Is premium printing worth the extra cost for small businesses?

For most small businesses that compete on quality, yes. A premium card costs only pennies more per unit than a standard one, but the impression it leaves is very different, and that difference is where the value lives.

• Retention: people tend to keep thick, textured cards and toss thin, flimsy ones.
• Perceived value: a heavier, well-finished piece signals that you take your work seriously.
• Low added cost: the per-unit premium is small, especially at higher quantities.

Because the card stays in a wallet or on a desk instead of the trash, premium printing is one of the higher-return marketing spends a small business can make.