Ten of the Best Affordable Products for Entrepreneurs

May 6, 2025 by Reylon Ellis

As a local business ourselves, we understand the importance of marketing as a small business. Here are 10 of the most affordable products for marketing and brand awareness.

Affordable Promotional Products From Midwest Custom Print

To Midwest Custom Print, every order isn’t a number or another sale to us. Each one is a new branding strategy for local businesses and entrepreneurs here in Chicago. A local print shop can be a marketing or awareness campaign’s ace in the hole when it comes to any budget, as well as results with potential customers. Based on our orders and the neighbors we have helped, here are 10 of the most affordable printing services that we offer and recommend to new business owners.

Graphic Design Services

If you are not that much of a graphic designer on hand, then it helps to at least contract someone who is or has experience in it for your small business as logos, branding, and other design-orientated elements are the language that businesses speak to potential customers. While Midwest Custom Print offers affordable in-house design services that help format custom designs and artwork for the best outcome on custom products. Our 20-point inspection of all art work ensures that image formats are correct and resolution is optimized.

Custom Business Cards

Not only is a business card one of the most affordable custom print products, it’s also one of the most important ones an entrepreneur or anyone with a job can have. Business cards go beyond a promotional product as one of the first impressions of entrepreneurs and their businesses. Networking courses at universities still heavily recommend carrying around a card today as they remain a regular part of the business world despite it going mostly digital.

Custom Flyers

Flyers are one of the most reliable ways of promoting a business or event on a local level and a really affordable way to do so since it’s essentially just simple printing on paper stock. Even small town businesses utilize the simple marketing power of flyers at shops, parks, and vehicles.

Retractable Custom Banner

For storefronts and office locations, big signs or ones with lights may be out of the budget. Custom banners offer all the visibility that a fancy sign would as well as an affordable cost and mobility for appearances at trade shows. Retractable banner stands also help custom banners remain secure.

Custom Memo Pads

This is another personal, affordable custom print item like a business card that can go a long way for an entrepreneur or business. Custom memo pads and stationary help create a uniform look among all the written messages and communication among employees and team members –some may even go to clients. There is also a study that suggests custom memo pads help increase productivity with brand motivation.

Custom Stickers

Stickers are a form of branding or marketing that can go anywhere. At the same time, entrepreneurs have several affordable options when it comes to sticker materials. Custom stickers can be used in promotions and daily operations as labels. Stickers remain one of the most popular custom print products overall behind shirts.

Custom Brochures

Similar to custom flyers, brochures are a nice affordable option because it’s simple printing. Lots of businesses use a brochure to potential customers as not just a printed marketing pitch about the products and services, but also a knowledgeable question and answer booklet. While a new customer’s attention may be caught by a more brief custom print product, it’s usually the job of brochures to keep that attention by building additional trust.

Custom Car Magnets

Car magnets are another affordable way for marketing on vehicles, but with a more secure and reliable stick than flyers. The road is home to literally millions of drivers and Chicago sees hundreds of thousands each day –making it the most viable place for catching a bored driver’s attention with an eye-catching car magnet. Car magnets also go beyond promotion as they can be used with business fleets and company cars.

Custom Bookmarks

An extremely affordable, and eco-friendly way with Midwest Custom Print, way of print marketing is with custom bookmarks as promotional items. Even when it seems every book is digitized, people still love turning pages. Bookmarks can also be used around the office as an asset to the business –also unifying the brand as a whole.

Custom Door Hangers

A lesser known affordable product in our catalog are custom printed door hangers. With these, entrepreneurs can engage directly with their communities and neighboring businesses for literal door-to-door marketing or event promotion. These can hang around a front door or a mailbox –both of the front yard essential places that are never missed.

Make Your Entrepreneurial Journey Known With Midwest Custom Print

This only scratches the surface of Midwest Custom Print’s full product catalog – or as we call them, marketing solutions made affordable. If any of the custom products on this list pique your interest, visit their product pages to see all the different size formats, material options, and recommended uses as well as a free quote on your order. Start today with high quality printing and paper options that fit your marketing budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Products And Services

How do I Submit my Custom Design?

Our product pages each have a file submission option for any high resolution PDF file. Designs and images can be submitted for free to see how they will look on any product, so upload your own design today.

What is The Turnaround Time on an Order?

Turnaround times vary on order size and products, but Midwest Custom Print keeps it anywhere from three to five business days. Rush production and 24-hour shipping is available as an option for some orders.

What Kind of Printing Options Are Offered?

Midwest Custom Print offers full color, monochrome, and other quality printing options depending on the product.

What Makes These Products Affordable?

The products on this list are the most affordable custom print products as Midwest Custom Print utilizes a print-on-demand, which means products are only made when an order is placed. This helps reduce what would be regular operating costs. At the same time, the products on this list are low-maintenance with a single use which also makes them cost effective for any entrepreneur or local business.