The company’s approach is so automated that each batch printed of material requires less than 60 seconds of human involvement. Last month, VistaPrint announced a net income of $27 million for its 2007 fiscal year, up 41 percent from 2006, on revenue of $256 million. The company said that it had attracted 3 million new customers during the year and processed an average of 22,000 orders a day in the three months ended June 30.

Other companies have gone after the business-card niche recently, with varying degrees of success. Last year Eastman Kodak introduced Kodak Creative Network, a site aimed at small businesses that let people place photographs on their business cards and stationery. Last week, though, Kodak closed the site, sending customers to the Kodak Gallery (KodakGallery.com), which is aimed at the general consumer.