The Cost of Business Cards

Business cards can shape your image and affect the way a customer perceives your company. If you print your cards on thin, inexpensive stock, a customer may think you don't value quality. They may also question your business's stability, financial situation or professionalism.

While this

doesn't mean you have to pay thousands of dollars for die-cut, state-of-the-art cards, it does mean you should carefully consider the type and quantity of the cards you order. You also need to understand how you can control business card expenses and how certain things — paper quality, number of inks used and quantity of cards ordered — can drive up printing costs. Remember to get at least two estimates from local printers.

Consider predesigned cards. Many printers offer predesigned business cards with fixed layouts. Your printer can customize these generic cards by adding your business's name and the employee's contact information.

Choose quality paper. Avoid low-end paper — it's likely to tear, wrinkle or smear. Instead, choose linen or fiber-stone stock: They're higher quality and tend to be more affordable. Remember to compare a variety of stocks, and don't settle.

Use standard colors. Select standard colors (known as Pantone colors). Customizing the color of the ink can drive up the cost, and since each color batch is hand mixed, shades can vary.

Create extra shells. Ask your printer to store master copies (or shells) of your business cards. Creating a shell prevents you from paying setup and production charges when ordering new cards.

Avoid graphics. Graphics and logos often require customized colors and additional ink, which can raise your bill. Avoid this by using a simple design without complicated graphics.

Stick to one or two ink colors. Using more than two colors significantly increases the price of the cards.

Avoid double-sided printing. Printing on both sides of the card bumps up the price. If possible, stick to single-sided printing.

Order envelopes, labels and imprinted stationery. Printers often offer a discount to customers who also order envelopes, labels and imprinted stationery. Since the presses and plates have already been created for your business cards, printers can easily produce other materials with your company's name and logo.

Think before you order. Printers often discount large orders, but before you place a bulk order, consider whether you might want to change your logo, address or other information in the future. If you need to revise the information on your business card, buying in bulk won't save you money in the long term.