What to Put on a Business Card: A Practical Checklist

A useful business card tells someone who you are, what your company does and how to reach you. Start with the company name or logo, your name and role, one primary contact method and a useful website address. Add other details only when they help the recipient take the next step.

Give every detail a job

• Company name or logo: make the business easy to recognise.
• Name and role: tell the recipient who they met and why to contact that person.
• Phone, WhatsApp or email: show the contact routes your team actually monitors. Include the country code when appropriate.
• Website: use a short, readable address that leads to relevant information.
• Service description: add a short phrase if the company name does not explain what you do.

An address is useful for a business customers visit; it is less important if every enquiry happens online. Include a social handle only if it is active and relevant. Avoid adding every platform simply because there is space.

Make the front and back work together

One approach is to keep the company identity on the front and personal contact details on the back. Another is to put the essential information together and reserve the reverse for a portfolio link or short service message. Choose the layout that remains easiest to read at actual size; two sides do not need to repeat the same content.

For a gold foil card, decide which short brand element deserves the accent before filling the design with text. For a quieter, straightforward layout, start with standard business card printing. Compare other options in our finish guide.

Use a QR code for one clear next step

A code without a label asks the recipient to guess. Explain the destination with a short instruction such as “View our portfolio” or “Save my contact.” Link to a mobile-friendly page you can maintain, and keep a readable contact option on the card for people who do not scan.

Test the final printed-size code on more than one phone. If a third-party QR service is involved, check whether the destination depends on a subscription or can expire. A working preview is not a substitute for testing the approved print file.

For destination choices, clear margins and proof checks, read our QR-code business card guide.

Planning bilingual or team business cards

For bilingual cards, have a fluent reviewer check both languages, names, job titles and reading order. Using one side per language can help reduce crowding, but the correct layout depends on the amount of information.

For team orders, use a single spreadsheet with one row per person and separate columns for name, role, phone, email and any other variable detail. Keep company information consistent. Have each person check their own details, then confirm the quantity for each name.

Ordering for several employees? Follow our team business card ordering guide for quantities per name, approval checks and reorders.

What should I leave off?

Remove outdated contact details, long paragraphs, unrelated services and claims you cannot substantiate. Avoid shrinking important text to fit more content. If the card needs a full explanation, link to a focused page instead.

Ready to prepare the file?

Check the spelling and contact details first, then use our artwork preparation guide for trim, safe areas, logos and final proofing. Browse the business card collection when you are ready to choose the physical finish.

The lead image is an illustrative company mockup, not a customer project. Confirm physical colour and finish before production.