Inexpensive Business Cards

There are many choices of inexpensive business cards available today. All provide professional looking yet reasonable cards that can be used for networking.

There are several types of inexpensive business cards. The trick is choosing a card that doesn't cost a lot, but doesn't look cheap. Never sacrifice saving a few pennies for the first impression that a crisp, professional business card can make. While you can make a few pennies back in business, it's a lot more difficult to redo a poor first impression, and your business card is often a major part of the first impression you make on a prospective client.

Commercial printers who transact business over the internet offer a variety of inexpensive business card options. Some are free, and some are very low cost.

Free cards are available from printers such as Vista Print. While at first free cards sound like an ideal solution, there's a catch. Vista Print includes their own marketing messages on the reverse side of the card and their company name in small type on the front. If you don't mind having their name splashed on your business card, free cards can be an option. Most companies, however, don't want to advertise someone else on their cards. Having Vista Print's logo displayed so prominently also announces to the world, "Hey, I'm using free business cards!" For some start up businesses that's not an issue. For most a more professional look is needed.

VistaPrint and their competitor, iPrint also offer inexpensive business cards minus their logos and information. Visit both companies and sign up for an account. Be sure to check off the box for their emails. Both send coupons and discounts weekly, and sometimes several times a week. Offers range from 20 percent off to your first 100 cards free.

Many companies offer templates on their websites too, so you can design and lay out your business card directly on their website and preview it on screen. You can upload your own logo or photo too. Many online printers also accept common file types, so you can design a card on your desktop computer and upload it to print.

If you own a good quality laser or ink jet printer, you can make inexpensive business cards at home. Start with computer software that allows you to lay out and design cards. Simple choices available to most home users include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, and any other desktop publishing application. Purchase packages of perforated business card paper at an office supply store. Many papers come with instructions to set up business cards on common software such as Microsoft Word. Follow the instructions, design your card, press print, and you have very inexpensive business cards.

While commercial business printers may be more on the expensive side, some business card choices are less expensive than others. Standard sizes, papers, and ink colors will tend towards the less expensive. A plain white business card paper and black ink can be attractive and functional. Many commercial printers offer new business or small business packages and will print business cards and stationery at the same time for a discount. Check out companies such as FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinkos) and Minute Man Press, franchises that offer printing services. These and others may provide inexpensive business card solutions.

If you're promoting a highly creative service or your business is in a creative industry, you may need more oomph to your cards than simple business cards you can print at home or through an inexpensive online printer. Here are some tips to find inexpensive design and printing services:

• Contact local graphic designers or agencies and discuss bartering. If you can barter services, you may be able to barter a simple design and printing job for whatever you offer. Some services that lend themselves to barter are complimentary services, such as writing, sales or prospecting for the agency, as well as useful services such as catering, food, cleaning, etc.
• Browse the Internet for software templates and free clip art to enhance a basic design. Be sure to find sites marked "royalty free" or "free". Just because a picture is on the Internet doesn't mean it is free of copyright restrictions. Some websites that offer free photos include Morguefile and free clip art may be found on Microsoft Office.

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