Before purchasing a fax machine, there are much considerations to make. With the right parameters, you can correctly scale a fax machine so as to buy the right one for your needs. What constitutes the best fax machine for small business? The fax machine that will give you a long service and has the latest features is what you need. Choose one that offers a fast print and good resolution. A machine that protects your data and has a large paper tray capacity and is easy to use will be right to grow your business.
Fax machines come with different feature packs and qualities making it more challenging to choose the best one. Buy the model with all the features that will efficiently serve your business and save you on operation cost. This guide has tips to help you make the right purchasing decision.
Best Fax Machines for Small Business Reviews:
10. Canon FAXPHONE L190 Multifunction Laser Fax Machine
All your paper printing and copying needs are handled in one convenient and compact machine called the FAXPHONE L190. You can fax, print, copy, and scan from this fast and durable machine. It prints at 26 pages per minute speed and has duplex printing to save you paper and related resources. The tray can handle 250 sheets and up to 50 sheets in the duplex automatic document feeder. It packs so many features you will love the convenience.
9. Canon imageCLASS MF247dw Wireless, Multifunction, Duplex Laser Printer
Any small business will appreciate what this compact all-in-one printer can do. It has high-quality output and is feature-rich. Print, copy, scan, and fax from the convenience of one product. No need to fill your limited desk space with devices when one can perform all the functions. It integrates various mobile solutions to make it easy to print and print at a speed of 28 pages per minute in black and white. Adding that, it prints duplex without the need for any setting and supports Google cloud print, AirPrint, Mopria print among others.
See Also: 10 Best Copiers For Small Business
8. Brother FAX-2840 High Speed Mono Laser Fax Machine
Experience the convenience of working with a compact all-in-one printer. It is fast and features a 16mb memory and 20-page auto document feeder capacity for copying and faxing multiple pages. The IntelliFAX-2840 can broadcast up to 272 locations and hold a 200speed dial locations. It can receive fax and voice on the same line. It has a 33.6K bps modem and a USB interface for printing. Its paper tray can hold up to 250 sheets to lower your reloading needs and the risk of a paper outage.
7. Brother MFCL2700DW All-In-One Laser Printer
Nothing beats the Brother MFC-L2700DW in speed and efficiency for a small business or home office. It has a compact desk friendly design to suit small spaces. The machine will print, scan, copy, and fax sharp outputs at up to 2400 x 600 dpi resolution. It can scan from the scan glass or the automatic document feeder, so you do not waste any time. It is perfect for those who need to digitize, duplicate or share documents. Its fast 27 pages per minute speed and automatic duplex printing make it ideal for any small business.
6. Canon MF416dw Imageclass Wireless Monochrome Printer
Give your small business a boost with the Canon imageCLASS MF416dw. It brings durability, functionality, and a high-quality, reliable printer. It is feature-rich to serve a busy office environment fully. This machine has print, scan, copy, and fax capabilities all in one compact product that fits small office spaces.
It features various mobile solutions and security features to make your work a breeze. Print at a speed of 35 pages per minute. It is set for duplex printing to save paper and other costs. It effortlessly creates images of small double-sided documents like an ID on a single page. The password protection feature can manage up to 300 IDs to help you manage usage.
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5. Brother Printer MFC7240 Monochrome Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax
Get one laser printer for all your home office or small business needs. The MFC-7240 is an affordable printer that combines high-quality monochrome printing, copying, scanning, and faxing into one compact and reliable machine. It can print up to 21 pages per minute and has a large 250-sheet tray capacity so no frequent refills or paper outage. The auto document feeder has a 20-page capacity. You will love the print quality of up to 600 x 2400 dpi.
4. Brother MFCL2740DW Wireless Monochrome Printer
Get working with this easy to install compact laser fax printer. Set up the wireless networking quickly and starts printing from your computer, mobile device or receiving a fax. It is fast and reliable for a small business or home office, and it prints monochrome and has a compact built to fit small office spaces while performing multiple duties. Especially, it features the timesaving single-pass duplex faxing, copying, and scanning from its automatic document feeder. The machine prints so fast, at 32 pages per minute to save you time and supports wireless printing from a networked device or mobile device.
3. Brother MFC9130CW Wireless All-In-One Printer
This reliable all-in-one color printer will efficiently serve your small business. It features the big business technology like wireless connectivity, 3.7-inch color TouchScreen Display al packed into a compact product to fit your small business. MFC9130CW produces brilliant copies and prints to help your business make an instant positive impression to stand out in the crowd. Especially, it is capable of scanning to various network and cloud destinations and sends/receives faces too.
It comes with a one-year warranty and lifetime phone support. It prints 600 x 2400 dpi and can send documents via email or load photos directly to your Picasa or Facebook accounts among other places. Experience Google cloud printing, AirPrint, and Wi-Fi direct among other modern connectivity solutions.
2. Brother PPF4750E IntelliFax 4750e Business-Class Laser Fax
No more worry about missing faxes due to the paper outage. This fax machine has an eight MB memory to store up to 600 pages. It can also broadcast to a maximum of 282 locations at once if your business sends out the same fax to different recipients. Moreover, it features Quick Scan and Dual-access capabilities meaning you can scan faxes into memory at two seconds per page while the machine is busy receiving or sending faxes. Plus, it is a laser printer capable of printing crisp quality at 15 pages per minute.
It can hold up to 250 sheets and has a 50-page auto document feeder and built to handle demanding business operations. Adding that, it has an optional second 250-sheet paper tray to handle large volumes or loading different paper sizes simultaneously. You can use the machine for printing needs via the USB interface.
1. Brother FAX4100E IntelliFax Plain Paper Laser Fax/Copier
Any small business will love the performance of this high-speed business-class fax machine. It features a high capacity paper tray and an automatic document feeder for faster fax printing and sending. It produces prints at a fast speed and in high print quality.
You can even use it as a black and white printer with a speed of 15 pages per minute through the USB parallel interface. It can do fax at 3 seconds per page and produce 60 dpi of print quality. Simply resize documents from 50 to 200 percent with the push of a button.
Types of Fax Machine:
Inkjet Fax machines
This type produces relatively crisp text at a low cost and is a good choice for those who receive less than 30 faxes a day. It is suited for home or small business applications.
Laser fax machines
If you want a higher print speed then this is the best option. They use LED printing and can produce high-quality images and serve heavy-duty printing.It uses toner to produce crisp images on plain paper quickly. They are easy to maintain and are more expensive than the inkjet types.
Thermal transfer fax machines
This technology uses heat to transfer ink from a ribbon to print on plain paper. They are fairly reliable and inexpensive, making them suitable for home or small business use. They, however, experience mediocre printing quality and noisy operations.
Features to look out for Best Fax Machines:
Portability
Many businessmen want a portable fax machine that they can take anywhere for business trips, holidays, and expeditions. There are so many fax machines with excellent portability for those who want such. If portability is not important to you, then there are tons of options on the market waiting for you.
Design
Every fax machine model has a different design. You have the option to choose the design that pleases you. It can be a standalone device just for sending and receiving faxes or be a part of a multi-function printer for scanning, faxing, and printing among other functions.
Wireless technology
Modern faxes have wireless technologies to allow you create wireless connections with your PC or mobile device. Some allow you to send faxes even when on vacation or business trip.
Price
The high-quality MFP can be quite expensive. The prices vary depending on the features, technology, printer type, convenience, and brand. At the low-end, you will find thermal transfer and inkjet fax machines that are suitable for home use. Business-grade fax machines that can withstand heavy daily stress come at a higher price. Consider the ongoing cost of ink or toner to determine the overall cost.
Paper-handling options
Some fax machines are too small to handle large-sized paper. Consider the maximum paper size it can handle and your regular needs. Consider the paper size you often use and pick the right fax machine for that purpose. Most fax machines are built to handle the standard 8.5 inch by 11-inch paper. If you need to send and receive legal size documents of 11 inch by 17 inches, then buy the fax machine that supports these sizes. A fax machine with two paper drawers for different paper sizes will allow you to receive both legal and letter-sized faxes without having to switch the paper trays.
Integrated features
A feature-rich fax machine will solve many tasks in one but will cost more than the basic ones. Those with multiple paper trays, more memory, and broadcast capabilities will bring more convenience and push it to the higher end of pricing. If you regularly send the same fax to multiple recipients, then you need one with good support for broadcasting to lower your workload.
Many fax machines are connected to the computer and can serve as a printer or scanner in addition to faxing functions. They can be used as a convenience copier to make a couple of copies quickly. Consider the functions you need when shopping or a new modern fax machine for your small business.
Sending speeds
Faster sending speeds will reduce your phone charges even if they initially cost more to acquire. Most modern fax machines send at a speed of 366 kbps equal to about six seconds per page. Even the low-end models can manage 144kbps, which is still more than the standard speed of 9.6kbps of years ago.
Data compression protocol
The data compression protocol reduces the time it takes to send a page as it describes the page with the least amount of data. Almost all fax machines are equipped with the basic compression protocol called Modified Huffman (MH). Those equipped with the advanced Modified Read (MR) or Modified Modified Read (MMR) protocols can send faxes at 25% faster. Those with proprietary protocol can send even faster as long as it is between the same models.
Memory needs
The fax memory enables it to store both incoming and outgoing faxes internally. Every image has a different density, hence varying memory requirements. However, a general 512kb is needed to hold about 20 to 25 pages. Some models accept additional memory if the inbuilt space is insufficient. The most common types of memory features include an out-of-paper reception that saves incoming faxes if the machine runs out of paper.
The other is a quick scan that store images in the memory before you start transmission, so you do not wait for it to finish sending a page before scanning the next. The last one is the dual scan which is the capability to let you send and receive faxes simultaneously.
Fax print quality
This is measured in dots per inch (dpi) and tells how detailed the printing capability is. A higher dpi gives a finer, detailed printing. A fax machine capable of 600 dpi is excellent for a small office printing or faxing.
Conclusion
A small business or home office requires a reliable and fast fax machine. If you can get one with multiple functions to handle printing, scanning, and even copying, then you will save a lot of space and dollars. This guide will help you make the right buying decision for your business. Consider the features that will serve you best, durability, technology and your budget when shopping for the best fax machine for small business.