In the modern world of business and networking, there is a lot of conflicting advice on business card delivery. Some say they give them to everyone they meet, whether it’s the pizza delivery guy or the CEO of an international company. Others say to deliver them more strategically, only to qualified leads or leads you’ve already chatted and connected with. When it comes to ordering new business cards, the number you need obviously depends on which of these strategies you follow. Some people will get 1000 cards in a few months, others will make 500 cards last two years.

Here are some additional factors to consider when deciding how many business cards to order.

Do you like to update your brand often?
Those in the creative and design fields often like to create new twists and fresh visuals for their branding and business cards. They get bored of giving the same old card after six months or so. In this case, calculate how many cards you will deliver in that time period and order only that amount.

Are you likely to move in the next year or so?
A move can result in a new landline number even if you don’t print your physical address on your cards. There’s nothing more unprofessional than crossing out numbers on beautifully printed business cards, so order a smaller run of perhaps 500 cards to last you until you move.

Do you expect to gain new qualifications or accreditations next year?
If you’re likely to want to add those badges to your card, then it will only make sense to order enough cards to last until then.

Do you attend many networking events?
If you routinely hand out a lot of business cards at networking events, you’ll have 500 cards in no time. In this case, a larger order of 1,000 or more cards makes sense, so you don’t have to order more again.

Do you work primarily online?
If you primarily work and network online and hand out just a few cards from time to time, even a small order of 500 cards can last for years. In that case, work smart with the contact information you provide, so it’s less likely to become outdated. Skip your physical address and landline phone and only provide email and web addresses and perhaps your business cell phone number. As long as your website stays up to date with your contact information, your card will stay up to date as well. Or find a print shop that is happy to print short runs of cards and only order 200 at a time.

As a general rule of thumb, order enough cards for six months, or maybe a year if you prefer not to keep adjusting your design.