How to Print Your Own Business Cards
Every business needs a way to connect with potential customers and make a great first impression. One of the easiest ways to do this is through your business cards, yet not just any business card will do. In order to stand out from the competition, you’ll need an eye-catching design that’s crisp, clear, and printed to perfection.
Thankfully, BeFunky’s Online Business Card Designer can help you with beautifully designed business cards. But when it comes to getting your cards printed, you might be wondering if you can print your business cards on a regular printer at home, or if you should outsource this task to a company.
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the printing process, including what you need to print your own business cards at home. We’ll also help you weigh up which printing route you should go down!
Can You Print Business Cards on a Regular Printer?
If you want to print your business cards using your own printer at home, then you can! Whether you have a laser or inkjet printer, this process can be easy and save you some additional costs – providing you have the right materials and equipment on-hand of course.
What Do I Need to Print My Own Business Cards at Home?
To print your own business cards at home, you'll need a few things:
A Printer
You can use any inkjet or laser printer that has color printing capability. Keep in mind that some printers (such as laser printers) are better suited than others for printing on thick materials like paper or card stock. It’s also important to have a printer that can print on both sides of the paper if you plan on having a front and back design on your business card. Most printers have this feature, but if you have an older model, you may need to use a printing service instead.
High-Quality Paper
Make sure to use smooth, bright white paper with high-quality, thick stock. Most business cards are printed on 14 or 16pt stock paper. However, some can use extra-thick stock measuring up to 32pt. One benefit of choosing a thicker paper stock is that it can maximize the durability and longevity of your cards. However, the thicker your paper, the higher it costs.
You’ll also want to think about what type of paper you want your business cards to be printed on. For example, will they be matte, semi-gloss, or glossy? Smooth or textured? You’ll then need to have plenty of this paper on-hand for your print job.
Ink
You’ll also need to ensure your printer is well-stocked with high-quality and compatible ink. The type and color of ink you use will affect how your business cards look, as well as how long they last, so ensure you’re using a reputable brand.
Business Card Design Software
Before you print your business cards at home, you’ll first need to have their design ready to go. While many think you need to outsource this part to a professional graphic designer or utilize expensive software, this isn’t true.
BeFunky’s Online Business Card Designer is quick, easy, and inexpensive to use. Among our wide range of pre-designed business card templates, you’ll even find free designs that you can tweak in just a few minutes! Plus, with a huge collection of custom fonts, design elements, and graphics, creating a business card tailored to your own branding has never been easier.
What Format Do I Need to Print Business Cards?
Once you’ve got the design of your business card sorted, you’ll also need to ensure it has been saved in the optimal format for printing at home. BeFunky’s Online Business Card Designer makes this super easy, as it allows you to save your card design in a print-quality PDF format for the crispest result.
The Designer’s business card templates are also pre-sized to the most optimal measurements for printing: 3.5” x 2” (or 1050 x 600 pixels). Not having to worry about resizing your design or working out the perfect business card resolution saves you a lot of time and headaches!
Should You Outsource Your Business Cards to a Printing Company?
In some cases, you might lack the equipment or materials required to print your own business cards at home. Alternatively, you could find the process to be a little too confusing. In these scenarios, you might consider outsourcing the printing of your business cards to a professional printing company.
As with everything, there are advantages and disadvantages to both of these methods. Therefore, it’s best to weigh up the pros and cons of each to determine which route is best for your needs.
Printing Business Cards at Home
Pros:
- You can print business cards on your own time and schedule.
- You don't have to worry about shipping or delivery times.
- There’s no minimum order amount, so if you only need a small batch of business cards printed, this could work in your favor.
- You can customize the design on the go if you notice any errors or have a change of heart.
Cons:
- The cost of ink, paper, and other materials can really add up, especially if you're printing a lot of business cards.
- The time and effort required to do the job yourself.
- Not having access to professional equipment (for example, a printing company has a colorimeter that can measure the amount of ink on your business card).
- You may experience a learning curve when using your own printer, especially if you haven't printed business cards before.
Printing Business Cards Through a Professional Printing Company
Pros:
- Higher quality printing services, due to using larger and often much more expensive printing equipment.
- A wider range of options regarding business card paper, finish, size, or shape.
- They have more printing expertise and can offer great advice regarding paper types and finishes that suit your budget.
- Saves you both time and effort in printing your business cards yourself.
Cons:
- This can be an expensive process, however, some professional printing companies offer discounts for large orders, so it’s always a good idea to ask about these before making your decision.
- You may have to pay for shipping if you’re not local. You'll also need to factor in shipping time, which could be up to several days.
- You will have to wait for the printing process to be completed.
- You don’t have the ability to spot a mistake during the printing process. This could lead to an entire batch of unusable business cards and having to repeat the order from the start if anything were to go wrong.
If you do decide to outsource the printing of your business cards, there are plenty of reputable companies you can choose from. Vistaprint, GotPrint, and MOO are just some of the most popular online printing choices. Alternatively, you can Google printing companies within your local area. Just be sure to read the reviews to see which one will meet your needs the most.
Ready to Design and Print Your Business Cards at Home?
If you’re looking to save money with your business cards, or simply want to go down the DIY designing and printing route, then BeFunky’s Online Business Card Designer can help. With a wide range of business card templates to choose from (including free ones), all you need to do is swap out the existing text, color scheme, or graphics to suit your own business branding.
Check out the online business card designer today to get started with your DIY business cards!
