When it comes to starting up your business, whether it be online, at home or in an office, you will need a way to invoice your clients, print emails or order forms, fax documents to clients and more than likely scan documents in to your system(for storage or emailing purposes), not forgetting making copies when required.

So what should you look for when implementing the latest technology to assist you with these requirements?  Good question.

The first thing that needs to be considered is what you will be printing, faxing, storing, sending or copying.  Will it be all of the abovementioned documents, will it be some of them?  If you have a Home based business you will more than likely need to scan documents, fax documents, print documents and store documents(copying may be very limited in this scenario.)

Once you have established what documents you will be processing you need to calculate, as best as possible, what amount of each you will project your business will need to do on a monthly basis.  Is it 2,000 prints per month, 200, is it 100 scans per month or is it 10?  Knowing your document usage is vital in choosing the document automation system best suited to your business.

The third factor directly relates to the operational cost of the business, the cost of running the equipment of choice.  I would recommend a small multi-function device with print, copy, fax, scan features, preferably with a document feeder on top for multiple page scanning.  By looking at the cost of toner and how many prints you will expect out of it you can calculate the cost per print.  Then multiply the amount of prints you expect by the cost per print to calculate your monthly running costs. Starting off with a cheaper laser is best so that you do not invest too much capital whilst learning your initial printing habits.

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