30 Businesses Who Took Creativity To New Levels With Their Innovative Business Cards

There are many ways to elevate the reputation of your business... how serious have you taken the potential that a seriously clever business card could really do the trick?

Elana

• Published in Funny
• October 24, 2021

Even the best business ideas can result in total failure if not for one majorly important aspect of running a business: advertisement. We all love the idea of being successful by reputation and word of mouth alone, but that's just not how the real world works for more business owners.

Advertising and community are the keys to success, especially early success when you're just beginning to make a name for yourself. There are many ways to advertise yourself and your business, and not all of them are created equal.

Business cards are one of those things that many people underestimate the power and value of. In fact, many people design very simple business cards on their own through budget-friendly websites that cater to this service... but is that really the way to go?

Across the world, some creative and ingenious individuals have taken the idea of advertising and business cards and combined them in genuinely clever ways. They're utilizing the maximum potential out of something as seemingly simple as a business card.

Plays on words, illustrative parallels, and cheeky disguises, these business cards have it all. Honestly, after checking out the unique ways these businesses and professionals have advertised themselves with their awesome business cards, you'll surely re-think the very concept of business cards themselves.

1. This photographer turned his business card into a viewfinder.

2. This business card is a seed packet

3. A Plumber's Clever Card

4. Personal Trainer's Business Card

5. Bike Mechanic

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), "approximately 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more."

6. Hair Dresser

7. This card can be folded into a miniature chair

8. This card transforms into a mini tennis court for tabletop shenanigans

9. This designer made an incredibly stylish business card

10. Taking the idea of a business card to new levels? That's what this make up artist is doing.

On average, research shows that it takes 2-3 years minimum for a new business to be truly profitable. Precisely when depends mostly on how much the startup costs were for each individual, new business.

Although some home-based or online, low-cost to start-up businesses may generate a profit almost immediately, with one of the highest costs considered being marketing and advertising.

11. When your job is to train people how to survive, making your business card edible dried meat is pretty cheeky.

12. Selling frames and other art accessories? Why not make your business card a frame, too?

13. Sommeliére are wine stewards, which makes this business card quite clever indeed.

14. A LEGO Agent's business card will make you want to be a LEGO Agent.

15. This business card for a head shop also happens to be a "Chigarette Filter"

Most professional advice about starting a business includes suggesting that owners should not take a salary for the first year at least, and instead, reinvest that money back into their new business. This advice is believed to genuinely stimulate growth.

16. This designer's business card is blooming

17. Yoga Center? A bendy straw is clearly the way to go.

18. This Buy/Sell Investment Representative definitely took an interesting and fun route with his business card

19. Divorce Lawyer

20. Cosmetic Surgeon

Two terms known in the business industry that describe profit are "ramen profitability" vs "actual profitability." According to FreshBooks:

"Ramen profitability means the business can support its owners financially (though barely). Online or home-based businesses that take little money to start up can reach ramen profitability quite quickly. Actual profitability means that the founders can take healthy salaries, with enough cash leftover to show a profit in the books."

21. Dentist

22. "Circumciser"

23. When you're a classic-rock inspired hair stylist, this rockin' comb business card is an incredible way to stand out. If you rub it with your fingernail, you can hear music.

24. In the business of transporting cargo? Transform your business card.

25. This restaurant's business card is also a salt shaker

Forbes asked financial experts to share their best advice about starting a business.  Jared Weitz, United Capital Source Inc told Forbes:

"Start small! Tiptoe before you make the big splash. You don't need to go into life-threatening debt to chase your dreams. Build slow and steady over time. Create a solid foundation with as few fixed expenses as possible at first. Learn and keep track of what your ROIs and other pertinent data points are early on. Stay light, stay thrifty and stay true to what your data tells you."

26. Another seriously clever business card from a personal trainer

27. Don't let personal trainers get all the clever credit, check out this Yoga trainer's card

28. Or how about this yoga studio's yoga mat business card?

29. This business card for a high-end restaurant is also a cheese grater

30. "Grill Me" says this business card

Now that you've seen the evidence, wouldn't you agree that a clever, eye-catching, or otherwise ingenious business card could easily be an essential component to your business's success? It's certainly hard to think otherwise.

Which business card seen here today stands out the most to you? Share your thoughts in the comments now.

Elana