business_cards.htm

A: A business card is a small card with your contact information (company business name, phone and fax number, physical street and mailing address, e-mail address (optional) and Website (optional)) for prospecting for new business clientele.

Q: How can I use these to promote my business?

A: You can use business cards in many ways to promote your business. You can leave them at restaurants, libraries, post offices, on bulletin boards at stores, etc. You can hand them out at gatherings or put one in the envelope with every bill you pay. The possibilities are endless

Q: How can I use these to just promote products I wish to retail?

A: You can use them basically the same way you use other materials to promote your business. For example, let's say that you are a Tupperware dealer and you also sell Stanley Home Products. When a host or hostess gives a party for Tupperware, you can try to add some extra sales from Stanley Home Products by stapling your Stanley Home Products business cards inside of your Tupperware booklets to let your host or hostess' guests know that they can also call you to order Stanley Home Products from you.

Q: Where can I get my own business cards?

A: There are many places from which you can purchase business cards. Printing shops that specialize in stationary are a good place to start. You can also order them online at Vista Print (http://www.vistaprint.com/). You may also want to check with your local newspaper office to see if they print business cards.

Q: How much will business cards cost?

A: The prices of business cards can vary from store to store. At Vista Print (http://www.vistaprint.com/) you can place your first order and just pay the shipping and handling ($8.95) charge if you will allow Vista Print to put their logo on the back of the card. You may be able to get some plain black and white business cards for as little as $18 or $20 for 500 or 1000. Adding color, logos, etc. can run the cost up to over $100 or more for 1,000 full color business cards.

Q: What if I want to design and print my own...where would I get the blank business cards and software?

A: Jacci Howard Bear has chosen her four top picks of business card design software that will allow you to design your own business cards. You can check out her recommendations here: http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/win/tp/bizcardwin.htm

You can also purchase such software at most retailers like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc. Any store that carries office supplies should carry blank business card stock paper. Office Depot, for example, lets you purchase blank business card stock from $11.29 for 250 cards to $99.98 for 2,500 cards. Paper Direct (http://www.paperdirect.com/) sells business card stock as well as software.

There are two business card software programs recommended by Smart Computing magazine (http://www.smartcomputing.com/):

My Professional Business Cards sells for $29.95 with several features
http://www.blueballweb.net/myprofessionalbusinesscards.html

Business Cards Designer Pro sells for $29.95 with several features
http://www.belltechsystems.com/buy.asp

Q: Are there any other types of business cards besides the paper types?

A: Yes. Besides the normal paper business cards made out of card stock, you can also get business cards that include foil inlay, embossing, and color or business cards made out of plastic. You can even get magnetic business cards or a business card on a tiny CD-ROM that fits into a standard CD drive. This latter option provides the ability to include a great deal of information along with the contact information.

For further information on some of these cards and to get a quote for these cards, go to http://www.bizcardpro.com/OurProducts.htm. Be sure to check some of their other offers, such as window decals, mugs, pencils, and T-shirts.

Q: Can my business card costs be tax deductible?

A: As long as you are using your business cards for business purposes to increase your sales and clientele, they are tax deductible. Be sure to keep all of your receipts for business card expenses. Please list these items as office or business advertising on your IRS Schedule C form on the appropriate lines. Please contact your accountant for further details as well.