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Deadly Things

Please — Do Not Put A Tip Calculator Or Coupon On Your Business Card

6:42 pm, January 17th | by Hillary Reinsberg


I’ve frequently railed against the glittery, extravagant business card — they’re more expensive and they don’t impress me. But the advice to jazz up and snazz up your business cards Just. Keeps. On. Coming. Make it stop!

Just now, I came across this column entitled, “Women at Work: Make your business card a winner.” The suggestions range from the blatantly obvious:

“On the front, you want to have your company name and logo as well as your name and contact information.”

…To the utterly bizarre:

“Other options include offering a discount or coupon, or listing awards you have won. You could even put a tip calculator on the back to give people a reason to keep your card handy.”

RELATED: In Defense Of Plain, Cheap, Boring Business Cards

I think I’d literally drop a business card in the trash if it had a “tip calculator” on the back. Or a coupon — how tacky! This article, and others who mystifyingly suggest ridiculous business cards, seem to neglect that the great deal of people don’t make their own business cards. They’re usually handed to you by human resources or an office manager during your first week on the job. If you’re targeting entrepreneurs or self-proprietors, I get it — but I’m probably less likely to take an entrepreneur or freelancer  seriously if it seems like they’ve spent an inordinate amount of time and money on making their business cards look cool. Aren’t you?

And let’s not even discuss the fact that this column is titled “Women at Work.” What — men don’t need glitzy business cards too?

RELATED: Randi Zuckerberg’s New Business Card Is A Rorschach Test

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  • DalekEmpress

    As someone who makes business cards day in and day out, you want something that’s appropriate to your business. For some that may be a coupon (masseuse, lawn service) or glitzy (specialty boutique, designer). The plain jane ones are most appropriate for serious business people, but we’re not all serious and not everyone has a smart phone.

  • Zelda Cornwallis

    There is nothing wrong with taking a little effort with your business card. It makes it look like you care. A tip calculator might be a bit over the top, but a clean, concise, memorable card never hurt anyone.

  • Anonymous

    I think this would also very much depend on what business you’re in.  If you work in graphic arts, photography, design, or entertainment I think a bit of a glitzier business card is called for. 

  • Anonymous

    Also the worst faux pas for a business card is when people change their number or email and handwrite it on their card.  To me that says I have a stack of cards with incorrect information but I’m too cheap to replace them.  Come on people Vista Print is free if you really can’t afford a new pack. 

  • spiker humer

     business for a start to one career until your have out grown the endless repetition of task, chat and small pay then your     

    are ready to start your business or move up to a large corporation.

  • Leisadent

    I agree with DalekEmpress, it’s completely dependant on your type of business. I find hair and beauty services often use their business card to track a loyalty program (ticking the boxes for each visit, get a bonus on the fifth, for example). The business card format is cheap to print and easily kept in a wallet, so it’s not limited to a classic “business card” purpose.

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