Looking to upgrade your copier without laying thousands of dollars down up front? Consider a copier lease. You might be surprised to know that in this industry the majority of machines are leased.

Why is a copier lease such a popular option? Well, think about why leasing a car is a better option for most people. It’s easier to buy something over time than it is to write a big check for the full amount of the machine.

For other customers, the decision to lease office equipment is not always based on financial reasons. Some just want to be able to keep up with the latest and greatest machines. When you lease a copier you’re not married to it for the next 5-10 years. A copier lease has a set start and end date, after which time you can either choose to keep the machine, or return it and begin a new lease on the next best thing on the market.

I have been in the copier lease business for over 30 years, so I can tell you from experience that most equipment is leased and not bought. I also have experience with transitioning people in and out of leases — and from that I have learned a few tricks of the trade that I will share with you today.

Leasing sounds great, and it is when you do it properly. Unfortunately it can also turn into a nightmare without proper guidance. There are some rules you need to follow in order to have a positive experience with leasing.

The Rules of a Copier Lease

Insurance
The first ground rule you need to know before getting a lease is that you need to have office insurance that covers your equipment. No matter where you lease a machine from, whether it’s through us or anywhere else, all companies require this. If you cannot provide proof of insurance at the time you start leasing your equipment, you will incur an insurance charge. This is where your leasing experience could turn into a nightmare from the get-go, because no one likes to be slapped with unexpected charges.

Payments
Take your lease seriously. Treat it like a credit card or an automobile lease. You know that if you don’t pay those on time you’ll be hit with late fees. The same principle applies when leasing office equipment. Pay it on time, or end up paying more. My recommendation to customers is that they set up an automatic debit transaction to pay for the lease each month. The price of a copier lease is always the same from month to month. With automatic debit transactions you can ensure you’re always paying on time, and always paying the required amount.

End-of-Lease Options
Finally, at the end of your copier lease you have to notify the leasing company about what you intend to do with the machine. You have 90 days before the end of the lease to get in touch with them and tell them what you’re going to do.

Here’s a trick of the trade that only those experienced with leasing know about. This is what you do: regardless of what your intentions are, tell the leasing company you’re going to return it. This keeps your options open, because you can still change your mind at the very end of the lease if you decide to keep it. Otherwise, it will be assumed that you’re returning the machine and you’ll have forfeited your option to keep it.

Leasing rates are extremely competitive. For what it costs to buy a new copier, you can get a top-of-the-line machine on a three year lease. You won’t automatically own it at the end of the lease, but if you do everything right you’ll have the option to purchase it for a fraction of the market value. You see, that’s why I say it’s a great tool when used properly, if not it could lead to nothing but frustration and headaches.

We’re Here for Our Customers

At Dean Office Solutions we always have the customer’s best interests in mind. Other leasing companies may not care enough to tell you when your lease is about to come to an end, which could mean you’re stuck with very few options at the end of the lease. Here we track every single lease on file and guide you every step of the way. We’ll alert you when your lease is about to come to an end so you can make the decision that’s best for you and your company.

For more information, please look into our copier leasing services. To compare our rates we invite you to contact us for a quote today. If you’re signed to a lease from another company right now, and you feel like you’re paying too much or always getting hit additional charges, you can also contact us for a completely free copier lease audit.