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FAQ: Understanding the HP Instant Ink Subscription for Small Businesses
Harry Stewart
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September 28, 2023
Printing is a significant operating cost for every small business, from boutique law firms to real estate agents and retail shopfronts. Not only does topping up toner chew into your bottom line, but this time-consuming process also distracts staff from their daily tasks.
That’s where HP Instant Ink comes in. With automated ink level monitoring, convenient door-to-door deliveries, and lower cartridge costs, this innovative initiative is a must for every small UK business.
In this comprehensive FAQ, we’ll answer the most frequently asked Instant Ink questions.
What is HP Instant Ink?
Instant Ink is a ground-breaking printing subscription where you only pay for the pages you need. Previously, a company would manually monitor their ink levels and nominate a team member to purchase a replacement when required.
But with Instant Ink, HP uses WiFi-enabled printing technology to monitor your usage and post a fresh new cartridge directly to your office door. This automated process kicks into gear once your ink levels start running low. That way, the replacement cartridge will arrive well before you run out.
Thanks to its lower printing costs and hassle-free delivery, small UK businesses are signing up for the program in droves.
How does the subscription pricing model work?
Instant Ink is a monthly subscription service where businesses choose the most appropriate plan for their needs. Whether you print a few pages per month or several hundred, we have a cost-effective ink refill subscription for your business.
Don’t be turned off by the name if you own a laser printer. Instant Ink has subscription options for both ink and toner cartridges.
In case you weren’t aware, an InkJet printer squirts liquid ink onto a page. A laser printer, on the other hand, heats powdered toner to fuse it onto paper. The toner approach is cheaper for high-volume printing, though a laser printer is pricier to purchase upfront.
Wondering how much Instant Ink costs? Check out the pricing tiers for ink and toner subscriptions below.
Ink Plans
- Up to 10 pages: £0.99 per month
- Up to 50 pages: £2.99 per month
- Up to 100 pages: £4.49 per month
- Up to 300 pages: £9.99 per month
- Up to 700 pages: £22.49 per month
Toner plans
- Up to 50 pages: £1.99 per month
- Up to 100 pages: £3.49 per month
- Up to 400 pages: £12.99 per month
- Up to 800 pages: £17.99 per month
- Up to 1,500 pages: £22.99 per month
Most small UK businesses print 500 pages per month, give or take. Therefore, the £22.49 monthly HP printer ink subscription or a £17.99 toner plan is likely all you’ll need.
Of course, printing habits vary between companies. Rarely ever need hardcopy printouts? You could pay under a pound per month with a 10-page printer ink subscription. Heavy users, however, may want a laser printer to take advantage of the affordable 1,500-page-per-month plan.
Do colour pages cost more?
All Instant Ink subscriptions charge per page. Therefore, the cost of colour versus black-and-white pages is the same. This simplified pricing model is especially advantageous for businesses printing vibrant, full-colour pages for client presentations and advertising materials. It also comes in handy when printing long, text-heavy documents with minimal white space.
Another handy bonus is your staff won’t have to switch to an economy setting (and then back again) when printing drafts or tightly packed full-colour pages.
How can small businesses benefit from Instant Ink?
Instant Ink offers a plethora of enticing small business benefits, from lower ink prices to hassle-free delivery and predictable month-to-month expenses.
Convenience is a major drawcard. Rather than driving out to some far-flung computer store, you’ll get a replacement delivered directly to your door. HP’s in-built ink tracking technology ensures cartridges arrive before you run out. This automated process frees up staff to concentrate on more critical tasks.
This monthly subscription-based model also makes budgeting more predictable and easy to manage. Instead of getting slugged for a large cartridge replacement one month, you can spread printing costs over an entire year. Your finance department will love the idea.
Finally, Instant Ink is almost always cheaper than purchasing individual cartridges.
Is the subscription cost-effective compared to traditional ink purchasing?
Instant Ink has become an affordable printing solution for small UK companies by incorporating high-yield cartridges and bypassing third-party suppliers.
Businesses on higher monthly page plans can save up to 70% on ink or 50% on toner compared to a traditional pay-per-cartridge purchase. Plans start at £1, and subscribers get free unused page rollovers up to three times their monthly plan.
Shipping is free, so you won’t have to factor in postage costs. Moreover, as staff don’t have to monitor ink levels and purchase replacement cartridges, they can spend extra time serving clients and building your business.
How does HP track ink levels?
HP Instant Ink uses in-built cartridge monitoring technology to track ink levels automatically. Instead of simply informing the user when the ink starts running low, the service orders a replacement cartridge on your behalf.
This smart, automated service factors in shipping times to ensure your fresh new cartridge arrives before the previous one runs dry. The program only monitors ink levels and page printing statistics. All information is encrypted to keep your company data secure.
What happens if a business exceeds its monthly page limit?
HP understands that month-to-month printing habits can be challenging to predict. That’s why just £1 gets you 5-20 additional ink pages or 10-60 pages of toner.
And remember, you can roll over unused pages to stockpile up to three times your monthly plan. For example, a company with a 700-page plan can roll over up to 2,100 pages - perfect for when those enormous quarterly reports are due.
Can businesses switch plans if their printing needs change?
Businesses can change or cancel their plan at any time. Visit the HP Instant Ink account page to make an alteration.
When upgrading to a higher monthly page plan, you can choose for the change to take place immediately or at your next billing cycle. Downgrading a plan sees the change occur at the end of your current billing cycle.
If you expect to greatly exceed your current monthly allowance, upgrading plans may be more cost-effective than adding additional pages.
Are there any contract obligations or cancellation fees?
With no lock-in contracts, businesses can cancel their Instant Ink subscription anytime. Cancellations take effect at the end of the current billing cycle.
Upon cancelling, you can continue using HP original Standard or XL cartridges.
How does the quality of Instant Ink compare to regular HP cartridges?
Instant Ink runs on the same high-quality ink and toner that HP customers have come to know and love. However, there is one fundamental difference. The program uses big, high-yield cartridges, meaning you get more value than a standard single-purchase printer cartridge.
These larger, high-yield cartridges are a significant reason why a monthly ink subscription usually works out cheaper than traditional printing methods. High-yield cartridges also mean fewer replacements, thus helping to streamline your business operations.
Is the service more sustainable?
Instant Ink offers a sustainable alternative to tossing spent cartridges in the bin. When you receive a replacement in the mail, you’ll get a prepaid shipping sachet to send empty cartridges to a verified recycler. No need to fill out any forms or attach stamps. Simply seal the sachet and pop it into your nearest post box.
This eco-friendly process reduces manufacturing emissions and stops empty cartridges from clogging up our landfills.
Which printers are compatible with HP Instant Ink?
As Instant Ink exclusively works with original HP ink and toner, you can only use the service with a compatible HP printer. Almost all modern HP printers support Instant Ink, and many even bundle in a free trial to sweeten the deal.
Shopping for a new printer on the HP UK Store? Look for “Instant Ink enabled” or “Instant Ink ready” in the product description. Some of the most popular options for small British businesses include:
HP LaserJet M140we HP+ Wireless Printer
Key specs:
- Print, scan, and copy
- Print wirelessly with in-built WiFi
- Print speeds up to 20 pages per minute (ppm)
HP ENVY 6420e HP+ enabled All-in-One Wireless Colour Printer
Key specs:
- Copy, scan, and automatic 2-sided printing & 35-page auto-feeder
- Print speed up to 10 ppm (black) and 7 ppm (colour)
- Stay connected with in-built self-healing WiFi
HP DeskJet 2710e All-in-One HP+ enabled Wireless Colour Printer
Key specs:
- Print, copy, and scan plus support for 2-sided printing
- Works with your smartphone or tablet
- Print speed up to 7.5 ppm (black) and 5.5 ppm (colour)
HP OfficeJet Pro 9022e All-in-One HP+ enabled Wireless Colour Printer
Key specs:
- Copy, scan, and fax, and automatic 2-sided printing
- Front-facing USB Printing plus scan-to-copy
- Fast print speeds– Print up to 24 ppm (black) and 20 ppm (colour)
If you’re wondering whether your existing HP printer is compatible, take a look at this complete list of eligible Instant Ink printers.
Summary
Since its introduction in 2013, HP Instant Ink has become a popular option among small, cost-conscious businesses in the UK. Lower prices and convenient deliveries help slash printing costs and streamline business operations. And with HP’s proactive, automated monitoring service, your business will never run out of ink again.
No lock-in contracts, flexible pricing structures, and hassle-free cancellations mean you’ve got nothing to lose. Sign up for a subscription to HP Instant Ink today or browse the complete list of compatible printers on the HP UK Store.
Your employees, bottom line, and the environment will thank you.
