A Card for People Who Get Hired Job by Job
Contract workers live on referrals. A builder who does a good job for one family is recommended to three more. A freelance electrician, painter, driver or fitter gets most of the next jobs from the last one. For these workers, the most useful thing a card can do is make it easy to call. This design keeps that in mind: the phone number is the largest piece of contact information on the card, and the trade appears right under the name.
What the Card Shows
The card is 3.375 x 2.125 inches in landscape. A deep navy block covers the top left and bottom left of the card, shaped like an arrow pointing right, with a thin gold outline on its tip. At the top left, a SAMPLE LOGO in white and gold sits on the navy. In the middle, a white panel holds the photo placeholder on the left and, on the right, the name JAMES GREENLEAF in dark navy capitals with General Contractor beneath it in gold. A thick gold bar runs down the right edge. A navy band with a slanted left end across the bottom shows the phone number, 123-456-7890, in large white numerals.
The type is a bold serif for the name, which feels solid and trustworthy, and a clean sans serif for the number.
Change the Trade Title to Win the Right Jobs
General Contractor is a broad title. If you specialise, say so. A card that reads Kitchen and Bathroom Fitter brings kitchen and bathroom calls, while one that reads Roofing Contractor brings roofs. Think about what customers type when they search, and use those words. You can also add a second line in small type with your licence or insurance details, such as Licensed and Insured, if that is true.
- Use your real name and the name you work under.
- Write your trade in plain words that customers use.
- Add the area you cover, such as North London or Tri-County.
- Include a licence number only if the law or your clients expect it.
Photo Window
A photo on a contractor’s card tells customers who will come to their house, which many people like. Click the placeholder and choose Replace Image. Choose a friendly, clear portrait in work clothes or smart casual. If you would rather show your van or a finished job, replace the picture with that.
Making the Phone Number Work Harder
Retype 123-456-7890 with your mobile number, and check each digit twice, since a wrong number costs you work. If you also have a website or an email, add them in small white text above or beside the number. For a mobile friendly card, make sure the number is large enough to read at arm’s length, which this design already does.
Where Contract Workers Use Name Cards
Hand them to customers at the end of a job, leave a stack at local hardware shops and cafes with permission, attach one to an invoice, and keep a few in the van for neighbours who stop to ask. A card with a magnet on the back, ordered from a print shop, lasts longer in kitchens than paper.
Printing and Finishing
Use 300 gsm card stock with a matte finish, which holds a pen if you need to write a quote on the back. Cut the cards to 3.375 x 2.125 inches, with eight to a letter sheet. For trades where cards get dirty, a light gloss laminate helps them survive a toolbox.
For a more corporate card in bright blue, see the executive name card. For a consultant style card with a red arrow, see the consultant name card format. More are in ID cards.
