What to Put on a Business Card

September 16, 2026

What to Put on a Business Card

Name. Phone. One line that says what you do. Then stop.

You’re ordering a standard 3.5" × 2" card and stalling on what goes on it. Not the paper. Not the pack size.

Keep the fields few. Make them readable at arm’s length. Then order on the standard business cards page.

The must-haves

Print only what someone needs to call you back after a job site, a quote follow-up, or a mixer.

Name — yours, or the company name customers already use.
Phone — the primary way to reach you. Make it easy to find.
Email or a booking link / URL / QR — pick one digital path, not five.
One short line of what you do (trade + area is enough).
Optional: a small logo. Keep it small so the text stays clear.

Leave white space. Don’t fill every corner.

Weak card: tiny phone, five social icons, a long paragraph listing every service, no clear “what you do” line.

Strong card: big name, big phone, one clear line like “Roofing & repairs · [city],” maybe a small logo, and room to breathe.

Example A (solo contractor): “Jordan Lee · (555) 014-8801 · Electrical · [city].”

Example B (small local business): “Northside HVAC · (555) 016-2204 · Install & service · [city].”

What to leave off

Tiny paragraphs nobody will read at arm’s length.
Five social icons when one phone number does the job.
Every service you offer — people stop reading.
Prices or “ask for a discount” — that belongs in the conversation, not on the card face.
Anything you’d rewrite next month if the offer changes. Keep the card durable.

Quick layout sense

Front: who you are and how to reach you.

Back: optional QR, a second phone, or a short offer line — or leave it blank for notes.

If people write on the card (next visit, quote total), pick matte finish. Thickness and finish details are in the paper guide — don’t rebuild that here.