A cost recovery system for a multi-functional photocopier device comprising a plurality of workstations interconnected by a communications network, and a controller adapted to control the operation of the device, the controller being connected to the network. The cost recovery system further comprises at least one broker unit operative to communicate with the controller via the network. The broker unit being responsive to requests to reserve the device received from users at the workstations to authenticate the users and to establish temporary cost recovery relationships between the controller and the workstations. Accordingly, a user can reserve the device from any one of is the plurality of workstations and then walk up to the device and perform a job on the device on a basis of a specific cost recovery relationship established by the broker unit between the controller and the respective workstation.