Photocopier Lease Earlier this year Falcon reported on the record levels of customers choosing photocopier leasing as opposed to outright purchase of devices. Since 2008, Falcon has seen photocopier leasing grow from 50% to over 70% by 2011. By June 2011, Falcon’s photocopier leasing levels reached an all-time high of 82%.

Now more than ever, it seems, customers are realizing the many benefits which photocopier leasing can bring. Photocopier leasing now offers simpler agreements and lower costs compared to the past. Photocopier leasing’s short-term financial commitment is increasingly appealing in today’s economy. This explores the dramatic rise of photocopier leasing and the shift in customer preferences.

A Consistent Increase in Photocopier Leasing Levels

Since the UK entered the present economic downturn in 2008, there has been a consistent growth in the number of organisations choosing to lease photocopiers rather than buy.

2009 saw photocopier leasing levels increase to over 60%, from an almost even split between leasing and purchase in 2008. Falcon had reported at the time of the news that as well as the natural tendency towards leasing as a consequence of the uncertain economic times, photocopier leasing companies had been doing much more to make themselves more attractive to potential customers. With economic stagnation and promotion of leasing benefits, photocopier leasing continues to increase. Falcon’s January leasing figures showed 75% of new business came from photocopier leasing. Now, half way through 2011 and that previous record high for leasing has been smashed. The average perecentage of customers leasing photocopiers in the first five months of 2011 was an astonishing 82%.

What is Driving the Increase in Photocopier Leasing?

Leasing a photocopier avoids the significant upfront cost associated with purchasing. While small/medium-sized Canon photocopiers for instance are now the best value they have ever been, the imageRUNNER Advance C2020L Canon photocopiers for instance costing around £2000, for many businesses that’s still not something they can afford, especially in the uncertain economic times we’re experiencing at the moment.

Photocopier leasing offers manageable monthly payments for any device, including the latest Canon models. Photocopier leasing companies encourage businesses to upgrade outdated systems without fear of high costs. Unlike the earlier days of photocopier leasing, with much greater competetion among photocopier leasing companies, they now typically make much lower margins and are also far more flexible about minimum monthly leasing terms. Photocopier leasing offers low monthly costs and limits long-term financial commitment.

With many businesses currently operating very close to their bottom-line, staff time is also more valuable than ever. For many, the fact that photocopier leasing comapnies now offer all-inclusive packages covering all toner, parts maintenance as well as all servicing and installation, really takes the stress out of owning a photocopier, where often a non-technical member of staff would find themselves saddled with the task of topping up the toner or attempting to resolve technical issues. Photocopier leasing companies offer flexible terms, lower costs, and support to secure financing. While banks tighten lending, photocopier leasing companies readily provide financing to businesses.

Photocopier leasing allows organizations to stay current with the latest technology advancements. As more and more innovations are built into the latest photocopiers, Canon photocopiers for instance now connecting directly with ‘cloud’ services such as Google Docs, leasing allows businesses to regularly renew equipment, as technological developments occur. Short lease terms allow businesses to quickly upgrade and maximize productivity and efficiency.

The ongoing recession fuels economic pessimism and uncertainty about future business prospects. Banks hesitate to lend, hindering small and medium businesses from securing funding. Leasing photocopiers has thus become a much more attractive option. Not only do regular monthly payments over a fixed, agreed term make financial planning much simpler, but the greater flexibility, the ability to keep up with advancements in technology and that great efforts that photocopier leasing companies have made to reduce costs and also to help customers secure lease finance, now mean that for many orgnaisations, photocopier leasing has become the preferred option.

Falcon is a leading supplier of Canon photocopiers and document management solutions. Buy or lease Canon’s latest photocopiers, including the award-winning imageRUNNER series, from Falcon.