What to Put on a Business Card: A Practical Checklist

A business card needs four things: your name, what you do (job title or one-line description), one way to call or message you, and one way to email or find you online. Everything else, such as a logo, address or social links, is optional and should earn its space. Print it at the standard size for your country, 3.5 × 2 inches in the US and Canada or 85 × 55 mm in most of Europe, and check one test print before ordering a box.

The essential details

1. Your name

The largest text on the card. Use the name people will search for or say when they recommend you.

2. What you do

A job title ("Interior Designer") or a short description ("Wedding photography, Lahore"). If your title is vague, such as "Consultant", add what you consult on.

3. A phone number

One number, in international format if you work with people abroad: +92 300 1234567 rather than 0300-1234567. If you prefer WhatsApp, say so; a small "WhatsApp" label next to the number saves an awkward call.

4. An email address

A professional address. A custom domain looks established, but a clear Gmail address is better than a cute nickname.

Optional details: include only if they help

A QR code that saves your contact details in one scan is genuinely useful at events. Make one with the QR Code Generator using the Contact Card (vCard) type, and test it with two phones.

What to leave off

• Several phone numbers. Pick one.
• Fax numbers, unless your industry still uses them.
• Long taglines or mission statements.
• Personal information you would not want strangers to have.
• Tiny print. Below about 7 pt, text becomes hard to read.

Size and print basics

Print shops also talk about bleed (artwork that extends past the cut line so no white edge appears) and a safe zone (keep text away from the edges). For a simple card with a plain background, a 3–4 mm margin around the text is enough. For full-colour backgrounds, ask the printer for their bleed requirement.

Simple layout rules that make cards look professional

1. One typeface, two sizes. Name large, everything else small and consistent.
2. Align everything to one edge. Left-aligned text looks tidier than centred blocks on most cards.
3. Leave white space. A card with room to breathe looks more premium than one crammed edge to edge.
4. Strong contrast. Dark text on a light card, or white text on a dark one. Avoid light grey on white.
5. Use the back for one thing. A logo, a QR code, or a short list of services, not all three.

Examples

Freelance web developer. Name; "Web developer, React and WordPress"; +44 phone; email; portfolio website. Back: QR code to the portfolio.

Corner shop or bakery. Shop name and logo; "Fresh bread daily"; address and opening hours; phone or WhatsApp. Back: a small map description or "Order on WhatsApp".

University student. Name; "Final-year Civil Engineering, [University]"; email; LinkedIn URL. Keep it clean; it is mostly for career fairs.

Common mistakes that make cards look homemade

• Stretched or blurry logos. Use the largest, cleanest version of your logo, and never stretch it to fit.
• Too many fonts. Two families at most; one is usually enough.
• Text too close to the edge. Printers cut with a tolerance of a millimetre or two. Keep text at least 3–4 mm inside the edge.
• Low contrast. Pale text on a coloured card looks elegant on screen and vanishes in dim light.
• Out-of-date details. Reprint when your number or email changes; crossing things out by hand undoes the effect.
• Typos. Read every character aloud, especially the email address and phone number, the two things people will actually type.

Do you still need paper cards?

Many people now swap contacts by phone. Paper cards still help in situations where phones are awkward: trade fairs, shop counters, client meetings, networking events and anywhere you want to leave something behind. A practical approach is to keep a small stack of printed cards and have a QR code on the back that saves your contact details in one scan, so the card works both ways.

Making and printing one with ToolMany

1. Open the Business Card Maker and enter your name, role, email and phone.
2. Check the front and back in the preview.
3. Press Print Card Layout. In the print dialog, print a test on plain paper at 100% scale, or choose Save as PDF for a print shop.
4. Turn on "Background graphics" in print settings so colours appear.
5. Measure the test card with a ruler before printing on card stock.

Want to see how your logo looks on other items too, such as a mug or a tote bag? Try the Mockup Generator.