Internet (or online) printing companies will accept your design by upload and deliver the printed cards to your door. A print-ready file is called Artwork.

When selecting an Internet printer, compare finish and paper weight, not just the price:

Paper size in Europe should be a little smaller than A5 so that your card fits easily into a C5 envelope. A5 is 149 x 210 mm. Acceptable size for a card is 145 x 204 mm, give or take.

Paper weight: 300 gsm board (e.g. Artboard duo). Very important! Anything lighter looks unprofessional and cheap.

Finish: The front of the card should be glossy, which is called varnished in printers' terms (e.g. UV varnish). The back of the card can be matt.

Design specs: If you design the card yourself, your artwork needs to be the actual size in mm at 300 dpi. Actual size means finished card size + a little extra, called the bleed - usually around 3 mm. The bleed is where your cards are cut from large sheets. Unless you are good at these things, get help from a pro.

This is your career - spend some time and money. Always opt for quality because you only have one chance to make a first and lasting impression.

For a brief description of what a Comp Card or a Zed Card is and should look like, read this page.