In many trades a business card is still the way people keep your number. It is handed over, looked at, and put in a pocket or a wallet. It should do one job well: make it easy for someone to remember who you are and to reach you. This guide covers what to put on it, how to lay it out, and how to choose paper and finish.
What goes on the card
- Your name and what you do, in a few words.
- The business name and the logo.
- One phone number that you answer, and say if it is on WhatsApp.
- One email address on your own domain, not a free address, if you have one.
- Your website, or a short link or a QR code to the page you want people to open.
- A short address only if people visit you. A shop needs it. A consultant may not.
Leave off anything that is not used. A card with five phone numbers and six services reads as a noticeboard. If you have several services, name the main one and send people to the website for the rest.
Size and layout
The common card size in India is about 3.5 by 2 inches, or roughly 90 by 50 millimetres. Printers vary a little, so ask for their template before you start. Keep text away from the edges, leave generous space around it, and set the contact details no smaller than a size you can read comfortably. If you need both Hindi and English, plan the layout for both; our guide to Hindi and Devanagari logo design explains how to pair them.
| Choice | Options | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Paper weight | Light to thick card stock | Thicker paper feels more serious, and costs more. |
| Finish | Matte, gloss, soft touch | Matte reads well. Gloss shows fingerprints. Soft touch feels premium and can mark. |
| Extras | Spot varnish, foil, embossing | They look good on a logo or a line, and need special artwork and extra time. |
| Corners | Square or rounded | Rounded looks softer and needs a special cut. |
| Sides | One side or two | The back can hold a short line, a QR code or a second language. |
Make it match your brand
The card is one of the few things people hold. Use the same logo, colours and typefaces as your board and your website, taken from your brand guidelines. If your logo only exists as a screenshot, ask the person who made it for the proper files; our note on the logo files every business should own lists what to ask for.
A QR code that works
A QR code is useful when it opens one clear page, such as your website, your WhatsApp chat or your Google review form. Test it on two phones before you print. Print it large enough to scan, with a clear margin around it, and put a short line beside it saying what it opens. Our QR code generator makes one for free.
Check before the run
- Read the phone number and email aloud, one digit and letter at a time.
- Check the spelling of every name, in both languages.
- Ask the printer for a proof, and look at the colours in daylight.
- Print one on plain paper at the real size and hold it. Can you read it without effort?
- Follow our print preparation checklist for bleed and safe margins.
Use it well
Carry a few, give them with a sentence, and write something on the back if it helps, such as the date you met or the thing you promised. Follow up within a few days. A card is a start of a conversation. If you want help designing one that fits your whole identity, see our branding work.
