Top Print Design Mistakes Small Businesses Make

In the digital-first world we live in, it’s easy to forget how powerful well-designed print can be. Whether it’s a business card handed over at a meeting, a flyer pinned to a community board, or a brochure in a potential customer’s hands, print remains one of the most tangible ways to showcase your business. Done well, it boosts credibility, reinforces your brand, and helps you stand out from the competition.

Even great businesses can lose customers with poor print design. A blurry image, a clashing colour scheme, or an unreadable font can quickly send the wrong message — one of inattention or lack of professionalism.

At Inkwell Printing, we’ve seen it all, and we’re here to help you avoid the most common pitfalls. Here are the top print design mistakes small businesses make (and how to avoid them).

Ignoring Brand Consistency

Your printed materials should look and feel like they belong to your brand. That means consistent use of logos, colours, fonts, and tone of voice across everything from business cards to banners. Inconsistency can confuse customers and weaken trust — especially if your print looks nothing like your online presence.

Keep a brand style guide and share it with whoever designs your print materials.

Overcomplicated Design

It’s tempting to pack every inch of your leaflet or flyer with information, but crowded designs overwhelm the reader. Too many colours, images, or competing elements make it hard to focus on your message.

Less is more! Leave white space so your key message stands out.

Using the Wrong Fonts and Text Size

A beautiful design can be ruined by a poor font choice or tiny text that forces customers to squint. Unusual fonts can look unprofessional, and overly decorative styles can make reading difficult.

Stick to one or two clear, professional fonts and keep body text at a readable size.

Low Quality Images

Pixelated or stretched images instantly give away poor design. Low-resolution pictures may look fine on a screen but print much worse.

Always use high-resolution images (at least 300dpi) and check proofs before printing.

Print Misalignment and Poor Colour Choices

Crooked borders, off-centre text, or mismatched colours can make even a well-designed piece look amateurish. Colours that look vibrant on screen can appear dull or inaccurate in print without proper preparation.

Work with a professional printer who can check alignment and use correct colour profiles for print.

Wrong Paper Stock and Finishes

The feel of your print matters. A premium product brochure printed on thin, flimsy paper sends the wrong message about quality. Likewise, a luxury business card without the right finish won’t stand out in a wallet full of others.

Choose paper stock and finishes that match your brand’s image and the purpose of your print.

No Call to Action

Your print design might be beautiful, but if it doesn’t tell people what to do next, it’s a missed opportunity.

Include a clear call to action — whether that’s visiting your website, calling your office, or following you on social media.

Failing to Proofread

A single typo can undo all your hard work and make your business seem careless. Once it’s printed, it’s too late (and too costly) to fix.

Always have at least two people proofread your design before it goes to print.

Printing Without a Clear Purpose

Not every idea needs to be printed. If you can’t clearly define the goal of your leaflet, brochure, or poster, it may not deliver results.

Before printing, ask yourself: What do I want this to achieve? Who is it for? How will I measure success?

Inkwell Printing can help!

Print marketing for new start ups remains a powerful tool — but only if it’s done well. Avoiding these common mistakes will help you create materials that impress, persuade, and reflect the quality of your brand.

At Inkwell Printing, we’re here to help you get it right from the first proof to the final product. Whether you need business cards, brochures, flyers, or banners, our team can guide you through design, paper choice, and finishes so your print always makes the right impression.

Get in touch today to see how we can make your next print project a success.