After three decades in this industry, I can tell you: most copier lease "gotchas" aren't buried in fine print. They're sitting in plain sight, in sections nobody reads. Here's what to check before you sign anything — including anything from us.
1. The escalation clause
Many leases allow the payment or the service rate to increase annually — often 10–15%. Over a five-year term, that quietly adds thousands. Ask directly: "Can any part of this payment go up, and by how much?"
2. The overage rate
Your agreement includes a monthly page allowance. What matters is the rate after you exceed it. An artificially low base payment with a high overage rate is the oldest trick in the book.
3. Auto-renewal terms
Some leases renew automatically — for a full year — if you don't cancel inside a specific window. Put the notice date on your calendar the day you sign.
4. End-of-term obligations
Who pays to return the machine? Are you required to buy out the remaining toner? Is there a "fair market value" purchase clause that isn't fair at all? The end of the lease is where the real cost often lives.
5. What's actually included in service
Parts, labor, toner — usually. But ask about staples, drums, and "excessive use" carve-outs. If a component isn't listed, assume it's billable.
A lease isn't good or bad because of the rate on page one. It's good or bad because of what happens in months 13 through 60. Read those sections — or bring it to someone who reads them for a living.
— The Next Level team
