What should a real estate business card include?
A good agent card answers three questions for someone who finds it days later: who you are, which firm you work with and how to reach you. Everything else is optional and should earn its space.
| Element | Why it matters | Where it usually goes |
|---|---|---|
| Agent name and title | Recognition after a showing | Front, largest text |
| Brokerage name and logo | Required disclosure for many agents | Front, clearly visible |
| License number | Required on advertising in some states | Front or back, per state rules |
| Direct phone | The route most people use first | Front |
| Email and website | For documents and listings | Front or back |
| QR code | Opens a contact card or search page | Back |
| Headshot | Helps people remember you | Front, if it fits |
| Designations | Only ones you actually hold | Near the name |
Use the table as a starting point, then confirm the details against your brokerage policy and your state real estate commission's advertising rules. For a general view of card content, see what to put on a business card.
Does a real estate card have to show the brokerage?
For REALTOR members, yes. Article 12 of the NAR Code of Ethics requires a true picture in advertising, and Standard of Practice 12-5 says members may not advertise real estate services in any medium without disclosing the firm's name in a reasonable and readily apparent manner. A business card used to promote your services is generally treated as advertising. State license laws often add their own rules, such as how the brokerage name must appear or whether a license number is required, so check with your managing broker before you print.
Should you put your photo on a real estate business card?
A headshot is common in real estate because clients meet many agents in a short time and a face helps them match the card to the conversation. Use a recent, well lit, professional photo and give it enough size to read at arm's length without crowding the contact details. The guide to adding a photo to a business card covers resolution and placement.
What fair housing rules apply to card wording?
The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to print or publish housing advertising that indicates a preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. On a card, that means describing yourself and your services, not the kind of buyer or neighbor you prefer. Many brokerages also ask agents to include the Equal Housing Opportunity logo; follow your firm's policy. Taglines deserve the same care: describe your experience, specialty or service area rather than the people you hope to serve.
Should you add a QR code?
A QR code on the back can open a digital contact card, a home search page or a booking link. Point it at a page you control and keep up to date, not a single listing that will sell. Print it large enough to scan at the distance people hold a card; the guide to minimum QR code size explains the numbers. With QR code business cards you add the code in Studio and scan test it before you approve.
Which paper and finish suit real estate cards?
Agents hand out cards at open houses, on doorsteps and in coffee shops, and often write a showing time or address on the back. A matte or uncoated back makes that easy. A thicker stock or a soft touch finish feels more substantial in a listing presentation. Gloss suits photo led designs but resists pens. On the Voqado price list, standard cards start at $14.99 for 100, and finishes and thicker stocks cost more.
How many cards should an agent order?
Base the quantity on real use: open houses per month, listing presentations, networking events and mailers, plus a buffer for brokerage or contact changes. Ordering a year of cards at once saves per card cost but wastes the remainder if you change firms. A print quantity calculator helps you estimate a sensible run from your own numbers. Keep a small box in your car and another at the office, and note how fast each empties over a month; that real rate is a better guide than any rule of thumb. If you work closely with lenders, the guide to loan officer business cards covers the matching disclosures on their side.
Should listings go on your business card?
Keep the card evergreen. Property details change weekly, while your name, firm and phone number should last a year or more. Put listings on flyers, postcards or a QR linked page instead, and keep the card focused on you. If you want a card for a specific open house or development, print a small run and treat it as a flyer, so your main card never goes out of date.
What should you check before printing?
- Name, title and designations exactly as licensed
- Brokerage name and logo per firm and state rules
- License number if your state requires it
- One direct phone number you answer
- Website or QR code that points to a page you control
- Fair housing safe wording and any required logo
- A writable back if you note showing times
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a real estate agent business card?
Include your name and title, your brokerage name and logo, any license number your state requires, one direct phone number, your email and a website or QR code. A headshot helps people remember you. Add designations only if you hold them, and confirm the layout against your brokerage policy and your state commission's advertising rules before printing.
Do real estate agents have to put their brokerage on business cards?
For NAR members, Standard of Practice 12-5 requires the firm name to be disclosed in advertising in any medium, and a business card used to win clients counts. Many state license laws also require the brokerage name on agent advertising. Rules differ by state, so confirm the exact requirements with your managing broker or state real estate commission.
Should I put a QR code on my real estate business card?
A QR code can be useful if it opens something lasting, such as a digital contact card, your agent website or a home search page you control. Avoid linking to a single listing that will sell. Print the code large enough to scan at arm's length, keep a quiet margin around it and test the printed proof with several phones.
What is the best paper for real estate business cards?
Many agents choose a matte or uncoated back so they can write a showing time or address, with a thicker stock or soft touch finish for a more substantial feel in presentations. Glossy stock suits photo heavy designs but resists most pens. Order a sample kit if you want to compare the options in hand.
Sources & specification notes
The references below support the relevant technical or product details in this guide. Examples and checklists are not claims of practical testing or universal supplier requirements. Confirm the current specifications for your chosen product before production.
- National Association of REALTORS: 2026 Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice ↗
Article 12 requires a true picture in advertising; Standard of Practice 12-5 requires the firm name to be disclosed in advertising in any medium, including print.
- Cornell LII: 42 U.S. Code 3604, Fair Housing Act ↗
Subsection (c) makes it unlawful to print or publish housing advertising that indicates a preference, limitation or discrimination based on a protected class.
