Business Resource Guide

Everything You Need In Print When Starting Up Your Small Business

Social media is an invaluable (and low-cost) networking tool, but sooner or later you’ll also need printing services to help market your company. Whether business cards, brochures or related collateral, printed materials lend professionalism and polish to your brand-new small business.

The Dex pages can help you find everything you might need in print when starting up your small business.

Business cards

Business cards are easy, quick and inexpensive to have printed. A graphic designer can ensure your cards looks polished and professional, but if budget doesn’t allow hiring this service, free templates are readily available at office supply retailers and online and are even bundled into some word processing softwares.

Keep a set of business cards in your purse or wallet, even if they’re a temporary design you’re using when you’re first starting out. You never know when you’re going to bump into a prospective customer or business contact while you’re out at a seminar or trade show or in line for a cup of coffee at a local cafe.

Copying and faxing

If you’re just starting out and don’t have access to a copier or fax machine or if you have a very large order and prefer it be in the hands of professionals, go to your local office supply retailer for faxing and photocopying services.

Marketing materials

Promotional materials are another vehicle for getting your name out there. Find a service that offers screen printing and order custom print clothing like T-shirts with your logo or business name. If allowed, hand them out to the crowd at a local sporting event, like an amateur softball game.

Create stickers and decals with your business name and contact info for the side of your car. It’s important to keep your design consistent with your business cards and letterhead.

Invitations and announcements

Once you’re officially open for business, you’ll want to put the word out so others know.

You can send an announcement over e-mail, alert friends via Facebook, or get people in the store immediately by hosting an open house. You’ll need printed invitations and announcements for planning an open house cocktail party. These can be as simple as a postcard with graphics and your message or more formal cardstock and envelopes.

Be sure to call your local post office before you place any printing order to ask about postage rates for irregular size pieces of mail.

Stationery

Taking time to send a handwritten note on stationery with your logo or business name can make you stand out to your business contacts. Use personalized stationery to thank a customer for an order or a colleague for a networking lunch. Some small business owners go so far to as to notate the birthdays of clients and mail them birthday cards, sometimes with an offer of discounted services to use during their birthday month.

Letterhead

Professional letterhead is important for all of your business correspondence, from cover letters to invoices and faxes. Chances are, vendors that offer business card printing also have templates and printing services available for creating letterhead.

Note that if you’re going the DIY route initially for business cards and letterhead, do your best to keep the look and feel consistent and professional. Also, know that prices for printing increase as you use more colors in designs.

Check local Dex directory listings for printers in your area or hire a graphic designer to help create an image for your business.