Open Office Business Card Template

OpenOffice.org is an open-source site that offers a full-featured office suite free of charge. Along with primary components for word processing, spreadsheets and other applications, they also offer a number of templates including business card templates. Some businesses looking to cut expenses have made the switch to OpenOffice.org to save money on software. Free templates can further save money if they meet your company's needs.

Where to Find Open Office Business Card Templates

For businesses considering printing their own business cards, OpenOffice.org provides downloadable business card templates that have been designed by third-party users. Since they are free, all you have to do is download them. Until recently, these business card specific templates were sprinkled among a great variety of templates available on the site. After their move to Apache, the updated site is now easier to navigate and offers all its business card templates in one place. Users rate the templates so it is easy to see at a glance what others think of each product. To test how they work, print a sample on plain paper first to see how they look before wasting card stock on something you may not like.

Here is a cross section of the business card templates you can expect to find offered by OpenOffice.org.

Simple Business Card Template

This Open Office business card template allows users to customize and position information on their cards. Options include:

Changeable font type
Colors can be changed
Ability to include company logo or brand

8-D Business Card Template

This template runs with OpenOffice.org 2.0 or higher and is designed to print eight cards per page using Avery products 8373 or other business card stock. Formatting lets you add color from edge to edge.

10-A Business Card Template

The 10-A business card template is an "ink-friendly" template designed to create ten standard-size business cards per page. It runs with OpenOffice.org 2.0 or newer versions.

10-B Business Card Template

The 10-B business card template prints 10 standard-size business cards per page. This template is very basic but does offer a graphic element to change the background color behind the name/contact information. It also provides the ability to add a logo.

Blank Business Card Template

This template does not offer any graphics, but does allow you to add your own. It prints eight cards per page. This blank business card template works with Avery products as well as other business card stock.

Best Type of Paper Stock to Use

When determining the best type of stock to use for your business cards, there are a few things to consider:

What stock is recommended for the template you've selected?
How many cards print per page?
What are the margin specifications and spacing?
Will the stock work with your printer?

Each OpenOffice business card template offers suggestions for the best stock to use on a per template basis. Most suggest Avery products by name but can also be printed on other business card stock. The key is that the stock must meet the template's specifications.

How to Pick a Design

While aesthetics are important in business card design, the available space limits creativity. Along with that, what template you choose may also limit options. When choosing a business card design right for your business the basics include:

Business name
Phone
Fax
Email
Address
Contact name and title if applicable
Website address for the company

For some companies, this traditional type of business card is all that is needed. However, for many others, the goal should be to step away from the traditional look in a way that makes the card standout so it is easy to identify. Choosing a template that allows you to include an image or logo is one way to add a "memorable" touch to help brand your company.

Benefits and Disadvantages to Using Templates

Before you decide whether or not a free template is the answer for your business card needs, consider the advantages and disadvantages:

Benefits

Don't require special graphic design software
Offer step-by-step guidance
Saves money

Disadvantages

There is a risk that other businesses will use the same template and design a very similar card which would take away from your card's unique appeal.
Trying to get your image to show correctly on the card can be time consuming.
Printing your own cards takes away business from companies that design and print business cards.

Template Ratings

Since the OpenOffice.org templates are rated by users, take the time to visit the site and check out what others who have used the templates have to say for specific templates. With third party users creating and offering the templates, each should be judged separately. If you do try a template, take the time to rate it honestly so others can benefit from your experience.