If your home-based business is growing, it may be time to consider buying a commercial printer. This upgrade can be costly, so be sure to take into account a number of relevant factors before making your decision.

A commercial printer can print thousands of copies in a short amount of time. Personal printers, on the other hand, typically print 12 to 18 copies per minute. While a commercial-size piece of equipment will increase the output you may have gotten used to, it also comes with a higher price tag. A typical personal printer may cost around $100, especially if it comes with a rebate or sales price. But commercial printers can cost thousands of dollars. Of course they will last longer, too, but you want to make sure you will need all that it can do for a long time. Short-term heavy-duty copy projects can be farmed out to local copy centers.

When you purchase a commercial printer, you will probably need to undertake some training, even if it is for an hour or less by the installer. There will undoubtedly be a service manual that you should read, and when a problem occurs, you will have an idea of how to fix it, or at least know what to tell the service technician that you will need to call if you are unable to repair it yourself.

Commercial printers often come with service warranties. It is probably a good idea to consider purchasing an extended warranty if you know little or nothing about printing equipment. Ask the sales associate or service technician to explain the terms of the agreement so you will know exactly what to expect in terms of repair service and costs if your printer develops a problem.

Plan your upgrade in advance to get the best cost, performance, and service support available.