Flat-Rate Business Printing: Cost, Benefits & When It Makes Sense
ABT's flat-rate program is a newer alternative to buying a printer outright or signing a multi-year copier lease: one published monthly price for a business-class device, unlimited normal-use printing, and no long-term commitment. Here's what it actually costs, what's included, how it stacks up against buying, leasing, and managed print, and who it's built for.
What Flat-Rate Business Printing Costs
If you only need the number, here it is. The sections below cover what's included, how it compares to other options, and whether it fits your printing needs.
Both plans include the business-class multifunction printer, toner, covered parts and labor, remote support, scanning, and Hot Swap protection — with no per-page charges and no equipment purchase or lease to negotiate. Applicable sales tax may be added where required by law, and the first month is paid upfront.
What Flat-Rate Business Printing Actually Is
It's a subscription to print capability rather than a purchase or a lease of one specific machine. ABT owns the equipment, selects a device sized to your needs, and bills one predictable amount every month.
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One Monthly Price
There's no separate equipment payment, routine meter billing, or surprise per-page overage — just the $89 or $149 monthly rate covering the device and everything that keeps it running.
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Business-Class Equipment Included
ABT provides and owns the equipment, selecting a suitable business-class multifunction printer based on your approved requirements during eligibility rather than a specific model you shop for.
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No Long-Term Commitment
Service is billed monthly with no 36-, 48-, or 60-month term. Cancel online anytime — your current paid period continues and the next renewal simply stops, with no cancellation fee.
Do the Math Before You Compare Plans
A flat monthly fee is only a good deal relative to how much you'd otherwise pay per page. The math below is the same whether you're comparing flat-rate to your current setup, a lease, or a managed print quote — plug in your own numbers rather than taking any provider's pitch at face value, including this one.
Estimate your current all-in cost per page — toner, paper, and service calls divided by your typical monthly page count — then divide the flat-rate price by that number. The result is roughly how many pages a month you'd need to print before a fixed monthly fee beats what you're paying today.
| Item (Hypothetical Example) | Illustrative Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated current cost per page (toner, paper, service) | $0.045 |
| Flat-rate monthly price (B&W plan) | $89 |
| Break-even volume | ~1,980 pages/month |
Flat-Rate vs. Buying, Leasing & Managed Print
Flat-rate isn't the only way to get a business printer, and it isn't automatically the cheapest for every office. Here's how the model itself differs from the other paths — for the actual numbers behind leasing or managed print, see the linked guides below rather than guessing at figures here.
| Model | How You Pay | Who Owns the Equipment | Typical Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buy Outright | One upfront purchase | You | None — yours until you replace it |
| Traditional Lease | Fixed monthly lease payment | Leasing company (until buyout) | Usually 36–60 months |
| Managed Print (MPS) | Per-page rate covering supplies & service | Varies by provider and contract | Set by the provider's contract term |
| Flat-Rate Subscription | One flat monthly fee, unlimited normal use | ABT | None — cancel online anytime |
These are general mechanics of each model, not a claim about every provider's specific terms — use them to know what questions to ask, then compare actual quotes.
When Buying Outright Still Makes Sense
- You need a specific machine, brand, or feature set rather than an ABT-selected device
- Your print volume and needs are stable enough that ownership risk is low
- You'd rather capitalize the equipment than carry it as a monthly operating cost
When Leasing or Managed Print Fits Better
- You need production-class equipment, 11×17 printing, or three or more devices
- You want a fleet of multiple machines managed under one contract — see Managed Print Services: What It Is & How It Works
- You want to compare actual leasing terms and rates — see the Business Printer Leasing Guide and Lease Cost breakdown
Cost & Plan Breakdown
Two published plans, no quote required. Choose black-and-white or color based on what your office actually prints day to day.
| What's Included | ABT Unlimited B&W | ABT Unlimited Color |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $89 | $149 |
| Printing | Unlimited normal-use B&W | Unlimited normal-use color & B&W |
| Toner | Included | Included (color & black) |
| Parts & labor | Covered | Covered |
| Support | Remote support & service | Remote support & service |
| Scanning | Included | Included |
| Hot Swap protection | Included | Included |
| Per-page charges | None | None |
Is Flat-Rate a Fit for Your Business?
The standard program is built around everyday office printing for small and midsize work environments — not production or resale printing.
Typically a Good Fit
- General office documents, invoices, forms, and reports
- Ordinary business color or black-and-white printing
- Professional offices, law and accounting firms, real estate and property management
- Medical and dental office administration, contractors and service businesses
- Home offices and small teams that don't want a multi-year equipment commitment
Probably Needs a Different Solution
- Commercial printing, print-for-pay, or printing for resale
- Continuous production or direct-mail production
- Large-volume event or flyer production
- Applications that require production-class equipment
- Mandatory 11×17 printing or a need for three or more devices — both get a customized ABT review rather than standard instant approval
Common Misunderstandings About Flat-Rate Printing
A few assumptions that trip people up when they first look at the program.
- 01Assuming "unlimited" skips eligibility entirely. There's no per-page billing, but print volume still factors into which device ABT deploys — that's how the model stays sustainable.
- 02Thinking the printer becomes your property. Equipment stays ABT-owned for the life of the program; that's what makes Hot Swap repair-or-replace coverage possible in the first place.
- 03Not budgeting for the first month or applicable tax. The first month is paid upfront and isn't prorated, and sales tax may be added where required by law.
- 04Assuming production or resale printing qualifies. Commercial print, print-for-pay, and printing for resale fall outside the standard program by design.
- 05Comparing sticker price alone to a lease or MPS quote. A fair comparison has to account for what those programs bundle in — see the comparison section above before deciding.
- 06Waiting for a sales call that isn't required. Standard eligible applications can move from eligibility check to enrollment online without one.
Flat-Rate Business Printing FAQ
The questions that come up most before someone applies.
Is the printing really unlimited?
Do I own the printer?
Can I cancel anytime?
Is there a cancellation fee?
How is this different from a traditional copier lease?
What kind of printing doesn't qualify for the standard program?
Ready to See If You Qualify?
Standard eligibility, enrollment, and equipment deployment can all happen online. Check eligibility in a few minutes to see your plan options.