Business cards: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What business cards is

A designer or printer creates and produces business cards with your name, contact details and logo, and offers choices in stock, finish and shape. People order business cards when they start a business, change their details or need cards that stand out from the ones others give out.

Signs you need it

  • Your contact details have changed and your old cards are still in circulation
  • You are starting a business or a new role and need cards for the first time
  • Your current cards feel flimsy, and the print quality does not match the business you run
  • You want a card with a special finish, such as a matte or a raised print, for a distinct look
  • You need a card design that works for several people in the same business, with each person's details

What the pro does

  • Confirm the name, title, phone, email, address and logo that go on the card, and check each spelling
  • Choose the size, shape, paper weight and finish with you, based on how you will use the card
  • Lay out the front and back so the most important information is easy to read
  • Send a proof of the printed card for you to check for typos and layout problems
  • Print the cards on the stock and finish you chose, and check the color and cut
  • Deliver the cards in a box, with a copy of the print file for future orders

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The quantity ordered, since larger runs usually lower the cost per card
  • The paper stock and weight you choose
  • The finishes, such as foil, embossing, spot UV or a special coating
  • The shape and size of the card, since unusual shapes need more cutting
  • Whether the card is designed from scratch or uses your existing logo and layout
  • How many cards need the same design with different names or details

What a written quote should spell out

  • The quantity, paper stock, card size and finish for each card
  • Whether a design is included, and how many proof rounds are allowed
  • The proof stage, and what you must approve before printing starts
  • Whether the print file is delivered to you, and in what format
  • The delivery method, the delivery date and who pays for shipping

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can I see a sample card in the stock and finish I am choosing?
  • Will I receive a proof before printing, and how many changes are included?
  • Do you print the cards yourself, or send them to another printer?
  • Can you reprint the same card later with the same colors and paper?
  • What happens if the cards arrive with a mistake?
  • Can you design a card with different names on each one for my team?

Red flags

  • Prints the cards without a proof you have approved
  • Cannot show samples of the stock and finish you are buying
  • Charges extra for files you have already supplied with no clear reason
  • Promises that the cards will be delivered by a date it does not control

What you can do yourself

You can design a simple card in a free design tool using your logo and a clean layout, and order from an online printer that shows a proof before printing. Hire a designer when you want a custom layout, a special finish or a set of cards for a team that must match in style.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to design or print business cards. Ask instead for samples of finished cards and a written proof process; check with your state or local business licensing office if the printer or designer operates as a registered business.

Business cards questions

What paper weight should I choose?

A heavier stock feels more substantial in the hand, while a lighter stock is more flexible. Ask for a sample pack and hold each option before you choose.

Why do my colors look different on screen?

Screens use light and printers use ink, so colors shift. Ask for a printed proof and check it under daylight before you approve the order.

Should I print the back of the card?

Use the back for information people need, such as a service list, a booking link or a map. Keep it simple, since a crowded back reduces the readability of the front.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer business cards remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

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How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

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