Leasing Business Technology Equipment—FAQs Answered

Leasing business technology equipment is a viable option for businesses of all sizes. In many cases, it makes more sense for an organization to lease equipment rather than purchase it outright. We’ve put together a few Frequently Asked Questions that can help you better understand this practical and strategic option to determine whether it’s the right choice for your business.

What is a lease?
A lease is an agreement for the rental of equipment for a specific amount of time.

What’s the difference between a lease and a loan?
A lease attaches a formal contract to the use of a machine.

What’s the difference between leasing and renting?
With leasing, you’re agreeing to make payments (typically monthly) over the life of the agreement, instead of one payment for its entire duration. Typically, renting is short-term (days to weeks) while leasing is long-term (years).

When is leasing better than buying?
Leasing is ideal when you want to limit your initial cash output, since with leasing you make monthly payments over a pre-determined period of time. Leasing is also perfect for companies looking to stay on the cutting edge of technology.

What’s the average length of an office equipment lease?
Typically, an equipment lease for office equipment is 60 months.

Who owns the equipment?
Throughout and after the lease, your lessor (the company providing it) owns the equipment.

Who services and supplies the equipment?
Your lease provisions usually include bundled service, toner, part replacement, and maintenance kits. Talk with your lessor about their package options.

What happens to the equipment after the lease is up?
You may have the option to extend the lease agreement, buy the equipment, or return it to the company.

How much does it cost?
Monthly payments vary depending on the lease length and the type of machine (black and white laser printer, multifunction printer/scanner/copier, copier only, etc.).

What do I pay up front?
Like most leases, equipment leases usually start with payment of the first and last months at the time of lease signing.

So, is leasing business technology equipment right for you? Consider the equipment you need, your ideal payment strategy, and whether you want to manage maintenance or have it handled for you. Contact Infomax today to learn about our office equipment leasing options.

Do Your Part: The Big Impact of Toner Recycling

Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing types of waste in today’s environment—and one of the most dangerous. From computer components to mobile devices, flash drives to batteries, electronic devices and their constituent parts are being used—and thrown away—more than ever before. Printer cartridges are a major contributor to the electronic waste problem. In North America alone, over 350 million printer cartridges end up in landfills each year. Not to mention, the entire process before the cartridge even gets to your office—drilling for oil, refining, shipping, manufacturing the cartridge, packaging, delivery, and sales.

With such an impact resulting from just a single printer cartridge, a little effort on your part can go a long way. A toner recycling program involving the toner cartridges you use will have a positive impact on the environment.

Disposal and Waste – Let’s start at the end—the final destination of a printer cartridge and its waste. It’s estimated that each laser printer in your office produces about 100 pounds of waste each year.  The majority of that waste ends up in landfills, where—for cartridges made from specialized non-biodegradable plastics—they take 1,000 years to filly decompose. Disposal also contaminates the surrounding environment—landfill-based cartridges can leach toxins into the ground, while incineration produces poisonous air pollution.

Production and Raw Materials – It takes approximately three quarts of oil to produce a single toner cartridge, and production of toner cartridges also takes its toll on energy and water. Fortunately, cartridges can be refilled as many as a dozen times, slashing the cost in raw materials, water usage, and energy expenditure. With consistent efforts, you can save as many as nine gallons (36 quarts!) of oil through recycling a single cartridge. Every component saves raw materials—the plastics, metals, and inks from a used cartridge can all be reclaimed and reused.

While technological strides for greener offices continue to advance, we can do our part for the environment today by simply recycling the toner cartridges we use. Consistently applied, this small habit can have a huge impact. Contact Infomax today to get a toner recycling program underway in your organization.

The Right Printing Hardware to Increase Productivity

The productivity of your office relies heavily on the business technology you utilize. Without the right equipment in place, you can’t expect employees to perform at peak productivity. Imagine trying to dig a ditch with just a serving spoon; sure, eventually you’ll be able to dig something resembling a ditch, but how much time and effort would be required to do so if you were using a shovel instead?

Does your staff have the printing hardware it needs to operate a peak proficiency? Here are some of the devices available today that could help your organization enhance its productivity.

Black-and-white printers – Modern black-and-white printers, built for speed and efficiency, are the workhorse of any office. These devices are excellent for large projects as well as the daily printing of emails, invoices, and documents. Many printers even come equipped with finishing options—such as stapling, collating, and folding—that will help your team complete their tasks on time.

Color printers – Color printers provide you with the freedom to produce stunning photos, logos, marketing materials, and proposals. With templates and in-house printing, you don’t need to spend days negotiating with external designers on standard jobs. Instead, print what you need, when you need it.

Multifunction printers (MFPs) – One device, multiple uses—in the office, a multifunction printer is your jack-of-all-trades. With copy, print, scan, and fax capabilities, MFPs provide a central piece of hardware to meet multiple needs, saving money, space, and energy.

Wide format printers – By cutting out the designer or print shop, you can get right to the business of printing phenomenal in-house posters and banners when you bring wide format machines in-house. The average wide format printer can produce up to 15 posters in a single hour, without ever waiting in line at the print shop. Quickly and easily create gorgeous images for display in the office or for marketing purposes in public areas.

Your company’s business technology defines your capabilities, and having the right printing hardware in place will substantially improve productivity. To take your office’s productivity to the next level of quality, precision, and speed, contact Infomax today.