The Best Multifunction Printer for Small Business

Every small business relies on a multifunction printer to handle printing, scanning, copying, and sometimes faxing.

Whether you run a home office, a startup, or a growing team, the right all-in-one printer can save time, reduce costs, and keep your workflow smooth.

But with so many models on the market, from budget inkjets to high-speed color lasers, it can be hard to know which one truly fits your needs.

We’ve researched the top contenders for 2026, evaluating each model against consistent criteria including print speed, cost per page, connectivity, paper handling, and security features.

Our team of editors analyzed specifications, expert review consensus, and verified buyer feedback to assign a BP Score on a 0, 10 scale.

Below you’ll find our top picks for the best multifunction printer for small business, followed by a detailed buying guide to help you make the right choice.

Best Multifunction Printer for Small Business Buying Guide

Print Speed and Volume

For a small business, print speed directly affects productivity. Look for a printer that can handle your typical daily volume without bottlenecks. Monochrome laser printers often reach 30, 40 pages per minute (ppm), while color lasers may be slightly slower.

If you frequently print multi-page documents or reports, a model with a high ppm rating and a fast first-page-out time will keep your team moving.

For high-volume needs, consider a dedicated high-volume printer that offers larger paper trays and robust duty cycles.

Check the recommended monthly page volume, a printer rated for 2,000, 5,000 pages per month is ideal for most small offices. Exceeding that regularly may lead to wear and higher maintenance costs.

Also, note whether the printer supports automatic duplexing, which saves paper and speeds up two-sided jobs.

Cost Per Page and Toner Efficiency

One of the biggest ongoing expenses for any business is consumables. When comparing multifunction printers, look beyond the purchase price and calculate the cost per page (CPP). Laser printers generally have a lower CPP than inkjets, especially for black-and-white documents.

Many manufacturers offer high-yield toner cartridges that reduce per-page costs significantly. Our guide to printer cost per page supplies and toner breaks down the math for popular models.

Also consider whether the printer uses separate toner cartridges for each color (CMYK) vs. a combined color cartridge. Separate cartridges let you replace only the empty color, reducing waste.

For businesses that print mostly text, a monochrome laser is usually the most economical choice, while color lasers are worth the extra cost for marketing materials or client presentations.

Connectivity and Mobile Printing

Modern small businesses need flexible connectivity. Look for printers with built-in Wi-Fi (dual-band preferred), Ethernet, and USB ports. Wireless printing from smartphones and tablets is essential, Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print (or Mopria), and Wi-Fi Direct are common features.

Some models also include NFC for tap-to-print. If your team works remotely, a printer with cloud integration (e.g., HP Smart, Brother Connect) allows printing from anywhere.

For mobile workers, check out mobile printer options that pair seamlessly with iPhones and iPads.

Ethernet connectivity remains important for wired office networks, providing stable and fast data transfer. If your office uses a network with multiple users, a printer with Ethernet and a built-in print server is preferable.

Some models also support USB host ports for printing directly from flash drives.

Paper Handling and Duplexing

Paper handling capacity is crucial to avoid constant refills. A standard input tray of 250 sheets is common, but some business printers offer 500+ sheet trays or optional add-on trays.

Look for a model with a multipurpose tray for envelopes, cardstock, or labels. Automatic document feeders (ADF) are a must for scanning multi-page documents, choose a duplex ADF to scan both sides in one pass.

For heavy scanning needs, a double-sided scanner can significantly boost efficiency.

If your business prints on various media sizes (e.g., legal, A4, envelopes), ensure the printer supports those sizes and has adjustable guides. Some models also offer a rear manual feed slot for specialty media.

Duplex printing is standard on most business lasers; verify that the printer supports automatic two-sided printing without manual intervention.

Security Features

In a small business environment, protecting sensitive documents is paramount. Look for printers with secure printing options, such as PIN release or badge authentication, to prevent unauthorized pickups.

Some models offer encrypted hard drives, secure network protocols (HTTPS, IPsec), and firmware integrity checks. For offices that handle confidential client data, a printer with advanced security features is non-negotiable.

Our review of monochrome multifunction laser printers includes models with robust security suites designed for small teams.

Also consider the manufacturer’s security update policy, regular firmware updates help patch vulnerabilities. For businesses that store scanned documents on the printer’s internal storage, models with encrypted storage or automatic data overwrite add an extra layer of protection.

Why You Should Trust Us

At BestProducts, we are committed to providing independent, research-driven recommendations.

Each product in this guide is scored using our proprietary BP Score (0, 10), which is based on a thorough analysis of specifications, expert review consensus, verified buyer feedback, and published data from reputable sources.

We do not conduct our own product trials; our evaluations are grounded in research, published data, expert review consensus, and verified buyer feedback. Our editorial team has no financial ties to any manufacturer, and we clearly disclose our affiliate relationships.

This approach ensures that every recommendation is objective and trustworthy.

Final Thoughts

After evaluating dozens of models, we’ve selected the following as the best multifunction printers for small business based on their BP Scores and real-world performance across our criteria.

• Best Overall: Xerox C235dni Wireless Color Laser All-in-One Printer, With a near-perfect BP Score, this model delivers fast color printing, robust security, and excellent paper handling, making it the top choice for most small businesses.
• Best Monochrome: HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw Wireless Black and White All-in-One Laser Printer, This HP model offers exceptional print speed, low cost per page, and reliable duplexing, perfect for offices that primarily print documents.
• Best for Color Printing: Brother MFC-L8930CDW Business Color Laser All-in-One Printer, With advanced security features and high-yield cartridges, this Brother printer is ideal for teams that need vibrant color prints without breaking the budget.
• Best Value: Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Printer, Offering a high BP Score at a competitive price point, this compact Brother model provides solid performance for small offices with limited space.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best multifunction printer for a small business?

The best multifunction printer for a small business depends on your specific needs. For most offices, a color laser model like the Xerox C235dni offers the best balance of speed, print quality, and features.

If your primary need is black-and-white printing, a monochrome laser such as the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw provides the lowest cost per page.

We recommend reviewing our top picks above and comparing them against your typical print volume, media types, and budget.

For businesses that also require high-quality scanning, consider a model with a duplex ADF and advanced scan-to-cloud features. Our guide to scanners for every workspace can help you evaluate scanning capabilities separately if that’s a priority.

How do I choose between a laser and an inkjet printer for my small business?

Laser printers are generally faster, more durable, and have a lower cost per page for text documents, making them ideal for high-volume printing.

Inkjet printers can produce better color quality for photos and graphics, but they often have higher ongoing costs and slower speeds. For a small business that prints mostly documents and occasional color, a color laser is a solid choice.

If you need photo-quality prints or print very low volumes, a high-yield inkjet might be more cost-effective. Check our color printer guide for more detailed comparisons.

What should I look for in a printer for a small office?

Key factors include print speed (pages per minute), paper capacity, automatic duplexing, connectivity options (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile printing), and security features. Also consider the total cost of ownership, including toner or ink prices and the printer’s duty cycle.

A model with a high BP Score, like the ones in our list, typically excels across these criteria. For smaller workspaces, a compact model like the Brother DCP-L2640DW saves desk space without sacrificing functionality.

How important is duplex printing for a small business printer?

Duplex (automatic two-sided) printing is very important for a small business because it cuts paper usage in half, reduces costs, and is more environmentally friendly. It also speeds up the printing of multi-page documents.

Most modern business laser printers include duplex as a standard feature. If you frequently produce reports, proposals, or manuals, duplex printing is a must.

For scanning, a duplex ADF is equally valuable, it lets you scan both sides of a document in one pass, saving time.

What is the average cost per page for a business printer?

The cost per page varies widely by technology and cartridge yield. For monochrome laser printers, the CPP typically ranges from 2 to 4 cents per page.

Color laser printers can cost 10 to 20 cents per page for color prints, though high-yield cartridges can lower that figure. Inkjet printers often have a higher CPP for color, sometimes exceeding 20 cents per page.

Our cost-per-page guide provides detailed breakdowns for popular models. Always factor in the long-term cost when choosing a printer.

Do I need a dedicated scanner if I have a multifunction printer?

For most small businesses, the scanning function of a multifunction printer is sufficient, especially if it includes an automatic document feeder and duplex scanning.

However, if you scan large volumes of documents, need high-resolution scans for archival, or require specialized features like OCR or cloud integration, a dedicated scanner may be a better investment.

Our roundup of double-sided scanners can help you decide if a separate scanner is right for your workflow.

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