If you're a small business (or even a sole proprietor), you may have erroneously assumed that you could never afford to pay the high price of copiers. Fortunately, the days of copiers that only the mid-to-large size companies could have on site are over. Here, we'll look at some of the best ways to find copiers within your price range.

Share a Copier

If you work in an “incubator” or other office set-up which encourages a number of start-ups to share office space, you can snag some terrific deals on copiers. Think of it this way – if you lease a model for $1,000 a month and you spread that cost over 10 businesses, you'll only be paying $1,200 a year for copier service. That's an incredibly good deal, especially since you could wind up spending much more (especially when you factor in the time and gas “hidden” costs) of running to Staples every time you want to make copies.

Buy a Used Copier

Copiers that have “low mileage” can always be had. Be on the lookout for businesses that are closing their doors or, alternately, growing at a fast pace. (In the case of the latter, their current copiers might not be able to meet their demands; thus, they could have a number of copiers which they want to sell to make way for the newest models.) Make sure you let other professionals know you're in the market for a copier; that way, you'll have the best chances of getting one.

Buy a New Copier

You can actually find some newer copiers at some of the office supply stores in your area such as Office Max and Office Depot. They will just be basic models, of course – you won't find fancy collating abilities and they probably cannot staple. However, they can be a phenomenal asset to any business because having a copier on your premises can make your work go much faster. And you can also make copies of articles, documents, et cetera, right on site rather than having to drive a distance just to get something printed.

Lease a Copier

As previously mentioned, it's possible to lease copiers as a whole group. But you can also do it on your own if you have enough need for a copier. For example, if you're a sales professional and you sell insurance, it might behoove you to have a copier in your home. That way, you can make copies right in your home office and won't have to waste precious selling times (such as between 9:00 a.m. and noon and 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.) rushing around to find copiers. Call a copier shop in your area and ask for a no-obligation consultation with someone who is knowledgeable about copiers. You can probably also get a good deal through your copier liaison on some kind of maintenance package.

Again, you don't have to assume that copiers are out of your price range. Though you might never have thought you could afford it, there are plenty of copiers out there, and there are plenty of ways for you to get some great deals.