Knowing what to put on a business card—and what to leave out—helps you design a card that looks professional and does its job. The basics are universal: your name, logo and contact information. But how you present them can make all the difference.
A well-crafted card goes beyond listing your business card details. It creates a strong first impression and helps people remember who you are and how to reach you—by phone, email or website. Business cards remain one of the most trusted marketing tools. In fact, the 2025 Small Business Marketing Guide by VistaPrint x Wix found that 58% of small businesses still rely on business cards to win new clients, proving their continued relevance in a digital world.
In this guide, you’ll learn what to include on a business card, how to structure your business card content and explore what should be on a business card across different industries. You’ll also find practical print tips to ensure every business card information element fits seamlessly into your design.
- The front of your business card should highlight your logo, company name and tagline—these are the elements that make your brand instantly recognizable.
- Save the back of the card for more detailed business card information like your name, title and contact details, as well as extras like social media handles.
- Got additional business card details to share? Add a QR code to make it easy for people to access your website, hours or promotions without overcrowding the design.
- Double-check that all your business card info is easy to read, accurate and fits well within the safety lines before hitting print.
What to put on a business card: Front of the card
Knowing what to put on a business card starts with understanding which details belong on the front. This side of your card should feature the most essential business card content—the elements that instantly identify who you are and what your business represents.
1. Logo
Your logo is a visual representation of what your company does and what you stand for. It should epitomize your business and is a keepsake for your customers to remember you by. When you have a logo, it makes your company feel like it’s credible, professional and trustworthy.
Your logo should be displayed proudly on the front of your business card. Use a high-quality image at 300dpi (dots per inch) to make sure the edges appear crisp when printed. Try not to add text too close to the logo or scale it too big—and remember to let it breathe with a little white space so your business card details don’t feel crowded.
If your logo looks cramped on your business card design, scale it down a bit and increase the white space around it.
2. Company name
While your logo is the key component of your brand identity, you should include your company name on your business cards, too. And give it plenty of space—your name is what people are most likely to remember, so it’s a critical business card layout detail.
Generally speaking, the name of your business should be the largest piece of text on your card. You should make sure to spell out the full name of your business so people know what your business is all about right away. Think: “Luna Salon” instead of just “Luna” or “Complete Financial Solutions” instead of “CFS.”
3. Tagline
Do you have a tagline or slogan for your small business? Include it on your business card! If you don’t have an official tagline, you can create one by summarizing what you offer in a few words—this can be especially helpful if your name isn’t especially self-explanatory.
For example, Stratton Design uses the tagline “Website design & hosting” on their business cards to clearly communicate what they specialize in. These few words are professional, honest and focused on their core service.
When deciding what to include on a business card, keep the front simple. Save additional business card details—like your contact info or social handles—for the back to maintain a clean, balanced layout.
What to put on a business card: Back of the card
The back of your business card is where you can include more detailed business card information that supports what’s on the front. Think of this side as space for the practical business card details that help people get in touch or learn more about you.
4. Your name & title
Create a personal connection to your business by adding your full name to your business card, along with your job title. Including your title serves as a great memory jogger, since not everyone’s good with names and some people are more likely to remember you for your area of expertise.
You can also add a headshot if it feels relevant to your industry—a photo is a great way to show the person behind the business, especially if you work in a client-facing position. Photo business cards are ideal for professionals like realtors, photographers and caregivers.
For global connections, remember that business card etiquette varies by country. For example, including job titles is essential in Japan but optional in parts of Europe.
5. Contact details
The contact information on your business card should include your email address and phone number. These are key information for a business card, and this is how most people will contact you.
When deciding what to put on a business card for your business, go with the channels you actually monitor most. If you rarely check voicemail, lead with your email or website instead.
On your card, align your contact details left, right or center and choose a font for business cards that’s easy to read—and if you prefer one of these communication methods to the other, emphasize it with a larger size or prominent placement.
6. Your address: Online or physical
Make sure to include your website URL—you can drop the http://, as it’s not necessary and takes up space.
Remember, it’s important that there’s consistency between the design of your business card and your website. When a potential customer visits your website after seeing the URL on your business card, the experience should be cohesive from font choice to color scheme.
If you operate out of a brick and mortar location, adding your address is vital to increasing foot traffic. Operate your business completely virtually? You don’t need to include a mailing address if you’re not expecting any foot traffic—leave it out to save space.
For digital-first businesses, you can replace your address with a QR code that links to your website or contact form. VistaPrint’s QR business cards make this quick and easy!
7. Social media handles
If you’re active on social media, include your social handles and recognizable social media icons on your business card. Whether you’re an avid user of TikTok or prefer Instagram, this is a great way to tell customers where they can find you and attract new followers.
Just remember to only include profiles that reflect your professional image to keep your business card content relevant and clean.
8. QR code
Running out of space on your business card? Consider adding a QR code so customers can quickly find additional information about your operating hours, special promotions or your small business story. This is something that can go on the back of your business card since it’s extra information.
You can also pair a QR code with an NFC chip for a more interactive experience. Both are modern ways to share your business card details digitally. Learn more about digital business cards in our article.
What to put on business cards by industry
What you include on a business card often depends on what you do. The essentials stay the same—your name, logo and contact details—but how you present them can change depending on your field.
As Alexandra from WildFlora says, “You can take a business card and make it anything.” The best cards highlight what matters most to your customers and make it easy for them to connect with you. “Using them for extra information is really helpful for our customers,” Alexandra adds.
To help you understand what should be on a business card, we’ve rounded up a few examples of what information typically works best for different types of businesses.
| Industry or Profession | Front of the card | Back of the card |
| Freelancer or consultant | Full name, business name or logo, short tagline (“Copywriting & brand storytelling”) and main contact method | Website URL, email, social handles, QR code linking to portfolio or booking page |
| Retail shop or boutique | Logo, store name, tagline, key product focus | Address, map QR code, business hours and promo code for repeat visits |
| Restaurant or café | Logo, restaurant name, cuisine type | Physical address, reservation link or QR code, social media icons for reviews or photos |
| Real estate agent | Headshot, name, agency logo | Phone, email, website, QR code linking to listings or testimonials |
| Photographer | Logo or signature mark, name, “Photography” or specialization (e.g., wedding, portrait) | Website gallery, Instagram handle, QR code for portfolio |
| Corporate professional or executive | Name, title, company logo | Phone, company email, office address, LinkedIn profile |
| Creative agency or designer | Logo, brand name, tagline describing services | Website, contact email, social links, optional QR code to case studies |
| Healthcare or wellness provider | Name, credentials (e.g., “Dr. Jane Doe, Chiropractor”), clinic logo | Address, appointment link, hours, QR code for online booking |
| Tradesperson or contractor | Business name, service category (“Plumbing & Heating”), phone number | License info, website, emergency contact line, QR code for reviews |
| Event planner or florist | Brand name, tagline, logo | Social media handles, portfolio QR code, contact details for inquiries |
| Nonprofit or community organization | Logo, organization name, short mission statement | Website, donation link QR code, social handles |
In the end, what to include on a business card should reflect how your business communicates. The right details help your customers reach you easily, while the design and tone show who you are. Keep it concise, make every element earn its place and use tools like QR codes to share more without losing focus.
“When it comes to adding text to your business card, less is more. It should be easily digestible for whoever is receiving it. The less info you put on there, the better.”–Megan Morahan, Creative Director at VistaPrint
Practical print information
Ready to print your new business cards? Make sure you nail business card dimensions and keep the following info in mind:
Bleed line: The very edges of the document are called the bleed lines. To prevent an unwanted white border from showing at the edge of your document, be sure to extend any background colors or design elements all the way to the edge.
Safety line: The safety lines are borders that are inside the area where the cut will take place. Keep all necessary business card information, like names, addresses, phone numbers or logos within the safety line to ensure they aren’t cut off.
Trim area: Because of the mechanical tolerances involved in printing, the actual cut can happen anywhere between the bleed line and the safety line. That’s why it’s important to keep your text and important images within the safety line and out of the trim area.
Want to learn more? Read more about crop marks and how to add them.
To ensure your card clearly communicates everything you want it to, double-check every piece of business card information for accuracy. A small typo in a phone number or email address can make even the best design ineffective. Then, ask someone to look at it before you commit to printing..
You could ask them the following:
- What’s the first thing you see?
- Is it clear what products or services I offer?
- How would you contact me?
- Is the text easy to read?
- Do the logo and text have enough contrast against the background?
If they answer “Yes!” to everything, you’re ready to print.
Want to let a professional tackle your business card design? Once you find a business card template you love, work with an expert from Vista’s Design Services team to get a completely custom look.
Know what to put on business cards—what’s next?
Now that you know what to put on a business card, from essential front-facing details like your logo and company name to the extras on the back like contact info and QR codes, you’re ready to create a card that stands out. For some inspiration, check out these unique business card design ideas to see how to organize all your business card details effectively.
FAQs about business card information
What contact information should I put on my business card?
Add your phone number, email address and website URL—whatever makes it easiest for people to contact you. For physical businesses, include your address to guide customers to your location. These are the most essential business card details, no matter your industry.
Should I include my photo on my business card?
A photo can make your card more personal and memorable, especially in industries like real estate or photography. Just ensure it’s high-quality, aligns with your brand and fits smoothly within your business card content.
Is it necessary to put my job title on a business card?
Including your job title helps clarify your role and reminds people of your expertise. It’s a small detail that can make a big difference in how you’re remembered. However, it’s not a must-have element in every culture—figure out the rules of international business card etiquette to know for sure whether or not you need to include this detail.
Should I put my social media handles on my business card?
Yes, if you use social media professionally. Add only relevant handles with clear icons to help customers connect with you online.
How should I include my website on my business card?
Keep it simple by listing your URL without “http://.” To save space, add a QR code that links directly to your site.
What should be on a business card in 2026?
The essentials haven’t changed—name, logo and contact details—but many professionals now add a QR code or NFC tag to link directly to digital profiles or websites. Combining printed and digital business card information keeps your design modern and practical.
