Knowing what to put on a business card saves you from the two classic mistakes: too little (just a name and a number) or so much that nobody reads it. A good card answers three questions in seconds: who you are, what you do and how to reach you. Everything else is optional.
Here's what to include, what's optional depending on your work, what to put on the back and what to leave off.
What to include on a business card (must-haves)
- Your full name, the largest element on the card.
- What you do: title or service in a few words ("Employment Attorney", "Kitchen Remodeling"). Without it, people forget why they kept your card.
- Phone number, with country code if you work internationally.
- A professional email, ideally on your own domain.
- Logo or company name, if you work under a brand.
Optional details, depending on your work
- Website: only if it's up to date. An abandoned site hurts.
- One professional social profile: the one you actually use for work. Not all of them.
- City or address: only if clients visit you (office, studio, store).
- License or registration number: in professions where it builds trust.
- QR code: to link to everything that doesn't fit on paper.
Business cards for companies
For company cards, add: the logo in a fixed position for every employee, the same order of details on every card, the team or department, and a general contact channel alongside the personal one. Consistency across cards is part of the brand.
What to put on the back of a business card
The back is usually wasted. Good options:
- The QR code, with a short line saying what happens when scanned.
- Your services in three or four lines.
- Just the logo, large, if you prefer a clean look.
- A blank area for writing an appointment or a note.
What to leave off
- Several phone numbers and several emails. One of each.
- Every social network you have.
- Generic slogans ("quality and commitment").
- Type smaller than about 7 pt.
- Details that change often, like promotions or prices.
The one thing a printed card can't do
A paper card doesn't know who received it and won't tell you when someone wants to talk. That's why more professionals add a QR code that opens their digital card, where there's room for a portfolio, services and buttons to message or book a call.
With Cardreen, that digital card includes a short form: when someone leaves their details, they're saved in a mini CRM where you set a status and note the next step. The printed card delivers the essentials; the digital one captures the interest. If you're starting from scratch, see how to make a business card.
To see how these professional business cards look across 12 professions, check the examples.
Pre-print checklist
- [ ] Name and what you do readable in two seconds.
- [ ] Phone number tested.
- [ ] Test email sent.
- [ ] One phone, one email, one social profile at most.
- [ ] QR code scanned with two phones.
- [ ] Text at least 1/8 in from the edge.
FAQ
What information should be on a business card?
Your name, what you do, one phone number, one professional email and your logo if you work under a brand. The rest depends on your work.
What should I put on the back of my business card?
A QR code with a line saying what happens when scanned, your main services, or your logo. It can also stay blank for notes.
Should I put my address on my business card?
Only if clients visit you. If you work remotely or on-site, your city is enough, or nothing at all.
Should a business card have a QR code?
It's not required, but it helps: it connects the paper card to your portfolio, services and contact buttons that don't fit on it.