What to Put on a Business Card (With Examples)
What to put on a business card: essential and optional details, layout examples for 6 professions, size and print specs, QR codes and common mistakes to avoid.
A business card needs your name, role, business name and logo, plus the one or two contact details you actually want people to use, usually a phone number, email and website. Everything else, from a tagline to a QR code, is optional and should earn its space. The best cards are uncluttered, easy to read in a dim room, and consistent with the rest of your branding, including your invoices.
Below you will find a checklist of what to include, examples for six common professions, print specifications, and the mistakes that make cards end up in the bin.
Essential information for a business card
| Element | Include? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your name | Always | People remember people, not companies |
| Job title or role | Always (unless obvious) | Tells them what to contact you about |
| Business name and logo | Always | Brand recognition and credibility |
| Phone number | Usually | Fastest contact, especially for local services |
| Email address | Always | Use a domain email, not a free webmail address |
| Website | Usually | Lets people check your work and reviews |
| Physical address | If people visit you | Shops, clinics, offices |
| Tagline | Optional | Clarifies what you do if the name does not |
| Social handle | Optional (1-2 max) | Only platforms where you are active |
| QR code | Optional | Saves contact details or opens a booking page |
| License or registration number | If required | Contractors and regulated professions |
Use a professional email and domain
An address like dana@backofhousebooks.com looks established; danabooks1987@ a free webmail provider looks like a side project. If you do not have one yet, see how to buy a domain name; adding email on your domain is usually a few dollars per month.
Check license number rules
Some states and licensing boards require licensed contractors and certain professionals to display their license number in advertising, which can include business cards, vehicles and invoices. California's contractor rules are a well-known example. Check your board's advertising rules before printing.
Business card examples by profession
These illustrative layouts show what to prioritize for different businesses.
Freelance designer
- Front: name, "Brand & Web Designer", logo mark, email, portfolio URL.
- Back: a small piece of work or pattern, QR code to portfolio.
- Skip: street address.
Plumber or electrician
- Front: business name and logo, owner name, phone (large), website, service area, license number.
- Back: list of services, "24/7 emergency" if true.
Accountant or bookkeeper
- Front: name with credentials (CPA, EA), title, firm, phone, email, website, office address.
- Back: blank or a short list of services. Conservative design builds trust.
Real estate agent
- Front: name, photo, brokerage name and logo as required by brokerage and state rules, license number if required, mobile, email.
- Back: QR code to listings, social handle.
Hair stylist or salon
- Front: salon name, stylist name, booking link or phone, address.
- Back: appointment reminder lines (date and time) and an Instagram handle.
Consultant
- Front: name, specialism ("Restaurant Operations Consultant"), email, phone, LinkedIn URL.
- Back: a one-line value proposition. Our value proposition examples can help you write it.
Business card size and print specifications
| Spec | US / Canada | Europe | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trim size | 3.5 x 2 in | 85 x 55 mm | 91 x 55 mm |
| Bleed (typical) | 0.125 in per side | 2-3 mm per side | 2-3 mm per side |
| Safe zone | 0.125 in inside trim | 3 mm inside trim | 3 mm inside trim |
| Resolution | 300 DPI for images; vector logo preferred | ||
| Color mode | CMYK for most commercial print | ||
Other practical rules: keep body text at least about 8 point, use no more than two typefaces, ensure strong contrast between text and background, and choose a thicker stock (around 14-16 pt in the US) for a card that feels substantial. Font advice from our guide on the best fonts for invoices applies here too: readable beats decorative.
Step by step: designing your business card
- List what goes on it using the checklist above, then cut anything that is not essential.
- Get your logo in vector format (SVG, EPS or PDF). If you do not have one, our logo design pricing guide sets expectations, and AI logo generators can help with a starting point.
- Pick a template from your printer or a design tool, set to the correct size with bleed.
- Establish hierarchy: name and business first, contact details second, extras last.
- Proofread every character, especially the phone number and email. Ask someone else to check, then call the number and send a test email.
- Test the QR code on at least two phones, from a printed proof if possible.
- Order a small run first, such as 250, and adjust before ordering more.
Worked example: cutting a cluttered card down
Luis runs a handyman business. His first draft card had 13 items: name, business name, logo, tagline, two phone numbers, two emails, website, full address, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and a list of 12 services. It was unreadable at arm's length.
His revised card (illustrative):
- Front: logo, "Ortega Home Repairs", "Luis Ortega, Owner", one mobile number in large type, one email on his domain, website, "Serving Mesa & Chandler, AZ", license number.
- Back: six core services in two columns and a QR code to his booking page.
Result: eight items on the front, all readable. He dropped the second phone and email (which split replies), the full home address, and two social platforms he rarely updated.
Business card wording examples
How you phrase each line matters as much as what you include. A few illustrative before-and-after examples:
| Element | Weak | Stronger |
|---|---|---|
| Title | CEO & Founder & Lead Consultant | Founder, Restaurant Bookkeeping |
| Tagline | Excellence in everything we do | Books closed by the 10th, every month |
| Phone | Office: ... / Cell: ... / Fax: ... | One number you answer |
| Service area | Serving all your needs | Serving Mesa, Chandler & Gilbert |
| Call to action | (none) | Scan to book a free 15-minute call |
Specific beats impressive. A tagline that names a concrete result, a service area or a response time tells the person holding the card exactly why they should keep it.
Printed vs digital business cards
Digital business cards, shared by QR code, NFC tap or link, have become common, but they complement printed cards rather than replace them for most small businesses.
| Factor | Printed card | Digital card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | One-off print cost per batch | Free to a monthly subscription |
| Updating details | Requires reprinting | Instant |
| Works without a phone | Yes | No |
| Saves to contacts | Recipient types it in or scans it | One tap, if the format is supported |
| Memorability | Physical object, good for in-person events | Easily lost in a phone |
| Analytics | None | Some tools track views and saves |
| Best for | Trades, local services, events, older clients | Tech, sales teams, frequent detail changes |
A practical approach: print a modest batch of cards with a QR code on the back that opens your digital contact card. You get the physical handoff plus an easy way for the contact to save your details.
How much do business cards cost?
Prices vary by printer, stock and finish, but as a rough guide, a basic run of a few hundred standard cards from an online printer often costs less than a restaurant meal, while premium options such as thick cotton stock, foil, letterpress, rounded corners or spot gloss can multiply the price several times. Order quantities you will use within a year or so; details change more often than people expect. If you hire a designer, card layout is often bundled with a logo or brand package. Keep the receipt: business cards are a normal business expense.
Getting value from your cards
- Write a quick note on the back of cards you receive (where you met, what they need) and follow up within two days.
- Include a card with every physical delivery or completed job, along with the invoice or receipt.
- Leave cards with complementary businesses that refer work to you, such as a realtor for a home inspector.
- Use appointment-style backs for repeat services so the card stays on the fridge or desk.
Common business card mistakes
- Too much information. If everything is important, nothing is.
- Tiny or light grey text. Many people read cards without glasses or in poor light.
- Outdated details. Crossing out a phone number by hand undermines credibility; reprint instead.
- Inconsistent branding. If your card, website, letterhead and invoices use different logos or colors, clients notice.
- Text in the trim area. Anything too close to the edge can be cut off.
- Glossy coating everywhere. It makes cards hard to write on; a matte finish works better for appointment cards.
Keep your brand consistent from card to invoice
A business card is usually the first piece of your brand a client touches, and an invoice is often the last. Use the same logo, colors, business name and contact details on both. Our guide on how to add a logo to your invoice shows how to match your invoice to your card, and a clear mission statement can give you a tagline that fits both.
Ready to match your invoices to your new cards? Use our free invoice generator to add your logo and contact details, and download a professional PDF invoice with no sign-up required.
Frequently asked questions
What information should be on a business card?
At minimum, include your name, job title or role, business name and logo, and at least one reliable contact method, usually a phone number and email. Most businesses also add a website. Optional details include a physical address for location-based businesses, a short tagline, a QR code and one or two social handles. Licensed trades and professionals should add any license number their state or board requires.
What size is a standard business card?
In the US and Canada, a standard business card is 3.5 by 2 inches. In much of Europe it is 85 by 55 millimeters, and in Japan it is commonly 91 by 55 millimeters. Printers usually ask for an extra 0.125 inch bleed on each side, so a US card file is set up at 3.75 by 2.25 inches, with important text kept at least 0.125 inch inside the trim line.
Should I put my address on my business card?
Include an address if customers visit you, such as a shop, clinic or office, or if a physical address builds trust in your industry. Freelancers and home-based businesses usually leave it off for privacy and use a city and state instead, or a mailing address. If you include an address, make sure it matches your Google Business Profile, website and invoices exactly.
Are QR codes on business cards a good idea?
They can be, if the QR code leads somewhere useful, such as a digital contact card that saves your details to a phone, a booking page or a portfolio. Use a static code or a dynamic code from a provider you trust, test it with several phones, and print it at least about 0.8 inch square. Do not let the code replace your printed contact details.
Do I still need physical business cards?
Many professionals still use them at networking events, trade shows, client sites and in-person sales, and in some cultures exchanging cards remains expected. Digital cards and QR codes are growing, but a printed card works without a phone signal or app. A small run of a few hundred cards is inexpensive, so most businesses keep some even if they rarely hand them out.
What should I put on the back of a business card?
The back is useful for a short list of services, a tagline, a QR code, appointment reminder lines, or a translation of the front for international contacts. Some businesses leave it blank so people can write notes. Avoid crowding both sides; the front should still work on its own because many people only glance at one side.
Invoice Creator Editorial Team
Guides on invoicing, cash flow and small-business finance from Invoice Creator, operated by Next Software Development Company. Content is reviewed for accuracy against the fields our own invoice generator produces.
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