Cost effective printing

ballisticbrian

Cost effective printing


For small businesses run from home, has anyone any advice as to cost analysis for different types of printing?


I realise that when comparing different lasers for example, they will often quote so many pence per sheet, but in the spirit of "money saving" I've been refilling inkjet cartridges with syringes and with a laser would buy 3rd party toners.




The problem I've had with inkjet is the refillable cartridges invariably leak into the machine, and doing 20 sheets per day, my life expectancy of a £50 ink jet machine has been under two years. (although costs more than £50 to replace the ink heads anyway)


Secondly, what is your view of companies that use inkjet for business clips, compliments or even product labelling? Is it important to you or does it look trashy in your opinion?

Comms69

ballisticbrian wrote: »

Cost effective printing


For small businesses run from home, has anyone any advice as to cost analysis for different types of printing?


I realise that when comparing different lasers for example, they will often quote so many pence per sheet, but in the spirit of "money saving" I've been refilling inkjet cartridges with syringes and with a laser would buy 3rd party toners.




The problem I've had with inkjet is the refillable cartridges invariably leak into the machine, and doing 20 sheets per day, my life expectancy of a £50 ink jet machine has been under two years. (although costs more than £50 to replace the ink heads anyway)


Secondly, what is your view of companies that use inkjet for business clips, compliments or even product labelling? Is it important to you or does it look trashy in your opinion?

Have you looked at local independent printing shops, my local one does package deal for small businesses on toner etc.


As for anything branded, get it done professionally. It's surprisingly cheap when you calculate per sheet.


For reference I had 5,000 A5 double sided postcards printed for around £190 a few weeks back. Many small businesses and one man bands order in small quantities and the price doesn't stagger down well.

bengalknights

Cheap laser printer for B&W printing will keep you going, im still on my first set of HP toners from 2008 purchase!

For large volume prints as above go to a specialist as will work out cheaper.

ballisticbrian

Thanks for the replies but I should have really stressed "desktop" printing. What I typically do, is do a print run of one or two sheets of labels which is a mixture of addresses and product labelling all on the same sheet. If there's any labels left blank, I'll even run it through the printer again later.
This probably sounds like a nightmare but it's been really efficient on labelling costs, but the printer takes a battering especially with these leaky refillable cartridges and I've tried at least two different supplies and both Epson and Canon printers.

bengalknights

ballisticbrian wrote: »

Thanks for the replies but I should have really stressed "desktop" printing. What I typically do, is do a print run of one or two sheets of labels which is a mixture of addresses and product labelling all on the same sheet. If there's any labels left blank, I'll even run it through the printer again later.
This probably sounds like a nightmare but it's been really efficient on labelling costs, but the printer takes a battering especially with these leaky refillable cartridges and I've tried at least two different supplies and both Epson and Canon printers.

Second hand Zebra Gk420d is ideal for this kind of thing

PragmaticMoneySaver

For reference I had 5,000 A5 double sided postcards printed for around £190 a few weeks back.

That's pretty expensive to be fair. I charge about £50 for the same depending on paper spec and any special features like embossing etc.

Savvy_Sue

I get on best with HP printers...

rhysadams

They always say the cheaper the printer the more expensive it is to run. But if you don't mind black and white a HP laser is fantastic value for money, printer costs about £50 and the cartridges about £70 and last for ages.


For colour we have found that the Epson EcoTank offer fantastic value. They have a tank that you easily refill.

Comms69

PragmaticMoneySaver wrote: »

That's pretty expensive to be fair. I charge about £50 for the same depending on paper spec and any special features like embossing etc.

1p a sheet? I mean sure I'd be happy at that price; but I've not seen it anywhere