Real estate business cards still matter because they put your name, brokerage and phone number in a client’s hand at the exact moment they meet you. A good card is simple: your registered name, your title, your brokerage’s name shown clearly, one phone number, an email, and a QR code or web address. In Ontario, the card also has to follow RECO’s advertising rules when it promotes you.
This guide covers what to put on the card, the RECO and TRESA rules that apply, and the design and print choices that make people hold on to it. If you would rather not design it yourself, some brokerages include this work in their marketing services for real estate agents. RE/MAX Millennium’s in-house marketing team, for example, lists business cards and email signatures among the branding pieces it creates for its agents.
Do Real Estate Agents Still Need Business Cards?
Yes, for most agents. Real estate is a local, face-to-face business. You meet people at open houses, showings, community events, school fundraisers and the coffee shop down the street, and not all of them will follow you on Instagram on the spot.
A card solves a simple problem: it gives someone a physical reminder of you after the conversation ends. It also signals that you treat the work as a profession. A blank stare and “I’ll text you my number” works with friends, but it is a weak first impression with a seller deciding who to interview.
Cards are not a lead generation system on their own, though. They work best as one small part of a wider plan that also includes follow-up, a website and regular contact with your sphere.
What to Include on a Real Estate Business Card
Keep the front clean and put the details people need to reach you where they can find them fast. Here is what belongs on an Ontario agent’s card, sorted by priority.
| Priority | Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Must have | Your name, exactly as registered with RECO | RECO: “Short forms and nicknames must not be used in advertising” |
| Must have | Your title, using a permitted term | For example “Salesperson”, “Real Estate Agent” or “Broker” |
| Must have | Brokerage name, clearly and prominently shown | Required in all advertising under RECO guidance |
| Must have | A direct phone number | The fastest way for most clients to reach you |
| Must have | Email address | Many clients prefer to send a first message in writing |
| Strongly recommended | Website or QR code | Lets people see your listings, reviews and contact page |
| Strongly recommended | Headshot | Helps people match the card to the person they met |
| Optional | Areas you serve or a niche | For example a city, condos or pre-construction |
| Optional | Social media handle | Pick one channel you keep active |
| Optional | Languages you speak | Useful in multilingual markets like the GTA |
A few practical notes:
- One phone number: If you list a mobile and an office line, say which is which. Two unlabelled numbers create doubt.
- Professional email: A branded or brokerage address looks more established than a free personal account.
- Short web address: Print a URL people can type without errors, or let the QR code do the work.
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Ontario Rules for Real Estate Business Cards (RECO and TRESA)
Ontario’s Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA) replaced the old Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, and its Phase 2 regulations took effect on December 1, 2023. RECO then published advertising guidance for agents and brokerages. The points below come from RECO Bulletin 5.1 (Advertising requirements) and Bulletin 5.2 (Permitted terms).
Is a business card advertising?
It can be. RECO’s bulletins say business cards, letterhead and email signatures that contain promotional statements may be treated as advertising. In practice, most agent cards include a slogan, a niche or a “call me today” line, so it is safest to design yours to meet the advertising rules from the start.
Show the brokerage name clearly
RECO says “All advertising must include the name of the brokerage.” The brokerage also has to be clearly and prominently identified. RECO’s advertising compliance review form adds that the name should match the brokerage name registered with RECO, followed by “Brokerage” or “real estate brokerage”.
That means a tiny brokerage name tucked into a corner, below your own name in a much larger font, is a risk. Ask your broker of record how your brokerage wants its name shown.
Use your registered name and a permitted title
Your card should use the same name you registered with RECO. RECO lists the terms each registrant can use. Salespersons may use terms such as “salesperson”, “sales representative”, “real estate agent” or “REALTOR® salesperson”. Brokers may use “broker”, “real estate broker” or “REALTOR® broker”, among others.
A broker of record must identify themselves as broker of record. If you are unsure which titles fit your registration, check RECO Bulletin 5.2 before you print.
Use REALTOR® the right way
REALTOR® is a trademark owned by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). RECO’s permitted terms limit it to CREA members in good standing. CREA’s guidance says the mark goes in all capital letters with the ® symbol, and “Tom Jones, REALTOR®” is an example of acceptable use with your name.
CREA also says REALTOR® means member of CREA, so it should not be used as a job title on its own, and the mark should not be altered. CREA’s advertising guidance says small items like business cards can skip the full trademark statement when there is no room for it.
Back up any claims and awards
Lines like “top producer” or “#1 in sales” are comparative claims. RECO says these must be truthful and supported by verifiable facts. Awards should include the source, the date and the relevant details, and team awards should state the size of the team.
If you cannot fit the proof on a small card, leave the claim off. Your headshot, your niche and a clean design say more anyway.
Teams and personal real estate corporations
If you are on a team, RECO says each salesperson, broker and the brokerage must still be properly identified. Also note that RECO says the name of a personal real estate corporation (PREC) must not be included in any advertising. So even if you earn through a PREC, the corporation’s name does not belong on your card.
How to Design a Real Estate Business Card People Keep
A card gets kept when it is easy to read, feels solid in the hand and clearly connects to the person who handed it over. Here is how to get there.
Build a clear hierarchy
Decide what someone should see first. For most agents that is the name, then the brokerage, then the phone number. Everything else is secondary.
Use size, weight and spacing to show that order. If every line is the same size, the eye has nowhere to land.
Use a recent, professional headshot
A photo helps people remember who you are a week later. Use a current headshot with good lighting and a plain background. If you look very different today, retake it, because a mismatch hurts trust at the first meeting.
Match your brand and your brokerage
Your card should look like your website, email signature and social profiles. Same colours, same fonts, same headshot. Our guide on branding yourself as a real estate agent walks through building that visual identity step by step.
If your brokerage is part of a franchise, it usually has brand standards for logos, colours and how the brand name is shown. Ask for the approved files before you design anything. If you are joining RE/MAX as a new agent at RE/MAX Millennium, its in-house marketing team creates flyers, social media posts and email campaigns for you, so your branded pieces stay consistent.
Pick readable fonts
Use one or two fonts at most. Keep contact details large enough to read without squinting, and avoid thin script fonts for phone numbers and emails. Dark text on a light background is the safest choice for readability.
Add a QR code with a purpose
A QR code should send people somewhere useful, such as your contact page, a digital business card or your current listings. Test it on more than one phone before you print.
Size matters too. Scanova’s QR sizing guide calls 1 x 1 inch (2.5 cm) a safe minimum for close-range uses like business cards, and warns that codes under 2 cm are more likely to fail. Leave a blank margin around the code so phones can read it.
Use the back of the card
A double-sided card is usually worth it, because it gives you room to keep the front simple. Put your name, brokerage and contact details on the front, and use the back for the QR code, your service areas or a short line about how you help clients. Keep it truthful and free of claims you cannot back up.
Business Card Size, Paper and Print Specs
These are common print specs for North America. Always follow the template from the printer you use, since bleed and safe areas can vary.
| Spec | Common standard |
|---|---|
| Card size | 3.5 x 2 inches (88.9 x 50.8 mm) |
| Size with bleed | 3.61 x 2.11 inches (91.7 x 53.6 mm) at Vistaprint |
| Safe area for text | 3.36 x 1.86 inches (85.4 x 47.3 mm) at Vistaprint |
| Image resolution | 300 DPI |
| Paper thickness | 14pt is standard, 16pt feels more premium, 32pt is very thick |
| Finish | Matte, gloss or uncoated |
A few tips on paper and finish:
- Thickness: A heavier stock feels more substantial in the hand. Thin, flimsy cards tend to bend in wallets.
- Finish: Uncoated and matte stocks are usually easier to write on, which helps if you jot a note or an open house time on the back.
- Proofs: Order a small run first, check the colours and spelling on the printed card, then order more.
Common Business Card Mistakes
Most weak cards fail for the same few reasons:
- Too much text: A card is not a brochure. Cut anything that does not help someone contact you.
- Brokerage name hidden: This is both a design problem and a compliance risk in Ontario.
- Nicknames or short forms: RECO says the name in your advertising must match your registered name.
- Unproven claims: “Top agent” or “#1” with no source and date can breach RECO’s advertising guidance.
- Old details: An outdated phone number or a brokerage you have left makes the card useless.
- Odd sizes or materials: Cards that do not fit a wallet or cardholder are more likely to be tossed.
- Untested QR codes: A broken link is worse than no code at all.
Digital Business Cards vs Printed Cards
Digital business cards are links or app profiles you share by QR code, text or tap. They are easy to update, they never run out, and they can hold more detail than paper.
| Factor | Printed card | Digital card |
|---|---|---|
| First impression in person | Strong, tangible | Depends on the other person’s phone |
| Updating details | Requires a reprint | Instant |
| Cost over time | Ongoing print runs | Often a subscription or free tier |
| Works without a phone | Yes | No |
| Can link to listings and reviews | Through a QR code | Directly |
For most agents the answer is both. Hand over a printed card, and make sure its QR code opens your digital card or contact page so the details land in the other person’s phone.
Where to Hand Out Your Real Estate Business Cards
The card only works if people get it. Good places include:
- Open houses: Give one to every visitor who signs in, not only the serious buyers.
- Showings and listing appointments: Leave a card with each client and every decision-maker.
- Community events: Local fairs, charity runs, school events and sports leagues.
- Local businesses: Some shops and cafés allow cards on a community board. Ask first.
- Mailers and door-knocking: Add a card to your farm area mail-outs. Our post on real estate farming techniques covers how to pair print with a steady contact plan.
- Thank-you notes: Slip two cards into every closing gift or note so clients can pass one on.
If you are just starting out, cards are one of the early items on our new real estate agent checklist, along with your website, email signature and social profiles.
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Before You Print: A Quick Checklist
Run through this list before you send any file to the printer:
- Your name matches your RECO registration exactly.
- Your title is a permitted term for your registration category.
- The brokerage name is clear, prominent and matches the registered name.
- REALTOR® is in capitals with the ® symbol, and only used if you are a CREA member in good standing.
- Any claim or award has a source and date, or it is removed.
- Phone, email and web address are tested and correct.
- The QR code scans on at least two phones.
- Colours, fonts and logo match your brand and your brokerage’s standards.
- Your broker of record or brokerage marketing team has approved the design.
FAQ
The common North American size is 3.5 x 2 inches. Canadian online printers offer this as their standard card. Check your printer’s template for bleed and safe areas before you design.
Most agents do, because a headshot helps people remember who they met. Use a current, professional photo so the card matches you in person.
Not in Ontario if the card counts as advertising. RECO says short forms and nicknames must not be used and the name should be the one you registered.
Only if you are a member of CREA in good standing. Write it in capitals with the ® symbol, and do not use it as a job title. Team names that include it need CREA approval.
Start with the smallest run your printer offers at a fair price, so you can fix any errors after seeing the printed card. Reorder in larger quantities once you know which design and details work for you.
It helps, but most agents still carry printed cards for open houses and in-person meetings. Link the two with a QR code on the printed card.
Get Your Cards Right the First Time
A real estate business card is small, but it carries your name, your brokerage and your first impression. Keep it simple, follow RECO’s rules, match your brand and test every detail before you print.
If you want help with branding pieces like business cards, email signatures, flyers and social posts, take a look at the marketing support RE/MAX Millennium offers its agents.
This article is general information about Ontario advertising rules, not legal advice. Check RECO’s current bulletins and speak with your broker of record or a lawyer about your own situation.
