Business Cards for Trades and Local Businesses: What to Include and How to Order

Business cards remain useful for tradespeople and local service businesses because so much work still comes from recommendations, repeat customers and face-to-face conversations.

Whether you're a plumber, electrician, builder, gardener, window cleaner, driving instructor or another local business, a well-designed card gives customers an easy way to keep your details and contact you later.

Quick answer: A good trade business card should clearly show who you are, what you do and how to contact you. Include your business name, main services, telephone number and other useful contact details, while keeping the design simple enough to read quickly.

Do Tradespeople Still Need Business Cards?

For many trades and local service businesses, yes. A business card is particularly useful when you've completed a job, provided a quotation, met somebody locally or received a recommendation from an existing customer.

Instead of asking somebody to search for your business later, you can hand them a card containing the information they need.

They are also easy for customers to pass to friends, neighbours and family members who may need the same service.

Already Have Your Own Business Card Design?

You don't need to use a pre-designed template to order business cards from Short Run Print.

If you already have artwork created by a designer, design software, Canva, an AI tool or another service, simply choose your business card options and upload the finished file when ordering.

After uploading, you'll see a low-resolution preview and can adjust the scale of your artwork if required before completing the order.

What Should You Put on a Trade Business Card?

The most useful business cards make it immediately obvious what the business does and how to get in touch.

Depending on your business, useful information may include:

• Business or trading name
• Your name
• Main trade or service
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Website address
• Areas covered
• A short list of key services
• Relevant qualifications or accreditations
• Social media details
• A QR code linking to your website or booking page

You don't need to include everything. Prioritise the information customers are most likely to use and avoid making the card difficult to read.

Business Cards for Plumbers and Heating Engineers

A plumber's business card should make the main services easy to identify. Customers may keep the card for months before they need it, so clear wording matters.

Useful services to highlight might include plumbing repairs, bathrooms, heating work, boiler servicing or emergency call-outs where applicable.

Your telephone number should be prominent, especially if customers are likely to contact you when they have an urgent problem.

Business Cards for Electricians

Electrician business cards can work well with a clear list of the types of work you undertake, such as domestic electrical work, rewiring, lighting, fault finding or inspections.

If you hold relevant professional registrations or qualifications that customers commonly look for, these can also be included provided the details are accurate and current.

Business Cards for Builders and Property Maintenance

Builders often provide several different services, so a short service list can be particularly useful.

For example, you might mention extensions, renovations, brickwork, property repairs or general maintenance.

A website or QR code can also be valuable if it takes potential customers to photographs of completed work.

Business Cards for Roofers

Roofing business cards should make the type of work clear, particularly if you offer a mixture of repairs and larger roofing projects.

Services might include roof repairs, flat roofing, guttering, fascias, chimney work or complete roof replacements.

Business Cards for Painters and Decorators

For painters and decorators, your card can briefly explain whether you offer interior decorating, exterior work, wallpapering or both domestic and commercial services.

If your work is highly visual, a QR code linking to a gallery of completed projects can be useful without overcrowding the card itself.

Business Cards for Gardeners and Landscapers

Gardening and landscaping businesses often provide a wide range of services, so choose the ones that best represent the work you want more enquiries for.

You might include garden maintenance, hedge cutting, lawn care, fencing, patios, planting or landscaping.

If you only work within a particular area, including your main town or service area can also help customers quickly establish whether you're local to them.

Business Cards for Window Cleaners

Window cleaning is a good example of a local service where business cards can be particularly useful for recommendations.

Make your telephone number easy to find and consider mentioning whether you provide residential, commercial or regular scheduled window cleaning.

If you also offer gutter clearing, conservatory cleaning or other exterior cleaning services, these can be included if space allows.

Business Cards for Cleaners

Cleaning businesses can use their cards to make the type of service immediately clear.

This might include domestic cleaning, end-of-tenancy cleaning, office cleaning or regular housekeeping.

If you operate within a defined local area, mentioning the towns or areas covered can also help qualify enquiries.

Business Cards for Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners

Carpet cleaners may want to mention additional services such as upholstery cleaning, rug cleaning or stain treatment.

Leaving a few cards with satisfied customers can also make it easy for them to recommend your service to neighbours, friends or family.

Business Cards for Pressure Washing and Exterior Cleaning

Pressure washing businesses often cover several related services, including driveways, patios, decking, paths and exterior surfaces.

A concise list can help customers understand the range of work you undertake without needing a long explanation.

Business Cards for Bin Cleaning Services

Bin cleaning is another highly local service where a simple card can work well as a reminder between scheduled visits.

Include the business name, telephone number and areas covered, together with any useful information about regular collections or scheduled cleaning.

The main message should be immediately obvious so the customer can recognise what the card is for at a glance.

Business Cards for Handymen and Property Maintenance Services

Handymen and general property maintenance businesses often undertake many different types of jobs.

Rather than trying to list every possible task, choose a handful of representative services such as repairs, decorating, minor plumbing, assembly or property maintenance.

You can then direct customers to your website for a more detailed list if required.

Business Cards for Locksmiths

For locksmiths, the telephone number is likely to be one of the most important elements on the card.

If you offer emergency call-outs, lock replacement, security upgrades or specific service areas, these can be highlighted clearly.

A straightforward design can make the card easier to use when somebody needs your details quickly.

Business Cards for Driving Instructors

Driving instructor business cards can include your name, telephone number, lesson area and whether you offer manual or automatic tuition.

If customers can book lessons or find more information online, a website address or QR code can also be useful.

Cards can be handed to prospective learners, parents or existing pupils who want to recommend you to somebody else.

Business Cards for Dog Walkers and Pet Services

Dog walkers, pet sitters and groomers often build their businesses through local recommendations.

A card can show the services offered, the areas covered and the easiest way to make an enquiry.

If you provide several pet services, keep the list short and prioritise the ones you most want customers to remember.

Business Cards for Mobile Hairdressers, Barbers and Beauticians

For appointment-based local businesses, contact and booking information should be particularly easy to find.

You might include a telephone number, booking link, social media account and the main services you provide.

If you travel to customers, mentioning your service area can help avoid enquiries from locations you don't cover.

Business Cards for Personal Trainers

Personal trainers can use business cards after consultations, gym conversations or local events.

Useful information could include one-to-one training, group sessions, online coaching or the area in which you work.

A QR code linking to a booking page or further information can also be useful if you want to keep the printed card uncluttered.

Business Cards for Tutors and Local Education Services

Tutors can use business cards to show the subjects, age groups or levels they teach, together with contact details.

If you offer both face-to-face and online tuition, this can also be mentioned briefly.

Don't Try to Fit Too Much on the Card

One of the easiest mistakes to make is trying to include every service you provide.

A standard UK business card is only 85 × 55 mm, so space is limited.

Choose the information that matters most. A short list of key services with clear contact details is usually more useful than a large amount of tiny text.

Should a Trade Business Card Be Double-Sided?

Double-sided printing can be particularly helpful for trades because it gives you more room without making the front of the card crowded.

For example, the front could contain your business name, logo and telephone number, while the reverse could list your main services, website or other contact information.

A simple single-sided design can still work well if you only need to include a small amount of information.

What Size Are UK Business Cards?

The standard UK business card size is 85 × 55 mm.

Short Run Print also offers US-sized business cards at 89 × 51 mm, which are slightly wider and shallower than the standard UK format.

If you're supplying your own design, make sure the artwork proportions match the business card format you're ordering.

Preparing Your Business Card Artwork

For UK business cards, create the design to match the finished 85 × 55 mm proportions.

If colours, photographs or graphics run to the edge, Short Run Print requires 2 mm bleed beyond the finished edge.

We also recommend keeping important text, logos and contact details at least 3 mm inside the trim.

The Artwork Guide on the business card product page shows these areas in more detail.

How Many Business Cards Should a Tradesperson Order?

There isn't a single correct quantity. It depends on how often you hand cards out and how likely your details are to change.

If you're trying a new design, have recently started a business or only use cards occasionally, a small batch can make sense.

Short Run Print business card quantities start from just 20 cards, so you don't need to order hundreds if you only need a small number.

How to Order Business Cards Using Your Own Artwork

If you already have your business card design, ordering is straightforward.

1. Choose your business card format.
2. Select the quantity and available print options.
3. Click Add to Basket and Upload.
4. Upload your finished business card artwork.
5. Check the low-resolution preview.
6. Adjust the artwork scale if required.
7. Continue to your basket and check the preview again.
8. Choose your delivery option and complete the order.

A useful trade business card doesn't need to be complicated: make your service obvious, make your contact details easy to find and give customers a simple way to keep or pass on your information.

Common Questions About Business Cards for Trades

What should a tradesperson put on a business card?

Include your business name, trade or main service and clear contact details. You can also add a short service list, areas covered, website address or relevant qualifications if they are useful to potential customers.

Should I include all my services?

Usually not. Business cards have limited space, so choose the services that best describe your business or the work you most want enquiries for. Additional information can be placed on your website.

Should I put my mobile number on a trade business card?

If your mobile number is the main way customers contact you, it should normally be easy to find. This is particularly important for local services where customers often want to call or message directly.

Should I add a QR code?

A QR code can be useful if it links to your website, booking system, portfolio or another page containing information that won't comfortably fit on the card. Always test the QR code before sending the artwork to print.

Can I use my own trade business card design?

Yes. You can upload your own artwork when ordering from Short Run Print. You don't need to select a pre-designed template.

Can I order a small quantity of trade business cards?

Yes. Short Run Print business card quantities start from just 20 cards, which can be useful if you're testing a new design or don't need hundreds at once.

What size should my business card artwork be?

A standard UK business card finishes at 85 × 55 mm. Your artwork should also include the required bleed where the design prints to the edge.