How to Choose the Best Colour Laser Printer for Your Business

The best colour laser printer isn’t always the biggest, fastest or most expensive one. It’s the one that fits the way your team actually works and the one you rely on for a quick invoice run before lunch, a proposal that needs to look polished before a client meeting or simply the one quietly keeping up with everyone’s “just one quick thing to print!” jobs. 

For some businesses, that might be a compact colour laser printer like the Brother HL-L8430CDW tucked into a small office corner. For others, it might be a colour laser multi-function printer like the Brother MFC-L8730CDW that works as a shared laser printer and scanner, helping the team print, scan, copy and fax from one dependable device. For busier departments, it may be a professional colour laser printer like the Brother MFC-L8930CDW with secure access, larger paper capacity, higher-yield toner options and predictable running costs that are easier to plan around.  

And for organisations interested in working with a Managed Print Services partner? An MPS-ready model like the Brother MFC-L8970CDW helps support contract-based print environments where long-term running costs, service support and uptime are key considerations.  

We’ve broken down the options clearly in a table below: 

Need a little more guidance? We’ve got you covered! Read on below for more practical advice on choosing the best colour laser printer that fits the way your business really works. No overwhelming spec sheets, we promise - just the key things worth knowing before you decide. 

Contents 

1. What print volume should your colour laser printer support? 
2. How much space do you need for your colour laser printer? 
3. What print speed should you look for in a colour laser printer? 
4. How do toner options affect the running costs of your colour laser printer? 

What print volume should your colour laser printer support? 

Think about how much your business prints in a normal month, not just on the busiest day of the year. Choosing a printer based on your one chaotic EOFY print marathon is a bit like buying a delivery van because you moved house once! 

• But if you have consistent high daily print volumes, look for: 
• Higher-yield toner options to reduce cartridge changes 
• Expandable paper capacity to reduce refills 
• Network connectivity for shared access 
• Secure print release for confidential documents 
• Serviceable components to help support uptime over the life of the device 

This is also where different colour laser printers begin to suit different business needs. Compact everyday models like the Brother HL-L8430CDW and Brother MFC-L8730CDW are a strong fit for smaller teams, shared workspaces and day-to-day office printing.  

For busier teams or departments with more regular print, scan and document workflows, a model like the Brother MFC-L8930CDW offers extra capacity, larger touchscreens, stronger workflow features and toner options designed to better support ongoing business use.  

And for managed print environments, the Brother MFC-L8970CDW is built for contract placement where predictable cost-per-page, higher in-box toner yield and long-term fleet support matter most.

How much space do you need for your colour laser printer? 

If space is tight, choose a printer that gives you the functions you need without taking over the workstation.  

A single-function model like the Brother HL-L8430CDW suits print-led workflows. A compact colour laser multi-function printer like the Brother MFC-L8730CDW or the Brother MFC-L8930CDW is better when scanning and copying happen in the same place as printing. 

A good rule of thumb: if your team will walk to the device several times a day, make sure it fits the space comfortably. No one wants to squeeze past a printer just to get to the filing cabinet, especially not before their first coffee! 

This matters especially in reception desks, consulting rooms, school admin offices, counter-service environments and shared back offices where space is already working hard. A printer that’s awkward to access can quickly become everyone’s least favourite office corner.  

What print speed should you look for in a colour laser printer? 

Fast print speed helps, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you compare. A printer that’s fast on paper but confusing in practice is nobody’s idea of a productivity boost. The bigger benefit is balance: fast enough for daily work, easy to share, quick to turn on, simple to use and dependable when several people need it. 

For busy small businesses, look at: 

• Up to 31 pages per minute print speed 
• Automatic 2-sided (duplex) printing to reduce paper use 
• Flexible connectivity, including Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi, USB, AirPrint, Mopria and Brother Mobile Connect 
• Print and scan-to-cloud workflows from devices on your network 
• NFC card authentication to support secure, controlled access 
• A wide touchscreen that makes common tasks easy 
• Paper capacity that matches your team’s daily rhythm

For a small office or retail shop, you may not need the highest-duty model. The best A4 colour laser printer for you could be the Brother HL-L8430CDW that gets through common jobs and last-minute "can you print this before I go?" requests. 

For teams with repeat workflows, the touchscreen experience can also make a noticeable difference. On the Brother MFC-L8930CDW and Brother MFC-L8970CDW, the 17.6cm colour touchscreen with Dedicated UI gives each user their own Home Tab on login, with one-touch access to the workflows they use most. That means less tapping around and an overall smoother experience at the device!

How do toner options affect the running costs of your colour laser printer? 

One key thing to remember: the cheapest printer upfront isn’t always the lowest-cost option over time. When comparing colour laser printers, check what toner comes in the box and which replacement yields are available. Future you, standing beside the printer during a busy week, will be very glad you checked! 

For busy teams, a professional colour laser printer with High-yield, Super High-yield or Ultra High-yield toner options can help reduce cartridge changes, make running costs easier to plan and minimise interruptions during peak periods. If your team prints reports, forms, presentations or customer documents regularly, choosing the right toner can make a real difference to cost per page and day-to-day uptime. 

For businesses considering Managed Print Services, the Brother MFC-L8970CDW supports Ultra High-yield toner, helping support more predictable running costs across longer contract terms.  

Find the best colour laser printer for the way your team works with Brother 

Choosing the best A4 colour laser printer for your business doesn’t need to become a full office debate complete with spreadsheets and strong opinions. 

The right choice comes down to how your team works every day. Think about what you print, how often you print it, where the printer needs to sit, who needs access and whether scanning, copying or Managed Print Services should be part of the setup. 

Explore Brother’s range of colour laser printers and find the model that’s ready for your business and your team’s workload.