Small businesses need printers that handle high page volumes reliably, keep per-page costs low, and support network printing for multiple users. The printer that costs $0.08/page might seem affordable at $80 upfront — but at 1,000 pages/month it costs $80/month in ink, $960/year. A better upfront investment in a laser or EcoTank saves thousands annually.
What matters for small business printers: monthly duty cycle (can it handle your volume?), per-page cost (amortized over 12 months), network connectivity (Ethernet preferred), ADF for scanning documents, and reliability. We evaluate all five criteria for each recommendation.
Brother HL-L2350DW (or HL-L2395DW)
BEST FOR DOCUMENT-HEAVY BUSINESSES~$119–159
For small businesses printing contracts, invoices, reports, and correspondence in black-and-white, the Brother HL-L2350DW is the most cost-efficient choice at ~$0.015/page. The 15,000-page monthly duty cycle handles even busy office volumes. TN760 high-yield toner means infrequent replacement. Get the HL-L2395DW (+$40) if you need scanning — it adds a flatbed scanner, Ethernet port, and 2.7" touchscreen.
Pros
- ~$0.015/page — lowest black-only cost
- 15,000-page monthly duty cycle
- 32ppm — prints fast under load
- Highly reliable, minimal downtime
Cons
- No color printing
- No Ethernet on base model
Epson EcoTank ET-3850
BEST FOR COLOR-PRINTING BUSINESSES~$279
For businesses that print color marketing materials, proposals, invoices with logos, or presentations, the ET-3850's ~$0.004/page color cost is transformative. At 500 color pages/month, you'd spend ~$24/year on ink vs ~$576/year with HP XL cartridges. 30-sheet ADF for scanning receipts and contracts. Ethernet for office network printing. No subscription ever.
Pros
- ~$0.004/page color — massive savings
- Ethernet + Wi-Fi for network printing
- 30-sheet ADF
- No subscription, no lock-in
Cons
- 15ppm — may be slow at peak volumes
- $279 upfront
HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e
BEST SPEED + FEATURES~$180
22ppm color printing, 35-sheet ADF, Ethernet, fax capability, and the HP Smart app. Best for businesses that need faster throughput than the ET-3850 and are willing to pay more per page (~$0.03 with XL carts). Professional touchscreen interface. HP Smart app enables remote printing and scanning for mobile teams.
Pros
- 22ppm color — fastest here
- Professional feature set (ADF, fax, Ethernet)
- HP Smart for remote printing
Cons
- ~$0.03/page — 7.5× more than EcoTank
- HP+ subscription temptation
HP LaserJet Pro M255dw
BEST COLOR LASER FOR BUSINESS~$249
For businesses needing professional-quality color laser output (not inkjet), the HP M255dw delivers sharp color text and graphics at 30ppm. Color laser output is more durable and scratch-resistant than inkjet — important for customer-facing materials. 20,000-page duty cycle handles busy offices. Higher ongoing toner cost (~$0.04/page black, ~$0.12/page color) but exceptional output quality.
Pros
- Professional color laser output
- 30ppm — excellent speed
- 20,000-page duty cycle
Cons
- Expensive toner (~$0.12/color page)
- $249 upfront
Brother MFC-J4335DW
BEST FOR SCANNING-HEAVY BUSINESSES~$180
Brother's INKvestment Tank with a 50-sheet ADF — the largest ADF on this list. Perfect for businesses that scan multi-page documents regularly (legal, accounting, real estate). ~$0.008/page black, no subscription, Ethernet connectivity. Full print/scan/copy/fax. The best choice if document scanning volume is your primary concern.
Pros
- 50-sheet ADF — largest here
- ~$0.008/page black
- No subscription, Ethernet, fax
Cons
- Color cost higher than EcoTank
FAQs
What is the best small business printer?▾
For monochrome document printing: Brother HL-L2350DW (~$119). For color printing: Epson EcoTank ET-3850 (~$279) — the lowest per-page color cost. For speed and features: HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e (~$180).
Should a small business get a laser or inkjet printer?▾
Depends on color needs. For black-only documents: laser wins on speed, reliability, and cost. For color: EcoTank inkjet wins on per-page cost. For professional color quality: color laser (HP M255dw) is best but most expensive per page.
How important is Ethernet for a small business printer?▾
Ethernet is recommended for offices with multiple computers needing to share the printer. It provides more stable connectivity than Wi-Fi in environments with many wireless devices. All recommendations except the base Brother HL-L2350DW include Ethernet.
What small business printer has the lowest ink cost?▾
Epson EcoTank ET-3850 at ~$0.004/page color is the lowest ongoing cost. Brother HL-L2350DW at ~$0.015/page black-only is cheapest for monochrome. Both dramatically undercut HP and Canon cartridge alternatives.