Is Leaving a Business Card Soliciting? (Here’s The Truth!)

Leaving a business card behind – is it harmless advertising or pushy soliciting?

This common practice toes the line between marketing and intrusive sales tactics.

With care and compliance with regulations, cards can inform without aggressive soliciting.

Read on to see how to share your contact info without crossing ethical boundaries.

Key Takeaways for Leaving Business Cards

Is Leaving a Business Card Soliciting?

Leaving a business card is generally not considered soliciting, as long as the card is left in a public place where people can choose to pick it up.

Simply making a business card available does not actively solicit or impose on anyone, so it falls within appropriate business networking behavior.

Issue	Explanation
Trespassing	Leaving a business card on private property without permission could potentially be considered trespassing.
Littering	Leaving cards in public places may violate littering laws if not disposed of properly.
Privacy	Leaving cards at someone’s home without their consent could violate privacy laws.
Harassment	Repeatedly leaving cards after being asked to stop could potentially constitute harassment.
Zoning	There may be solicitation zoning laws prohibiting salespeople from canvassing neighborhoods.

5 Reasons Why Business Cards May Be Considered Soliciting

While business cards don’t seem as intrusive as a door-to-door sales pitch, some argue they still constitute soliciting in certain contexts.

Reasons cards could be seen this way include:

• Residential mailboxes – Placing unsolicited cards directly in personal mailboxes violates USPS regulations.
• On vehicles – Leaving a card under a windshield wiper or tucked by a car door is littering at best, and could damage vehicles.
• Homes with “No Soliciting” signs – Ignoring posted signs and leaving a card anyway disrespects the resident’s explicitly stated wishes.
• Private offices – Slipping a card onto the desk of someone you don’t know, without their permission, is invasive and inappropriate.
• Restroom stalls – Never distribute cards in restrooms, which will almost always be unwanted and off-putting for the recipient.

4 Reasons Why Business Cards May Not Be Soliciting

However, there are also compelling reasons business cards may not be true soliciting in some contexts:

• Trade shows or industry events – These events exist specifically for networking and promotion. Leaving cards with interested attendees is expected and welcomed.
• Places of business – It’s generally fine to leave cards promoting your business with other local businesses, such as retailers, restaurants, etc. But ask first or look for “No Soliciting” signs.
• Professional offices – Doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc. often appreciate cards for referrals. But again, ask first and respect signs or policies against solicitations.
• Personal recommendations – If you receive a product or service you truly appreciate, leaving a card when you thank the provider is usually welcomed as a referral opportunity.

So while the sales intent exists, passive card advertising is distinct from aggressive, intrusive soliciting of unwitting consumers.

As long as distributed ethically, cards enable consumers to engage businesses at their discretion.

Business Owner Perspectives

To complement the advice in this article, we spoke with two local business owners about their experiences with handing out business cards:

Both owners stressed using common courtesy and reading cues from the other person.

As Laura put it, “It’s not hard to get a sense of whether someone wants your card or not.”

James agreed, saying “I’ll usually only offer my card once in networking settings. If they want it, great. If not, pushing further starts feeling solicit.”

Laws and Regulations Related to Business Card Distribution

Whether or not leaving business cards violates solicitation laws depends on the jurisdiction.

Local municipal codes often govern soliciting practices, so definitions vary. However, some general regulations apply:

• Federal laws like the CAN-SPAM Act prohibit unsolicited electronic communications and specify opt-out requirements.
• Putting content directly into mailboxes, including cards, typically violates federal USPS regulations.
• Local solicitation laws may require permits, limit hours, or prohibit leaving solicitation material on private property without explicit permission.
• Public areas like sidewalks are more flexible but may have restrictions on where and when soliciting or leaving materials is allowed.

Essentially, any unsolicited content left on private property risks violating local solicitation laws.

Familiarity with the regulations in your area is key to avoiding illegal soliciting accusations.

Best Practices for Appropriately Leaving Business Cards

While context matters, you can take steps to avoid invasive soliciting when giving out cards:

• Ask first or use designated areas. Don’t assume it’s ok to leave cards just anywhere.
• Provide useful contact information, not just sales pitches. Recipients appreciate learning more about your business.
• Be aware of and respect any posted signage against soliciting, peddling, canvassing, etc.
• Be sensitive to the location and preferences of potential recipients.
• Find the right balance between marketing your business and avoiding disruptive soliciting.

No approach can guarantee avoiding the perception of soliciting by all recipients.

Do	Don’t
Ask permission first	Leave cards on cars/homes without consent
Provide cards when relevant to a conversation	Hand out cards in no-solicitation zones
Leave cards at trade shows/networking events	Litter public places with unwanted cards
Follow up after making a connection	Be pushy or continue contacting someone who has said no
Discard responsibly if the recipient declines	Assume leaving a card obligates someone to contact you

However, common sense, respect, and compliance with regulations will minimize this risk while still allowing you to ethically promote your business.

Conclusion

The laws surrounding solicitation can vary significantly by state, county, and city. Before leaving cards in any new area, be sure to research all applicable regulations.

Many municipalities post their solicitation codes and permits online. However, don’t just rely on a web search – contact your local county clerk, chamber of commerce, or government office to verify. Ask questions if anything seems unclear.

Violating solicitation codes carries real penalties – typically fines, but even potential misdemeanor charges in some cases. Avoid just assuming “it’s probably fine” without doing your homework.

Only distribute business cards once you fully understand the local rules and have secured any required permits. Ignorance of the law is no excuse to commit a violation that damages your business’ reputation.

Protect yourself by getting the facts straight from the source. A small investment of time in understanding regulations now prevents major headaches down the road.

Related Posts:

1. Is It Illegal to Leave Business Cards in Stores
2. Is It Legal to Put Business Cards in Mailboxes
3. Places to Leave Business Cards

FAQs On Is Leaving a Business Card Soliciting?