The final business card check is a production check as well as a proofreading task. A correct-looking screen preview can still contain a wrong phone number, a QR code that fails at print size or artwork prepared to the wrong specification.
Start with the printer’s requirements, then approve a specific final version.
Pre-print checklist
| Check | Pass looks like | If it fails |
|---|---|---|
| Specification | You have the printer’s written size, bleed, safe area, colour and file requirements, and the artwork matches them | Ask the printer for their specification sheet and rebuild the file |
| Details independently read | A second person has checked every name, title, number, email and web address against an approved source | Correct and check again with someone new |
| Links and numbers tested | You called the number and opened the web address | Fix the destination before printing |
| Proof at actual size | Small text is readable and contrast is acceptable in ordinary light | Enlarge text or change colours |
| QR code | Scans on at least three phones from the printed proof | Enlarge it or simplify it, and keep a written alternative |
| Both sides together | Orientation and spacing work as a pair | Adjust the layout |
| Final file approved | Approval recorded against the exact file name, version and quantity | Do not send until the approval is recorded |
Confirm the specification
Ask for the finished dimensions, bleed, safe area, colour requirements, accepted file format and any special-finish instructions. Use the actual supplier’s specification rather than assuming one universal setting.
Bleed extends artwork beyond the trim; the safe area keeps important content away from the edge. Their required measurements depend on the job and printer.
If you have not selected stock or finish, our business card paper and finishes guide provides discussion points. Confirm suitability and samples with the printer.
Check the information independently
Verify the spelling of names, job titles, phone numbers, email addresses and website address against an approved source. Ask someone other than the designer to read them.
Call the number or test the destination where practical. A familiar-looking address can still be wrong.
For a hypothetical consultant, the final card might accidentally use an old booking link copied from a previous design. Testing the link is more reliable than recognising its appearance.
Review at actual size
Print a proof at the intended scale. Check small text, contrast and whether the information remains readable under ordinary lighting.
Test the QR code from that proof on several phones. Include a useful alternative contact route so the card does not depend entirely on scanning.
Check both sides together. Make sure orientation, spacing and important details work as a pair, particularly when using an unusual layout or finish.
Package and approve the final version
Give the file a clear version name. Keep editable originals separate from the file approved for printing so an earlier export is not sent accidentally.
For special finishes, confirm which artwork layers or separate files the supplier needs. Ask how the proof represents those finishes and whether a physical sample is appropriate.
Record approval against the exact file and quantity. Archive the proof for the next reorder, but recheck contact details before reusing it.
DonutLabs’ business card design service can help prepare a handover that the printer can use and the business can maintain.
For the wider planning context, read Which marketing materials does a small-business launch need?.
