If you run an office in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell or Milton, your printing needs probably look different than they did a few years ago. Some of your team works from home part of the week. Your files live in the cloud. Your clients expect you to protect their information. And you still need a copier that works when someone has a contract to sign or a stack of documents to scan.
Automated Business Machines (ABM) has helped Georgia businesses with copiers and printers since 1991. We are locally owned, with our headquarters in Columbus and a branch office in Leesburg, and we serve metro Atlanta, including Alpharetta and North Fulton. This guide walks through what to think about before you lease, with a focus on hybrid work and document security.
Why Leasing Makes Sense for Many North Fulton Offices
North Fulton is home to technology companies, medical and dental practices, law firms, accounting firms, financial advisors, real estate teams and growing startups. These businesses have a few things in common:
- They want predictable monthly costs instead of a large upfront purchase.
- They want to keep technology current without being stuck with an aging machine.
- They need service and supplies handled by someone who knows the equipment.
- They care about protecting client and employee data.
A lease spreads the cost of the equipment over the length of the agreement. It can also make it easier to move up to a better machine when your needs change. If you want the basics, see our page on copier and printer leasing.
Leasing is not right for every office. Some businesses prefer to buy, and some only need a machine for a short project. We sell, lease and rent equipment, so we can talk through all three and help you pick what fits.
Start With How Your Team Really Prints
Before you look at any machine, look at your habits. A copier that suits a fully in-office team may be a poor fit for a hybrid one. Ask a few simple questions:
- How many people are in the office on a typical day?
- Do people print more on certain days, such as when everyone comes in together?
- What do you print most: contracts, reports, invoices, forms or marketing pieces?
- How much do you scan, and where do those scans need to go?
- Do you need color, or is black and white enough for most jobs?
Write down the answers. They matter more than any spec sheet.
Hybrid Work Often Means Less Printing and More Scanning
When part of your team works from home, office printing often drops, but scanning often rises. People scan signed forms, receipts, ID copies and paper mail so they can share them with coworkers who are not in the building.
That changes what you should look for. A good multifunction printer for a hybrid office should have:
- A document feeder that handles two-sided originals in one pass
- Easy scan to email and scan to folder options
- Scan to cloud storage so files land where your team already works
- A touch screen that is simple enough for anyone to use without training
If your team scans a lot, ask about scan speed and the quality of the document feeder. A slow feeder wastes more time than a slow printer.
What About Home Printers?
Many hybrid workers have a small printer at home. That is fine for occasional use, but it can create problems. Documents printed at home may never be shredded. Supplies get bought on personal cards. Nobody tracks what was printed.
You do not have to ban home printing. A clear policy helps. Decide which kinds of documents can be printed at home and which should only be printed at the office. For sensitive records, the office machine, with proper controls, is usually the safer choice.
Security: The Part Many Offices Forget
A copier is a computer on your network. It receives files, stores some data and sends information out. That means it deserves the same care as any other device your team uses.
This matters even more for professional offices that handle client records, health information, financial details or legal files.
Keep Printed Pages Out of the Wrong Hands
We have all seen it: a sensitive document sits in the output tray for an hour. Secure print release solves this. The job waits in a queue until the person who sent it logs in at the machine with a code or badge.
Our PaperCut print management can help here. It lets you set up secure release, track printing by user or department, and set rules for things like color use. It is also useful in a hybrid office because you can see how printing patterns change over time.
Protect the Data Inside the Machine
Many modern copiers can store job data on internal drives. When you lease, ask these questions:
- Does the machine encrypt stored data?
- Can stored data be overwritten on a schedule?
- What happens to the drive when the lease ends and the machine goes back?
That last question is easy to forget. Get the answer in writing before you sign. A responsible provider should be able to explain how data is handled at the end of a lease.
Control Who Can Use the Machine and Where Scans Go
A few simple settings make a big difference:
- Require a login or code to use the machine
- Limit scan to email so it can only send to approved domains
- Turn off features you do not use
- Change default admin passwords during setup
- Keep the machine software up to date
If your office also uses managed IT services, or has an IT person on staff, bring them into the conversation early. They can make sure the copier is set up safely on your network.
Choosing the Right Machine
We sell and lease copiers and multifunction printers from Sharp, Toshiba, Xerox and Lexmark. Each brand has different models for small teams, busy departments and heavy production work. For smaller needs, we also offer desktop printers from Brother and HP.
Here is how to think about size:
- Small office or a few desks: A compact multifunction printer or a desktop printer may be enough.
- Growing team or shared floor: A midsize multifunction printer with a strong document feeder and finishing options often fits well.
- Busy department or heavy print jobs: Look at a higher volume machine built for larger duty cycles.
Do not buy for the busiest day you can imagine. Buy for the way you work most days, then ask about flexibility. If your hybrid schedule is still changing, tell us. We can help you choose a machine and agreement that will not feel too big or too small a year from now.
You can browse our equipment catalog to get a feel for what is available, though we are always happy to talk it through in person.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Lease
A lease is a contract, so read it closely. Ask your provider to explain anything that is unclear. Here are the key points:
- Length of the agreement: How long are you committed, and what happens at the end?
- What is included: Does the agreement cover service, parts and toner, or only the equipment?
- Print volume: How many pages are included, and how are extra pages billed?
- Early upgrade or change: Can you move to a different machine if your needs change?
- End of lease options: Can you return, renew or upgrade?
- Data handling: What happens to stored data when the machine leaves your office?
- Who to call: Is there one number for service questions?
If something sounds vague, ask for it in plain words. A good agreement should not leave you guessing.
What Drives the Cost of a Lease
We only provide quotes, and we do not publish prices, because the right number depends on your setup. These are the main things that shape a lease quote:
- The machine you choose and its features, such as color, speed and finishing
- The length of the agreement
- How many pages you expect to print each month
- Whether service, parts and supplies are bundled in
- Add-ons such as extra paper trays, a fax option or print management software
The best way to get an accurate quote is to share your real usage. Even a rough idea of monthly pages and the number of users helps a lot.
Service Matters as Much as the Machine
A copier that is down can slow your whole office. When you pick a provider, ask how service works. Our technicians have an average response time of 4 hours. If you already own a copier that needs attention, call us with the make and model and we will tell you how we can help. When you need us, you can request service online or call.
If you are weighing a short term project or a temporary need, ask about rentals as well. Leasing is not the only path, and we are glad to explain the options.
A Simple Checklist to Take With You
Before you talk to any provider, gather these items:
- Your estimated monthly print and scan volume
- The number of people who will use the machine
- Which days your team is usually in the office
- Your must have features, such as scan to cloud or color
- Any security or compliance needs your business has
- Your current machine model and when your current agreement ends
With that list in hand, the conversation gets faster and the quote gets more accurate.
Talk With a Local Team That Serves Alpharetta and North Fulton
Automated Business Machines serves metro Atlanta, including Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell and Milton. Whether you need a leased copier, a multifunction printer for a hybrid team, or help locking down your print environment, we can walk you through it in plain English. Call us at (470) 780-5218 and tell us how your office works. We will help you find a setup that fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you serve Alpharetta and North Fulton?
Yes. We serve metro Atlanta, including Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell and Milton. Call our Atlanta line at (470) 780-5218 to talk about your office, and we will explain how we can help with equipment, supplies and service.
Is leasing a copier better than buying one?
It depends on your business. Leasing spreads the cost over the agreement and can make upgrades easier. Buying may suit offices that want to own the machine long term. We sell, lease and rent equipment, so we can explain each option and help you choose what fits your budget and workload.
How can I keep a leased copier secure?
Start by requiring logins, turning on secure print release, and limiting where scans can be sent. Ask whether stored data is encrypted and what happens to it when the lease ends. Keep software updated and change default passwords. PaperCut print management can also help you control and track printing.
Can you service a copier we did not buy from you?
Call us with the make and model and we will tell you how we can help. Our technicians have an average response time of 4 hours. You can request service online or call (470) 780-5218, and we will help get your machine working again.
ABM in metro Atlanta: Copier Leasing · Copier Rental · Managed Print Services · Copier Repair · (470) 780-5218