It's been said before, and it will be said again.  In fact it was not that long ago on this very blog that we talked about it ourselves.

Even in times of recession or economic struggle, there is still growth and opportunity.  It can be especially difficult and trying, but the ability to go out there and make your mark, stake a claim, or make a difference is still there. 

The Cincinnati-Dayton corridor is one of those areas between two metropolitan areas that are prone to high growth and good investment.  Doing so right now while everyone is pinching all of their pennies and scrutinizing every investment can make the lows seem lower and the highs seem higher.  The risk and reward are magnified by the business climate.

Like your customers will, you should be very thoughtful in how and where you spend your money if you want to be successful.  Having a good business partner like Affordacopy for all of your copier rental needs, no matter how unstable or changing the environment may be... just makes good sense.

Small Business Loans back up in Cincinnati

I remember hearing quite a while ago that Small Business Loans were down in our area.  A quick search confirmed that in 2009, the five largest Cincinnati banks' SBA loans were down 51%.  Everyone knows it has been a rough couple years with a lot of ups and downs.

The good news is that regardless of where you feel the economy is today or what may be the cause of it, Cincinnati Small Business Loans are back up.  In fact, they were up nearly 30 million in 2011 compared to 2010; an increase of 41%.

I'm sure everyone has heard the cliches by now.  'Bill Gates started Microsoft during a recession.' etc.  The reason that it has become so cliche now is because it is true.  Not just about Microsoft, but that you can be successful in starting or running a small business at any time if you have the right tools and the right plan.

So if you or your company are working hard at succeeding through thick and thin, contact us to see what we can do to help you.

Tales From the Copier Battlefield

I am out in the copier battlefield every day, and I'd like to share some real-life experiences where I feel that customers have really been taken advantage of. 

 

Most copier dealers use large national banks as their leasing partner. After the lease is signed, the customer learns they will have to make payments to out-of-town leasing companies. With this, I have seen many surprises, all of which are one-sided and don't favor the customer. You almost have to be a Philadelphia attorney to interpret the fine print on these contracts. 

 

Technology is rapidly advancing — there's already a third version of the iPad coming out! — but many copier companies still require their customers to sign five-year leases. Some companies even include clauses that cause the lease to renew for another year automatically if the customer doesn't notify the leasing company 90 to 150 days before the lease expiration. But most customers do their research only 30-60 days before the end of the lease. Surprise! You've already been renewed for another year for a piece of obsolete equipment at the same rate you've paid for the first five years!

 

I also recently encountered a customer who was about three years in on a five-year lease. There was a line item on the monthly invoice for $30, which the customer had been paying for the whole three years. After helping this customer do a little research, we learned that this $30 fee was being billed because the customer hadn't sent a certificate of insurance to the leasing company before making their first payment. 

 

Do you think the leasing company or the vendor tried to help the customer resolve this to avoid the $30 fee? Of course not. Instead, the customer was out more than $1,000. 

 

These are just a few examples of things we want our customers to be aware of. We treat our customers the way we'd want to be dealt with. It's a tough economy out there, and we know that our customers can't afford to be taken advantage of.

More On Why to Rent

Naturally, decisions that can range easily in the thousands of dollars are not taken lightly, and we expect everyone to carefully weigh their options just as we would.  Making the right decisions can be what separates your good company from your mediocre competitors after all.

Several years ago, Forbes Magazine pondered the pros and cons of Buying Vs. Leasing Business Equipment.  They should have considered us:

The primary advantage of leasing business equipment is that it allows you to acquire assets with minimal initial expenditures. Because equipment leases rarely require a down payment, you can obtain the goods you need without significantly affecting your cash flow. 

Another financial benefit of leasing equipment is that your lease payments can usually be deducted as business expenses on your tax return, reducing the net cost of your lease. In addition, leases are usually easier to obtain and have more flexible terms than loans for buying equipment. This can be a significant advantage if you have bad credit or need to negotiate a longer payment plan to lower your costs. 

Leasing also allows businesses to address the problem of obsolescence. If you use your lease to attain items that are subject to becoming technologically outdated in a short period of time, such as computers or other high-tech equipment, a lease passes the burden of obsolescence onto the lessor, as you are free to lease new, higher-end equipment after your lease expires.

Every single one of these advantages to leasing equipment also applies to renting it! However, if you read Forbes' list of disadvantages to leasing, you will understand why we really stand out.

Leasing business equipment has two main disadvantages: overall cost and lack of ownership. With regard to cost, leasing an item is almost always more expensive than purchasing it. For example, a three-year lease on a computer worth $4,000, at a standard rate of $40/month per $1,000, will cost you a total of $5,760. If you had bought it outright, you would have paid only $4,000. In addition to the higher cost, you will have built up no equity in the computer. Unless the computer has become obsolete by the end of the lease, this lack of ownership is a significant disadvantage. 

Another downside to leasing is that you are obligated to make payments for the entire lease period even if you stop using the equipment. Some leases give you the option to cancel the lease if your business changes directions and the equipment you leased is no longer necessary, but large early termination fees always apply.

Unless you plan on buying a $10,000 office copier outright, (If you do, hold on and I'll get to you in a second) you are going to end up paying more than the sticker price no matter what you do.  The second paragraph is why we can save you money more than either of the other options.  If your equipment breaks, or your needs change, you have a tough decision to make if you are on a lease or a loan.  With Affordacopy, just give us a call and you are not on the hook for anything.

On the other hand, if you do have all the money you need to plop a large pile of cash on the checkout counter and return to your office the proud owner of a brand new machine, congratulations!  You are clearly already doing a stellar job for your company.  Now as smart as you are, think of what else you can do for your company with the up front savings of renting from Affordacopy... and go home happy knowing that if something happens, we'll take care of it for you.

Visit our site for more information on why to rent your copier, or read the rest of Forbes' article and think to yourself as you read:  'Isn't renting better than either of these options?'

Why Rent?

No Risk!

The month-to-month agreement means you can also upgrade or change your program as your needs change. If at any time you are unsatisfied with our performance at Affordacopy or the copier you can cancel your service and there is no penalty.

No Long-Term Contract

Everything is included that you need to copy with no long term contract: the copier, all service, supplies, and parts.

A Wide Array of Options

At Affordacopy, we can provide copiers with various accessories including finishers, fax capabilities, scanning, printing and much more. We have all sizes of copiers in stock and ready for fast delivery.

Flexible Terms

Our flexible rental program allows you to change your monthly copy volume as your business needs change. There is no penalty, and you can change as often as you need. You won’t get stuck in the wrong contract when your “guestimate” is too high or too low.

One Supplier, Invoice, & Contract

Looking for ways to reduce vendors and contracts? Our rental program provides you one invoice each month with one supplier to pay. Our program includes all service, parts, supplies, and there are no finance charges.

All Service and Parts Included

Our rental agreements are comprehensive so all service is included meaning we fix any problem with the copier. If it needs an expensive part we pay for it. If it can’t be fixed we will replace your machine. (Try asking a leasing company if you can get your copier replaced!)

100% Tax Deductible

Copier Rentals are 100% Tax deductible (operating expenses vs. capital expenditure). There is no need to depreciate the copier. Simply write off all costs as a business expense.

Short Term Rentals Available

Need a copier for a special event or on a short-term basis? We will rent a copier for one month, one day, or even one hour.

Copiers and More

Other equipment is also available for rent. Besides a complete range of copiers, we rent Sharp laser fax machines, H.P. Laser Printers, Shredders, Interactive Digital Whiteboards and more.

Award-Winning Products

Our Sharp copier line has won Buyers Lab Line of the Year the last 3 out of 4 years, making it one of the most reliable and dependable copiers on the market today.