Small companies need cost-effective printing solutions to help them expand and develop new businesses. Print shops are among these businesses, often requiring large format printing equipment that can maintain cost-effective operations. However, it can be hard to find cost savings in large format printing because of the expenses associated with these operations. If you're searching for the best budget printer for small business operations as a print shop, this article will lead you in the right direction.

Here, you'll find out how the right large format printing practices can help you maintain efficiency while cutting costs. In the process, we'll provide you with some plotter printer recommendations for cheap large format printing without compromising print quality. Regardless of whether your print shop needs to expand or establish itself as a new business, you'll find out how to succeed with this guide.

There are many potential applications for plotter printing in print shops based on their customers' needs.

Some possible print materials that print shops could create with large format printing equipment may include:

Paper signage and banners often require large format printing solutions to create high-quality images on a large scale. Signage and banners could promote a business, deals, products, and more with a clear message and visuals. The best budget printer for small business products will offer a range of sizes (including very large printouts).

Various promotional and marketing materials could also depend on reliable but inexpensive large format printing solutions. For instance, paper displays could supplement trade show booth signage and other print materials, showcasing a brand, offer, or specific products or services.

Individuals and professionals alike may need large format printing for different media. They could require copies of existing media or need to print signage, banners, marketing materials, posters, or other projects.

Photographers and graphic designers could also require high-quality prints with reliable colour accuracy, precision, and high resolutions.

When seeking the best budget printer for small business applications, there are several key steps to take:

To start with, determine what you can afford to pay based on the benefits you need. You'll want to find a solution that allows for relatively cheap large format printing while giving you the benefits of quality prints and consistent efficiency. If the perceived benefits will yield a positive ROI, then you may have found the ideal printer.

Each print shop will have its own unique requirements for inexpensive large format printing. Some considerations include:

How efficient do your operations need to be? Do you anticipate large volumes of large format prints? Maybe you will have many customers needing a diverse array of projects. In any case, consider what type of print speed you'll need to keep your services aligned with your customers' timelines.

Another key consideration is the required image resolution. Remember, the ideal resolution for large format prints is at least 100 dots per inch (dpi). However, this is considerably less than what you would need for smaller print jobs.

You'll also want printers that can accommodate various print sizes. For example, 18" x 24" prints are ideal for many smaller signs and posters, while 36" x 48" prints will be suitable for large banners and other displays seen from a distance.

Additionally, think about the kind of connectivity you require. Are your printers going to need wireless connectivity with your WiFi connection? They should also work with the printing software you currently use or allow you to download and use compatible apps for efficient setup.

Figure out what kind of return on investment you can expect based on the costs of buying and maintaining the printer. If your business will profit from using the printer, the purchase is likely worth it in the long run.

To help you find the best budget printer for small business large format printing needs, the following are our top recommendations:

This 24" plotter can facilitate fast and inexpensive large format printing processes for print shops and other small businesses.

Print up to 24" with this large format printer from HP. Using this printer, you can print at speeds of up to 35 seconds per page on size D paper, translating to roughly 68 D prints per hour. It also comes with various optional accessories, including an automatic sheet feeder, roll cover, and stand.

This printer is ideal and cost-effective for many small businesses. But you may need something faster or capable of making larger prints, in which case you may opt for higher model numbers in the T200 series.

If you require even faster print speeds while still accessing the best budget printer for small businesses, the HP DesignJet T250 can meet your needs in many cases.

This printer includes all the same features as the T230 described above but with faster print speeds. It contains 512 MB of internal memory and can print up to 24" prints. However, unlike the T230, this model can print at speeds up to 30 seconds per page on size D paper or 76 D prints per hour.

Although great for high-speed printing on a smaller scale, you may want to print larger sizes and with faster speeds. The T650 and other models could meet these requirements.

The HP DesignJet T650 is another great model for print shops if you require high-speed operations for larger prints.

If you need something that can print media larger than 24" or run faster than the T230 and T250 models, the T650 large format printer is an ideal choice. It can handle prints up to 36" and operate at speeds of up to 25 seconds per page on size A1 pages, resulting in 82 A1 prints per hour.

If you don't require the fastest printing speeds or larger print sizes based on your operations, you might opt for smaller printer models, such as the T230 and T250.

If you aim to reduce expenses for your business through cost-effective large format printing, consider implementing these additional strategies to minimise printing costs with a large format printer:

Keep track of every aspect of your operations, including the total inventory of equipment, document workflows, print output, ink and toner usage, and more. Analysing this data can give you some insights into your printing operations. In turn, you can determine how to make your processes more cost-effective.

Some printers include a "draft" mode that can further help you save money. This print mode increases print efficiency while using only the amount of ink needed for each print. Simple text prints and other basic minimalist designs could benefit from this mode.

The best budget printer for small business operations, including print shops, will help you minimise printing costs while helping you succeed with your business.

Do you need help finding the right printer for your small business? Contact the experts at HP for assistance today.