Printer Ink Cartridges And Their Role In Office Budgeting

2011-02-14

With all of the costs of running a business, printer ink might seem like a relatively low cost. However, an office's printer ink budget can certainly weigh heavily on its overall technology budget. Over the course of a year, printer ink can cost a small business hundreds or even thousands of dollars, so it's very important to maximize the use of each printer ink cartridge and to find a steady supplier of low cost printer ink products in order to keep an office's bills low. Even businesses that use a relatively small amount of ink should check to make sure that they're minimizing this potentially expensive office supply cost.

Printer companies don't make the majority of their money from selling printers. Most make their money from printer ink, and they hold patents to prevent competitors from competing with them in the big box stores where many offices buy their ink. As a result of this strategy, printer ink costs are very high, with some cartridges costing upwards of $100 for large office printers. The major stores that sell printer ink don't help these high costs; they have a number of costs of their own to make up, and as their competition is fairly scarce, they can charge excessively for each cartridge. Buying from these stores in bulk, as many businesses do, can result in a lot of unnecessary expense.

There are a number of steps that an office can take to keep a printer ink budget under control. One of the best ways to combat the high prices of ink is to reduce usage. Offices can set all of their computers to automatically print in draft, which uses significantly less ink. The use of color ink printers can be restricted, since color ink costs more than black and white ink. Print preview can be used to cut down on the number of excessive prints. Any steps that an office takes to reduce its printer ink usage can be enormously beneficial at controlling costs.

However, offices should also try to find a quality source of printer ink. Online retailers typically cost much less than physical stores, as they have more competition and fewer costs. Some online printer ink suppliers also have generic printer ink options and refill kits which are very inexpensive. To keep your office's printer ink costs low, first look to your printing habits, then choose a steady supplier. Compare prices between a few shops and read customer reviews. Regardless of the printer that you own, a business' ink costs are a major part of its budget, and controlling them is a smart way to keep your business running smoothly.