If you search for copier leasing in Atlanta, you will find plenty of options. Some are national names. Some are small local shops. The websites can look alike, and the quotes can be hard to compare.
The machine matters, but the company behind it matters more. You will live with that company for the whole lease. This checklist gives you the questions to ask any copier leasing company, including us, before you sign.
Automated Business Machines (ABM) has served Georgia businesses since 1991. We are locally owned, and we serve metro Atlanta from our headquarters in Columbus, with a branch office in Leesburg. We will be clear about that throughout this post, because it is one of the questions you should ask.
Start With What Your Office Actually Needs
A good answer to any question below depends on what you need. Before you call anyone, write down a few basics:
- How many people print, copy and scan each day
- Whether you need color, black and white, or both
- Paper sizes you use, such as letter, legal or tabloid
- Extras like scanning to email, stapling, or secure printing
- How many locations or floors need equipment
Whether your office is in Marietta, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs or downtown, these details help a leasing company recommend the right machine. They also keep you from paying for features you will never use.
Question 1: Who Services the Machine?
A lease is really a service relationship. When the copier jams, streaks or stops, you need to know who shows up.
Are the technicians employed by the company?
Some companies have their own technicians. Others send the work to a separate service provider. Neither setup is automatically wrong, but you should know which one you are getting. Ask who the technician works for and who is responsible if the repair does not go well.
Can they repair other machines too?
Ask whether they can help with the older machines you still rely on while a new lease starts. At ABM, call us with the make and model and we will tell you how we can help.
Where are the technicians based?
Be direct here. Ask where the service team is located and how they cover your area. We serve metro Atlanta, and our Atlanta line is (470) 780-5218. We will walk you through how service works at your location before you sign anything.
Question 2: How Are Service Calls Handled?
Do not just ask whether service is included. Ask how it actually works.
Questions to ask:
- How do I request service: phone, email, an online form, or all three?
- Does a real person answer, or do I get a phone menu and a ticket number?
- Will I get one point of contact for my account?
- What does the company put in writing about service response?
- Are parts and labor covered by the lease, or billed separately?
- Is there a limit on the number of service visits?
Get the answers in the contract, not just on the phone. A friendly sales call is not a service agreement.
Ask what happens when a machine keeps having the same problem. A good company will have a plan, such as a deeper repair or a replacement. You do not want to open a new ticket for the same jam every week.
Question 3: What About Toner and Supplies?
Toner is a regular cost of running a copier. How a company handles it can change what your lease really costs.
Are supplies included?
Some leases include toner and some do not. Ask exactly what is covered. Ask about drums, fusers, staples and waste containers too. These parts wear out over time, and you should know who pays for them.
How do you reorder?
Find out whether you have to remember to call, or whether the company watches your supply levels for you. A simple reorder process saves your staff from last minute scrambles. We offer an easy way to order supplies online, and we can also set up monitoring through managed print services.
What drives the cost?
We do not publish prices, because every office is different. What affects your quote is mainly:
- The machine you choose and its features
- How many pages you print each month
- Color versus black and white volume
- Whether service and supplies are bundled in
- The length of the lease
Any company can give you a real quote once it knows those things. Be cautious if someone gives you a firm number without asking about your printing habits.
Question 4: Which Brands Do They Carry?
A company that carries only one brand will tend to recommend that brand. A company with a few good options can match the machine to your office.
We lease, sell and rent copiers and multifunction printers from Sharp, Toshiba, Xerox and Lexmark, desktop printers from Brother and HP, HP large-format printers, and Zebra label printers. That range covers small workgroup printers, color multifunction machines and larger production copiers. You can browse our equipment catalog to see what is available.
When you talk to any company, ask why they recommend a particular model for you. A good answer refers to your volume, paper types and workflow. A weak answer sounds like a sales script.
Question 5: What Are the Term and End of Lease Rules?
The lease length affects your monthly payment, your flexibility and your options later. Ask about all of it up front.
How long is the term?
A longer term can lower the payment, but it locks you in longer. A shorter term gives you more flexibility, but the payment may be higher. Think about whether your office is likely to grow, shrink or move.
What happens when the lease ends?
This is the part many offices forget to ask about. Typical options include:
- Return the machine
- Renew the lease
- Upgrade to a newer model
- Buy the machine
Ask which of these are allowed, and what each one involves. Ask who pays to remove the machine if you return it. Ask whether the lease renews on its own if you do nothing.
Is there a notice window?
Many leases require you to give notice before the end date if you do not want to renew. If you miss that window, you may be stuck with another term. Put the date on your calendar the day you sign.
What if your needs change?
Ask whether you can upgrade, add a machine, or move equipment to a new office during the term. Also ask what it costs to end the lease early. If you only need equipment for a short project, ask about rentals instead.
Question 6: What Does the Contract Fine Print Say?
Read the whole agreement, not just the first page. Look for these items:
- Base charge and overage: What do you pay for each month, and what happens if you print more than the plan allows?
- Rate changes: Can the charges go up during the term? Under what conditions?
- Ownership: Who owns the machine during and after the lease?
- Fees: Are there delivery, installation, administration or late fees?
- Taxes and insurance: Who is responsible for each?
- Early termination: What is required if you need to end the lease before the term is up?
- Service and supplies: Does the contract match what the salesperson told you?
If anything is unclear, ask for it in plain English. If something was promised verbally, ask to have it added to the contract. A company you can trust will be happy to explain every line.
Questions Specific to Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta covers a lot of ground. An office in Alpharetta and an office in Marietta may be a long drive apart. That matters if you have more than one location.
Ask these questions:
- Can the company support all of my locations under one agreement?
- Who is my contact if I have equipment in more than one town?
- Can I get one invoice, or will I get several?
- Can the company help with print settings, networking and user access?
That last point matters because printers are part of your network. We also offer managed IT services and PaperCut print management, which help when you want better control over who prints what.
A Quick Checklist to Take With You
Print this list and use it on every call:
- Who services the machine, and where are they based?
- How do I request service, and what is put in writing?
- Are toner and supplies included, and how do I reorder?
- Which brands are offered, and why this model for me?
- How long is the term, and what are my end of lease choices?
- What is the notice window for ending or renewing?
- What fees, rate changes and overage rules are in the contract?
- Can the company support all of my locations?
Compare the answers side by side. The company that answers clearly, without pressure, is usually the one that will treat you well after the signature.
Talk to Us About Your Lease
If you are comparing options for your office, learn more about our copier and printer leasing. We will ask about your needs, explain the terms in plain words and give you a written quote.
Call Automated Business Machines at (470) 780-5218. We are a locally owned company that has served Georgia businesses since 1991, and we are ready to serve metro Atlanta.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you serve my part of metro Atlanta?
We serve businesses across metro Atlanta, including towns like Marietta, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs. Call our Atlanta line at (470) 780-5218 and we will explain how service and supplies work for your location.
Is it better to lease or rent a copier?
It depends on how long you need the machine. Leasing usually suits offices that need equipment for the long term and want a set agreement. Rentals suit short projects or temporary needs. Tell us how you plan to use the machine, and we can explain which option fits your office.
What should I check in a copier lease contract?
Check the length of the term, the base charge, any overage rules, and whether charges can change. Look at what service and supplies are covered, what fees apply, and who owns the machine. Also read the end of lease options and the notice needed to cancel or renew.
Can ABM service a copier we did not lease from you?
Contact us with the make and model, and we will tell you how we can help.
ABM in metro Atlanta: Copier Leasing · Copier Rental · Managed Print Services · Copier Repair · (470) 780-5218