Small businesses are experts at cutting unnecessary costs—but when it comes to laser printer maintenance, most are making mistakes that cost them $500 or more annually. These aren’t big, obvious errors—they’re small, common habits that add up to expensive repairs, wasted toner, and frustrating downtime. The worst part? Most of these mistakes are easy to fix—if you know what to watch for. We’re breaking down the 4 costliest laser printer maintenance mistakes small businesses make, and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Using Generic Toner to “Save Money” (Cost: $200+ Yearly). It’s tempting to buy $20 generic toner instead of $50 OEM cartridges, but generic toner clogs the printer’s fuser and drum—two parts that cost $150–$300 to replace. A small retail store in Seattle switched to generic toner to save $60, only to pay $280 for a new fuser 3 months later. Solution: Use our budget-friendly OEM-compatible toner—priced 25% less than brand-name, but engineered to work with your printer without clogging.
Mistake 2: Ignoring “Low Toner” Warnings (Cost: $100+ Yearly). When the “Low Toner” light comes on, most small businesses keep printing until the pages are unreadable. But running a toner cartridge dry damages the printer’s imaging drum, which needs replacement every 2–3 years instead of 5–6. A local florist in Miami did this and had to replace their drum 2 years early, costing $120. Solution: Set a reminder to order toner when the low warning appears—our guide includes a free reminder tool tailored to your print volume.
Mistake 3: Using Paper Towels or Alcohol to Clean (Cost: $150+ Yearly). Paper towels leave lint that clogs the paper feed, and alcohol corrodes the printer’s plastic parts and toner cartridge. A small marketing agency in Phoenix used alcohol to clean a jam and melted the toner hopper, requiring a $180 repair. Solution: Use only microfiber cloths and compressed air—we sell a small-business cleaning kit for $12
