What's Included in STPT's Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy (CPC) Plan?

Ever wondered what’s truly covered in your printer service agreement? Even if you think you understand, many new and longtime customers still find themselves asking questions. In fact, it’s one of the most common questions we hear.

Maybe your printer needs service, your toner is running low, or you receive your monthly invoice and aren't quite sure what you're paying for. Those questions are completely understandable. Knowing exactly what’s in your service contract makes managing your printers easier and stops you from guessing about what's covered.

Over the 40 years we’ve been helping businesses keep their printers running efficiently, we've found that many questions about our Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy (CPC) Plan don't come from the service itself. Instead, they stem from simply not knowing what to expect.

This guide explains exactly what's included, what isn't, how the billing works, and whether the CPC Plan is the right fit for your business.

Table of Contents

• What Is STPT's Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy (CPC) Plan?
• What's Included (and What's Not Included)?
• How Does Cost-Per-Copy Billing Work?
• Who Is the CPC Plan Best For?
• Common Misunderstandings About the CPC Plan
• FAQ
• Final Thoughts

What Is Included in STPT's Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy (CPC) Plan?

STPT's Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy (CPC) Plan combines technical support, printer service, proactive toner monitoring, automatic toner replenishment, and predictable cost-per-copy billing into one service agreement. Customers receive business-hours support, automatic toner shipments, and service when needed, while paper, staples, and weekend service are not included.

If your goal is to spend less time managing your printers and more time focusing on your business, this plan is designed to simplify the day-to-day responsibilities that come with owning office equipment.

Learn about the types of maintenance plans STPT offers here.

What Is STPT's Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy (CPC) Plan?

The Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy (CPC) Plan is a printer maintenance agreement designed for businesses that want predictable service and hassle-free toner management.

Instead of waiting until a printer breaks down or manually ordering replacement toner, the plan allows STPT to proactively support your devices. You continue printing as usual while we help keep your equipment supplied and serviced.

Here’s a summary of what this plan looks like:

• You continue using your printer as normal.
• STPT monitors your toner levels remotely.
• Toner is automatically shipped before you run out.
• If your printer needs service, you contact our support team during business hours.
• Your monthly invoice includes your base service payment plus your cost-per-copy charges.

This plan helps businesses reduce interruptions and administrative work and gives them more predictable printing costs.

What's Included (and What's Not Included)?

One of the biggest misconceptions about any service agreement is assuming it covers absolutely everything. While the CPC Plan includes many of the services businesses rely on most, there are a few items that remain the customer's responsibility.

Let's look at what each of these benefits means in practice.

Business-Hours Technical Support

Customers on the Base Service Plus CPC Plan can contact STPT during normal business hours for printer service or questions about their service agreement. Whether it's a printing issue, an error message, or a question about your contract, our team is available to help.

Generally, our response time is within 1 business day, so you can get back up and running as quickly as possible.

Service Calls and Repairs

If your printer needs service, STPT will dispatch one of our trained technicians to diagnose and repair the issue. You don’t have to search for a repair company every time something goes wrong because you have an experienced team that knows your equipment and is ready to help.

Having service built into your agreement also means fewer surprises when unexpected repairs need to happen.

24/7 Toner Monitoring

STPT installs a secure monitoring application that communicates with your printer and tracks toner levels. This lets us know when supplies are running low without someone in your office constantly checking the device.

Instead of reacting after toner runs out, we can proactively prepare toner replacements before they become a problem.

Learn more about automatic toner shipments here.

Automatic Overnight Toner Shipments

Running out of toner at the wrong time can bring productivity to a halt.

Because your printer is being monitored, replacement toner is automatically shipped even overnight. 

You don't have to remember model numbers, compare cartridges, or place manual supply orders every few weeks.

Predictable Cost-Per-Copy Billing

Instead of purchasing toner whenever you run out, the CPC Plan uses a cost-per-copy billing model.

Each month, your invoice includes:

• Your base service payment
• A charge based on the number of impressions (pages) your printer produced

This way, you spread printing costs over time rather than incurring large, unexpected toner purchases whenever supplies need replacing.

This also makes budgeting easier for many organizations because service and toner costs become much more predictable.

Example Monthly Invoice

Your exact rates depend on your service agreement, but generally, your monthly costs are tied to how much you print.

Who Is the Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy Plan Best For?

Like any service agreement, the Base Service Plus CPC Plan isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. It's designed for businesses that print regularly and want a more hands-off approach to managing their office printers.

The CPC Plan is a great fit if you:

• Print more than 500 pages per month
• Want predictable monthly printing costs
• Prefer not to order toner manually
• Want quick access to technical support when issues arise
• Value proactive printer management over reactive repairs

For these businesses, the plan helps reduce downtime while taking several printer management tasks off their plate.

The CPC Plan may not be the best fit if you:

• Print only occasionally
• Have a very low monthly print volume
• Prefer to purchase toner only when needed
• Don't mind managing printer supplies yourself

Every business has different printing needs, which is why STPT also offers other service options. If your printing volume changes over time, you aren't locked into one plan forever.

Our team can help you review your usage and determine whether another maintenance plan would better suit your business.

Common Misunderstandings About the CPC Plan

Because "cost-per-copy" can sound unfamiliar, it's natural for customers to have questions. Here are a few of the misconceptions we hear most often.

"Everything related to my printer is included."

Not quite.

The Base Service Plus CPC Plan covers service, toner monitoring, automatic toner replenishment, and technical support. However, consumables such as paper and staples are still the customer's responsibility, and weekend service calls are not included.

Knowing what's covered upfront helps eliminate surprises later.

"Buying toner myself would probably be cheaper."

It might seem that way at first.

However, if you buy toner individually, especially full sets of color cartridges, it can become expensive over time. The CPC model spreads those costs across your monthly printing usage while also including proactive monitoring and service support.

For many businesses, the value comes from combining toner management and technical support into one predictable agreement rather than paying for each separately.

"I have to remember to order toner."

Actually, that's one of the biggest advantages of the plan.

Once the monitoring software is installed, STPT keeps an eye on your toner levels remotely. When supplies begin running low, replacement toner is automatically shipped, often before your printer runs out.

Instead of checking supply levels every week, your team can stay focused on work while we help keep your printers ready to print.

FAQ

Is toner included in the Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy Plan?

Yes. Toner is included through the plan's cost-per-copy billing model. STPT remotely monitors toner levels and automatically ships replacement cartridges when they're needed.

How quickly can I receive service if my printer breaks?

Customers can contact STPT during normal business hours for technical support or service. In most cases, our response time is within one business day or faster.

Is paper included in the CPC Plan?

No. Customers are responsible for purchasing their own paper. Staples and weekend service calls are also not included.

Can I switch to a different maintenance plan later?

Yes. If your printing habits or business needs change, STPT can review your current usage and recommend a maintenance plan that's a better fit.

How do I know if the CPC Plan is right for my business?

Businesses that print more than approximately 500 pages per month and want predictable printing costs, automatic toner replenishment, and ongoing service support are often excellent candidates for the Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy Plan.

Choose a Maintenance Plan That Keeps Printing Simple

The Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy Plan is designed to simplify printer management by combining proactive service, automatic toner replenishment, and predictable monthly billing into one convenient agreement. Instead of worrying about ordering supplies or searching for repair services when something goes wrong, you have an experienced local team helping keep your printers running.

Whether you're already an STPT customer or you're comparing maintenance plans for the first time, understanding exactly what's included can help you choose the option that best fits your business.

If you'd like to learn more about the Base Service Plus Cost-Per-Copy Plan or compare it with our other maintenance options, contact Strategic Technology Partners of Texas today.

We'll help you evaluate your print environment, answer your questions, and recommend the maintenance plan that provides the most value for your business.