Budget-Friendly Black and White Printing for Small Business

Bare Bones, Budget Friendly Black and White Printing for Small Business: A Look at the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw and HP LaserJet MFP M234dw

When you run a small business, every dollar matters. That includes the dollars spent on printers, toner, and ongoing maintenance. The good news is that HP continues to deliver highly economical, no nonsense black and white printers that keep operating costs low without sacrificing professional grade output.

Today, we compare two excellent “bare bones” options for small offices:

Both are compact, efficient, and purpose built for environments where color printing is unnecessary and reliability matters more than extra bells and whistles.

Why Black and White Printers Still Make Sense for Small Business

Black and white laser printers remain a smart pick for small companies that:

  • Print invoices, packing slips, contracts, and internal documents
  • Need inexpensive toner and predictable long term costs
  • Prefer long lasting hardware with minimal mechanical complexity
  • Do not require color output or advanced finishing features

With fewer moving parts than many color printers, monochrome units tend to last longer and require less upkeep which is exactly what a small business budget needs.

Head to Head Comparison: HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw vs. HP LaserJet MFP M234dw

Below is the full comparison table with the requested changes: no em dashes, wording preserved, the note that the M234dw does not have an ADF, and the added detail that it also does not have an Ethernet port.

Comparison Table

Feature HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw HP LaserJet MFP M234dw
Typical Retail Price Range Approximately 299 to 379 dollars depending on retailer Approximately 239 to 240 dollars depending on retailer
Print Speed Up to 35 pages per minute black Up to 30 pages per minute black
Duplex Printing Automatic ✔ Automatic ✔
Scanning Type Flatbed plus 50 sheet ADF which allows multi page scanning ✔ Flatbed only ✘ and no ADF which means it cannot scan multi page documents automatically and also no Ethernet port
Functions Print, scan, copy, fax Print, scan, copy
Wireless Features Wi Fi, Ethernet, mobile printing, HP Smart App Dual band Wi Fi, Bluetooth LE, HP Smart App and no Ethernet port
Ideal User Teams up to 7 users that need multi page scanning Small teams of 1 to 5 people with light scanning needs and no requirement for Ethernet connectivity

Toner Cost Overview

For HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw

Uses HP 138A or HP 138X:

For HP LaserJet MFP M234dw

Uses HP 134A or HP 134X:

 

Which One Should Your Small Business Choose

Choose the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw if:

  • You regularly scan multi page documents
  • You have a small team up to seven people
  • You want faster printing and more workflow features
  • You need fax and a document feeder

This model offers excellent value while remaining economical.

Choose the HP LaserJet MFP M234dw if:

  • You need the absolute lowest cost black and white multifunction printer
  • You do not need to scan multi page documents automatically
  • You do not need Ethernet connectivity
  • Your team is small and your print volume is moderate

This is the bare bones champion. Simple. Affordable. Reliable. Perfect for businesses that want the lowest possible operating cost without unnecessary features.

Final Thoughts

For small businesses that want the most economical and straightforward printing possible, both the 3101fdw and M234dw shine. Your choice ultimately comes down to two key questions:

  • Do you need an Automatic Document Feeder
  • Do you need an Ethernet port

If the answer to either is yes, choose the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 3101fdw.
If both answers are no, the HP LaserJet MFP M234dw gives you rock bottom cost without compromising print quality.