Pricing Considerations
Depending on what you want in a wide-format printer, the price ranges from $1,000 for a basic model to $100,000 for a flagship integrated printing system with all the bells and whistles. In between lies a world of models with several widths and various features, such as scanning, automatic sheet cutting and the ability to print on a wide variety of stock.
With this level of upfront costs, the hardest decision is which model to get. Here's a rundown of the major criteria that should go into the decision process.
Buying vs. Leasing
Depending on the company and the printer model, you may be able to lease a wide-format printer. This depends on your business's needs and your cost-benefit analysis of buying or leasing a printer. If you're looking to use a wide-format printer to print signs and banners for major events over a few months, you might find that leasing is a better option. If you run a professional photography shop and expect to print frequently for years to come, buying is probably your best option.
Leasing a printer gives you the chance to test it over a set timeframe. If a company won't send you a model to try out, leasing gives you a chance to use the printer without investing thousands of dollars in a model you may not like in the future.
Another benefit of leasing is the regularity of new makes and models hitting the market. If you buy a wide-format printer, you may find in five years that your model is multiple iterations behind the latest in the industry. Leasing allows you to upgrade your printer once your lease expires. Not all businesses will need or want the latest and greatest model, but it's something to consider before you buy a large-format printer.