Fax machines provide an easy way to send documents over phone lines. It's faster than regular mail and more affordable than overnight delivery. While email has begun to supplant the fax in many businesses, fax machines are still indispensable for immediately sharing contracts, proofs, and other written documents.

The process is fairly straightforward: a fax machine scans each outgoing page and converts the images into a series of light and dark dots. This pattern is then translated into audio tones and sent over regular phone lines. The receiving fax machine "hears" the tones, pieces the grid together, and prints the total compilation of dots. The result is black and white copies of the original pages.

This BuyerZone Fax Machines Buyer's Guide will help you understand what features to look for and what you can expect to pay for your business fax machines.