How to Make Gift Cards for Your Small Business
Learn how to make gift cards for your small business with tips for choosing, designing, printing, tracking, and promoting custom gift cards.
Offering gift cards can be simple
You don’t need plastic cards or a complicated setup to start offering gift cards for your small business. You can print your own, order professionally printed cards, or pair a physical card with a digital gift card or redemption system.
Physical gift cards give customers something tangible to give while giving you another opportunity to showcase your brand. And gift cards remain a popular choice for gifting. During the holidays, for example, a 2025 Wells Fargo/Ipsos survey found that 56% of U.S. adults preferred receiving gift cards. With customizable cards and templates, you can create a polished, branded option without starting from scratch.
Whether you’re testing gift cards for the first time or looking for a more polished option, we’ll walk through how to choose, create, track, and promote gift cards that work for your business.
How do gift cards work for a small business?
At its simplest, a gift card represents a set amount of money, product, or service that a customer purchases now and the recipient redeems later. Your business needs a way to identify the card, record its value, and track when some or all of that value is redeemed.
How you manage that process depends on your business. You might use gift card software or a compatible point-of-sale (POS) system, but those aren’t your only options. For a simple program, you can assign each card a unique number and keep a record of sales, redemptions, and remaining balances.
Choose the right type of gift card for your business
The right gift card setup depends on how you sell, how much you want to manage yourself, and the experience you want to give customers. For many small businesses, you can start with a simple physical card and choose whether to print it yourself, have it professionally printed, or connect it to a digital system.
| Gift card option | Good for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Printable gift cards | Starting small or printing cards as needed | Customize your cards and print them yourself |
| Professionally printed gift cards | Creating a polished, branded option without printing in-house | Customize your design and have the cards printed for you |
| Plastic gift cards | Businesses using a compatible POS or gift card system | Cards typically connect to a system that manages values and redemptions |
| Physical cards + digital redemption | Combining a tangible gift with digital redemption | Give customers a physical card that connects to an online gift card or redemption experience |
Printable cards give you the flexibility to create gift cards as you need them using your own printer. If you’d rather leave the printing to someone else, professionally printed cards offer a polished option without printing in-house. With Avery, you can customize either option with your own branding or start with a template.
Not sure whether to use a gift card or gift certificate? Gift certificates are another customizable option for small businesses. Learn more about how to make gift certificates for your business.
How to make gift cards for your small business
Making your own gift cards starts with deciding what you want to offer, how you’ll create the cards, and how you’ll track them. From there, you can customize the design to fit your brand and set up a redemption process that works for your business.
1. Decide what your gift card is worth
Your gift card can be for a set dollar amount, a custom amount chosen by the customer, or even a specific product or service. For example, a salon could offer a gift card for a particular service, while a bakery might offer one for a box of treats.
2. Choose your card format
Decide whether you want to print your cards yourself using printable business cards or have them professionally printed. Consider how many you need, how often you expect to update your design, and how you plan to present or display them.
3. Customize your gift card design
Add your logo, brand colors, business information, and any other details customers need to use the card. You can create your own design or start with a customizable gift card template and make it your own.
4. Give each gift card a unique number or code
If you’re tracking individual gift cards, give each one a unique number or code so you can match it to your records when it’s redeemed.
5. Set up your tracking and redemption process
Before you start selling gift cards, decide how you’ll record purchases, redemptions, and remaining balances. Depending on your setup, that might be handled through a POS or gift card system or through your own tracking method.
How to track and redeem gift cards
Your gift card tracking system can be as simple or detailed as your business needs. The important thing is having a consistent way to record each card, its original value, redemptions, and any remaining balance.
For a simple manual system, your gift card tracking record might look something like this:
| Gift card # | Original value | Date sold | Amount redeemed | Remaining balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | $50 | 10/15/26 | $20 | $30 |
If you’re managing gift cards manually, you can keep this information in a spreadsheet or other business record and update it whenever a card is used. Businesses with a compatible POS or gift card system can manage these details digitally instead.
What happens when only part of a gift card is used?
If your gift cards can be used more than once, record the amount redeemed after each purchase and update the remaining balance. Make sure customers know how they can check or use any balance that’s left.
What information should you put on a gift card?
A gift card should give customers the information they need to identify your business and understand how to use the card. What you include will depend on your gift card setup, but consider adding:
- Business name and logo: Make your brand easy to recognize.
- Gift amount or offer: Include the value, product, or service if it’s determined in advance.
- Unique number or code: Add one if you use it to identify and track individual cards.
- Website or contact information: Give recipients an easy way to find your business or learn more.
- Redemption instructions: Explain where or how the gift card can be used.
- Important terms or policies: Include any information customers need to know about using the card.
Design tip: If you’re creating a two-sided gift card, consider putting your branding and design on the front and the redemption details on the back. This keeps the design clean while leaving room for the practical information customers need.
Make your gift cards feel gift-worthy
A little presentation can turn a simple gift card into something that feels more special. Consider pairing your card with an envelope, attaching it to a product, or placing it in a small gift box or pouch. You can also create seasonal or occasion-specific designs for birthdays, holidays, weddings, and other celebrations while keeping your branding consistent. In fact, a recent survey by TSG and Bank of America found that 63% of gift card buyers prefer themed designs over store-branded options.
Think about how customers will discover your gift cards, too. Display them near checkout, at your service counter, or in an easy-to-spot area of your market or pop-up booth. A simple display or sign can let customers know there’s an easy gifting option available.
How to promote gift cards for your small business
Once your gift cards are ready, make sure customers know they’re available. Promote them through the channels you already use to connect with customers and make them easy to find when it’s time to give a gift.
- Share them on social media: Show off your gift card designs and remind followers when and where they can purchase them.
- Mention them in emails: Feature gift cards around holidays, birthdays, graduations, and other gifting occasions.
- Add them to your website: Make gift cards easy to find, especially during popular gifting seasons.
- Promote them in person: Use signs or displays at your store, service counter, market booth, or other selling locations.
- Pair them with relevant products or services: Help customers discover gift cards while they’re already shopping for something related.
Small business gift card FAQs
Yes. Small businesses can create and print their own gift cards or have them professionally printed. You can customize them with your branding, gift amount or offer, and any information customers need to redeem them.
Not necessarily. A compatible POS or gift card system can help manage gift card values and redemptions, but businesses using a simpler setup can assign unique numbers or codes and maintain their own tracking records.
Yes. A physical card can direct recipients to an online gift card or digital redemption experience, giving them something tangible to receive while allowing the business to manage redemption digitally.
Start with a customizable template and add your logo, brand colors, and business information. Choose a card material that works with your printer, or consider professionally printed cards for a polished finish.
Ready to create gift cards for your business?
Offering gift cards doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you print your own or order professionally printed cards, you can create a branded option that works for your business and gives customers an easy way to share what you offer.
Start with the option that makes sense for your business, then customize the design, value, and redemption process to fit the way you sell. As your gift card program grows, you can always adjust your approach along the way.
