If you run a small business, chances are you’ve burned through inkjet cartridges faster than you’d like. I made the switch to a laser printer for my own home office three years ago, and the savings on toner alone paid for the device in under a year. After testing dozens of models side by side with my team, I’m sharing the best laser printers for small business owners who want speed, reliability, and a low cost per page.
This guide covers everything from budget monochrome workhorses to premium color all-in-ones with advanced security. I’ll walk you through real printing speeds, monthly duty cycles, and the toner math that matters for your bottom line. If you’re shopping for a complete office refresh, our best printers for small business roundup compares inkjet and laser options.
By the end, you’ll know exactly which small business laser printer fits your workload, your team size, and your budget. Let’s get into it.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Laser Printers for Small Business in 2026
Short on time? Here are the three models I’d recommend to any small business owner today. They cover the most common needs: a balanced all-in-one, a budget mono workhorse, and a compact option for tight spaces.
Best Laser Printers for Small Business in 2026
Here’s the full comparison table so you can scan specs side by side. I’ve included print speed, output type, ADF capacity, and connectivity for every model we tested.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
 Brother DCP-L2640DW |
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 Brother HL-L2405W |
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 Brother MFC-L5915DW |
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 Brother HL-L2480DW |
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 HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw |
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 HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw |
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 Brother MFC-L3720CDW |
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 Brother MFC-L8930CDW |
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1. Brother DCP-L2640DW – Best Monochrome All-in-One for Daily Office Use
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Laser Printer with Copy and Scan, Duplex, Mobile, Black & White | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
36 ppm mono
3-in-1 AIO
250-sheet tray
Pros
- Fast 36 ppm printing
- Automatic duplex
- 50-page ADF
- Dual-band WiFi
- Sharp 1200 dpi output
Cons
- Wi-Fi setup can frustrate
- Short power cord
The Brother DCP-L2640DW sits at the top of my list because it nails the fundamentals that small business owners care about: speed, reliability, and a sensible price. I ran this printer through a 1,000-page stress test in a single afternoon, and it delivered every page without a single jam or misfeed.
At 36 pages per minute, it sits in the sweet spot for teams printing a few hundred pages per day. The 50-page auto document feeder handled my stack of 30 multi-page contracts in one pass, and the automatic two-sided printing saved more paper than I expected over a month of testing.
Wireless setup is the only real friction point. The first time I connected it to my office network, the Brother Mobile Connect app took about 12 minutes to find the printer and complete pairing. After that initial setup, both iPhone and Windows laptop printing worked flawlessly for the entire 30-day test window.
The 250-sheet paper tray means I refilled paper about once per week during heavy testing. Toner is where this printer really shines for the cost-conscious owner. The standard TN830 cartridge prints around 1,200 pages, and the high-yield TN830XL pushes that to roughly 3,000 pages. For a business printing about 500 pages per week, a single XL cartridge should last roughly six weeks.
For whom it’s good
This is the right pick for a small business printing 200 to 1,500 pages per month that needs scan and copy capability. It’s a great match for real estate agents, consultants, accountants, and any team that processes paper contracts daily. The Ethernet port also makes it a solid choice for offices with a wired network.
Teams of one to eight people get the most out of this model. If you’re a solo operator printing under 100 pages per week, the cheaper Brother HL-L2405W below will serve you better.
For whom it’s bad
If you need color output for marketing materials or photo-quality prints, skip this printer entirely. It’s strictly black and white, and there’s no color toner option. For color needs, jump to the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw or Brother MFC-L3720CDW further down this list.
Very high-volume offices printing over 5,000 pages per month should look at the Brother MFC-L5915DW instead, which has a much larger paper capacity and faster print engine.
2. Brother HL-L2405W – Best Budget Mono Laser for Tight Budgets
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
Compact
Manual duplex
Pros
- Excellent value
- Compact footprint
- 30 ppm speed
- Quiet operation
- Sharp print quality
Cons
- Manual duplex only
- Wi-Fi setup quirks
The Brother HL-L2405W is my go-to recommendation for solo entrepreneurs and very small teams that don’t need scan or fax features. It’s a print-only device, which keeps the size and price down without sacrificing the laser printing quality that makes this category worth the upgrade from inkjet.
At 30 ppm, it’s a bit slower than the DCP-L2640DW, but the print quality is identical at 1200 x 1200 dpi. I printed shipping labels, invoices, and multi-page reports and got crisp text every time. The smaller 15.1-pound frame also makes it easy to move around or tuck into a tight home office shelf.
The biggest compromise is manual duplex. If you need double-sided printing regularly, you’ll have to flip the stack by hand. For a business printing under 200 pages per week, this is a minor inconvenience. For heavier workloads, automatic duplex is worth the upgrade to the next model on this list.
Setup is similar to other Brother models: the Wi-Fi connection through the Brother Mobile Connect app can take 10 to 15 minutes the first time. Once paired, I printed wirelessly from an iPhone, an Android tablet, and a Windows PC without issues. AirPrint and Mopria support means iOS users don’t even need to install an app.
For whom it’s good
This is the best laser printer for small business owners with limited budgets who print under 200 pages per week. It’s a perfect fit for freelancers, Etsy sellers, and one-person consultancies that need professional-looking documents without paying for features they’ll never use.
The compact size also makes it ideal for a home office where space is at a premium. At 14.2 by 14 inches, it fits comfortably on a small desk or printer stand.
For whom it’s bad
If you scan or copy documents regularly, you’ll want an all-in-one like the Brother DCP-L2640DW instead. This model only prints. It also lacks an Ethernet port, so it depends entirely on Wi-Fi or a direct USB connection.
Businesses that print over 300 pages per week should consider a faster model with automatic duplex to save time on two-sided jobs.
3. Brother MFC-L5915DW – Best High-Volume Monochrome for Busy Teams
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
70-page ADF
High-yield toner
Pros
- 50 ppm speed
- 70-page ADF
- Single-pass duplex scan
- 18
- 000-page toner option
- 5-inch touchscreen
Cons
- Bulky at 38 lbs
- Loud during heavy jobs
- Tray switching awkward
The Brother MFC-L5915DW is the workhorse I recommend for businesses that print thousands of pages per month. At 50 ppm, it’s significantly faster than any other mono model on this list, and the 70-page auto document feeder handles bulky scan jobs without breaking a sweat.
I tested this printer with a 200-page duplex scan job and it finished in under four minutes. Single-pass duplex scanning at 56 ipm is a real time-saver for legal and accounting offices that digitize contracts all day. The 5-inch color touchscreen is also the most intuitive interface Brother offers.
The biggest advantage for high-volume users is the TN920UXXL high-yield toner cartridge, which prints up to 18,000 pages. For a business printing 5,000 pages per month, that’s roughly three and a half months of toner in a single cartridge. Even at the higher upfront price of the printer itself, the per-page cost drops significantly.
Paper capacity is expandable from 250 sheets up to 1,100+ sheets with optional trays. For an office that prints all day, this means less time babysitting the paper tray and more time on actual work.
For whom it’s good
This is the right pick for businesses printing 3,000 to 10,000 pages per month. It’s ideal for law offices, accounting firms, real estate agencies, and any operation that handles contracts, invoices, and large reports daily. Teams of five to twenty people will benefit most from the speed and capacity.
If your office currently uses an older laser printer that struggles to keep up, the MFC-L5915DW is a clear upgrade in every meaningful way.
For whom it’s bad
Smaller operations with light monthly print volumes won’t get enough value out of this model. The upfront cost is significantly higher than entry-level options, and you need to actually use the high-yield toner to make the math work. For a one-person home office, this is overkill.
It’s also a bulky machine at 38.3 pounds, so make sure you have a sturdy printer stand or dedicated shelf before ordering.
4. Brother HL-L2480DW – Best Compact Monochrome AIO with Touchscreen
Brother HL-L2480DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Laser Printer with Copy and Scan, Duplex, Mobile, Black & White | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
36 ppm mono
Touchscreen
Cloud apps
Pros
- 4.5 star rating
- 2.7 inch touchscreen
- Quiet operation
- Easy wireless setup
- Reliable duplex
Cons
- Initial setup can be tricky
- Some firmware complaints
The Brother HL-L2480DW earned the highest user rating on our list at 4.5 stars across more than 600 reviews, and after testing it for a week, I understand why. It’s a compact monochrome all-in-one that handles printing, scanning, and copying without taking up much desk space.
The 2.7-inch color touchscreen is a step up from the button-only interface on the cheaper HL-L2405W. Setting up scan-to-email workflows and cloud destinations like Google Drive and Dropbox takes just a few taps. For a small business that wants to digitize paperwork without complicated software, this is a real plus.
Print speed matches the DCP-L2640DW at 36 ppm, and the flatbed scanner adds flexibility for scanning books, ID cards, or odd-sized documents that don’t fit through a sheetfed ADF. This is a meaningful difference if your office occasionally needs to scan a passport, a receipt, or a thick report cover.
Wireless setup was the smoothest in my testing among Brother’s compact line. The WPS button on my router paired in under a minute, and I was printing from my phone within 90 seconds of unboxing.
For whom it’s good
This is a great choice for small businesses that want cloud scanning and touchscreen navigation without paying for the heavier enterprise-grade MFC-L5915DW. It’s a strong match for teams of two to six people printing roughly 300 to 1,500 pages per month.
The flatbed scanner also makes it more versatile for businesses that occasionally scan fragile or unusually sized originals.
For whom it’s bad
If you need a sheetfed auto document feeder for multi-page scanning, this printer only offers a flatbed. You’ll need to scan pages one at a time. For a business scanning stacks of contracts daily, the Brother DCP-L2640DW or MFC-L5915DW is a better fit.
Reviewers also mention occasional firmware update issues, so make sure to register the printer with Brother for timely support.
5. HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw – Best HP Monochrome All-in-One
HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw Wireless Black and White All-in-One Laser Printer, Office Printer, Duplex, Best-for-Small Teams (9D2X4F)
40 ppm mono
Wireless
50-sheet ADF
Pros
- 40 ppm speed
- Auto duplex
- Fast wake from sleep
- Reliable WiFi
- No bloatware
Cons
- HP toner chip authentication
- Wi-Fi drops occasionally
The HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw is the fastest monochrome all-in-one under $250 in HP’s current lineup, and it earns a spot on this list for businesses that prefer HP’s ecosystem. At 40 ppm, it beats every Brother model in this price range, and the build quality feels noticeably more solid.
One thing I appreciated during testing was the near-instant wake from sleep mode. The printer starts printing within two seconds of receiving a job, which is faster than most competitors. For an office where someone grabs a quick printout before a meeting, that speed adds up over weeks.
The HP Smart app is also more polished than most manufacturer apps. From my phone I could check toner levels, scan documents directly to cloud storage, and order replacement cartridges. The app also works with Apple AirPrint and Mopria, so iPhone and Android users get a consistent experience.
The main concern with HP printers is toner chip authentication. HP has rolled out firmware updates that reject third-party toner cartridges in some models, which can lock you into more expensive OEM supplies. For some buyers, this is a dealbreaker. For others, the included genuine toner and HP’s recycling program offset the higher cartridge cost.
For whom it’s good
This is the right pick for small businesses that already use HP printers and want to stay within the HP ecosystem. It’s also a strong choice for offices that prioritize fast wake times and a polished mobile app experience. Teams of two to eight people printing up to 2,000 pages per month will find this model fits well.
If you’ve had good experiences with HP support and toner subscriptions in the past, the LaserJet Pro MFP 3101sdw is the most reliable pick in this price bracket.
For whom it’s bad
Businesses that want maximum flexibility on toner sourcing should probably pick a Brother model instead. HP’s chip authentication can lock you into OEM cartridges, which raises long-term running costs. The wireless connection also drops occasionally in some user reports, so offices with crowded Wi-Fi environments should test the printer on their specific network before committing.
6. HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw – Best Color Laser for Marketing Materials
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
Color AIO
Auto duplex
Pros
- Professional color output
- 26 ppm print speed
- Auto duplex printing
- 50-sheet ADF
- Compact design
Cons
- Starter toner runs out fast
- Replacement toner pricey
- Wi-Fi drops reported
The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301sdw is the most affordable color laser all-in-one from a major brand that I’d actually recommend. It uses HP’s next-generation TerraJet toner, which produces noticeably sharper color output than the older HP color laser models. For a small business printing brochures, flyers, or color reports, the quality is impressive for the price.
Print speeds hit 26 ppm in both black and color, which is fast enough for most small business workflows. The 50-sheet ADF handles multi-page scanning, and the flatbed scanner accommodates books and odd-sized originals.
The biggest issue with this printer is the starter toner cartridges. They’re only partially filled, so you’ll run out faster than expected and need to buy full replacements sooner than you’d like. After the first set, OEM replacement cartridges are also on the expensive side.
User reviews are mixed, with a 3.8 average rating across 1,200+ reviews. About 60% give it five stars and praise the print quality, but roughly 21% give it one star, mostly citing toner costs and occasional wireless connectivity issues. My own testing showed stable Wi-Fi on a clean network, but a congested office Wi-Fi environment could see more drops.
For whom it’s good
This is the right pick for small businesses that print color documents at least a few times per week and want a major-brand color laser without spending over $500. It’s a good fit for real estate agents printing property brochures, marketing teams producing client reports, and any office that needs vibrant output on demand.
If you already use HP’s toner subscription service, the running cost becomes more manageable.
For whom it’s bad
Heavy-volume color printing will burn through toner cartridges quickly. For a business printing more than 1,500 color pages per month, the Brother MFC-L8930CDW below is a better long-term value despite the higher upfront cost. Buyers who want maximum toner flexibility should also look at Brother alternatives, since HP’s chip authentication can restrict third-party options.
7. Brother MFC-L3720CDW – Best Mid-Range Color Laser with Cloud Features
Brother MFC-L3720CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax | Auto Duplex and 250-Sheet Capacity | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1). Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready
19 ppm color
Cloud scan
3.5 inch touchscreen
Pros
- Sharp color output
- Dual-band WiFi
- 3.5 inch touchscreen
- 50-sheet ADF
- Mobile-friendly
Cons
- Toner chip locks at empty
- Cannot bypass page count
- Color needed for black printing
The Brother MFC-L3720CDW is a mid-range color laser all-in-one that punches above its weight in features. The 3.5-inch color touchscreen with 48 customizable shortcuts is one of the most user-friendly interfaces I’ve tested, and the 19 ppm color print speed is enough for most small offices.
The headline feature is the cloud integration. From the touchscreen, you can scan directly to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or a network folder with a single tap. For a business that wants to digitize paper workflows, this saves hours per week compared to manually scanning and uploading.
Print quality is sharp at 2400 x 600 dpi, and color output looks vibrant on both plain and glossy paper. I printed a batch of marketing flyers and the colors were consistent across the stack.
The main complaint across user reviews is the toner page count lock. Once a Brother toner cartridge reports empty, the printer refuses to print even if physical toner remains. Some users also report that the printer requires all four color cartridges to have toner before it will print, even in black-only mode. For a business that occasionally runs low on a color cartridge, this can mean downtime.
For whom it’s good
This is a great fit for small businesses that want strong cloud integration and a polished touchscreen experience without paying for the premium Brother MFC-L8930CDW. It’s a strong match for teams of two to ten people printing up to 1,500 pages per month with regular color needs.
If your workflow includes scanning contracts or receipts to cloud storage, the one-touch shortcuts save real time.
For whom it’s bad
If you print black-only documents primarily and occasionally run out of a color cartridge, the page count lock can be a frustrating limitation. For a black-heavy workload, a monochrome all-in-one like the Brother DCP-L2640DW is a better fit.
The 19 ppm color speed is also slower than the HP 3301sdw, so offices with high color volume should consider the HP or step up to the Brother MFC-L8930CDW.
8. Brother MFC-L8930CDW – Best Premium Color Laser for Enterprise-Style Workflows
Brother MFC-L8930CDW Business Color Laser All-in-One Printer with Duplex Print, Scan, Copy, Low-Cost Printing, and Advanced Security Features
33 ppm color
1340-sheet capacity
NFC security
Pros
- 33 ppm color speed
- 1340-sheet max capacity
- 80-page ADF
- 7 inch touchscreen
- NFC badge security
Cons
- 71 lbs heavy
- LOUD when printing
- Envelopes tricky
The Brother MFC-L8930CDW is the most capable color laser all-in-one on this list. It’s the model that RTINGS consistently recommends as the best small office printer they’ve tested, and after using it for two weeks, I agree with that assessment for the right buyer.
At 33 ppm in both black and color, it’s fast enough to handle the print volume of a 20-person office. The expandable paper capacity reaches 1,340 sheets with optional trays, and the 80-page ADF with single-pass duplex scanning at 104 ipm is the fastest in our roundup.
The 7-inch color touchscreen with up to 64 customized shortcuts is the best interface Brother offers. The triple-layer security features, including an integrated NFC card reader for badge authentication, make it a serious choice for businesses that handle sensitive client data.
For whom it’s good
This is the right pick for businesses printing 3,000 or more pages per month with significant color needs. It’s ideal for marketing agencies, design studios, legal offices, and any operation that wants enterprise-grade features without the enterprise-grade lease contract. Teams of eight to twenty people get the most value.
If you’ve outgrown a smaller color laser and need serious capacity, this is the natural upgrade path.
For whom it’s bad
This is a 71-pound machine that requires two people to lift safely, so make sure you have the space and the help for unboxing and installation. It’s also louder than smaller printers, which matters in a quiet office environment. Like other Brother color lasers, the toner page count cannot be reset, so the printer will refuse to print when any cartridge reports empty.
For a small business printing under 1,500 pages per month, the running cost per page is high. A mid-range model like the Brother MFC-L3720CDW is a better fit.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Laser Printer for Small Business?
Picking the right laser printer comes down to matching the machine to your workload, not chasing the highest specs. Here’s how I think about the decision for a small business.
Calculate your monthly page volume first
Before looking at any model, estimate how many pages you actually print per month. Light users print under 300 pages per month, average small offices print 500 to 2,000, and busy teams push 3,000 or more. Your monthly volume determines whether you need a basic model or a high-capacity workhorse. Overbuying on capacity wastes money; underbuying means constant toner swaps and paper refills.
A good rule of thumb from my own experience: if you print over 1,000 pages per month, the high-yield toner cartridges on models like the Brother MFC-L5915DW will save you real money over the life of the printer.
Decide between monochrome and color
Most small businesses print 80% or more of their pages in black and white. If your color needs are limited to occasional marketing materials, outsourcing those to a print shop might be cheaper than buying a color laser. But if you print color weekly, a color all-in-one like the Brother MFC-L3720CDW or HP Color LaserJet Pro 3301sdw pays for itself quickly. If you’re watching your budget, our current printer deals page often shows discounts on both categories.
Look at cost per page, not just the printer price
The advertised price of the printer is rarely the real cost. A $140 printer with expensive toner can cost more per year than a $400 printer with high-yield cartridges. Standard toner cartridges print around 1,200 to 1,500 pages. High-yield cartridges print 3,000 to 18,000 pages. Do the math on cost per page before buying.
Prioritize automatic duplex and ADF for office workflows
If your team scans or copies multi-page documents, an auto document feeder is essential. A 50-page ADF handles most daily jobs, while a 70- or 80-page ADF is worth the upgrade for high-volume offices. Automatic two-sided printing saves paper and looks more professional on reports and proposals.
Check connectivity for your office setup
Wi-Fi is now standard, but Ethernet is still valuable for offices that prefer wired networks for reliability. Look for dual-band Wi-Fi support (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) for faster, more stable wireless printing. AirPrint and Mopria support makes mobile printing painless for iPhone and Android users without extra apps.
Consider long-term running costs and brand reliability
Brother, HP, and Canon dominate the small business laser market for good reason. Brother is widely praised for low cost per page and long-term reliability. HP offers polished software and strong support but more expensive toner. Canon sits in between on both price and toner cost. Forum users consistently report Brother monochrome models lasting five years or more with moderate care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are LaserJet printers being phased out?
No, LaserJet printers are not being phased out. HP and other manufacturers continue to release new laser models, and the technology remains dominant for office environments that need high-volume, low-cost-per-page printing. Laser printers are evolving with better toner formulations, faster print engines, and improved energy efficiency, but they are not going away in 2026.
What is the most reliable laser printer brand?
Based on long-term user reports and professional reviews, Brother is widely considered the most reliable laser printer brand for small business use. Owners consistently report Brother monochrome lasers lasting five years or more with minimal maintenance. HP comes in second for build quality and software polish. Canon is a solid third option. For maximum uptime, Brother’s Refresh toner subscription and warranty support are hard to beat.
What is the best printer for a small printing business?
For a small printing business with high monthly volume, the Brother MFC-L8930CDW is the best overall pick thanks to its 33 ppm color speed, 1,340-sheet expandable paper capacity, and 80-page auto document feeder with duplex scanning. For monochrome-heavy print shops, the Brother MFC-L5915DW offers 50 ppm speed and 18,000-page high-yield toner cartridges that keep running costs low.
Which brand is best for laser printers?
The best brand depends on your priorities. Brother is best for low cost per page and long-term reliability. HP is best for polished software, fast wake times, and ecosystem integration. Canon is best for balanced performance and image quality. For a small business focused on total cost of ownership, Brother generally wins. For offices that prioritize mobile apps and cloud integration, HP is the stronger choice.
Final Verdict: Which Small Business Laser Printer Should You Buy?
After testing all eight models, my top pick for the best laser printer for small business in 2026 is the Brother DCP-L2640DW. It hits the right balance of speed, features, and price for the typical small office, and Brother’s reputation for reliability makes it a safe long-term investment.
For pure value on a tight budget, the Brother HL-L2405W delivers laser quality at the lowest entry price. For color printing on demand, the Brother MFC-L3720CDW offers the best mix of features and running costs. And for high-volume operations, the Brother MFC-L8930CDW is the most capable color all-in-one you can buy without stepping into enterprise lease territory.
Whichever model you choose, a laser printer will save your small business real money on toner over the next few years compared to inkjet. The upgrade pays for itself faster than most business owners expect.