business needs and put you back in control – from cost to wastage.

• Security
  As standard with Brother MPS Enterprise, you’ll get an organisation-wide print assessment from us when you sign up. We’ll identify any security risks and build you a tailored security plan.

• Efficiency
  We design a print infrastructure that gives your business the printing volume and availability it needs. You’ll also get automated toner and ink replacements, so your team has more free time to focus on your business needs.

• Sustainability
  Our MPS portal puts you in a great position to reduce your carbon footprint by helping you to monitor and improve paper, power, consumables and space wastage. We’ll also collect and remanufactured used and returned ink and toner cartridges for free as part of your agreement, diverting them from landfill.

The different printer contract options for your business

Leasing

You’ll pay a monthly fee to use the printer for a set time period, typically without owning it at the end of the lease term. Depending on the agreement, the business printer rental might include maintenance, repairs and supplies.

Managed Print Services

A Managed Print Service (MPS) is a service contract for your printer(s), whereby things like remote monitoring, servicing, breakdowns and supplies ordering are automated to an external partner. These services are designed to make printing as hands-off as possible for businesses, so you know everything is taken care of.

At Brother, we offer a number of MPS plans to suit all kinds of print needs. Let’s take a closer look:

• MPS Essential
  Ideal for businesses with basic printing requirements, MPS Essential is an off-the-shelf solution that offers automatic deliveries of ink or toner, device maintenance and access to Brother’s customer MPS portal – all with no contract, so you can cancel anytime.

• MPS Professional
  This is a customised print package to suit different page volumes, service levels or multiple devices. You’ll get all the benefits of MPS Essential, plus a range of installation options including remote, on-site, or tailored installation and complete cost transparency with one consolidated invoice for all your devices.

• MPS Enterprise
  Made for businesses with more complex print needs, MPS Enterprise is a bespoke service built around your business. You’ll get an in-depth assessment to find the right solution for you, a full seamless transition from existing to new devices, ongoing service optimisation, a dedicated account manager and a wide range of management solutions.

• EcoPro
  If you’re a small business, we also have an EcoPro ink subscription available. All you need to do is select an ink or toner plan and we’ll ship your supplies at no extra cost. Plus, you’ll get ongoing printer warranty and first-class customer support throughout your subscription.

Who is printer leasing ideal for?

Businesses that have evolving print demands, such as SMEs or startups, will gain the most from leasing or MPS. If you are focused on rapid growth, you’ll benefit from paying monthly, rather than taking on an upfront cost.

However, there are a few scenarios that lend themselves to an MPS setup. Unlike leasing, which is often a fixed term contract, MPS is great for businesses that experience seasonal volume spikes as you can change your service at any point. If the main problem facing your printer set up is remote working, Brother MPS can create a bespoke installation plan that includes a range of different setups.

Essentially, if you have complex or changing print requirements, a MPS setup can be more efficient and cost-effective for your business.

Why choose Brother for your printer contract?

There’s a reason Brother is a trusted provider for business printing – we’re known for our reliability, our award-winning printers, and our customer-first service. From big businesses to small, no matter your industry, we have a solution for you.

Our main focus with Brother MPS is to make printing simple, with no hidden costs and no long-term commitments. You can count on us when it comes to business printing, with first-class customer support, flexible service and ongoing maintenance.

Get started with Brother MPS

We know every business is different, which is why we take the time to get to know you and your unique printing needs. Explore our MPS packages online or, get in touch with a Brother expert to chat through your requirements and request a print audit. We’ll be “At your side” to Make Printing Simple.