Base Volume

Base volume (also called minimum volume or volume commitment) is the guaranteed minimum number of pages you agree to pay for each month in a service agreement, whether you print them or not. For example, a contract with 5,000 base volume means you pay click charges for at least 5,000 pages monthly, even if you only print 3,000. Base volumes exist because dealers need to ensure minimum revenue to cover equipment costs and overhead. In return for committing to higher base volumes, dealers typically offer lower per-page click charges. Base volumes should match your actual monthly print needs - estimate conservatively to avoid paying for unused pages. Some contracts allow rollover of unused pages to future months, while others have "use it or lose it" policies. Negotiating appropriate base volume is critical: too low and you face overage charges, too high and you pay for pages you never print.