Does Walmart Print High Quality Business Cards for Small Businesses?

As an entrepreneur trying to spread the word about your new business, having professional-looking cards can make an excellent first impression. But does Walmart actually produce attractive, durable business cards suitable for all types of companies?

Walmart Prints Affordable Cards – But Lacks Some Customization

The good news is Walmart can save you up to 40% on business card printing costs compared to popular sites like Vistaprint and Staples. Their starting price of 50 cards for $9 is very budget-friendly for new business owners.

However, one downside is that Walmart offers fewer template choices – just 16 editable designs versus hundreds on professional printing sites. You also can‘t choose specialty printing options like raised ink, foil stamping or thick 16 pt cards.

So if you want fully custom and unique business cards, Walmart likely won‘t suffice. But if you just need a basic, good-looking card on a tight budget, read on!

Comparing Print Quality and Cardstock at Walmart

Walmart uses a thick, 120 lb matte cardstock for all its business card printing. This paper weight is decent, but not the heaviest you can buy. For comparison, VistaPrint‘s basic stock is 80 lb, while its premium linen cards are 16 pt (equivalent of 199 lb).

From various customer reviews, Walmart‘s business card stock seems to hold up well over time, with minimal issues of bleeding ink or easily bent corners. The matte finish also helps hide smudges and fingerprints better than glossy stock.

So while Walmart doesn‘t offer multiple papers to choose between, the standard quality appears solid for most professional purposes.

Just How Much Can You Save by Using Walmart?

To demonstrate the potential cost savings, let‘s break down what 250 cards would cost at some top competitors:

As you can see, Walmart comes out considerably cheaper at just $0.096 per card when you order 250. That nets you 10-15% savings over VistaPrint and Staples, and 60%+ discounts compared to FedEx print shops.

The more cards you need, the more budget-friendly Walmart becomes. Just keep quality expectations in check.

Expected Turnaround Times

Walmart claims business card orders ship out within 3-5 business days via FedEx and arrive within 1-3 days after that.

So best case scenario, you could receive your finished Walmart cards in as little as 4 business days – perfectly acceptable for small businesses without urgent needs.

Vistaprint advertises a similar turnaround of 4-5 business days when you choose standard shipping. So Walmart keeps up here.

Conclusion: When Should Small Businesses Use Walmart for Business Cards?

The bottom line is Walmart works best for small business owners who:

• Have basic card designs needs
• Want good but not luxury paper stock
• Need to maximize cost savings
• Don‘t require rush shipping

With affordable pricing for bulk orders and reliable quality, Walmart business cards can certainly serve early-stage companies well. Just don‘t expect robust customization or card variety.

For more visual companies like photographers, web designers and artists, the limited template selection could pose issues. Boutique businesses may also want heavier cardstock and finishing options Walmart doesn‘t provide.

So consider your budget, brand needs and desired turnaround time – but overall Walmart delivers solid value for basic business card printing.