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The best printer for a small business depends on monthly volume, color needs, scanning, and paper size. For a busy color office, the Brother MFC-L8930CDW is the strongest overall pick; for black-and-white documents, choose the Brother MFC-L2820DW; for low color running costs, choose the Epson EcoTank ET-4950; and for 11-by-17-inch output, choose the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e.

Key takeaways

  • The Brother MFC-L8930CDW is the strongest overall choice for a busy small office that needs color laser printing, scanning, copying, and faxing.
  • The Brother MFC-L2820DW is a better fit for mostly black-and-white documents, with reviewer-reported output of approximately 33 pages per minute.
  • The Brother HL-L2460DW saves money by omitting the scanner, but it is suitable only when the business already has a scanner or never needs to scan and copy.
  • The HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e supports paper up to 11 by 17 inches and is the most suitable pick for wide-format documents.
  • The Epson EcoTank ET-4950 can reduce color ink costs through refillable bottles, but inkjet maintenance and slower output make it less suitable for sporadic or speed-critical workloads.

A small business printer should be chosen by workflow, not by the highest headline rating or lowest purchase price. A freelancer printing a few invoices each week has different requirements from a real-estate office scanning signed contracts, an online retailer printing shipping documents, or a design studio producing color presentations.

The seven recommendations below cover distinct jobs: heavy-duty color laser printing, compact color laser printing, monochrome multifunction printing, print-only operation, wide-format output, conventional business inkjet printing, and low-running-cost ink-tank printing. The category winners are based primarily on the 2026 small-business comparison from RTINGS, while broader technology trade-offs are supported by TechRadar’s small-business printer coverage and Tom’s Guide’s printer buying guidance.

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Quick comparison: which printer is best for your business?

Model Type Best for Reported or rated speed ADF and scanning Duplex printing Duplex scanning Price signal Main drawback
Brother MFC-L8930CDW Color laser all-in-one Busy shared offices Approximately 34 ppm Yes; verify exact ADF behavior Verify current specification Verify current specification Premium office model; recheck live price Large, expensive, and excessive for light use
Canon Color imageCLASS MF665Cdw Color laser all-in-one Upper-mid-range color documents Up to approximately 26 ppm Yes; scan speed reported at approximately 14 ppm Verify current specification Verify the exact regional model A comparable 2026 Canon color imageCLASS guide price was $350 for the MF656Cdw, not the MF665Cdw Slower than the Brother MFC-L8930CDW; color toner can be costly
Brother MFC-L2820DW Monochrome laser all-in-one Black-text documents with scanning and copying Approximately 33 ppm Yes; standard ADF Verify current specification No, according to the cited review $250 listed in the 2026 Consumer Reports guide No color and no automatic two-sided scanning
Brother HL-L2460DW Monochrome laser print-only Low-cost dedicated print station Verify current specification No scanner or ADF Verify current specification No Verify live price before buying Cannot scan or copy
HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e Wide-format inkjet all-in-one 11-by-17-inch documents Approximately 20 black ppm and 14 color ppm Yes; verify duplex-scan method Verify current specification Verify whether scanning is duplex $290 listed in the 2026 Consumer Reports guide Inkjet maintenance, larger footprint, and moderate speed
HP OfficeJet Pro 9135/9135e Business inkjet all-in-one Color-oriented offices that want an alternative to color laser Reportedly faster than the Canon MF665Cdw; verify current rating Yes; business-oriented ADF Verify current specification Verify exact model $300 listed for the 9135e in the 2026 Consumer Reports guide Lower yield than the Canon and possible cartridge restrictions with subscription enrollment
Epson EcoTank ET-4950 Refillable ink-tank all-in-one Regular color printing at low refill cost Slower than the Canon MF665Cdw Full-featured ADF Yes, according to the cited review Verify; duplex printing is not duplex scanning Recheck current U.S. price Slower output and inkjet clogging risk during long inactivity

Prices in the table are dated guide-price snapshots rather than live retail quotes. Consumer Reports’ 2026 buying guide listed the Brother MFC-L2820DW at $250, HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e at $300, HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e at $290, and several comparable color models at prices ranging from $350 to $529. Check U.S. inventory, current model names, warranty terms, and consumables immediately before purchase.

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Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Printer, Copy, Scan, Duplex, Mobile Printing
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  • FAST PRINTER WITH EFFICIENT SCANNING – Produces documents quickly with print speeds up to 36 ppm(2) and scan speeds up to 23.6/7.9 ipm(3) (black/color). A 50-page auto document feeder(4) allows for convenient, time saving multi-page scanning and copying
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What are the seven best printers for small business in 2026?

1. Brother MFC-L8930CDW: best overall for a busy small office

The Brother MFC-L8930CDW is the best overall printer for a busy small business when the office needs a higher-capacity color laser multifunction device. RTINGS selected the MFC-L8930CDW as its top small-business pick in 2026 and reported approximately 34 pages per minute.

The color laser engine is suited to invoices, proposals, reports, forms, charts, and other client-facing documents. The multifunction design also covers scanning, copying, and faxing, making the MFC-L8930CDW a practical shared-office device rather than a dedicated printer.

Choose it if: several people share the printer, color documents are routine, and speed and office workflow matter more than the lowest possible purchase price.

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Do not choose it if: the business prints only a few dozen pages per month, has very limited desk space, or produces large quantities of color pages where refillable ink may offer better running-cost economics.

Important checks: Confirm current toner prices, standard and high-yield cartridge yields, drum or maintenance-unit costs, paper capacity, and the exact duplex-ADF behavior. A higher-capacity laser printer can be a better productivity choice without being the cheapest device to operate for heavy color coverage.

2. Canon Color imageCLASS MF665Cdw: best upper-mid-range color laser

The Canon Color imageCLASS MF665Cdw is the best upper-mid-range color laser printer for a small office seeking crisp documents and a capable multifunction feature set without moving to a larger departmental machine. RTINGS describes the model as a strong balance of document quality, features, and office usability.

The MF665Cdw is reported to print at up to approximately 26 pages per minute, with scan speed of approximately 14 pages per minute in the cited review. The ADF supports batch scanning, but buyers should verify whether the exact U.S. or regional variant provides duplex scanning rather than only duplex printing.

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Choose it if: the business prints color proposals, forms, presentations, and reports regularly but does not need the larger workload positioning of the Brother MFC-L8930CDW.

Do not choose it if: the business needs the fastest shared-office output, scans large batches of two-sided originals, or prints enough color pages that an ink tank’s refill economics outweigh laser speed and consistency.

Canon’s official U.S. printer store is Canon’s printer buying page. Confirm the exact MF665Cdw specification and current consumable pricing before ordering because similarly named Canon models can differ in scanning and paper-handling capabilities.

3. Brother MFC-L2820DW: best monochrome all-in-one

The Brother MFC-L2820DW is the best monochrome all-in-one for a business whose documents are overwhelmingly black text but that still needs scanning, copying, and an ADF. RTINGS reports approximately 33 pages per minute, high-quality black-and-white output, and a relatively quick warm-up.

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A standard toner cartridge is reported to produce about 1,300 prints. Actual yield depends on page coverage, document type, and consumable pricing, so the 1,300-page figure should be treated as a model-specific published or reviewed yield rather than a promise for every office.

The central limitation is scanning: the MFC-L2820DW has an ADF, but the cited review reports approximately seven pages per minute and no duplex scanning. The printer can therefore be a good document device for single-sided originals while becoming labor-intensive for two-sided contracts, forms, and records.

Choose it if: black text is the priority and most scanning is occasional or single-sided.

Choose the Brother MFC-L2880DW instead if: automatic duplex scanning is important. Treat the MFC-L2880DW as a model-specific alternative and verify its current U.S. specification rather than assuming every L28xx model has identical scanning hardware.

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Do not choose the MFC-L2820DW if: the office needs color, high-volume scanning, or automatic capture of both sides of originals.

4. Brother HL-L2460DW: best budget print-only printer

The Brother HL-L2460DW is the best budget print-only printer for a small business that prints black-and-white documents and already owns a scanner. RTINGS identifies it as a budget small-business choice with USB, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connectivity.

Removing the scanner is the main reason to consider the HL-L2460DW. A dedicated printer can cost less, take less time to set up, and avoid paying for an all-in-one feature set that a shipping desk or back office never uses.

Choose it if: the printer will handle invoices, shipping documents, forms, labels, or internal records and scanning and copying happen elsewhere.

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Do not choose it if: the printer will be the office’s only document device. Businesses often underestimate how frequently they need to digitize receipts, signed documents, identification documents, or paper forms.

Before buying a print-only model, answer one question: does anyone in the business scan or copy paper documents even occasionally? If the answer is yes and no separate scanner is available, the Brother MFC-L2820DW is usually the safer workflow choice. Use Brother’s official printer range to verify the current HL-L2460DW configuration and price.

5. HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e: best wide-format printer

The HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e is the best choice in this group for a small business that needs output up to 11 by 17 inches. The wide-format capability suits spreadsheets, posters, charts, diagrams, menus, signage, real-estate materials, and event documents that do not fit on letter-size paper.

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RTINGS reports approximately 20 black pages per minute and 14 color pages per minute. Those figures make the 9730e versatile rather than exceptionally fast, and graphics-heavy or duplex jobs may behave differently from standardized speed tests.

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Choose it if: tabloid-size output is a real business requirement and buying a separate large-format printer would be excessive.

Do not choose it if: the office prints only letter-size black text. A monochrome laser printer will generally be a better fit for fast, predictable document work.

The 9730e remains an inkjet, so long periods of inactivity can create maintenance and printhead-clogging concerns. Confirm the ADF’s capacity and whether it scans both sides automatically; wide-format support does not imply duplex scanning. HP’s official U.S. printer store is HP’s business printer range.

6. HP OfficeJet Pro 9135 or 9135e: best conventional business inkjet alternative

The HP OfficeJet Pro 9135/9135e is a strong conventional inkjet alternative for a small office that wants business-oriented features and color output without buying a color laser. RTINGS describes the 9135e as an inkjet alternative to the Canon MF665Cdw and reports that it prints faster than the Canon while yielding fewer pages.

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The model naming needs careful verification. HP’s 2026 listing uses the name HP OfficeJet Pro 9135, while the available product-page URL and earlier coverage use HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e. Check the exact name, included features, cartridge policy, and availability on the current HP OfficeJet Pro 9135 product page before publication or purchase.

RTINGS reports three free months through HP’s ink-replenishment service and warns that subscription enrollment blocks the use of third-party cartridges. Offers and terms can change, so buyers should confirm whether the service is optional, what happens when the promotion ends, and whether the printer operates normally without the service.

Choose it if: color documents are important, the business wants an inkjet’s color flexibility, and the buyer is comfortable reviewing HP’s current cartridge and subscription terms.

Do not choose it if: the business wants unrestricted consumable choices, prints very large batches of black text, or leaves the printer unused for long periods.

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7. Epson EcoTank ET-4950: best low-running-cost ink tank

The Epson EcoTank ET-4950 is the best low-running-cost ink-tank choice for a business that prints color regularly and is willing to pay more upfront for refillable ink. RTINGS identifies the ET-4950 as a strong alternative when color capability or cost per page matters more than maximum laser-like speed.

Refillable bottles can provide substantially better color economics than conventional cartridges when the printer is used consistently. The ET-4950 also offers a full-featured ADF and strong overall print quality, but the cited review places it below the Canon MF665Cdw in speed.

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Choose it if: the business prints substantial quantities of color pages, wants better photo and graphic flexibility than most laser printers, and can keep the printer in regular use.

Do not choose it if: printing is sporadic, the business needs the fastest black-text output, or staff will not perform normal inkjet maintenance.

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Do not confuse duplex printing with duplex scanning on the ET-4950. The cited review identifies duplex printing, but the exact method of duplex scanning should be verified before buying for two-sided document capture. Epson’s official WorkForce and EcoTank printer store is the appropriate place to check the current model specification.

How should a small business choose between laser and inkjet?

A small business should usually choose monochrome laser for high-volume black text, color laser for fast and consistent color documents, cartridge inkjet for lower-volume mixed text and graphics, and refillable ink tank for regular color printing where low refill cost matters most.

Technology Best workload Main advantages Main limitations
Monochrome laser Invoices, contracts, shipping documents, forms, and internal records Sharp text, fast output, and toner that does not dry out during inactivity No color and generally limited photo capability
Color laser Client documents, charts, presentations, and office forms Fast, crisp, consistent output for shared offices; less vulnerable to inkjet printhead clogging Higher purchase price, potentially expensive color toner, and weaker photo output than capable inkjets
Cartridge inkjet Low-to-moderate mixed text and color printing Often lower purchase price and attractive graphics or photo output Ink can become expensive, printheads may clog, and some models promote subscriptions
Refillable ink tank Regular color printing with cost-sensitive users Large ink capacity and potentially very low refill cost per page Higher upfront price, slower output, and continued inkjet maintenance requirements

The laser-versus-inkjet decision is therefore a workload decision, not a universal claim that one technology always costs less. Laser printers generally win on fast, sharp office documents, while inkjet printers generally offer stronger color and photo output. A refillable tank can be cheaper for high color volume, but a tank printer may be a poor purchase for an office that prints only a few pages each month.

Does a small business need an all-in-one printer?

An all-in-one printer is normally worthwhile when the business needs at least two of these functions: printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. A print-only model is preferable when scanning is never required or a separate scanner already handles the workflow.

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All-in-one does not describe one uniform level of scanning ability. A model may have only a flatbed scanner, a single-sided ADF, automatic duplex printing without duplex scanning, or a single-pass duplex scanner that captures both sides in one pass.

Business task Minimum useful feature What to verify
Occasional single-page scans Flatbed scanner Scan size, software, and connection method
Batch scanning of single-sided documents ADF Sheet capacity and scan speed
Two-sided contracts and forms Duplex scanning Whether the ADF scans both sides automatically
Fast two-sided batch scanning Single-pass duplex scanning Whether both sides are captured in one pass
Dedicated print station Print-only printer Whether a separate scanner is reliably available

What is the difference between duplex printing and duplex scanning?

Automatic duplex printing puts ink or toner on both sides of a sheet, while duplex scanning captures both sides of a two-sided original. The two features are independent, and a printer can have one without the other.

  • Duplex printing: automatically prints on the front and back of paper.
  • Duplex scanning: automatically captures both sides of an original document.
  • Single-pass duplex scanning: captures both sides in one ADF pass, usually reducing handling time.

The Brother MFC-L2820DW illustrates the distinction: the model has an ADF but the cited review reports no duplex scanning. A business processing signed contracts, two-sided forms, receipts, or client records should verify the scanner mechanism itself instead of relying on a product page that merely says “duplex.”

How much does printer speed matter?

Printer speed matters most when several people share one device or when the business regularly prints long reports and batches. Advertised pages per minute are useful for comparison, but first-page-out time, warm-up time, duplex speed, scan speed, ADF capacity, graphics processing, and network behavior also affect productivity.

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Model Speed reference How to interpret it
Brother MFC-L8930CDW Approximately 34 ppm Best suited to a busier shared color-document workload among these picks
Canon MF665Cdw Up to approximately 26 ppm Capable upper-mid-range office speed; slower than the Brother MFC-L8930CDW
Brother MFC-L2820DW Approximately 33 ppm Strong fit for fast black-text printing
HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e Approximately 20 black ppm and 14 color ppm Versatile wide-format output, but not among the fastest options

These figures are manufacturer-rated or reviewer-reported references, not guaranteed speeds for every document. A color presentation, envelope, photo, or automatic two-sided job can be slower than a standardized single-sided black-text test. The Canon MF665Cdw’s reported scan speed of approximately 14 pages per minute and the Brother MFC-L2820DW’s reported ADF speed of approximately seven pages per minute also show why printing speed and scanning speed should be evaluated separately. See the RTINGS comparison and test notes for the model-specific figures.

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How should a business calculate running cost?

Compare at least one year of expected consumables, not just the printer’s purchase price. The calculation should include black and color toner or ink, standard and high-yield cartridge yields, drums, maintenance units, waste-ink or maintenance boxes, subscriptions, and the proportion of pages that contain significant color coverage.

A simple estimate is:

Annual printing cost = black consumables + color consumables + drums or maintenance parts + subscription fees + paper.

Cost per page is not universal. Page coverage, cartridge size, street price, manufacturer yield methodology, bundled starter supplies, and the use of genuine or third-party consumables can materially change the result. Firmware, chip authentication, warranty terms, and print-quality differences can also affect whether third-party supplies are practical.

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Tom’s Guide reported tested operating costs for the Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW of about 0.3 cents per text page and under 1 cent per color page. Those figures belong to that specific ink-tank model and test methodology; they should not be generalized to every Brother printer or every refillable ink tank. Tom’s Guide’s printer testing and buying guide provides the relevant context.

Consumer Reports’ 2026 buying guide combines test results with survey data covering predicted reliability and owner satisfaction, alongside ink-cost and capacity information. Such results are useful comparisons, but guide prices and scores are snapshots rather than live retail quotes or guarantees of a particular printer’s lifespan. See the Consumer Reports 2026 buying guide for its methodology and dated figures.

What features should a small business verify before buying?

  • Monthly volume: Compare expected pages with the manufacturer’s recommended monthly volume and duty cycle.
  • Color percentage: Estimate how many pages will contain color, not merely whether color is occasionally required.
  • Print speed: Check both simplex and duplex ratings, plus first-page-out time for short jobs.
  • Scanning: Confirm flatbed versus ADF, ADF capacity, scan speed, duplex scanning, and single-pass duplex scanning.
  • Paper handling: Verify letter, legal, envelopes, labels, and 11-by-17-inch support where required.
  • Connectivity: Ethernet is valuable for stable office deployment; also check Wi-Fi, USB, Wi-Fi Direct, and mobile printing.
  • Security: Shared offices handling client or financial records should examine secure print, administrator controls, encryption, and firmware support.
  • Consumables: Price toner or ink, high-yield supplies, drums, maintenance boxes, and any subscription before purchase.
  • Footprint: Measure desk depth, height, clearance for trays and ADF access, and space for paper storage.
  • Support: Check warranty duration, local service, replacement procedures, and business support options.

Business-oriented printers generally distinguish themselves from home printers through faster output, larger paper capacity, automatic duplex workflows, ADF handling, networking, and support or security features. The right definition of “business-grade” depends on which of those features the business actually needs.

Which printer should each type of small business buy?

Business situation Best starting point Why When to choose something else
Busy shared office with regular color documents Brother MFC-L8930CDW Higher-capacity color laser multifunction workflow and approximately 34 ppm reported speed Choose an ink tank if color volume makes refill cost the dominant concern
Small office wanting balanced color laser features Canon MF665Cdw Strong document quality and upper-mid-range feature balance Choose the Brother for more demanding shared-office speed
Consultant or home office printing mostly black text Brother MFC-L2820DW Fast monochrome printing plus scanning and copying Choose a duplex-scanning model for frequent two-sided originals
Shipping or invoice station with a separate scanner Brother HL-L2460DW Print-only design reduces cost and complexity Choose an all-in-one if scanning or copying may become part of the workflow
Real estate, design, education, retail, or events requiring tabloid output HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e Supports output up to 11 by 17 inches Choose a laser model if wide format is unnecessary and speed is more important
Color-oriented office avoiding a color laser HP OfficeJet Pro 9135/9135e Business inkjet feature set and reported speed advantage over the Canon Review subscription and cartridge restrictions before enrollment
Regular, substantial color printing at low refill cost Epson EcoTank ET-4950 Refillable ink system and better color economics potential Choose laser for sporadic use or fastest black-text output

Buying checklist for a small-business printer

  1. Estimate the number of black-only and color pages printed each month.
  2. Decide whether the office needs printing only or at least two functions among printing, scanning, copying, and faxing.
  3. Count how many originals are two-sided and determine whether duplex scanning is required.
  4. Choose laser, cartridge inkjet, or ink tank based on workload rather than purchase price alone.
  5. Confirm required paper sizes, including legal, envelopes, labels, and 11 by 17 inches.
  6. Check Ethernet if the printer will be shared by multiple office computers.
  7. Price standard and high-yield supplies, drums, maintenance parts, paper, and subscriptions for one year.
  8. Review third-party consumable restrictions, firmware behavior, warranty terms, and support.
  9. Measure the printer footprint with trays, doors, and ADF access open.
  10. Recheck U.S. availability, exact model suffix, current price, and the manufacturer’s specification immediately before purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is laser or inkjet better for a small business?

Laser is usually better for fast, sharp, document-heavy office printing, while inkjet is usually better for color graphics, photos, wide-format output, or low color cost with a refillable tank. The correct choice depends on volume, color demand, and how often the printer is used.

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Is an all-in-one printer worth it for a small business?

An all-in-one printer is usually worth the cost when a business needs at least two functions among printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. A print-only printer is more efficient when scanning never occurs or a separate scanner is already available.

Do small businesses need duplex scanning?

Small businesses need duplex scanning when they regularly digitize two-sided contracts, forms, receipts, or client records. Automatic duplex printing does not provide duplex scanning, so the scanner’s exact ADF method must be verified.

Are HP ink subscriptions required for the OfficeJet Pro 9135 or 9135e?

HP ink-replenishment enrollment should be treated as a separate service decision, not an automatic requirement to buy the printer. RTINGS reported a three-month offer and cartridge restrictions associated with enrollment; confirm current HP terms before subscribing.

Is a color laser printer worth it?

A color laser printer is worth considering when a business values fast, consistent color documents and shared-office productivity. A refillable ink tank may cost less for high color volumes, while a cartridge inkjet may have a lower purchase price but higher ongoing cartridge costs.

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The Bottom Line

For most document-heavy small offices, start with a laser printer. Choose the Brother MFC-L8930CDW for a busy shared color workflow, the Canon MF665Cdw for a balanced upper-mid-range color laser, the Brother MFC-L2820DW for fast black-and-white multifunction printing, or the Brother HL-L2460DW when print-only operation is genuinely enough.

Choose the HP OfficeJet Pro 9730e for 11-by-17-inch output, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9135/9135e for a conventional business inkjet, and the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 when regular color printing makes refillable ink economics more important than laser speed. Before ordering, verify duplex scanning, consumables, subscription terms, warranty, exact model suffix, and current U.S. pricing.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.