Business cards are small but mighty. These little pieces of cardstock convey key details about your company in just a few words, which makes them a must-have tool for any painting business that wants more customers. Even in today’s digital world, they remain indispensable.

Don’t have business cards for your painting company yet? This is the perfect time to let your creativity shine! Below, you’ll find painting business card ideas, including tips on design and pricing, that can help take your company to the next level.

Create a Company Logo

Not all painting businesses have a logo, especially if they’re new to the job. But not having a logo can come back to bite you when making business cards.

That’s because potential customers use logos to identify businesses easily. For instance, logos of companies such as Apple, Nike, and Starbucks are instantly recognizable. If your business doesn’t have one, customers are likely to look at your card and wonder, “Who is this guy again?”

Being forgettable is one of the worst sins a painting business can commit. If you don’t have a logo for your business card already, consider making one as soon as possible to ensure that potential customers have a clear image in their minds of who you are and the services you provide.

Cheap, ready-made logos are widely available, but investing $500 to $1,000 on a custom logo that’s all yours is far better.

Use the Same Theme as Your Website

Imagine you have a business card rife with flashy, bright colors. A customer sees your card and heads to your website, where they’re greeted with pastels and a modern theme. They’re likely to ask themselves, “Am I in the right place?”

Using consistent branding across all advertising is critical for attracting and retaining customers. Ensure that the colors on your card match those on your website, company trucks, and other advertising materials.

Keep It Clean

When you’re thinking about painting business card ideas, you might be tempted to go all out and pack every inch of your cards with graphics and text. Don’t do it! It’s far better to keep clutter to a minimum so customers don’t get confused.

Avoid fancy, hard-to-read fonts and busy imagery. The goal of your business card is to draw the eye to what matters, and that’s tough to do if its elements are a mess.

Ensure that the text is easy to read, too. Don’t include any text that’s smaller than eight points.

Stick to Important Information Only

Unlike your website, where you can post content of any length, the space on business cards is far more restricted. That means you must be rather choosy when deciding what to put on yours.

The front of your business card should only include your company name (if you didn’t put it in your logo) and a short list of your painting services.

On the back, put your:

• Full name
• Business and mobile phone numbers
• Website URL
• Email address

You may be proud of your certifications and awards, but your business card isn’t the place to mention them. Likewise, avoid putting social media URLs and logos on your card. Customers can find these things on your website if they want to.

Don’t add QR codes to your card, either. These codes can conveniently take customers straight to your website, but some demographics (such as Baby Boomers) can find them confusing and aesthetically unappealing.

Include a Compelling Call to Action

If you have space left on your business card, including a short call-to-action message is okay. Doing so is a smart way to convince potential customers to reach out to you.

The key word here is short. Your message should be no longer than a sentence. It should also be interesting enough to get people to pick up the phone.

The following are some examples of good call-to-action messages:

• 20% off when you call by [date]
• 15% off your first paint job
• Call for a free estimate

Pay for Professional Business Card Design

If you’re not well versed in graphic design, creating a business card from scratch may not be the best idea. You’ll find plenty of affordable printing services offering thousands of templates to choose from. Plus, you can customize your cards to match the theme of your business.

Reputable printing services to consider include:

• VistaPrint
• Canva
• Moo

Most business card printing services also let you create a virtual version of your card. You can use virtual cards on your website, social media pages, and nearly anywhere else online.

Prices for these services vary depending on the material and design you choose. Standard thickness is the cheapest, and you can get 250 cards for around $25. If you’d like thicker cardstock, expect to pay about $60 for 50 cards.

Raised print can make a lasting impression, but it costs a little more than standard cards. You’ll usually pay around $40 for 250 raised print cards.

Magnetic cards can be a great pick if you have the budget. These cards stick to refrigerators and other metal surfaces. When a customer who needs painting services sees your card on their fridge, they’re likely to call you.

These cards can be quite pricey, though. Many companies charge $50 per 20 cards.

If you’d like customized business cards at a budget-friendly price, you may want to consider a service like Fiverr. Here, you’ll find dozens of pro designers who offer personalized cards for as little as $5 to $10. Many will also give you a better rate if you order other branded materials, such as stationery and envelopes.

Fiverr and similar services can be a good choice if you’re in a hurry. Some sellers promise to deliver your business cards within 24 to 48 hours.

Dos and Don’ts for Painting Business Cards

Here are a few more dos and don’ts to help you make the most of your painting business cards.

Business Card Dos

• Always check your business cards for typos before printing. Typos make your company look unprofessional, which can cost you customers. If you need to make changes, reprint your cards rather than write on the cards by hand.
• Give customers more than one way to contact you. Not everybody is able or willing to pick up the phone and call, so it’s smart to include your email address and website URL.
• Ensure that your card is easily readable. Customers shouldn’t have to pull out their glasses to figure out what your card says.
• Choose the right thickness for your card. Avoid printing your cards on anything less than 14-point paper (point means one-thousandth of an inch). If you’d like to make a memorable impression, you may also want to consider thicker paper, such as a 32- or 34-point option.
• After exchanging business cards with someone, keep their card on the table in front of you so you can glance at it if you forget their name.

Business Card Don’ts

• Don’t use garish colors that distract from your logo or contact information. Stick with neutral colors like white, gray, beige, or navy blue.
• Avoid oddly shaped die-cut business cards. While these cards are certainly eye-catching, they don’t fit in wallets very well. Plus, they’re easier to bend and tear than normal cards.
• Don’t print your business cards at home on cheap regular printer paper or cardstock. Unless you have a high-quality printer, your cards won’t look professional. And if you have an inkjet printer, the ink can easily smear.
• Avoid using clipart for your business cards. This may seem like the easiest and cheapest option, but it won’t be good enough if you want to stand out from the competition.
• Don’t hand your business card out too soon after meeting someone. Doing so can make you come off as pushy.
• Don’t leave your home or business without your cards. You never know when you might meet a potential client, so be sure to keep a stack of cards in your briefcase or vehicle.

Direct Mail Marketing for Painting Contractors That Gets Results

Need a little more help coming up with painting business card ideas? Reach out to the experts at Painter Marketing Pros! We can also help you come up with a winning direct mail strategy to target potential clients near you.

To learn more about our services, call us at (800) 813-4385 or book a free strategy call today.