Copier and printer rental for small offices

Small offices, medical and dental practices, law and accounting firms, schools, churches and nonprofits that don't want to buy or lease a machine for years.

A monthly rental fee per machine, often plus a charge per page above an included amount, with extra for supplies like toner and for service calls.

• Basic machine repair and setup
• Selling to local businesses
• Reliable customer service
• Keeping track of contracts and inventory

• General liability insurance, and cover for the equipment you own
• Check with your city or county about a business license and whether you need to register for sales tax on rentals in your state
• Machines that break often can eat your margin, so inspect before you buy
• Storing machines at home may need a home occupation permit or HOA and lease approval
• Customers may hold sensitive data on machine hard drives, so plan to wipe drives between rentals

Estimates put startup costs typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many used or refurbished machines you buy and how you deliver them. Machines that break often can eat your margin, so inspect before you buy.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many machines are out on contract and what you charge. That is revenue before repairs, machine purchases and other costs.

Check with your city or county about a business license and whether you must register for sales tax on rentals in your state. Also check general liability and equipment cover, and home occupation permit or HOA and lease rules if you store machines at home. Plan to wipe drives between rentals.