What NuCycle Toner & Ink does

NuCycle Toner & Ink, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a privately held, woman-owned distributor and service provider of printing supplies, office equipment, and managed print services targeting small and mid-sized businesses. The company sells both OEM (HP, Epson, Brother, Lexmark, Dell, Xerox, Canon, Ricoh, Toshiba, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, OKI, Samsung) and its own NuCycle Brand remanufactured toner and ink cartridges, produced in-house by certified US technicians to exact specifications and backed by a 100% performance guarantee. It is an authorized Epson dealer and HP Qualified Supplies Partner, supplying new and refurbished copiers, multifunction printers, and high-capacity workgroup devices.

The business operates across multiple recurring and transactional revenue streams: toner and ink cartridge sales, copier/printer hardware sales, equipment repair (in-house and on-site, $60 diagnostic fee and $120-$150 hourly rates), and managed services including the trademarked Freedom Plan (free printer service in exchange for exclusive toner purchasing), NuPrint and NuSolutions managed print services (bundled monthly payments covering toner, service, and maintenance kits), and Managed IT services (workstations, servers, Microsoft 365, data backup, security updates). Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, with phone sales, an e-commerce portal with customer login, quote-based pricing, and same-day shipping plus door-to-door next-day delivery in the Knoxville metro. The company serves healthcare, legal, automotive, insurance, education, and distribution customers across East Tennessee and nationwide, with named accounts including Appalachian Underwriters (300+ printers under Freedom Plan), Ted Russell Ford/Nissan/Kia, Cherokee Health Systems, Woolf McClane, and Baptist Eye Surgeons.

Ownership sits with founders Dustye and Clint McCarty, who acquired the business from founder Tom Stokes's widow in 2006 and subsequently acquired Southeastern Laser in 2018 to expand equipment service capabilities. The company employs 11-50 staff, including trained technicians with 30+ years combined experience servicing major printer brands, and reports a remanufacturing-driven environmental footprint of approximately 67,662 lbs of greenhouse gases reduced, 5,639 gallons of petroleum conserved, and 14,000 lbs of cardboard recycled annually.

Name

NuCycle Toner & Ink

Legal name

NuCycle Toner & Ink

Website

https://nucycle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NuCycle Toner & Ink is a privately held, woman-owned Knoxville distributor of OEM and remanufactured toner/ink cartridges, copiers and printers, and managed print and IT services for small and mid-sized businesses across East Tennessee and nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Toner and Ink Sales: Sale of both OEM (name brand) and aftermarket/compatible toner and ink cartridges. NuCycle Brand remanufactured cartridges offer cost savings while maintaining quality.
2. Copier and Printer Equipment Sales: Sales of Epson, HP, and other brand copiers and printers, including new and refurbished equipment across various sizes from small MFPs to high-capacity workgroup printers.
3. Freedom Plan: Month-to-month program where customers receive free printer service including labor and non-consumable parts in exchange for purchasing toner cartridges exclusively from NuCycle. No long-term contracts.
4. NuPrint Managed Print Services: Comprehensive managed print service covering copiers and laser printer fleet. One monthly payment based on average company output, covering toner, service, and maintenance kits.
5. NuSolutions Managed Print Services: Same as NuPrint MPS but with NuCycle providing their own equipment placed in customer businesses.
6. Managed IT Services: Proactive managed IT services for small and mid-sized businesses covering workstations, servers, network infrastructure, Microsoft 365, data backup, and security updates.
7. Equipment Repair Services: Equipment repair services with in-house and on-site options. Technician services for laser printers, copiers, and fax machines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NuCycle Toner & Ink sells remanufactured and OEM toner and ink cartridges, copiers and printers (as an authorized Epson dealer and HP partner), and delivers bundled print programs including the Freedom Plan (free service in exchange for exclusive consumable purchases), NuPrint and NuSolutions managed print services. The company also provides equipment repair, managed IT services, and remote help desk support, primarily serving small and mid-sized businesses in East Tennessee with nationwide shipping.

Product overview

NuCycle Toner & Ink is an authorized EPSON dealer and HP Qualified Supplies Partner offering a portfolio of printing supplies and office equipment services. The core product lines consist of Toner & Ink cartridges (available as NuCycle's own remanufactured brand or OEM/Name Brand options) and Copiers and Printers (EPSON and HP equipment, new and refurbished). These are supported by service offerings including Equipment Repair, Managed IT, and a suite of print programs: Freedom Plan (free equipment service with consumable purchases), NuPrint Managed Print Service, and NuSolutions (equipment placement with bundled services). The company also offers Remote Help desk support. The product architecture is centered on consumable supplies and equipment, with service programs designed to create recurring revenue relationships with business customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Freedom Plan℠: Service program providing free printer maintenance and repairs in exchange for purchasing toner and ink cartridges exclusively from NuCycle.
• NuPrint
• NuSolutions
• NuCycle Brand Toner

Products and services

• Toner & Ink Cartridges Replacement toner and ink cartridges for printers and copiers, offered as both OEM/Name Brand and Aftermarket compatible/remanufactured options. NuCycle Brand cartridges are remanufactured by certified technicians in the USA and backed by a 100% Performance Guarantee. Targeted at businesses using printers and copiers who need reliable, cost-effective consumables.
• Copiers and Printers Sales of office copiers and printers, including the full line of Epson Workforce Enterprise and Workforce Pro equipment as an authorized Epson dealer, plus new and refurbished HP equipment as an HP Qualified Supplies Partner. Range covers small multifunction printers through high-capacity workgroup devices for business customers.
• Freedom Plan Month-to-month print program providing customers with free printer service including labor and non-consumable parts in exchange for purchasing toner cartridges and consumables exclusively from NuCycle. No long-term contracts required. Targeted at businesses seeking predictable print costs and bundled maintenance.
• NuPrint Managed Print Service Managed print service covering customer-owned copiers and qualified laser printer fleets. Bundles toner, service, and maintenance kits into a single monthly payment based on average company output, providing predictable costs for businesses with established fleets.
• NuSolutions Managed Print Service Managed print service similar to NuPrint, with the distinction that NuCycle places its own equipment in the customer's business. Provides all-inclusive monthly pricing covering the placed equipment plus toner, service, and maintenance kits for businesses that want bundled equipment and service.
• Managed IT Services Proactive managed IT services for small and mid-sized businesses covering workstations, servers, network infrastructure, Microsoft 365/email systems, data backup and recovery, and security updates and patch management. Targeted at SMBs that want outsourced IT operations.
• Equipment Repair Services Technician repair services for laser printers, copiers, and fax machines (and some inkjet printers) with expertise in HP, Brother, Muratec, Lexmark, and Dell, while servicing all major brands. Available in-house and on-site, with combined technician experience of 30+ years. Targeted at businesses with existing printer and copier fleets.
• NuCycle Remote Help Remote help desk support where customers enter a 9-digit code to receive live technical assistance. Targeted at business customers needing quick technical support for printing and IT issues without an on-site visit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves 40% on toner costs and 70% on printer repairs compared to prior vendors
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Southeastern LasercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Acquired in 2018, Southeastern Laser shared the same commitment to relationship-driven approach with clients. NuCycle continues this tradition, expanding service capabilities.
• EpsoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized EPSON® Dealer and Service Provider for the full line of Workforce Enterprise and Workforce Pro equipment including A3 and A4 monochrome and color multifunction copiers.
• HPcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHP Qualified Supplies Partner offering HP equipment (new and refurbished) and supplies. Products are guaranteed to work first time and will not void printer warranty.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Xerox: Major OEM of printers, copiers, and managed print services with enterprise-grade MPS offerings. Comparable to NuCycle as a broad incumbent that NuCycle resells against and competes with on enterprise accounts.
• Ricoh: Multinational manufacturer of office printers, copiers, and managed document services. Comparable to NuCycle as an equipment-and-MPS incumbent that NuCycle competes with on enterprise fleet contracts.
• HP: Global printer and supplies OEM with HP Instant Ink subscription model and HP Managed Print Services. Comparable as both a partner (NuCycle is an HP Qualified Supplies Partner) and a direct competitor to NuCycle's aftermarket cartridge line.
• Konica Minolta: Global manufacturer of multifunction printers and managed print services with strong SMB and mid-market positioning. Comparable as a broad incumbent competitor on equipment sales, service contracts, and MPS.

Direct peers

• 4inkjets: Direct-to-consumer online retailer of replacement printer ink and toner cartridges. Comparable to NuCycle on compatible/remanufactured cartridge offerings and national fulfillment, with overlapping SMB customer base.
• ImageNet Consulting: Regional managed print and document services provider serving SMB and mid-market accounts with MPS, equipment, and supplies. Comparable to NuCycle's Freedom Plan and NuPrint service model with similar customer profile and recurring revenue motion.
• LD Products: Online retailer of compatible and remanufactured toner and ink cartridges for printers and copiers. Directly comparable to NuCycle's core aftermarket consumables business, competing on price, selection, and nationwide shipping.
• CompAndSave: E-commerce seller of compatible toner, ink, and printer supplies at value pricing. Comparable to NuCycle's aftermarket cartridge line and SMB target buyer, with national reach and a similar remanufactured/aftermarket value proposition.
• Carrot Ink: Online retailer specializing in remanufactured and compatible ink and toner cartridges. Comparable to NuCycle on product positioning (quality remanufactured cartridges with guarantees) and SMB/consumer target buyer.
• Prosource (Document Solutions): Managed print services and office equipment provider with a regional roll-up strategy. Comparable to NuCycle on MPS contracts, equipment sales, and consumables bundling for mid-market accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nucycle-technologies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NuCycle Toner & Ink