Estimated reading time: 20 minutes
Business cards are one of the few old-school holdouts that still meet a multitude of professional needs. They provide you with brand recognition, free advertising, issue a call-to-action and make networking easy.
Well-designed business cards are really billboards that fit in your pocket, turning random contacts into customers, collaborators, suppliers and friends.
But how much should you spend on your business card? The cost of business cards can vary hugely and it’s not always easy to know how to make your cards stand out, especially when you’re on a budget. To get the most bang for your buck, it pays to know which design details matter when you’re looking to distinguish yourself and your brand.
Gradient pastel colors make this minimalistic business card stand out. Design by Jecakp for Bell Towers LTD via 99designs by Vista.
In this post, we’re going to cover each aspect of business card pricing:
And we’ll wrap up by tying up loose ends. For now, let’s talk about why the cost of business cards can vary so much.
The cost of a great business card design ranges from $0 to thousands of dollars USD. If you’re like most small businesses or startups, you’re aiming to balance your need for a high-quality design with your need to stay within a budget. In situations like these, a great design should cost between $199 to $999 USD. Remember that getting your business card designed and getting it printed are two separate steps that will affect the overall cost of your business cards.
Here’s a chart to get you started thinking about price ranges and design options.
$0 (plus cost to print)-$50 USD$149-$599 USD$599-$999 USD$2,500+ USDBusiness card design optionsOnline templateFreelance designer or design contestFreelance designer or design contestDesign agencyQualityBasic and generic business cards that use stock fonts, icons and colors. Fast turnaround time.Up and coming designers with smaller portfolios or limited experience.Experienced, proven designers and professional advice.High-quality designs created by a full-service team.Who should use it?Businesses with major time and budget constraints that can work with a generic design.Businesses that understand the design process and can spend their time more readily than their money.Businesses that want high quality and need to stick to a mid-range budget.Businesses with lots of resources that need a complete branding package, including a business cardThere’s more than one way to get your business cards done. Here’s a look at each option and why you might choose it—or avoid it.
A professional-looking business card design by Ian Douglas via 99designs by Vista.
The lowest cost options include designing a card yourself using tools like Illustrator and online templates. If you have a background in design and you’re great with design tools, you can use this handy tutorial to create your business card design template; if you’re not, you’re probably going to end up using an existing template. This option is usually the cheapest way to get a business card design done, but the result will likely be on the generic side. You’ll pay up to $50 USD for using a template and you’ll need to take into account additional costs for printing your design, which depend on the printing options you choose (more on that later).
Some templates allow you to print the design yourself on a printer—but the results generally look like you did that, so be careful with this option. Other business cards templates allow you to create your design to be printed out by a service. Most templates let you select certain generic icons and font options, and upload images or photos, so you can get a usable card with some personalization. Sites like Vistaprint and Moo offer this kind of option.
This cheeky and fun business card design was chosen as winner in a contest for a communications shop. Design by Advero via 99designs by Vista.
Design contests and freelance designers usually occupy the middle of the cost road when it comes to business cards—between $199 and $1,000 USD. Since both options have different pros and cons we’ll discuss them one by one.
If you’re not sure what design style you’re looking for and want to see lots of ideas from different designers, a contest is probably a good choice for you. Design contests allow you to get a batch of custom business card designs from a group of professional designers on the site and choose the one you like most. For one of VistaPrint’s design services, like 99designs by Vista, prices can start at $299 USD for design concepts from less established designers and range up to $899 USD for design concepts from top-level designers only. Regardless of which contest you decide to run, you can expect flexible design turnaround and print-ready files so you can get the cards done ASAP.
A beautifully illustrated business card by Moxie Mason via 99designs by Vista.
When you know what you want and just need someone to make your designs come to life, your best bet is to work directly with a freelance graphic designer. You’ll need to request a quote and negotiate pricing with the freelancer. Costs can vary between $199 and $999 USD depending on the freelancer you’re working with.
But if you don’t already have connections to freelance designers, finding a freelancer who’s the right fit can be tricky. VistaPrint’s design services, like 99designs by Vista, give you the option of browsing designer portfolios to find a great match.
You can also browse sites like Deviant Art, Behance or even Instagram to find designers you like—but it’s not as straightforward as it is on a design platform, which curates the work of the designers so you can find just what you’re looking for.
Working with a freelancer whose style you love is often the best option for getting a business card done because when you know what you need, it’s so straightforward and easy. Contests are ideal for people who don’t know what they want at all, and want to see different ideas presented to them—but if you’ve got the basic idea of how your card should look in mind, a freelancer is a perfect choice.
If you’ve got a big budget for this project and you need to pull out all the stops, you can bring the job to a design agency. Working with an agency is a great choice if you want to create an entire branding package, with your business card as part of the package. Expect an agency design to cost $2,500 USD or more—but they’ll take care of everything for you and you’ll get a totally unique and high-quality design.
Does what it says on the tin: a bold business card design by Elevaanto via 99designs by Vista.
This hand-drawn business card design communicates a vintage brand identity. By HYPdesign via 99designs by Vista.
Wherever you find your designer, make sure you’ve got a great fit. Take a close look at their portfolio to ensure they’ve got the right style and experience for your brand. Once you’ve made a choice, be clear about your expectations and needs. Communicate your brand values and the style you’re aiming for, so your designer can translate those values into a visual product.
Before you start on your business card design process, there are some preliminary design steps to get squared away.
Perhaps the two most vital aspects of visual branding, logos and color schemes provide you with a starting point. Your brand’s main message is something you need to translate from a verbal mission statement or idea into a visual message.
This is the thing that attracts customers and pulls them in to find out more about the business, the product or service, and what they want from it. It should instantly identify your business, convey your core message, and appeal to your customers. Learn more about designing a logo here.
Brand colors allow you to appeal to your potential customer’s emotions, without them knowing you’re doing it. They can just as easily alienate potential customers, however, so be aware of your color choices. (This is a complex topic, so read more about it here.)
In the end, you have to know the one overarching message you want your brand (and your business card) to send before you design that card. What is it that you and your business do?
“The local pharmacist with heart.”
“Strength training, the old-fashioned way.”
“Killer mustaches, period.”
Each piece of collateral, including your card, should be part of that message. Even if you work with a designer, this bottom line about the brand is something you’ll need to communicate.
Good Grace & Humour is a one-woman, creative business, and this business card shows how the owner is the source of the innovative ideas that make the business run. By Moxie Mason via 99designs by Vista.
Each of these elements will influence how you address style, layout and other design elements as you design your business card.
Expect that printing a batch of 50 simple business cards on basic card stock will cost you approximately $20 USD, although prices can vary depending on your printer. Now that you’ve locked down your first design steps, you’re ready for the design details. Many of these details have the potential to add cost to the project, so be aware of each design decision you’re making.
What better business card material for a wine business than cork? Design by Silicium Studio for Newport Beach Wine Society
Business cards aren’t all card stock paper anymore. Today you can get custom business cards on wood, plastic, metal and other materials, to create a truly unique look and feel.
A thick plastic gives this business card some shine and a modern look. Design by pecas™ for Omni via 99designs by Vista.
These materials definitely add to your total price tag. You could end up paying $1.00 USD or more per card, depending on the materials you choose. However, if the special effect is worth it to your business, consider it an investment.
A brushed metal business card with etched information and punched holes is a high-end, attention-grabbing look. Design by HYPdesign via 99designs by Vista.
Your next decision is what size your business card should be. Different countries have different standard sizes, so start with that. Even if you really want to do something unique, you should at least know what the standard is, so you know the tradition you’re bucking.
Non-standard sizes may affect the cost of printing your design; expect to pay more for larger, non-standard designs in particular.
This simply refers to the standard landscape orientation for business cards, or the vertical “portrait” orientation. Neither should impact the price of your design.
A vertical business card by Prozmajevski via 99designs by Vista.
A standard landscape layout by conceptu via 99designs by Vista.
Not all business cards are created rectangular. In fact, die-cutting allows printers to cut nearly any shape, and retain the cost advantages of printing in bulk.
A square business card offers an unusual look. By J U L I A M A R I E via 99designs by Vista.
If you’d like something fairly conservative but still eye-catching and modern-looking, try rounding the corners of the rectangular card, or cutting out your logo.
Cutting out the logo makes the whole card stand out, and emphasizes the brand. By GemmyVN via 99designs by Vista.
If you’d like to really go for it, choose any shape that really stands for your business. It might be the outline of your best-selling product or in the shape of your logo itself.
Think about things like creatively shaped business cards in the context of your industry and your target customer. If creativity typically wins the day (and the customer), a funky shape may be a home run.
This business card takes on the logo’s shape for a totally unique look. Design by Stanojevic for ciresonIf via 99designs by Vista.
If you’re a high-end investment banker, people may be looking for stability and reputation—qualities a special shape can tank.
Die-cutting custom shapes will add cost to the total price of your business cards. How much depends on how you get them printed.
Now it’s time for the most visual element of your business card: the graphics. That includes the logo and it might include a photo and some secondary graphics. Remember that the number of colors you choose will affect pricing, so keep this in mind as you make decisions.
Your logo should always appear somewhere on your business card. Some brands like it to appear more than once; for example, in a smaller format on the front with the contact information, and then in a larger format alone on the back of the card. Or, a variation on this idea is to use a watermark version of the logo under the text on the front with a standard version on the back.
This card brings the logo in twice, once on the back by itself, and once as a watermark underlying the details. By ludibes via 99designs by Vista.
There are many ways to place the logo, so use trial and error to get it right. Just make sure that it’s instantly visible and that it’s easy to make out details in the logo.
On this business card, the beet stands out as part of the word and the logo, front and center. Design by pecas™ for roots via 99designs by Vista.
Some businesses like to add extra graphics to create a certain mood or feel on the card. For example, this brand turned its logo into a kind of pattern for the card:
A logo pattern makes this card one of a kind: chic and modern looking, yet professional. By HYPdesign via 99designs by Vista.
This business used brightly colored tech graphics to suggest technical products for schools, the nature of the business:
The colorful gears on this card instantly suggest both technical products and education. By TwinkleBee via 99designs by Vista.
If your business is one that generates adorable or mouth-watering photos, that’s another great source of graphics for your business cards:
As soon as you see this card, you’ve got french fries on your mind, and that’s good for business. Design by Achiver (d design) via 99designs by Vista.
Sweet photos of puppies make these business cards memorable—and who could throw those faces away? Design by Rose via 99designs by Vista.
Or maybe you’re just in a niche that produces customers or clients who want to see what you look like:
A card with your face on it is great for networking because people remember who gave it to them as soon as they look at it. Design by Luz Viera via 99designs by Vista.
Either way, graphics are an important way to send an instant visual message that sells. This is where it becomes very helpful to work with a professional designer; they can give you an artistic design with hand illustrations, for example, creating a totally unique and beautiful look:
This beautifully drawn business card is a work of art people will want to keep. By Moxie Mason via 99designs by Vista.
This illustration is the perfect way to lend class and style to this luxury brand’s card. Design by _fra_ via 99designs by Vista.
You know what you need to get across. How will you say it? That’s the job of the right typography, to say what you need to say, in the right tone.
Typography has a major influence on your brand identity, so make sure to select the best font for your business card to represent the look and feel you want. You may think that artistry only comes into play with graphics, but that’s not true! If you work with a professional designer, you can get a custom font or hand-drawn lettering for your business card for a totally unique result. It costs more to get custom typography done, but in many cases, this unique business card element is worth the money.
For an unforgettable impression, try custom-drawn lettering. Design by Awesome Designing via 99designs by Vista.
To capture all of the unique character of an artisanal business, drawn lettering is the perfect tool and a worthwhile investment for your business cards. By nevergohungry via 99designs by Vista.
As you hone in on your final design, think about special details in the print that can set your design apart. Certain special finishes can help your card make a lasting impression on potential customers. Each one of these special touches adds cost to your cards; how much depends on the exact way you’re using the finish and the printer.
Embossing. Embossed business cards are cards with three-dimensional reliefs that can emphasize words, graphics or design elements. You can emboss a logo, a name or even your product, to make it stand out.
Embossing and foil stamping give this otherwise plain card a luxurious feel. Design by Prozmajevski via 99designs by Vista.
This embossed touch is topical and related to the brand, providing more bang for the buck. By betiobca via 99designs by Vista.
A standout logo deserves to be featured. Design by Jecakp via 99designs by Vista.
On one side this card presents an embossed logo that suggests car trouble, and on the other side the card suggests what the business offers: a solution, in the form of a healthy car that makes tracks. Design by Jecakp via 99designs by Vista.
Foil stamping. Everyone likes shiny things, so use foil stamping to achieve reflective, shiny accents or text on your cards.
The gold foil stamped logo over the card symbols is a beautiful choice. By Mikoli via 99designs by Vista.
Gold foil print and golden edge painting make this business card feel rich and elegant. By HYPdesign via 99designs by Vista.
The unusual brand color and notable logo make this a perfect spot for foil stamping emphasis. By ultrastjarna via 99designs by Vista.
Letterpressing. Letterpress printing simultaneously inks and pushes the paper down for an engravement-like effect.
Spot UV coating. You’ve seen cards that have a glossy finish all over; spot UV coating gives you this glossy finish, but only in a specific place, like over your logo or photo.
No one wants to pay more than they need to for business cards—but you’ll still want your card to look awesome. To save money without sacrificing quality, remember these tips.
Find a few freelance designers whose work you love, and ask for quotes on your business card project. A professional designer can recommend where to trim and where to stay safe when it comes to your budget. Designers can also help you spend wisely and decide which special finishes will pay off for your design and brand.
If something’s gotta give, make it be multiple colors. Don’t cut back on the number of cards or on the materials; instead, pare down to one or two colors. A talented designer can make one or two colors look amazing—and it costs far less to print a card that way.
These few colors are strongly on brand and look stunning. Design by Nell via 99designs by Vista.
Just two colors on a plain, soft paper are giving this card lots of oomph, thanks to custom lettering and great design. By Cheeky Creative via 99designs by Vista.
Sometimes, in some industries, a truly unusual card is a fantastic investment:
This unique shape with cutout details speaks not just to the industry, but to this organization specifically. By avijitdutta via 99designs by Vista.
This business card takes the brand’s central metaphor, the productivity DJ, and turns it into a visual, complete with vinyl record. By FishingArtz via 99designs by Vista.
This card lets the recipient know immediately that the holder works in mobile. By ivdsgn via 99designs by Vista.
A unique design concept that expresses your brand’s personality can have something to do with your industry, or just your brand in particular, but it’ll help your card stand out.
This clever passport design lets you know this business can curate a totally unique travel experience for clients. Design by rikiraH via 99designs by Vista.
It’s easy to see this is the card of a teacher, and the great design sets you up with high expectations for the business. Design by green in blue 99designs by Vista.
This is also a great place for unusual materials, extra thick business cards, interesting visual effects and other cool visuals—special details that help your brand stand out from the crowd and stick in customers’ minds. That staying power makes a certain design or finish worth the investment.
Modern and minimalist, this business card looks and feels unusual thanks to interesting materials and strong design concepts. By Terry Bogard via 99designs by Vista.
Everything about this business card announces the brand: Moon Monkey Labs. By alexa101 via 99designs by Vista.
For a vintage look, this designer chose the right kind of lettering on thick cardboard. By Hart Design via 99designs by Vista.
This business card for a coffee expert is right on target. By kaylee CK via 99designs by Vista.
Use your designer’s expertise to your advantage. They are going to have an advanced suite of tactics for incorporating creativity into a functional design.
Yes, that’s advice for both Santa and you, the would-be business card owner, because you really don’t want to pay for 500 business cards with a typo in them. Beyond that, take a long, slow look at the card. Your eyes should see the logo first, then the name, and then the other details; is that happening? If not, can you tweak the design so the elements cascade more effectively?
Get rid of clutter. Include only what you need for maximum impact.
Can you read everything? Does the image look right? Are any elements going to be cut off? Don’t let your cards go to print before you’re 100 percent certain everything looks good.
A cool, neon business card that seems to glow in the dark. By art of modern rock via 99designs by Vista.
Whether you’re just getting started or you’re an established business whose cards need an update, smart design can actually save you money in the end. Designing and printing a business card varies in cost depending on how you choose to get it done. Select the right option for your preferences and budget, and you’re going to get a product you love.
Author: Karla Lant
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