Whether you’re visiting a client, browsing the galleries or headed for that painting class, you should always be prepared for business. Here are ten items to take along that can be carried compactly and mostly inexpensively.

1. Business cards: Your clients – and potential clients – need to know how to reach you. A well-designed business card is a must-have wherever you go. (And these days, it is possible to have them printed very inexpensively, or even do it yourself on your computer’s printer.) Be sure to include your email and website info. (Have you included your exhibit address at The Digital Artist?)

Recommended: Printingforless.com. Excellent quality, low-cost business cards. I have used this company many times for my own printing and printing for my clients, and have always been very satisfied with the results. More about Diamond Art

2. Samples: A small, leave-behind sample can jog someone’s memory when they’re getting ready to assign work, buy artwork, or book shows. Be sure to include your contact information.

Good: 8.5″x11″ sell sheets. They fit in file folders and notebooks. Even better: postcards. Easier to carry a stack of these, they get tacked up on bulletin boards, and you can mail them, too. Print from your own computer, or have them printed. (Again, I’d recommend Printingforless.com.)

3. Portfolio: In addition to your regular portfolio, you may also want to assemble a mini-portfolio that you can take anywhere. Small photo albums with sleeves work very well for this purpose, are inexpensive, and can be found easily in all kinds of stores. Reduce best examples of your work to fit.

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4. Notebook and pen/pencil: Indispensable! Compact, cheap and never needs batteries.

5. Address book: The little black book for artists, designers and artisans. Keep an alphabetized telephone and address list of clients, vendors and all your other contacts. You’ll never be at a loss when you’re on the road and need to get in touch.

6. Sales receipts: This is a “think positive” item! If you’re painting outdoors, and someone wants to buy the piece you’ve just completed, you’ll be able to give a sales receipt along with the artwork.

Best: sales books with NCR (no carbon required) pages, so you’ll have a duplicate.

7. Calculator: Be sure to get the right price on that sales slip – especially if you need to add sales tax.

Best: solar powered, credit card sized calculator with basic functions. Light, small, cheap and never needs batteries.

8. Envelopes and stamps: When you have spare moments, write out those short notes you’ve been meaning to send to clients and potential clients, using paper from your notebook. Hand-written notes are rare in these days of computers and email, so your note will be noticed and remembered.

9. Slides: Especially useful when visiting galleries. Although you’d never leave slides when not asked, or pester people with whom you do not have an appointment, you may get an unexpected opportunity to show your work. So, if anyone asks, have 10 to 20 slides available to show.

Good: plastic slide box just large enough to hold the slides and fit in a pocket. Even better: small slide pages that hold 6 – 10 slides, and can be placed on a light table. Cut it down from a larger slide page if necessaary.

10. Cell phone: While this is quite a bit more expensive then the other items on this list, I include it for its sheer usefulness in conducting business. Last minute schedule changes, requests for information and a lot of other work can be accommodated easily. On a budget idea: Get a basic cell phone that can be recharged with more minutes of use, rather than a monthly contract plan. Although the minutes are a bit more expensive, your per-month cost can be lower – as long as you’re not a chatterbox!