Rent or lease a copier if you would rather pay a monthly amount than pay for the machine in one go. Choose a month-to-month agreement if you are not sure how long you will need it. Buy if you want to own the copier and have the money set aside.
Outsource Digital, a Platinum Toshiba Dealer serving South African businesses since 2004, rents Toshiba e-STUDIO multifunction copiers month to month or on 24, 36, 48 or 60-month terms through APEX Rental Finance, and also sells them outright.
Are renting, leasing and hiring a copier the same thing?
In everyday talk, yes. People search for copier rental, copier leasing, copier hire or a copy machine lease, and they nearly always mean one thing: paying monthly to use a copier instead of buying it. At Outsource Digital each one is a rental agreement, and a lease is simply a rental over a longer term.
The label matters less than the agreement itself. The agreement sets out how long it runs and what is covered, so read it before you sign.
What is a month-to-month copier rental?
A month-to-month agreement runs from one month to the next, instead of for a fixed number of years. Outsource Digital offers month-to-month agreements as well as longer-term rentals on copiers.
Month to month can suit:
- A new business that does not yet know how much it will print.
- A temporary office, a site office or a project with an end date.
- A business that expects to move, grow or shrink soon.
When does a longer-term rental make sense?
A longer-term rental suits a settled business. If you know where your office will be and roughly how much you print, there is little reason to keep your options open month by month. You choose the copier that fits, agree the term upfront (24, 36, 48 or 60 months), and pay one monthly amount over that term.
After the initial rental period you have the option to buy the equipment at a discounted rate, or to carry on renting.
Rental finance has its own rules about which businesses qualify, such as how long the company has traded. If your business is new, ask us about demo units.
When does buying make sense?
Buying means the copier belongs to your business from the start. It costs more upfront, but there is no rental agreement to manage. It can suit a business that prefers to own its equipment and has the money available now.
If you buy, ask how servicing and toner will work afterwards. Our own technicians service the copiers we install, and toner and servicing are covered by a service level agreement.
How do the options compare?
- Month-to-month rental. A monthly amount, with the most freedom to change your mind.
- Longer-term rental or lease. A monthly amount over an agreed term, for a business that knows what it needs.
- Buying. One payment upfront, and the machine is yours.
Which one works out cheaper depends on how much you print and how long you keep the machine. None of them is right for everyone. Ask us to quote the options side by side, so you can compare them on paper instead of guessing.
Does the size of copier change the decision?
It changes which copier you rent or buy, not how you pay for it. You choose from the same Toshiba e-STUDIO range either way:
- Desktop copiers for a small office. They print up to A4.
- Floor-standing copiers for most offices. They print A4 and A3, hold more paper and cope with more people sending jobs at once.
- High-volume copiers for a busy office or a print room.
Every size comes in colour and in black-and-white. If you are not sure which size you need, tell us how many people share the copier and roughly how many pages you print a month, and we will match a series to it.
What stays the same whichever you choose?
The copier and the people behind it. We install the copier on your network and set up scan-to-email and scan-to-folder. Our own technicians service the machines we install, from our head office in Midrand, Gauteng, and our Nelspruit branch in Mpumalanga, with agents and support nationwide.
Under the copier service agreement, a technician is on site within 4 to 8 working hours of your call, and if your copier cannot be repaired quickly, we bring a loan copier. Toner is sent automatically before it runs out.
How do I decide?
Answer three questions honestly:
- How long are you sure you will need this copier?
- Would you rather keep your cash in the business, or own the machine?
- Who do you want to look after servicing and toner?
Then WhatsApp us on 011 466 8510 with roughly how many pages you print a month, and whether you need colour or A3. We reply with a quote to rent, lease or buy. You can also read more about rental finance for office equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Is leasing a copier different from renting one?
Most people use the two words for the same thing: paying monthly to use a copier. At Outsource Digital it is a rental agreement, arranged through APEX Rental Finance. A lease is a rental over a longer term.
Can I rent a copier month to month?
Yes. Outsource Digital offers month-to-month agreements, and longer-term rentals of 24, 36, 48 or 60 months.
Can I buy the copier at the end of a rental?
Yes. After the initial rental period you can buy the equipment at a discounted rate, or carry on renting.
Can I buy a copier outright instead?
Yes. Every Toshiba e-STUDIO copier we supply can be bought or rented.