I'm making business cards? What to choose for job title?

Question

I have started my LLC company for real estate and am wondering for the business cards what should i use for a job title or should I not use a job title as a real estate investor on my business cards.

Thanks.

-Jay

Account Closed · Answer

A business card is not much more than a piece of paper. People can have functional titles (head gardner) even if the company's legal titles are not used (CEO, President, Secretary).

Be very careful about one thing. The LLC must be operated correctly. Similar for an Inc set up. The state will have specific rules for what needs to exist. For an LLC the minimum many times is a Managing Member. Someone must legally be in that role.

If you claim to be an officer of a company and the company is an LLC then it is not legally correct. The LLC has members and a managing member.

If you fail to operate the company correctly when it comes to a board or other requirements the court will set aside the company in a lawsuit. Why go to the trouble to set up an entity when the court will not recognize it because you failed to follow the procedures clearly set out in the state when the entity is registered? You do not get liability protection when you do not follow the rules even if you paid the filing fee.

Stick to titles that represent your role or you legal title if you want people to know your authority. If you want something cute to grab people's attention that is fine (head cupcake maker). Business cards are more about advertising and the transfer of contact details. You do not need a title on a card. When it is obvious that you are a one man company saying you are the President just means there was no one else to take the role.

Property manager, head of acquisitions, maintenance chief, office business manager are all titles that mean something yet say nothing about the legal authority in the company.

In some situations you will want a card that gives little away. In other cases you want a neon card that you will leave with people letting them know you want to do deals. Assume you would have two cards and you can decide on the spot which one should be used.

John Corey

Joshua Davis · Answer

For acquisition and flipping, "President" sounds important and official.  For rentals, I agree with "Property Manager".

How about CEO, I have seen this used by single person corporations.  To use the title CEO does there actually have to be an executive board?  Is it ok to use CEO for single person or small corporations for which there is actually not an executive board.

As an example, I know Richard C. Davis of Trademark Properties goes by "President & CEO".  I don't think there is an exutive board.

Feedback?

JGD

Brian Ristola · Answer

If you do a couple different things, then have a couple different cards.  They are cheap enough.

There has been a trend for folks to make business cards with their contact information to give out to aquaintances.  I have seen this among retirees.  You can do that.

Have a clear font, and skip the bad clipart...you'll be taken more seriously.

Michael Rossi · Answer

Jay,

I think that depends on what business you are in.  If you're a landlord, then I would list your title as property manager.  If you're a flipper, then I Buy Houses would be fine.

Mike

N/A N/A · Answer

Great info guys. Thanks a bunch.

:)

Jon Holdman · Answer

I though "We Buy Houses" was the normal job title for this business.

Jon

Account Closed · Answer

Most people want something that sounds important.

Some want a title that makes it clear that there is a higher authority. The ability to tell the tenant or the seller that you have to check with the boss before deciding.

Many people have no title on the card. Just a company name and a their name.

What matters most is how you act and what you say.

A few folks I know refuse to have cards. They trade mobile numbers, they collect an email address or they write it down based on the situation. Normally these people are the most confident in their deal making ability and they are not doing lots of marketing. They have lots of deal flow.

John Corey

I'm making business cards? What to choose for job title?

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