print your own business card - Virtual Assistant Forums

Lia-VSS · #1 (**permalink**) 11-06-2007

hi,
i have designed my very own business card (as it has my company logo on it), and whilst I have had a look on sites such as vista print, I am still looking for a very competitive price on uploading your own business card/comp slip/letterhead (I am looking to spend approx. $10 / £5 on it - I have had a look at vistaprint uk and no such luck...). Any ideas please say... or the other solution is to use an avery pack where I can then print my cards onto them.

cheers.

Tess · #2 (**permalink**) 11-06-2007

I'm not aware of any online printing service (or Kinkos type place) that will print a stack of business cards for that price - someone else may pitch in though...

I think your idea of going with an Avery template and printing at home is a superb idea.
Lily (Office Goddess) did that, or at least I think she printed at home; she found paper stock that she really liked and that would be appropriate for business cards and voila, she had her own design and a great stack of freshly printed marketing materials

Office Goddess · #3 (**permalink**) 11-06-2007

Tess is right! After much research, I found my paper at a local wholesale paper supply warehouse. I wanted a "marble look" to match my whole "goddess" theme and only 1 paper company manufactures it. Needless to say, I pay a premium price for my paper ($45/500 for envelopes, $20/250 for 80# index - bus card/postcards, and $20/500 for stationary - letterhead/brochures.) There are lots of less expensive papers out there. I highly suggest locating a local paper or office supply store and finding a pattern you like for your business.

I print envelopes/letterhead/brochures/postcards at home on a laser printer as my design is black/white. I set up all of my templates in MS Word (postcards are a 2x2 table w/set column/row size).

I took my business card design to OfficeMax (a local office supply store) and had them set up the 10/page business cards. I paid $10 for the design and had them put the file on my flash drive.

My business cards now cost me $.11/sheet for 10 cards (including stock at $.08 and copies at $.03) and a flat $6 cutting charge for up to 1000 pages. Needless to say, I don't run 10,000 cards at a time!

I usually run 200 cards (20 pages) for a total cost of less than $8.50/200 cards including tax with no shipping charges as it is all done locally.

Following another thread, I am considering putting my definition of a Virtual Assistant on the back of my cards, which would add an additional $.02/10 cards or $.40 to my 200 cards for a total of less than $9.00/200. (of course, I will need to pay an additional $10 setup fee for the back of the card design, but that is a 1-shot charge).

Nothing like being "frugal"

Tess · #4 (**permalink**) 11-06-2007

I knew Lily would have the recipe!!

Rebecka Melson · #5 (**permalink**) 11-06-2007

I created mine myself in Publisher then took the disk to Kinko's to print, because the card stock that I wanted to use was too thick for my printer. Kinko's charges by the sheet, so you can order as little or as much as you need. Your not stuck buying a set 250 or 500.

However, if your printer is capable of printing on the card stock you could just print them yourself and then take them to Kinko's (or local copy center) to cut to save money. Kinko's told me exactly which layout to use in Publisher to get the most cards per page while requiring the least amount of cuts.

Kinko's is not the cheapest but they are reliable and fast. When I did mine the first time I needed them ASAP for a networking function I was going to attend and didn't have time to shop around.

Office Goddess · #6 (**permalink**) 11-07-2007

Originally Posted by Rebecka

Kinko's charges by the sheet, so you can order as little or as much as you need. Your not stuck buying a set 250 or 500.

Good point! I was forced to buy in bulk to get the unusual print I wanted (marble print was REALLY hard to find) but my hubby's cards are just printed on a bright yellow stock that we purchase on an as-needed basis: usually only 20 sheets or so per card run.

Lia-VSS · #7 (**permalink**) 11-08-2007

luckily, at work we have some avery business cards hanging around, so I'll use a wad of those!!

Office Goddess · #8 (**permalink**) 11-08-2007

Ummm... I wouldn't use something purchased by my present employer unless I reimbursed them for it. This is the equivalent of stealing from the company in my mind. I assume you wouldn't want YOUR employees to personally use items you purchased for YOUR business...

BwellBusinessServices · #9 (**permalink**) 11-08-2007

I'm with Lily regarding the business card use. Unless your company specifically states they don't need them and they were going to throw them in the trash, then I wouldn't use them.

I like printing my own cards, because I get to change them or add information to them. For example, a thread spoke about putting the Virtual Assistant defintion on the back of the business card. If you order your cards, this wouldn't be a simple feat. With you creating your own cards, it allows to add, delete or change whenever you wanted.

Be Well,

Tess · #10 (**permalink**) 11-08-2007

Second that - my business is my business and as such: my responsibility. Even something as 'cheap' as pencils and paper fit the same rule.
I've never worked in an office but can image what must be available.

Business owners cut costs but do so in an ethical way.
Be careful!!

Lia-VSS · #11 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

my business were going to throw them in the heap anyway - they never use the cards as such, well they do but they use a laminated version for membership cards.

BwellBusinessServices · #12 (**permalink**) 11-09-2007

Wow, you just received some freebies. That is wonderful. You know you can download avery and begin practicing on your business cards. Have fun creating.

Be Well