WAH Tip #1 Print Your Own Business Cards
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Here it is… The Final Version of my Business Card.
Whadda think?
If you remember the Old Version of the Card, it looked overcrowded and really 1970-ish. The Logo took up way too much room and distracted from the Name of the Business. That stupid line in the middle was just a further distraction and you had to look for my name and contact info which was crammed at the bottom of the card.
The original card was created using Microsoft Paint, if you have Windows, you have it and know it is useful to a point but limited in design. The New and Improved business card was redesigned entirely using the Trial Version (60 day) of Digital Image Starter Edition 2006 by Microsoft. The program is something that a Photographer would really find useful. But, I found it quite adaptable for Home Business, especially for designing Business Cards, Letterhead and Envelopes.
The print function includes enough variation in formatting of the paper layout that your design will come out the way you want it with little effort.
I bought perforated printing paper online using PayPal (which was a prerequisite, I don’t do Credit Cards online) from data-labels.com for a very fair price +S&H.
So, for a total of $41, I will have 2500 Business Cards, using my own equipment and ink when I get around to printing them. I only printed 50 so far (5 pages x 10 cards ea). The rest can be printed at my leisure when I need more, no reorders for this guy… yet.
Do you have any Do-it-Yourself tips to save money for a Start-up Business?
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Input by Jan | June 26, 2007 @ 11:45 am
The new business card looks good, Joe.
My tip - Use Openoffice instead of Microsoft Office. For a startup, you can’t beat the price. It’s easy to use. And it saves in Office format for when you have to share files.
Input by Rick Cockrum | June 26, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
Hey Rick,
Thanks for the words of encouragement, and thanks for the tip.
The MS thing is just something I came across while looking for an editor. I know there are plenty out there, and some are even free.
Input by Joe | June 26, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
I have nothing agains MS in particular, Joe. In fact, if you do your own bookkeeping, they’ve released a free version of their accounting software that hasn’t been getting too bad of reviews. You can find it at http://ideawins.com/ .
Input by Rick Cockrum | June 26, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
I grew up with MS-DOS, so I guess I’m just used to their quirks. I’ll have to try that accounting thing though, even though I already have a very complicated program now. I have to simplify.
Input by Joe | June 26, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
Joe - I love the fact that you’re trying to save money while working the startup route, however I think that sometimes sacrificing your “image” for a few pennies isn’t always the best idea.
What I would’ve recommended (and still do) is to go to vistaprint.com. For LESS than $41 and LESS time, wear and tear on your printer, and so on - you could’ve gotten 2500 premium glossy, professional business cards with your own design. And yes, even the reorders would be cheaper than buying the ink and paper to print more of your own.
I have to say this: Sometimes being frugal results in looking unprofessional. If you look unprofessional, who’s going to want to hire you? If you don’t get anyone to hire you (at least not on a regular basis) then I don’t care if you spent $40 or $400 on business cards - it was all a waste of money.
You want tips? I’ve got a few:
Reuse file folders. You can flip them around and put a new tag on the tab and whammo - you’re in business.
Take the time to get an ING Direct savings account. You can earn almost 5% interest, compounded MONTHLY on any funds you put in there, so that way you won’t be hurting come tax time if your deductions don’t cut it. The money’s “out of sight” and we all know what that means. Better yet: Have two accounts… one for general business savings and one for tax savings.
Save money on paper by having all your faxes come in to your computer first. Most MSOffice (and likely Open Office) setups will allow this, that way you only print what needs printing, and you save yourself from dealing with wasting paper on discount travel or health insurance scams. Same with sending faxes - if you have to fax something to someone, create it in MSWord (or whatever) and then fax it from your computer instead of printing it and then faxing.
Get a good, quality, digital answering machine for your business line, as opposed to paying for voicemail service. If the machine’s good enough, no one will know the difference, and with a $40 investment, you’ll make it up in less than a year.
I’ve got tons of them, Joe - and all stuff I learned from being in business for myself from home…
Input by Lara | June 27, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
Hey Lara,
Should I take that as a “NO” on the design of the card?
Frankly, almost $10 of the price was the Shipping and Handling which would Still have to be paid using vistaprint. None of the services delivers for free! And I would have probably used the same design anyway.
I like your tips about the folders and the savings account for taxes.
I also use the computer to send and receive faxes and print only what needs to be printed, just like you.
I never really considered the answering machine, my voicemail uses my own message in my own voice and comes with the phone service.
Anyway, I had thought of using a couple of those points in my WAH Tips Series already, hope you don’t mind.
Input by Joe | June 27, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
But what I’m saying is that for less than $40 TOTAL - shipping and everything, you could’ve done this with vistaprint. They give you 500 free cards to start, and then give you 1500 more for like $3, then another 500 for $1, etc. I’m promising you, it’d have been cheaper and looked better.
The design isn’t the biggest deal here, though you might’ve been able to match the background of the card to the background of your logo that was done for you (I remember) so that it didn’t look like it was pasted on. (You probably could’ve done this your way too, of course.)
My answering machine uses my own message in my own voice… and I save $5 a month by removing the voicemail part from the plan.
I don’t mind whatever you use, of course… and I do hope you understand that anything I’ve said is meant to be considered constructive, not harsh.
One more tip though: I think that in this wonderful internet age we live in, it’s so easy to make contacts and have those people grow into friends. Everyone has different capabilities, knowledge, and skills, of course, and I think that people are sometimes too afraid to ask their contacts for help or advice. Just as I randomly picked up and did your site logos for you, I would’ve happily helped you design a card that matched your logo style, regardless of whether or not you took my advice on printing them. I know, I know, there’s a lot of pride in being self-sufficient. But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking those in your life to help you when they can. People want to see you happy, see you succeed.
I really hope I haven’t offended you by disliking the design of the card - that’s not my intention. I only want to help.
Input by Lara | June 27, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
Oh - and if you want a referral on the ING thing, I can send you one. You get $25 with a $250 deposit and I’ll get $10 for referring you.
No, that’s not why I recommend it either - I just have 4 savings accounts with them and love the service to pieces!
Input by Lara | June 27, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
Lara,
It sounds like the pricing is at least in the same ballpark (except the 500 free cards).
My 2 major concerns were, still having not made a final, final decision, I didn’t want to have too many cards around that I didn’t like. This way, if you (you offered) were to help design something, I didn’t waste $41 and waste the cards I would never pass out.
The other was that I will not use a CC online, hence the stipulation of using PayPal to pay for a product/service. I looked at many different services and most didn’t want any type of payment that didn’t involve getting my Credit Card info.
You have helped my in numerous ways already, I couldn’t ask for more than you have already given. That includes the Logo (see it all around the site?) and your advice. I could never be upset with you for being you and telling me like it is.
Thanks.
(Oh, and I might take you up on the ING thing once I get a little more cash flowing)
Input by Joe | June 27, 2007 @ 2:03 pm