How much do business cards cost?
Business cards provide contact and other information for individuals, companies, nonprofits, governmental organizations and other entities. Typically graphic designers create business cards using images, color, fonts, text and other design techniques to convey concepts visually. Designers can use an existing logo or create a new logo to incorporate into the card design and can also design simple cards that only feature text. Most professionals provide clients with electronic files of the business cards to clients who then print the cards at the location of their choice. Some designers also offer print services. Several factors affect the cost of business card design.
Hourly rate
Many graphic designers charge an hourly rate for their services or use an hourly rate to estimate a flat fee for services. Hourly rates vary based on experience, regional cost of living, and relevant training or reputation of the designer. Here are two examples of hourly rates for graphic design services:
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Brave Little Beast in Reynoldsburg, Ohio: $55 per hour
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BarisGraphics in Silver Spring, Maryland: $60 per hour to start for simple design projects, with a one-hour minimum requirement
Flat rate
Some designers charge a set fee for business card design if the client already has a logo. The designer’s job is then to best position the logo and use the most complementary fonts and colors to convey the client’s message. For example, Andrea Horta in Rumford, Rhode Island, charges $50 for business card design when the client already has a logo. Final deliverables include files in multiple formats for use in print, social media and a website. She also charges a $15 flat fee to update a current client’s business card to reflect new information, such as an updated business address, or other changes to a file she has already created.
Logo design
Requesting logo design in addition to business card design increases the cost of services. Logo design takes more time and expertise. Some designers charge by the hour for logo design, and some offer packages with a set amount of revisions and options included for a flat rate. Logo design services usually include multiple file formats that can be used on business cards, letterheads, envelopes, websites and social media. Here are some example logo design projects and their costs:
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$100 for a simple black-and-white logo for a new business
- This project was for a fashion designer just starting out and included 15 rounds of revision.
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$200–$300 for a mid-range standard logo design
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$1,200 for completely redesigning the logo of a large hospital
- This project took three to four months and included many iterations of the design. The client already had a large customer base and wanted to experiment with a range of colors, fonts and concepts before finalizing the design. This process took considerable work and thus increased the costs.
Hamilton’s Social Media Marketing & Design Firm in Plano, Texas
- $125 to start for logo design
Paper and printing
Printing prices affect the total cost of business card creation. Using entry-level paper and black-and-white ink, a box of cards should start around $25. Costs increase from there if cards are created with specialty paper, multiple colors, embossing and other upgrades.
Bundles with other services
Some graphic designers offer discounts when clients bundle more than one service. For example, they may offer a lower price on logo design if clients also invest in web design services from them. Always inquire about packages as a way to save.
