How to Write The Executive Summary Section of a Business Plan

August 26, 2010 by Frank Goley, Business Consultant

Write the Executive Summary Last

The Executive Summary should be written last. Why? Because it organizes and summarizes the entire Business Plan. You cannot achieve this effectively until all other sections of the Business Plan are completed. You should develop two types or renditions of the Executive Summary for your Business Plan. A short version which is 2-3 pages and a longer version that is 5-7 pages long. The Executive Summary contains the Company Statement, Visions and Mission, the Purpose of the Business Plan and a short summary of each section of your Business Plan, along with a Financial / Profitability Section. You can also provide the key strategic competitive success areas of your Marketing Plan.

The Executive Summary is a Mini Business Plan

The Executive Summary (short version) is part of your Business Plan, giving the reader a quick overview of the important facts contained in your Business Plan. The Executive Summary (short and long versions) can also operate as a stand-alone document to be used to generate interest in your business opportunity or venture, i.e. to be sent to a funding source to generate and gauge their initial interest. An Executive Summary can accompany an Investment Overview to provide more details to a venture capitalist about your particular business opportunity.

Brevity and Inclusiveness are both Key

Brevity, yet completeness and inclusiveness, is key when writing your Executive Summary. It should be concise yet have adequate detail about your Business Plan. This can be difficult to achieve if you attempt to write it prior to completing all the sections of your Business Plan.

An Example Format of an Executive Summary

This is an example of the different sections that an Executive Summary can contain. Adjust for long or short versions and for your intended audience.

1. Company Information

2. Business Plan Purpose & Objectives

3. Company Goals & Vision

4. Company Mission Statement

5. Company Description

6. Company Purpose

7. Company Situation

8. Founders, Management & Principals Capabilities

9. Products & Services

10. The Competition

11. Keys to Success

12. Finance

13. Growth & Expansion Goals

14. Sales Forecast

15. Return on Equity / Return on Investment

Posted in Business Planning.

2 comments on “How to Write The Executive Summary Section of a Business Plan”

Ryan_2 says:

August 26, 2010 at 12:32 pm

Even though it feels comfortable sticking with what we know—true innovation and market success usually comes from what we don’t know
http://bit.ly/akWE09

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Frank Goley, Business Consultant for ABC Business Consulting says:

August 26, 2010 at 1:28 pm

Thanks Ryan for the comment. I agree. What we don’t know in business is what usually propels us to success. Therefore, business owners, leaders and executives who fail to no longer believe they can learn something new each day in business, are those who fail to sustain true innovation, market penetration and business success.

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