Buying Guide for the Best Brother Business Printer
Choosing the right business printer means balancing features with your office's daily needs. Think about what you print most often, how many people will share the printer, and whether speed or high-quality printing matters more. Printers come with various features that can make your work life easier, so knowing which ones suit your situation will help you make a smart decision.Print Speed (Pages Per Minute, PPM)Print speed tells you how many pages a printer can produce in one minute. In a business environment, this is important because a faster printer can help teams stay productive, especially when many people need to print throughout the day. Low speeds (up to 20 ppm) may be sufficient for small groups or occasional printing, while medium speeds (20-40 ppm) fit most small to medium offices. Higher speeds (40 ppm and above) are best for large teams or environments with constant printing. If your office often prints big documents or needs to avoid bottlenecks at the printer, look for higher print speeds.
Print Volume (Monthly Duty Cycle)Print volume, or the monthly duty cycle, shows how much the printer is designed to handle over the course of a month. This is important to ensure the printer won't wear out quickly or break down with heavy use. Printers with a low duty cycle are meant for light use, while those with high duty cycles can withstand frequent, large print jobs. Match the printer's monthly duty cycle with your own usage estimates—if your office prints thousands of pages a month, choose one built for that load, while lower numbers work for lighter tasks.
Connectivity OptionsConnectivity refers to how you connect your devices to the printer. Common options include USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and sometimes Bluetooth. Modern business printers often have several connectivity options to allow multiple people to print from their computers, laptops, or mobile devices. Wired connections like Ethernet provide stable, fast access in fixed locations, while Wi-Fi is great for wireless offices or remote printing. Think about how your team works—if you need flexible, mobile printing, prioritize wireless features; for a fixed office with tight security, Ethernet may be better.
Print Quality (Resolution)Print quality, measured in DPI (dots per inch), indicates how sharp and detailed your documents will look. Higher DPI means more detail, which is important for jobs involving images, graphics, or professional-looking presentations. For most text documents, standard resolution is enough (around 600 x 600 DPI). If your office prints marketing materials, photos, or fine graphics, go for higher resolutions (1200 DPI or more). Choose the quality level that matches the kind of documents you produce most.
Duplex Printing (Automatic Two-Sided Printing)Duplex printing means the printer can automatically print on both sides of a page. This saves paper, is good for the environment, and looks more professional in reports and booklets. Not all printers have this feature. If your business prints large documents or likes to save on paper, seek out duplex-capable machines. Otherwise, it's not essential for basic printing needs.
Paper Handling and Tray CapacityPaper handling refers to the types and amounts of paper the printer can manage. Tray capacity indicates how many sheets the input and output trays can hold at once. In busy offices, higher tray capacities mean less time spent refilling paper and fewer interruptions. Some printers also handle different paper sizes and types, like envelopes or labels. Pick a printer whose tray can hold more than your typical print job requires, and check that it can handle any special paper you might use.
Scanner and Copier FeaturesMany business printers come with built-in scanners and copiers, making them all-in-one machines. These features are valuable if your team needs to digitize documents, make quick copies, or send scans directly to email or the cloud. If you often scan batches of pages, look for an automatic document feeder (ADF). Assess whether scanning and copying are part of your routine—if so, all-in-one capability streamlines your workflow.