Community cards
The smaller card that fills in about two weeks.
A community card is a 6x11 postcard shared by 16 neighborhood businesses at $250 a spot and mailed to 2,500 homes. Same model as the 9x12, smaller ask, faster yes.
By the numbers
One community card, start to finish.
These are the standard numbers members run with. Price your spots to your neighborhood, but $250 is where most start.
- Card size
- 6" x 11"
- Ad spots
- About 16
- Price per spot
- $250
- Homes mailed
- 2,500 with USPS EDDM
- Collected
- $4,000
- Print and mail
- $1,449 All Inclusive
- Profit
- $2,551
- Typical fill time
- About 2 weeks
- Collected
- $4,000
- Print and mail
- −$1,449
- Your profit
- $2,551
Print and mail uses the Community card, 2,500 homes All Inclusive price from print.9x12method.com, postage included. This is math for one card, not a prediction of what you will earn.
How to run one
Five steps to your first community card.
- 1
Pick 2,500 homes
Choose a neighborhood of mostly single-family homes and select its carrier routes on the USPS EDDM map.
- 2
Line up 16 businesses
List the neighborhood businesses: restaurants, salons, dentists, landscapers, auto shops. One per category.
- 3
Pitch the $250 spot
"I’m putting together a community card that goes to 2,500 homes in the neighborhood. Want your business on it?" Collect payment up front.
- 4
Design and send to print
Build the ads with the free AI Ad Designer or the card templates, then send the file to print.
- 5
Mail, report, renew
The card hits 2,500 mailboxes. Share scan results with each advertiser and invite them onto the next card.
Why start here
Why so many members start with a community card.
An easier yes
A $250 spot is a small decision for a neighborhood business owner, so you hear yes faster and hear fewer objections.
Faster first win
Plenty of community cards fill in about two weeks, so you get a finished card and real results sooner.
A path to the 9x12
Every community card advertiser is a warm lead for a $500 spot on a full 9x12 card later.
FAQ
Community card questions
What is a community card?
A community card is a 6x11 shared postcard with about 16 local business ads, mailed to about 2,500 homes in one neighborhood through USPS Every Door Direct Mail. Each business pays about $250 for a spot, one business per category.
How much can you make on a community card?
Sixteen spots at $250 is $4,000. Printing and mailing to 2,500 homes is $1,449 All Inclusive through 9x12 Method Printing, which leaves $2,551 in profit on a sold-out card. Advertisers pay before you print, so you never front the print bill.
Should I start with a community card or a 9x12 card?
If a $500 ask feels big, start with a community card. The $250 spot is an easier yes and cards often fill in about two weeks. If you already know local business owners or have a sales background, the 9x12 card pays about twice as much per card.
Do community cards actually work for advertisers?
They work best for businesses that serve the whole neighborhood, like restaurants with a real coupon, salons, dentists, home services, and auto shops. A trackable QR code or redemption code on each ad shows the business exactly what the card produced.
What businesses buy spots on community cards?
Restaurants, coffee shops, salons, barbers, dentists, chiropractors, med spas, landscapers, cleaners, pest control, auto repair, gyms, and realtors. Anyone who wants neighbors to remember them.
Member results shared here are standout results, not typical results and not a guarantee. Most first cards take about a month of steady outreach. What you earn depends on your market, pricing, effort, and follow-up.