Practice development specialists Kathleen Larson Reamer and Kathleen Scott advise you to remember to shop for both an affordable price and good support when you're looking for new hardware.

Software companies that offer hardware usually have an exclusive agreement with a national vendor, which means the mark-up on the hardware can be extremely high. To get the best price, you may be better off buying directly through the national vendor. Or consider local hardware vendors, who are somewhat competitive with national companies. Local vendors may also make up for their extra cost with dependable support.

The price of hardware support programs can vary widely, so evaluate this aspect of your purchase carefully. Unless yours is one of the few offices that employs a computer or networking whiz, invest in a comprehensive support program. You won't regret it.