The Paper Trail
How Great Stationery Can Punch Up Your Home-Based Business
Choosing stationery for your home-based business is simple and makes a big impact on your professional look. It is well worth the small investment.
When you work for yourself, half the time you spend is administrative: billing, mailing, answering phones and returning calls. And if you want your business to succeed, it's all about marketing. The easiest way to make a first impression? Your stationery.
That doesn't mean the hearts-and-flower print, delicately scented personal stationery you had as a teenager. For a business, you need a clean, crisp look that says, "I'm a serious, organized business person." Thankfully, serious does not have to mean pricey.
A basic set of stationery for a home-based business will include:
- Business cards
- Letterhead
- Envelopes
- Thank you cards.
If you like, you can add address labels to the list.
When choosing stationery, you need to think about what you want included on the letterhead or business card. Do you have a business name? Are you interested in giving out your home address or would you prefer to use a post office box? Do you need to include a phone and fax number, and is e-mail appropriate?
Business Cards
The options for business cards are endless, but the prices vary significantly. Think about how many cards you will use regularly - if you work mostly at home and rarely attend networking-type events, you could get by with fewer cards. If you are constantly meeting new people and trying to drum up more business, make sure you order more. Unless you plan on moving, 500 cards is a safe bet.
You can print business cards at home, but printing simple cards professionally often costs about the same but looks much better. Visit Staples for an idea of what they offer. Five hundred basic business cards can cost around $20. Also investigate small printers in your city to find out what they charge and how the designs vary.
Letterhead
Letterhead is a fancy word for stationery. It may have much of the same information found on your business card, and is generally printed at the top of a sheet of paper. You can design your own letterhead on the computer and print it yourself when you write a letter or invoice. Professionally printed letterhead is more expensive, but will also look very nice. It depends on how much business correspondence you do, and what type of business you are in.
An alternative to printing letterhead is to purchase good quality paper for printing at home. It is worthwhile to stock several colors and weights of paper for different purposes. You may wish to use a recycled paper for printing at home, but a cotton blend paper for sending out resumes and cover letters, and still another midweight paper for business correspondence. A local stationery store will probably stock these types of paper, as will any Staples Business Depot or even an art supply store.
Envelopes
Envelopes are the first thing a potential client will see (besides your business card). Make sure that it looks nice. Some people like to use business envelopes, where paper is folded in thirds. Another option is to use catalog-size envelopes (slightly larger than business size) so that paper can be folded in half only. This is also useful if you send CDs or other electronic media in the mail. Make sure the envelope matches or complements the paper you choose for letterhead.
Thank You Cards
This is an area where you can get a little bit creative. Even a straightlaced business can use a few tasteful but colorful business cards. Small stationery shops have plenty of options, as do larger retailers like Carlton Cards, Walmart, or Target. Target is a personal favorite, with bright and simple cards for all occasions. It's good practice to use thank you cards in business. As a freelance writer, for example, you may send thank you notes to people you have interviewed for a story, or who have assisted in some other way. Clients will remember thank you cards, and that will be good for your business. Don't go crazy, though. No cutesy rhymes or silly cartoon characters. Clean, simple, and attractive are the way to go.
Address Labels
Again, address labels are optional. But if you send out a lot of business correspondence, it is worth considering. You can have the labels printed, or do it yourself at home. If you want to print labels at home, make sure that you choose the proper labels for your type of printer. Any stationery depot or Staples-type store can help you pick. Also decide whether you want clear labels or white - this should depend on your envelope choice. Clear can look cheap, but white labels on white envelopes look less than professional sometimes. Judge accordingly.
And that's it! Once you've chosen business cards, letterhead, paper, envelopes, and thank you notes, you are truly open for business. The whole shebang should cost you less than $100, and the investment will pay off down the line.
