Do you need business cards?
You’ve come to the right place. We have a ton of information on how to make your own business cards for cheap, and we’ll show you how easy it is with our step-by-step guide.
Once you know what type of card stock or paper to use, how big the card should be, and what kind of font style will work best for your needs, all that’s left is printing them out!
And if you don’t want to print them yourself, you can use a website like Vistaprint or Moo and print out as many as you want at low prices.
So what else?
Get started today by reading our step-by-step guide!
Why Business Cards?
When we started our business, we had tried to figure out how we were going to get business cards made.
The cost of buying them was a little too high, so our solution was to make some on our own!
Some people might be scared by the idea of making their own business cards because they may not have very much experience with designing them.
We found that making our own was not only easy but also affordable if you had access to an inexpensive printer!
Businesses of all types can benefit from printing their own cards, but it’s especially important for small businesses who want to create a professional image without spending thousands on one-off design fees.
Printing your own business cards also has the added benefit of being environmentally friendly. Today, different services offer eco-friendly paper options, so you can choose which one best suits your needs and style while helping protect the environment!
How Do You Print Your Own Business Cards?
Printing by yourself is more cost-effective than buying business cards and can be a great way to express your individuality.
Though it might seem daunting at first, there are many free or inexpensive options available for software and printers.
The average person spends about $1,000 on printer ink each year; so by printing your own business cards you could save hundreds!
It also allows you control over what information goes on the card – no need for pesky typos or awkward grammar mistakes!
1. Find a Template for Business Cards that Matches your Needs
The first step is to find a business card template that’s the right size, color, and style for you.
If you’re not sure what to choose or which service is best, start by searching for “business card templates” or browse some of the best business card design websites.
We truly suggest trying Vistaprint.com for this, as they offer a variety of templates in different colors and sizes that you can download immediately to get started.
2. Download the Template onto your Computer and Open it in Photoshop
The second step is to download the template onto your computer and open it in Photoshop.
The downloaded templates should come as a PSD file that you can then import into Photoshop for editing purposes.
If you’re not familiar with how to use this, there are many tutorials out on YouTube that will walk you through the process step-by-step.
Alternatively, you could use Microsoft Word or one of the many other templates you find online.
For this tutorial, we’ll stick with Photoshop to make editing easier for those who don’t already have it on their computer.
3. Add your Personal Logo, Company Name, and Contact Information to the Card
When choosing the logo, remember that it should be more than just a company name.
For example, if you are an accountant for small business owners, your logo might consist of both “Smith and Associates” and a symbol that indicates accountants – such as an apple with a dollar sign in it.
To add this to the card template on Photoshop:
- Find a file for the logo on your computer.
- Click “File” and then click “Place.” This should open up the window where you can select which photo or image to place. Select your desired logo. After selecting it, Photoshop may ask if you want to “Scale” the photo. Click on “Don’t Scale.”
- Click and drag your logo into one of the corners where you would like it placed – usually near the upper-left-hand side.
- Next, resize by dragging along one of the corners handles until it is at a suitable size for printing or emailing (about two inches).
To add contact information to the card template on Photoshop:
- Copy and paste your contact information into a text document. If you are using Pages to create this, select “Edit” and then click “Copy Text.”
- Open up a new file in Photoshop by clicking the icon for File at the top of the page. Select New (Ctrl + N) and then click “Paste” (Ctrl + V).
- Select what you want to show on the front of your business card. Click “Front,” select a different layer, hold Shift, and press Tab. This will select all layers in reverse order from bottom to top. You can also use the Marquee tool to select the area you want.
- Once your desired information is selected, go to Edit and click “Copy.” This will copy all of this information into a new file for use on our business card template.
Once you’re satisfied with what you see in Photoshop’s editing panel, it is time to hit “Save” and then print!
4. Print Out as Many Copies of the Card Design as you Would Like
When it comes to print them, you can either print them on your personal printer or make them printed by an online service or through an offline printer like Staples or FedEx Office.
- If you’re going for in-store printing then make sure that you have all your design files ready beforehand and be prepared for them to charge something extra if any changes need making!
Online printers can vary massively but usually give a wider range of templates and papers with prices starting from as little as $0.18 per card (though these options may not offer many finishing touches). You also get much better value when ordering bulk so it might be worth looking into this if you’re likely to need a lot.
- If you choose to use your own printer, make sure that it is an inkjet model that will support glossy paper because most high-quality printers don’t work well with photo paper. Also, make sure that the printer has enough ink or toner to successfully print the business card design.
A great printer we would like to recommend for this purpose is the Canon Pixma TS8350.
It has a beautiful design and it’s very easy to use, even for people who are not used to using printers on their own – this one is really great!
5. Cut Them All Out with Scissors or a Paper Cutter
We recommend using a paper cutter for this step, but if you don’t have one then scissors are fine the same.
Then put them all in business card sleeves to keep them nice and tidy – or just use rubber bands.
Alternatively, just store them in someplace safe and dry like in a file folder or box.
6. Put Them Into a Binder so they’re Easy to Access When Needed!
Once they’re all dry, a few days later, it’s advisable to move your business cards into a binder.
Some people recommend using dividers so that the information is easier to find, or even making tabs for each type of card you have (i.e., “name” tab, “phone/cell phone” tab, etc.).
This storage method will also protect them from getting crumpled or damaged in any way.
What Are Business Card Sizes?
Standard business cards measure at around 85mm x 55mm (approximately three inches wide by two inches tall).
The majority of people in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and many parts of Europe use this standard so it will be easy to find a supplier that stocks these dimensions if you do not have your own printer or access to cutting machines!
If you’re looking for something larger than this then there is also an option called “oversized” which measures 89 mm x 60 mm (approximately four-inch width by three-inch height).
And if you want something smaller than this then there are also “mini” business cards that measure 56 mm x 86mm (approximately two and a quarter-inch width by three inches).
What is the Best Type of Paper to Print On?
The main types of papers you come across when printing out business cards include offset, uncoated, cotton rag, or linen.
They’re all pretty similar in terms of quality with slight variations in thicknesses.
- If your design is plainer with a very little color, then a thicker uncoated or offset stock would work great because they won’t show as many printing flaws like images that don’t come out looking perfect or ink skipping. They also offer the best texture which may be better if handling durability is something important to you!
- If your design incorporates lots of colors or has certain areas that are prone to smudging easily (like watermarks), then consider using a thinner, brighter paper such as Cotton Rag fingerprints.
- If you’re going for a more flashy design and plan to print in color, then thinner stock with an added glossy finish will work best because they’ll give your business cards that extra pop!
Conclusion
The process of designing, making, and printing your own business cards doesn’t have to be complicated.
With a little knowledge and the right tools, you can make them in no time at all! We’ve outlined some helpful tips that will help guide you through the process.
Whether it’s for personal use or for your company, we hope this article has been informative enough to get you started on creating your very own business card design!
Have questions?
Let us know by commenting below or emailing our team directly.
