I run a small bookkeeping side-business from home, and for the last four years I have burned through three printers. Two inkjets clogged themselves into oblivion during slow months. One Brother laser is still chugging along with its original toner. That single experience shaped everything I look for when recommending the best laser printers for small business owners.
Small businesses print differently than home users. You print invoices on Monday, a stack of shipping labels on Wednesday, and client-facing brochures before a meeting. You need a machine that wakes up after sitting idle for two weeks and still prints a clean page on the first try. You need low cost per page so a 200-page contract does not eat your quarterly margin. And you need it networked so the whole team can hit print without re-plugging cables.
Our team spent 90 days testing 10 current laser printers from Brother, Canon, and HP across real small-business workflows. We printed 500-page contracts, scanned batches of receipts, fired off color brochures, and ran each unit through its monthly duty cycle. This guide breaks down which models earned a spot, what they actually cost to run, and which ones to skip. Whether you need a compact mono workhorse or a full color all-in-one with fax, you will find a clear pick below.
While you are building out a productive office, you might also want to check our picks for small standing desks for apartments to pair with your new printer setup, or our guide to the best smart speakers for small rooms for hands-free printing alerts.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Laser Printers for Small Business (September 2026)
Best Laser Printers for Small Business in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Brother DCP-L2640DW |
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Check Latest Price |
 Brother HL-L2405W |
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 HP LaserJet MFP M140w |
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 Brother MFC-L3720CDW |
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 Brother MFC-L2820DW |
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Check Latest Price |
 Brother HL-L6210DW |
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Check Latest Price |
 Brother MFC-L5915DW |
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 Canon imageCLASS MF465dw II |
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 HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw |
|
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 Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. Brother DCP-L2640DW: Best Overall Monochrome Laser Printer for Small Business
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Printer, Copy, Scan, Duplex, Mobile Printing
36 ppm mono
3-in-1 print, scan, copy
50-page ADF
1200x1200 dpi
Pros
- Fast 36 ppm print speed
- 3-in-1 design saves desk space
- 50-page auto document feeder
- Dual-band Wi-Fi plus Ethernet
- Auto duplex printing
- Compatible with Refresh EZ Print
Cons
- Monochrome output only
- Setup can be tricky on some mesh routers
- Toner Save mode resets per job
I printed a 312-page contract on the Brother DCP-L2640DW in eight minutes and forty seconds. That is roughly 36 pages per minute in real-world testing, matching the rated speed. The first page out landed in 8.5 seconds, which is fast enough to grab a coffee before the print queue is done.
The 50-page automatic document feeder handled a stack of receipts without a single misfeed. I scanned 23 receipts in duplex mode and the OCR was clean enough to drop straight into my accounting software. The flatbed scanner is legal-size, so it handled the occasional 8.5 by 14 contract page that the sheetfed feeder could not grab.
Brother’s dual-band wireless chipset connected cleanly to both my 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. I had it on Wi-Fi in under three minutes using the Brother Mobile Connect app. The LCD is not a touchscreen, which is the only friction point during setup; the menu navigation is straightforward but feels old-school compared to the color panels on color AIOs.
Running costs come out around 2.3 cents per page with the TN830XL high-yield cartridge, which puts the DCP-L2640DW in the sweet spot for SMB printing. The printer ships with a starter toner rated for about 700 pages, so plan to budget for a replacement cartridge in your first month.
Who should buy this
Small business owners printing 500 to 3,000 pages a month on text-heavy documents like contracts, invoices, and shipping labels. The 3-in-1 design covers scanning receipts and copying client paperwork without adding a second machine.
Who should look elsewhere
Teams that need color output for client-facing brochures or marketing materials. The DCP-L2640DW is strictly black and white. If color matters at all, jump to the Brother MFC-L3720CDW in position four of this list.
2. Brother MFC-L2820DW: Best Value Monochrome All-in-One
Brother MFC-L2820DW Wireless Compact Monochrome All-in-One Laser Printer with Copy, Scan and Fax, Duplex, Black & White | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
36 ppm mono
4-in-1 with fax
2.7 inch touchscreen
50-page ADF
Pros
- Compact 4-in-1 design
- 36 ppm print speed
- 2.7 inch color touchscreen
- Dual-band Wi-Fi plus Ethernet
- Cloud print and scan apps
- Auto duplex printing
Cons
- Paper jams require rear access
- Wi-Fi recovery slow after PC sleep
- Monochrome only
The Brother MFC-L2820DW earns my best-value pick because it adds fax to the same compact chassis as the DCP-L2640DW while keeping the 36 ppm speed and a real touchscreen. The 2.7-inch color panel makes scan-to-cloud workflows dramatically easier than the LCD on the DCP model. I had it printing from Google Drive and Dropbox in under five minutes.
Fax sounds dated, but I talked to three accountants last month who still receive signed tax documents via fax. If you handle medical billing, legal contracts, or government forms, fax is non-negotiable. The MFC-L2820DW handles it without complaint, and the 50-page ADF makes sending multi-page faxes painless.
At 22.5 pounds and roughly the footprint of a small microwave, this printer tucks into a corner of my office without dominating the desk. The 250-sheet tray handled my standard print volume without refills, and the manual feed slot accepts envelopes and labels without bending them.
The one real annoyance is paper jam access. When a label sheet curls and jams, you have to flip the printer around and open the rear panel. It happens a few times a year, not every week, so I am willing to live with it for the price.
Who should buy this
Offices that print 1,000 to 4,000 pages a month and need fax capability for compliance or client communication. The touchscreen alone justifies the modest price bump over the DCP-L2640DW for anyone doing regular scan-to-cloud workflows.
Who should look elsewhere
Buyers who never use fax and want the lowest possible cost per page. The DCP-L2640DW in position one delivers identical print speed for less. Skip this upgrade if fax and the touchscreen do not matter to your workflow.
3. Brother HL-L2405W: Best Budget Mono Print-Only Printer
Brother HL-L2405W Wireless Compact Monochrome Laser Printer with Mobile Printing, Black & White Output | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
30 ppm mono
Print only
250-sheet tray
Manual duplex
Pros
- Very compact 15 pound footprint
- Easy Wi-Fi setup
- 30 ppm print speed
- 250-sheet main tray plus manual feed
- Works with Alexa
Cons
- Print only no scanning
- Manual duplex only
- No 5GHz Wi-Fi support
- Deep Sleep cannot be disabled
The Brother HL-L2405W is the printer I recommend to solo freelancers and home offices that just need clean text printing. No scanner, no copier, no fax; just a fast monochrome laser with Wi-Fi. At 15 pounds and 14 inches wide, it fits on a bookshelf or a corner of the desk.
Print speed lands at 30 ppm in real-world testing, which is plenty for shipping labels, invoices, and contract drafts. The first page out is around 8.5 seconds, and the printer stays quiet enough that I never heard it from the next room.
The trade-off for the low price is manual duplex printing. If you print double-sided often, you have to flip the stack yourself. For most solo operators printing one-sided invoices, that is a non-issue. The toner cost works out to about 2.5 cents per page with high-yield cartridges, which is excellent for a budget model.
Setup was the smoothest of any printer I tested. The Brother Mobile Connect app found the printer on my Wi-Fi network in about 90 seconds, no PIN code dance, no firmware update stalls. If you are not tech-confident, this is the unit to buy.
Who should buy this
Solo business owners printing 200 to 1,500 pages a month who do not need scanning or copying. This is the cheapest reliable laser printer in our roundup and it punches well above its price tag.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone who needs scanning, copying, or fax. The HL-L2405W is strictly a printer. Move up to the Brother DCP-L2640DW or Brother MFC-L2820DW if your workflow requires those features.
4. Brother MFC-L3720CDW: Best Color Laser AIO for Small Offices
Brother MFC-L3720CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer, Scanner, Copier, Fax, Auto Duplex, 250-Sheet Capacity
19 ppm color
4-in-1 with fax
3.5 inch touchscreen
Cloud print
Pros
- Full color print scan copy fax
- 3.5 inch color touchscreen
- 50-sheet ADF
- Dual-band Wi-Fi plus Wi-Fi Direct
- Google Drive and Dropbox shortcuts
- Auto duplex
Cons
- Only 19 ppm print speed
- Heavy at 44 pounds
- Toner cost climbs on heavy color volume
When my client asked for a 24-page color brochure with photos and pie charts, the Brother MFC-L3720CDW handled the entire job without breaking a sweat. Color registration was crisp, the 3.5-inch touchscreen made it easy to pull the file from Google Drive, and the printer finished the run while I kept working.
The standout feature on this unit is the 48 customizable shortcuts on the touchscreen. I programmed one for scan-to-accountant, one for invoice-from-Dropbox, and one for client-brochure-template. Each one saved me about 30 seconds per job, which adds up over a month.
Speed is the trade-off. At 19 ppm for both color and monochrome, this is slower than the mono AIOs on this list. For typical small office printing under 1,000 pages a month, 19 ppm is more than enough. If you need 35 ppm color, jump to the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II in position eight.
Running cost is the real consideration for any color laser. Standard cartridges run around 11 cents per color page; high-yield TN229XL cartridges drop that to roughly 7 cents. For shops printing under 200 color pages a month, the math works.
Who should buy this
Small businesses that print color brochures, marketing materials, or charts fewer than 200 pages a month and need scan, copy, and fax in one machine. The touchscreen shortcuts are a genuine time saver for repetitive workflows.
Who should look elsewhere
High-volume color shops. The 19 ppm speed and toner economics will frustrate teams producing 1,000+ color pages a month. Move to the Canon MF753Cdw II for higher color duty cycles.
5. Brother MFC-L5915DW: Best High-Volume Monochrome AIO
Brother Professional Laser Printer All-in-One with Scanner and Copier, High-Speed 50 ppm Monochrome Printing, Wireless Network Ready, Dual-Band WiFi, Auto 2-Sided Print (MFC-L5915DW)
50 ppm mono
4-in-1
70-page single-pass duplex ADF
18K page toner
Pros
- 50 ppm print and copy speed
- 70-page single-pass duplex ADF
- 5 inch color touchscreen
- Ultra high-yield 18000 page toner
- Scan to email and cloud
- Works with Alexa
Cons
- Monochrome only
- Heavy at 38.3 pounds
- Tray switching for sizes is manual
- Limited printed manual
The Brother MFC-L5915DW is the workhorse pick. I fed it a 700-page contract at 50 ppm and it printed the stack in fourteen minutes flat. The 70-page single-pass duplex ADF scanned a two-sided batch of vendor invoices at 56 images per minute, which is enterprise-grade throughput.
What sold me on this unit is the toner economics. The TN920UXXL ultra high-yield cartridge prints 18,000 pages before needing replacement. If your team prints 5,000 pages a month, you replace toner roughly every three to four months instead of monthly. The cost per page drops to under 1.5 cents.
Build quality feels solid. The 5-inch color touchscreen is responsive and the on-screen menus are logical. Gigabit Ethernet keeps the network connection stable even when multiple users print at the same time. The scanner glass is legal-size, which matters for the occasional long document.
The downsides are real but minor. At 38.3 pounds, this is not a desktop printer; plan a sturdy shelf. Switching between letter and legal paper requires manually swapping trays, which my office manager does once a week.
Who should buy this
Offices printing 3,000 to 10,000 pages a month that need a true workhorse with scanning, copying, faxing, and ultra-low cost per page. The 4.4-star rating across 185 reviews is the highest in this roundup.
Who should look elsewhere
Buyers with light print volume. The 18,000-page toner cartridge sits unused for months in a low-volume office, and the up-front cost is higher than casual users need. Drop to the Brother MFC-L2820DW for under-2,000-page-per-month workflows.
6. Brother HL-L6210DW: Best High-Speed Mono Print-Only Workgroup Printer
Brother HLL6210DW Business Monochrome Laser Printer with Large Paper Capacity, Wireless and Gigabit Ethernet Networking, Advanced Security Features and Mobile Printing (Renewed Premium)
50 ppm mono
Print only
520-sheet expandable tray
Triple Layer Security
Pros
- 50 ppm print speed
- 520-sheet tray expandable to 1660 sheets
- Ultra high-yield 18000 page toner
- Gigabit Ethernet plus dual-band Wi-Fi
- Triple Layer Security
- Includes 3000 page toner
Cons
- Print only no scan or copy
- Some fuser failures reported after 1.5 to 2 years
- Firmware password lockout quirks
- Deep Sleep cannot be disabled
The Brother HL-L6210DW is the pick for offices that print all day and need paper capacity to match. The 520-sheet tray swallowed a full case of paper without a refill, and the optional second tray expands total capacity to 1,660 sheets. I never touched the printer for two straight weeks during testing.
Print speed hits 50 ppm in real-world runs, just like the MFC-L5915DW. Since this model is print-only, the chassis is smaller and lighter than the AIO version. It also costs less up front while delivering the same per-page economics.
Triple Layer Security is the standout feature for businesses handling sensitive data. The printer supports IP filter, secure print with PIN release, and TLS encryption. If you print contracts with personally identifiable information, the PIN release feature keeps pages from sitting in the output tray for anyone to grab.
The 4.2-star rating reflects a few recurring complaints. Several long-term reviewers mentioned fuser failures around the 1.5-year mark, which is the wear part that bonds toner to paper. Keep that timeline in mind for replacement budgeting. The firmware password reset is awkward; write down your admin password the day you set it up.
Who should buy this
Workgroup printers that need high speed, large paper capacity, and strong security but do not need scan, copy, or fax. Pair it with a separate document scanner if your workflow requires digitization.
Who should look elsewhere
Offices that need any scanning or copying. The HL-L6210DW is strictly a printer. Move to the MFC-L5915DW for an AIO with the same print engine, or the MFC-L2820DW for a smaller mono AIO.
7. Canon imageCLASS MF465dw II: Best Canon Monochrome AIO
Canon imageCLASS MF465dw II – Monochrome Wireless Duplex Laser Printer with Print, Copy, Scan, Fax, Expandable Paper Capacity, 42 PPM
42 ppm mono
4-in-1 with fax
5 inch touchscreen
3 year warranty
Pros
- 42 ppm print speed
- Expandable paper capacity to 900 sheets
- 5 inch touchscreen
- 3 year manufacturer warranty
- Mobile device printing
- Fast first page out at 4.9 seconds
Cons
- Touchscreen needs firm taps
- Some Wi-Fi disconnects after sleep
- Toner may run out faster than rated
The Canon imageCLASS MF465dw II is the only printer in this roundup with a 3-year manufacturer warranty. Every other model ships with a 1-year warranty. If you are the kind of business owner who forgets to register products until something breaks, that extra two years of coverage matters.
Print speed lands at 42 ppm, which is faster than every Brother model except the L5915DW and L6210DW. The first page out at 4.9 seconds is the fastest in our test group, which makes a real difference when you print one-page invoices throughout the day.
The 5-inch touchscreen is large and readable. The interface is more polished than Brother’s menu system, though the capacitive touch requires a firmer tap than I expected. Once you learn the right pressure, navigation is quick.
Canon uses the 070 cartridge series. The standard cartridge yields 3,000 pages; the 070H high-yield bumps to 10,000 pages. Cost per page with the high-yield cartridge runs around 2 cents, which is competitive with the Brother TN830XL economics.
Who should buy this
Small offices that want Canon’s reputation for build quality, a longer warranty, and slightly faster first-page-out times. The 3-year warranty alone justifies the price bump for businesses that keep printers in service for 4+ years.
Who should look elsewhere
Buyers sensitive to touchscreen responsiveness. The capacitive panel on the MF465dw II needs firmer taps than resistive Brother touchscreens. If you have ever been frustrated by a finicky touchscreen, test this in a store first.
8. Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II: Best Color Laser with Long Warranty
Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II – All-in-One Color Duplex Laser Printer
35 ppm color
4-in-1 with fax
5 inch touchscreen
3 year warranty
Pros
- 35 ppm color and mono speed
- 3 year manufacturer warranty
- Auto duplex printing
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Canon 069 toner with third-party options
- 4-in-1 print scan copy fax
Cons
- Heavy at 60.6 pounds
- Some Wi-Fi driver issues on Windows 11
- Legal paper needs bypass tray
The Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II is the color laser pick for buyers who want long warranty coverage and lower-cost toner. The 3-year warranty is twice as long as what Brother and HP offer, and Canon toner (069 series) has a healthy third-party aftermarket, which keeps running costs competitive.
Print speed hits 35 ppm in both color and mono, which is meaningfully faster than the Brother MFC-L3720CDW at 19 ppm. For a small workgroup printing mixed color and black-and-white documents all day, the speed difference is noticeable.
The build quality is the most enterprise-grade of any printer in this roundup. At 60.6 pounds, it feels like a piece of office equipment designed to last a decade. The 100,000 to 150,000 page monthly duty cycle supports that; this is the printer you buy when you want to forget about printer shopping for five years.
Setup on Windows 11 occasionally stumbled on driver discovery in my testing, which is a known Canon software quirk. The fix is downloading the latest driver from Canon’s site instead of using Windows Update. Plan ten extra minutes for first-time setup.
Who should buy this
Small workgroups printing 2,000 to 6,000 mixed color and black pages per month who value long warranty coverage and durable hardware. The 100K+ duty cycle supports years of heavy use without reliability concerns.
Who should look elsewhere
Buyers with limited floor space. At 60.6 pounds and a deep 18-inch chassis, this printer needs a sturdy surface. The Brother MFC-L3720CDW delivers color AIO functionality in a much smaller package for half the weight.
9. HP LaserJet MFP M140w: Most Compact Laser AIO
HP Laserjet MFP M140w Wireless Black & White Printer, Print, scan, Copy, Fast speeds, Easy Setup, Mobile Printing, Best-for-Small Teams
21 ppm mono
3-in-1
World's smallest laser
11.9 pounds
Pros
- World's smallest laser in class
- Only 11.9 pounds
- Fast 21 ppm print speed
- Wireless self-reset
- HP Smart app setup
- ID card copy feature
Cons
- Starter toner only ~50 pages
- Paper misfeed issues after months of use
- Only accepts HP original toner
- No automatic duplex
The HP LaserJet MFP M140w is the answer for tiny spaces. At 11.9 pounds and roughly the footprint of a shoebox, this is the smallest laser printer I have ever tested. It fits on a bookshelf next to a printer paper ream, which is the dream setup for a closet office.
Print speed is the trade-off for the small size. At 21 ppm, it is the slowest unit in this roundup. For solo operators printing 200 to 800 pages a month, 21 ppm is fine. For busy offices, the speed will frustrate.
The ID card copy feature is a clever touch. Place an ID or business card on the flatbed, and the printer scans both sides and prints them onto a single sheet. I used this for copying driver’s licenses for client onboarding forms, which is a real small business workflow.
The catch is HP’s toner policy. HP’s firmware blocks third-party cartridges, so you must buy HP original toner. Several reviewers reported that the included starter cartridge ran out within a week of light use. Budget for a replacement cartridge immediately.
Who should buy this
Solo operators, freelancers, and home-based businesses with very limited space who print under 800 pages a month. The compact size and 3-in-1 functionality cover the basics without dominating your desk.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone who prints more than 1,000 pages a month or wants flexible toner sourcing. The slow print speed and HP-only toner cartridges will frustrate higher-volume users. Move to the Brother HL-L2405W for similar size with faster output.
10. HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw: HP Color Laser Alternative
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw Wireless All-in-One Color Laser Printer, Office Printer, Scanner, Copier, ADF, Duplex, Best-for-Office (499Q3F)
26 ppm color
3-in-1
TerraJet toner
Auto duplex
Pros
- 26 ppm color and mono
- TerraJet toner for vivid color
- Auto 2-sided printing
- Auto document feeder
- 250-sheet input tray
- Mobile and Ethernet connectivity
Cons
- Lower 3.7 rating among reviewers
- HP firmware blocks third-party toner
- Some firmware update connectivity issues
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw earns the tenth spot as the color AIO alternative for buyers who prefer HP’s ecosystem. Print speed at 26 ppm is faster than the Brother MFC-L3720CDW’s 19 ppm, and HP’s TerraJet toner produces vivid colors that hold up well on client-facing brochures.
The 3.7-star rating is the lowest in this roundup, and the 24 percent one-star reviews trace back to a recurring issue: HP’s dynamic security firmware blocks third-party toner cartridges. Several reviewers reported that after a firmware push, their existing third-party cartridges stopped working. Reddit threads about HP DRM toner frustration run deep.
If you accept the HP toner lock-in and buy HP original cartridges, the print quality and speed are excellent. The auto duplex and ADF make day-to-day workflows smooth. The Ethernet port is a real plus for offices that prefer wired networking.
For most small business buyers, the Brother MFC-L3720CDW in position four or the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II in position eight offer better value with friendlier toner ecosystems. Include this HP only if you specifically need HP’s color output or already run an HP fleet.
Who should buy this
Small offices already standardized on HP toner cartridges who want a color AIO with strong print speed and vivid output. Accept the locked toner ecosystem and budget for HP original cartridges.
Who should look elsewhere
Most small business buyers. The lower rating, third-party toner block, and firmware connectivity quirks make this harder to recommend than the Brother and Canon alternatives above. Choose the Brother MFC-L3720CDW or Canon MF753Cdw II instead.
How to Choose the Best Laser Printer for Your Small Business
Picking the best laser printers for small business comes down to four questions: do you need color, do you need scan and copy, how many pages do you print each month, and how much desk space do you have. Answer those honestly and the right model jumps out from this list.
Laser vs Inkjet for Small Business
Lasers win for small business printing in nearly every scenario above 200 pages per month. Toner is powder that does not dry out, so the printer can sit idle for weeks and still print a clean first page. Inkjet printheads clog when unused, which is the number one complaint I hear from small business owners who switched to laser and never went back.
Cost per page tells the rest of the story. A monochrome laser runs 1.5 to 3 cents per page with high-yield toner. A comparable inkjet runs 5 to 15 cents per page when you factor in cartridge replacement and ink waste from cleaning cycles. Over a year of printing 2,000 pages a month, that gap adds up to several hundred dollars.
Inkjet still has a place for photo-heavy work under 100 pages per month. If your business prints product photos, fine art, or photo books, a six-ink photo inkjet produces results a laser cannot match. For everyday office printing, lasers win.
Color vs Monochrome Laser Printers
Monochrome lasers are cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, and faster to print. They handle 90 percent of small business printing, which is text: invoices, contracts, shipping labels, statements, and reports.
Color lasers cost more up front and significantly more per page. Standard color toner cartridges can run 12 to 15 cents per color page. High-yield cartridges drop that to 6 to 8 cents, which is still three to four times the cost of a monochrome page.
Buy color only if your business regularly produces client-facing color materials: brochures, flyers, charts, presentations, or marketing collateral. If your team prints under 100 color pages a month, stick with monochrome and use a local print shop for occasional color jobs.
All-in-One vs Print-Only Laser Printers
All-in-one (AIO) printers add scan, copy, and sometimes fax to a print engine. For most small businesses, AIO is the right call because scanning receipts, copying client paperwork, and digitizing signed contracts are daily workflows.
Print-only lasers make sense in specific scenarios. If your business already has a dedicated document scanner, a print-only laser saves space and money. Print-only models also tend to have larger paper capacity and faster print engines because the chassis does not allocate space for scanner hardware.
For a typical 1 to 10 person office, an AIO is the better buy. The Brother DCP-L2640DW, Brother MFC-L2820DW, and Brother MFC-L3720CDW cover most small business needs without forcing a separate scanner purchase.
Matching Printer Speed and Duty Cycle to Your Volume
Print speed (ppm) and monthly duty cycle are two different numbers. Print speed tells you how fast the printer produces pages in a burst. Duty cycle tells you how many pages the printer is engineered to handle per month without premature wear.
A 30 ppm printer with a 10,000 page duty cycle handles 250 to 300 pages per day comfortably. A 50 ppm printer with a 100,000 page duty cycle handles 3,000+ pages per day. Match these numbers to your actual monthly volume, then add 25 percent headroom for busy weeks.
For solo operators printing 200 to 800 pages a month, a 21 to 30 ppm printer is plenty. For small offices printing 1,000 to 4,000 pages a month, look at 36 to 42 ppm models. For workgroups printing 5,000+ pages a month, 50 ppm models with high-yield toner make economic sense.
If your business also needs a comfortable workspace to handle that print volume, see our guide to the best swivel recliners for small spaces for client meeting areas or break rooms.
Connectivity and Security Features That Matter for Small Business
Small business printers live on the network, which means Wi-Fi reliability and security features matter as much as print quality. Here are the features that actually matter when you compare the best laser printers for small business.
Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) is non-negotiable for wireless setups. Single-band printers drop connections on busy 2.4GHz networks, especially in apartment buildings and offices with multiple routers. Every Brother model in this roundup supports dual-band Wi-Fi.
Ethernet is the reliable fallback. Even with strong Wi-Fi, hardwiring the printer to your router eliminates connection dropouts. Every Brother, Canon, and HP model in this roundup includes an Ethernet port.
Mobile printing apps (Brother Mobile Connect, HP Smart, Canon PRINT) handle setup, monitoring, and printing from phones. In my testing, Brother Mobile Connect is the most reliable for both iOS and Android. HP Smart works well but pushes HP+ account signup, which some users find annoying.
Security features for sensitive data include PIN release (print jobs only release when you enter a code at the printer), IP filtering (restrict which devices can send print jobs), and TLS encryption (scramble data in transit). The Brother HL-L6210DW includes Triple Layer Security that covers all three. For businesses printing contracts with personally identifiable information, PIN release is worth the upgrade.
Subscription Programs: Brother Refresh EZ Print vs HP Instant Ink
Subscription programs can lower toner costs for predictable print volumes, but the fine print matters. Brother Refresh EZ Print and HP Instant Ink take different approaches, and one of them has earned a flood of negative reviews on Reddit.
Brother Refresh EZ Print ships replacement toner cartridges automatically when your printer reports low toner. You pay a monthly fee based on pages printed, and unused pages roll over. There is no DRM; you can still buy third-party cartridges or Brother genuine cartridges outright. The program is opt-in, not mandatory, and Brother printers work perfectly fine without it.
HP Instant Ink ties your printer to an HP account. You choose a page tier, pay monthly, and HP ships cartridges. The downside is that HP firmware blocks third-party cartridges, so if you cancel Instant Ink, you either subscribe again or pay premium prices for HP original cartridges. Reddit threads about HP toner lockout run hundreds of comments deep, with business owners feeling trapped in subscriptions they did not want.
For most small businesses, Brother Refresh EZ Print is the safer bet. It saves money without locking you in, and you keep the freedom to buy toner however you want. If your print volume is highly unpredictable, skip the subscription entirely and buy high-yield cartridges as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are LaserJet printers being phased out?
No. LaserJet printers are not being phased out in 2026. HP, Brother, Canon, and Xerox all continue to release new laser models each year. While inkjet technology has improved, laser printers still win on cost per page, speed, and reliability for businesses printing 200+ pages per month. Major publications like Wirecutter and PCMag continue to recommend laser printers as the best choice for small business printing in 2026.
What is the best printer for a small printing business?
The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the best overall laser printer for a small printing business in 2026, with 36 ppm print speed, 3-in-1 functionality (print, scan, copy), 50-page auto document feeder, and dual-band Wi-Fi. For color printing, the Brother MFC-L3720CDW adds fax and a color touchscreen. For high-volume operations printing 5,000+ pages monthly, the Brother MFC-L5915DW delivers 50 ppm speed with ultra high-yield 18,000-page toner cartridges.
Which brand is best for laser printers?
Brother is the most recommended laser printer brand on Reddit and in our testing for small business use. Brother printers offer no subscription requirement, third-party cartridge compatibility, and long-term durability with units from 2002-2010 still in service according to user reports. Canon imageCLASS models earn praise for build quality and 3-year warranties. HP laser printers produce excellent output but block third-party cartridges via firmware, which has generated significant frustration among small business owners. For most buyers, Brother offers the best balance of price, performance, and toner flexibility.
What is replacing laser printers?
Nothing has fully replaced laser printers for small business use in 2026. LED printers (which work similarly to laser but use light-emitting diodes instead of a laser beam) are an alternative from Brother and OKI, but the technology is essentially the same family. High-end inkjet workgroup printers from Epson and HP can match laser cost per page in some scenarios, but they still suffer from ink drying and printhead clogging when printers sit unused. For most small businesses printing 200 to 10,000 pages per month, laser remains the most reliable and cost-effective choice.
What is the best color laser printer for a small business?
The Brother MFC-L3720CDW is the best color laser printer for a small business on a budget, with print, scan, copy, and fax in one unit plus a 3.5-inch color touchscreen. For higher color volume (1,000+ color pages per month), the Canon Color imageCLASS MF753Cdw II delivers 35 ppm color speed and a 3-year warranty. For occasional color with low total volume, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw works but locks you into HP original toner cartridges due to firmware restrictions.
Final Verdict: Which Laser Printer Should You Buy?
After 90 days of testing 10 laser printers across real small business workflows, the Brother DCP-L2640DW earns our top pick as the best laser printer for small business owners. It hits 36 ppm, scans and copies through a 50-page ADF, and stays connected on dual-band Wi-Fi. The 3,850 reviews and 4.1-star rating confirm what my own testing showed: this printer just works, day after day, without the toner lock-in frustrations that plague HP models.
If you need fax and a touchscreen for cloud workflows, the Brother MFC-L2820DW is the smart upgrade. If you print under 1,500 pages a month and do not need scanning, the Brother HL-L2405W delivers the lowest cost of entry in this roundup. For color, the Brother MFC-L3720CDW covers brochures and marketing materials without breaking the budget. For high-volume operations, the Brother MFC-L5915DW delivers 50 ppm speed and 18,000-page toner economics.
Whatever you choose, stick with genuine or reputable third-party toner cartridges. The Brother models in this roundup all support third-party toner without firmware blocks, which keeps your long-term running costs predictable. If you are setting up a small office in 2026, any of these 10 picks will serve you well for the next five years.