For a small business, a reliable color laser printer is more than a peripheral; it’s a vital component of daily operations. The right machine can elevate your professional image with crisp, vibrant documents, marketing materials, and reports, all while keeping pace with your team’s demands. The challenge lies in sifting through the myriad of options to find the perfect balance of speed, functionality, and cost-effectiveness for your specific office environment.
This roundup is designed to simplify your search. We have compiled a list of ten standout color laser printers, from compact all-in-one workhorses to high-speed dedicated printers, all suited for the unique needs of a growing business. Whether your priority is wireless connectivity for a mobile team, robust scanning and copying capabilities, or simply the fastest output for high-volume tasks, there is an ideal solution here waiting for you.
Our Top Picks for Small Business Color Laser Printers
- Brother MFC-L3720CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer
- Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw Wireless Duplex Color Laser Printer
- Brother HL-L3280CDW Wireless Compact Digital Color Printer
- HP Color Laserjet Pro MFP 3301fdw Wireless All-in-One
- Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw Wireless Duplex Color Laser Printer
- Brother MFC-L3780CDW Wireless Digital Color All-in-One Printer
- HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw Wireless All-in-One
- Canon Color imageCLASS MF652Cw Wireless Laser Printer
- Dell C1760NW Color Laser Printer
- Brother HL-L8360CDW Digital Color Printer
Brother MFC-L3720CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer
This Brother all-in-one is built for professional performance, delivering exceptional print speeds up to 19 ppm and stunning laser-quality output that makes your documents stand out. It is equipped to handle demanding business needs with a 50-sheet auto document feeder, a 250-sheet adjustable paper tray, and automatic duplex printing for two-sided documents.
Advanced connectivity options ensure seamless integration into any office. With dual-band wireless networking, Wi-Fi Direct, and a USB interface, multiple users can easily connect and print from various devices. This combination of speed, quality, and versatile connectivity makes it a reliable centerpiece for a busy small business.
Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw Wireless Duplex Color Laser Printer
The Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw is a versatile 4-in-1 wireless printer that handles printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, consolidating multiple office tasks into one efficient device. It offers a brisk print speed of up to 22 pages per minute for both black and white and color documents, helping to maintain workflow momentum.
This model is designed for reliability and minimal interruption. It supports high-capacity toner options, which means you can print more pages between replacements, saving time and reducing operational hiccups. Its automatic duplex printing also contributes to paper savings and a more professional document finish.
Brother HL-L3280CDW Wireless Compact Digital Color Printer
Ideal for small offices and home offices, the Brother HL-L3280CDW is a compact yet capable color printer that consistently produces impressive, laser-quality output. Its space-saving design does not compromise on performance, achieving print speeds of up to 27 pages per minute to quickly handle your daily printing tasks.
This printer maximizes efficiency with features like automatic duplex printing, which is the most efficient way to create professional double-sided pages without manual intervention. The wireless connectivity and mobile printing support provide the flexibility to print from virtually anywhere in the office.
HP Color Laserjet Pro MFP 3301fdw Wireless All-in-One
From one of America’s most trusted printer brands, this HP all-in-one is perfect for small teams that need to print, scan, copy, and fax professional-quality color documents. It offers fast print speeds of up to 26 ppm and is equipped with next-generation TerraJet toner for producing documents with more vivid and lifelike colors.
This model is built for professional productivity with a suite of upgraded features. These include auto two-sided printing, two-sided single-pass scanning, an auto document feeder, and a 250-sheet input tray. This combination ensures that your team can manage high-volume tasks with ease and efficiency.
Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw Wireless Duplex Color Laser Printer
For businesses with higher output demands, the Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw delivers impressive speed, printing up to 35 pages per minute for both color and black and white documents. This wireless 4-in-1 all-in-one printer is a powerhouse designed to keep up with the most demanding office environments without slowing down.
Like its smaller siblings, this model is engineered for reliability and reduced maintenance. It uses high-capacity toner cartridges, which are crucial for limiting the frequency of toner replacements and minimizing workflow interruptions, allowing your team to focus on their work.
Brother MFC-L3780CDW Wireless Digital Color All-in-One Printer
The Brother MFC-L3780CDW is tailored for small businesses that require robust all-in-one functionality. It consistently produces pristine, laser-quality output and achieves fast print speeds up to 31 pages per minute. It also includes copy, scan, and fax capabilities to cover all your office document needs.
This model stands out with its timesaving single-pass duplex copying and scanning feature, which scans both sides of a document in a single pass for improved efficiency. With high scan speeds and reliable performance, this printer is built to be a central hub for document management.
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw Wireless All-in-One
Designed for small teams of up to 10 people, the HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 4301fdw offers everything needed for professional document handling. It prints, scans, copies, and faxes with blazing fast color output of up to 35 pages per minute, ensuring sharp details and incredible color in every document.
Staying connected is effortless with Intelligent Wi-Fi that actively looks for the best connection to keep the printer online and ready. Features like auto two-sided printing and an auto document feeder for fast scanning and copying further enhance productivity for a collaborative office setting.
Canon Color imageCLASS MF652Cw Wireless Laser Printer
This Canon Color imageCLASS MF652Cw is a compact 3-in-1 multifunction printer that provides essential printing, scanning, and copying functions for a small office. It delivers a print speed of up to 22 pages per minute and produces its first print out in approximately 10.3 seconds, reducing wait times for quick jobs.
Using Canon Genuine Toner, this printer ensures consistent quality and reliability. The availability of high-capacity toner options helps keep up with your printing demands while limiting the frequency of replacements, making it a practical and low-maintenance choice.
Dell C1760NW Color Laser Printer
The Dell C1760NW is a straightforward and reliable color laser printer that gets the job done. It offers a print speed of up to 15 pages per minute for monochrome documents and 12 pages per minute for color, making it a suitable option for offices with moderate printing volumes.
This printer produces clear text and graphics with a maximum resolution of 600 x 600 dpi for both black and white and color output. Its simple design and focused functionality make it an excellent choice for businesses seeking an affordable and dedicated color printing solution.
Brother HL-L8360CDW Digital Color Printer
The Brother HL-L8360CDW is a digital color printer built for more demanding workgroups. It is engineered to handle higher monthly print volumes, making it a robust choice for a growing small business that needs dependable color printing without the all-in-one features.
This model emphasizes performance and duty cycle, ensuring it can keep up with the pace of a busy office. With Brother’s reputation for reliability and high-quality output, this printer is a solid investment for businesses that primarily need a powerful and dedicated color printing engine.
Buying Guide: What to Look For in the Best Color Laser Printer for Your Small Business
Choosing the right color laser printer for your small business can feel like a big decision. I know you want something reliable that won’t break the bank on supplies. After looking at dozens of models, I’ve found that focusing on a few key areas makes the choice much clearer.
First, let’s talk about print volume. This is probably the most important factor. You need to match the printer’s monthly duty cycle to your actual office needs. If you only print a few dozen color pages a week, a compact, entry-level model is perfect. But if you’re regularly producing client presentations, marketing materials, or high-volume reports, you need a workhorse designed for heavier use. Overloading a low-duty-cycle printer is a fast track to repairs and frustration.
Next, consider the cost of ownership. The sticker price is just the beginning. You have to think about the cost of toner. Some manufacturers sell printers at a low cost but make their money back on expensive consumables. Look for printers with high-yield toner cartridges. They cost more upfront but have a much lower cost per page. I always calculate the cost per page for color and black-and-white documents to get a true sense of long-term expenses.
Connectivity is another big one. A modern small business needs a printer that can keep up with how we work. Look for models with built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet. This allows everyone in the office to print seamlessly from their laptops or phones. Many printers now also offer mobile printing options like Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, and Mopria, which are lifesavers for quick prints from a smartphone or tablet.
Finally, think about the physical footprint and extra features. Do you have a dedicated space for a large machine, or do you need something more compact? All-in-one (AIO) printers that include scanning, copying, and faxing can save you a lot of desk space and money compared to buying separate devices. An automatic document feeder (ADF) is a must-have if you frequently scan or copy multi-page documents. It saves you from placing each page manually.
By weighing your specific needs in these areas—print volume, cost of ownership, connectivity, and features—you can confidently select the best color laser printer for your small business that will serve you well for years.
FAQ
Is a color laser printer worth it for a small business?
Absolutely. While inkjet printers can be cheaper initially, a color laser printer is a smarter long-term investment for business use. The print speed is significantly faster, which is a huge productivity boost. Laser toner doesn’t dry out like inkjet ink, so you don’t have to worry about clogged print heads if you don’t print for a while. For producing professional-looking reports, brochures, and charts in-house, the quality and reliability are unmatched. It’s one of the most practical tools you can get for your office.
How much does it cost to run a color laser printer?
The running cost depends heavily on the printer model and how much you print. The biggest expense is the toner cartridges. To save money, I always recommend looking at the cost per page (CPP). You can usually find this information in the printer’s specifications or reviews. Printers with separate toner cartridges for each color (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) are more economical because you only replace the color that runs out. High-yield cartridges will always give you a better CPP than standard ones.
What is a good monthly duty cycle for a small business?
For a typical small business, I suggest looking for a color laser printer with a recommended monthly duty cycle between 2,000 and 10,000 pages. This is the volume the printer is engineered to handle reliably. If your team prints around 500-1,000 pages per month, a printer rated for 3,000-5,000 pages is a safe and durable choice. It’s okay to occasionally go a little over the recommended amount, but consistently exceeding it will shorten the printer’s lifespan.
Can I use third-party or remanufactured toner cartridges?
You can, but I advise caution. Using third-party or remanufactured cartridges can void the manufacturer’s warranty. While they are cheaper, the print quality can be inconsistent, and they may sometimes cause damage to the printer’s internal components, leading to expensive repairs. For the best reliability and to protect your investment, I generally stick with genuine manufacturer cartridges. The peace of mind is worth the extra cost for me.
Do I need an all-in-one color laser printer?
It depends on your workflow. If you already have a dedicated scanner and copier that you’re happy with, a single-function printer might be all you need. However, for most small businesses, an all-in-one model is incredibly convenient and cost-effective. Having the ability to print, scan, copy, and sometimes fax from a single device saves desk space and simplifies your office setup. An automatic document feeder is a key feature to look for in an all-in-one if you deal with multi-page documents regularly.