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How to Write an Executive Summary in 6 Steps

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When you’re starting a business, one of the first things you need to do is write a business plan. Your business plan is like a roadmap for your business, so you can lay out your goals and a concrete plan for how you’ll reach them.

Not only is a business plan essential for any business owner, but it’s also a requirement if you decide to apply for small business funding or find investors. After all, before a bank or individual hands over any money, they’ll want to be sure your company is on solid ground (so they can get their money back).

A business plan consists of several pieces, from an executive summary and market analysis to a financial plan and projections. The executive summary will be the first part of your business plan.

If wondering how to write an executive summary has kept you from completing your business plan, we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll explain what an executive summary is and provide tips for writing your own so your business plan can start strong.

example of a summary business plan

What is an executive summary?

An executive summary is a short, informative, and easy-to-read opening statement to your business plan. Even though it’s just one to two pages, the executive summary is incredibly important.

An executive summary tells the story of what your business does, why an investor might be interested in giving funds to your business, why their investment will be well-spent, and why you do what you do. An executive summary should be informative, but it should also capture a busy reader’s attention.

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Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Why write an executive summary?

Anyone you’re sending your executive summary and business plan to is likely busy—very busy. An entire business plan is long, involved, and deals with a lot of numbers.

Someone busy wants to get an understanding of your business, and they want to do it quickly, which is to say not by diving into a complicated, 80-page business plan. That’s where your executive summary comes in.

An executive summary provides just the opportunity to hook someone’s interest, tell them about your business, and offer a clear selling point as to why they should consider investing in your business.

Your executive summary is your chance to sell your business to potential investors and show them your business is worth not only their money but also their time.

What to include in an executive summary

By its nature, an executive summary is short. You must be able to clearly communicate the idea of your business, what sets you apart, and how you plan to grow into a successful enterprise.

The subsequent sections of your business plan will go into more detail, but your executive summary should include the most critical pieces of your business plan—enough to stand on its own, as it’s often the only thing a prospective investor will read. Here’s what your executive summary should include—consider it an executive summary template from which you can model your own.

1. The hook

The first sentence and paragraph of your executive summary determine whether or not the entire executive summary gets read. That’s why the hook or introduction is so important.

In general, a hook is considered anything that will get a reader’s attention. While an executive summary is a formal business document, you do want your hook to make you stand out from the crowd—without wasting time.

Your hook can be sharing something creative about your company, an interesting fact, or just a very well-crafted description of your business. It’s crucial to craft your hook with the personality of your reader in mind. Give them something that will make your company stand out and be memorable among a sea of other business plans.

Grab their attention in the first paragraph, and you’re much more likely to get your executive summary read, which could lead to an investment.

2. Company description summary

Now that you’ve hooked your reader, it’s time to get into some general information about your business. If an investor is going to give you money, after all, they first need to understand what your company does or what product you sell and who is managing the company.

Your company description should include information about your business, such as when it was formed and where you’re located; your products or services; the founders or executive team, including names and specific roles; and any additional details about the management team or style.

3. Market analysis

Your market analysis in the executive summary is a brief description of what the market for your business looks like. You want to show that you have done your research and proven that there is a need for your specific product or services. Some questions you should answer:

Who are your competitors?

Is there a demand for your products or services?

What advantages do you have that make your business unique in comparison to others?

To reiterate, stick to the highlights of your market analysis in your executive summary. You’ll provide a complete analysis in a separate section of your business plan, but you should be able to communicate enough in the executive summary that a potential investor can gauge whether your business has potential.

4. Products and services

Now that you’ve established a need in the market, it’s time to show just how your business will fill it. This section of your executive summary is all about highlighting the product or service that your company offers. Talk about your current sales, the growth you’ve seen so far, and any other highlights that are a selling point for your company.

This is also a good time to identify what sets your business apart and gives you a competitive advantage. After all, it’s unlikely that your business is the first of its kind. Highlight what you do better than the competition and why potential customers will choose your product or service over the other options on the market.

5. Financial information and projections

In this section of your executive summary, you want to give the reader an overview of your current business financials. Again, you’ll go more in-depth into this section later in your business plan, so just provide some highlights. Include your current sales and profits (if you have any), as well as what funding you’re hoping to acquire and how this will affect your financials in the next few years.

This is also where you can explain what funding, if any, you’ve received in the past. If you paid back your loan on time, this is an especially bright selling point for potential lenders.

6. Future plans

While asking for what funding you need is essential, you’ve also got to make clear what you’re going to use that funding for. If you’re asking for money, you want the person to know you have a plan to put those funds to good use.

Are you hoping to open another location, expand your product line, invest in your marketing efforts? This final section of your executive summary should detail where you want your business to go in the future, as well as drive home how funding can help you get there.

Tips for writing an executive summary

Even if you include each part of a good executive summary, you might not get noticed. What is written can be just as important as how it’s written. An executive summary has to strike a delicate balance between formal, personable, confident, and humble.

1. Be concise

An executive summary should include everything that’s in your business plan, just in a much shorter format. Writing a concise executive summary is no easy task and will require many revisions to get to the final draft. And while this is the first section of your executive summary, you’ll want to write it last, after you’ve put together all the other elements.

To choose your most important points and what should be included in the executive summary, go through your business plan, and pull out single-line bullet points. Go back through those bullet points and eliminate everything unnecessary to understanding your business.

Once you have your list of bullet points narrowed down, you can start writing your executive summary. Once it’s written, go back in and remove any unnecessary information. Remember, you should only be including the highlights—you have the rest of your business plan to go into more detail. The shorter and clearer your executive summary is, the more likely someone is to read it.

2. Use bullet points

One simple way to make your executive summary more readable is to use bullet points. If someone is reading quickly or skimming your executive summary, extra whitespace can make the content faster and easier to read.

Short paragraphs, short sentences, and bullet points all make an executive summary easier to skim—which is likely what the reader is doing. If important numbers and convincing stats jump out at the reader, they’re more likely to keep reading.

3. Speak to your audience

When writing your executive summary, be sure to think about who will be reading it; that’s who you’re speaking to. If you can personalize your executive summary to the personality and interests of the person who will read it, you’re more likely to capture their attention.

Personalizing might come in the form of a name in the salutation, sharing details in a specific way you know that person likes and the tone of your writing. An executive summary deals with business, so it will generally have a formal tone. But, different industries may be comfortable with some creativity of language or using shorthand to refer to certain ideas.

Know who you’re speaking to and use the right tone to speak to them. That might be formal and deferential, expert and clipped, informal and personable, or any other appropriate tone. This may also involve writing different versions of your executive summary for different audiences.

4. Play to your strengths

One of the best ways to catch the attention of your reader is to share why your business is unique. What makes your business unique is also what makes your business strong, which can capture a reader’s interest and show them why your business is worth investing in. Be sure to highlight these strengths from the start of your executive summary.

5. Get a test reader

Once you’ve written and edited your executive summary, you need a test reader. While someone in your industry or another business owner can be a great resource, you should also consider finding a test reader with limited knowledge of your business and industry. Your executive summary should be so clear that anyone can understand it, so having a variety of test readers can help identify any confusing language.

If you don’t have access to a test reader, consider using tools such as Hemingway App and Grammarly to ensure you’ve written something that’s easy to read and uses proper grammar.

How long should an executive summary be?

There’s no firm rule on how long an executive summary should be, as it depends on the length of your business plan and the depth of understanding needed by the reader to fully grasp your ask.

That being said, it should be as short and concise as you can get it. In general, an executive summary should be one to two pages in length.

You can fudge the length slightly by adjusting the margin and font size, but don’t forget readability is just as important as length. You want to leave plenty of white space and have a large enough font that the reader is comfortable while reading your executive summary. If your executive summary is hard to read, it’s less likely your reader will take the time to read your business plan.

What to avoid in an executive summary

While the rules for writing a stellar executive summary can be fuzzy, there are a few clear rules for what to avoid in your executive summary.

Your executive summary should avoid:

Focusing on investment. Instead, focus on getting the reader to be interested enough to continue and read your business plan or at least schedule a meeting with you.

Clichés, superlatives, and claims that aren’t backed up by fact. Your executive summary isn’t marketing material. It should be straightforward and clear.

Avoiding the executive summary no-nos is just as important as striking the right tone and getting in the necessary information for your reader.

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The bottom line

While an executive summary is short, it’s challenging to write. Your executive summary condenses your entire introduction, business description, business plan, market analysis, financial projections, and ask into one to two pages. Condensing information down to its most essential form takes time and many drafts. When you’re putting together your business plan’s executive summary, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to write it and to seek the help of friends or colleagues for editing it to perfection.

However, some tools make crafting a business plan, including your executive summary, a simpler process. A business plan template is a great place to start, and business plan software can especially help with the design of your business plan. After all, a well-written executive summary can make all the difference in obtaining funding for your business, so you’ll want all the help you can get.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

On a similar note...

How to Write an Executive Summary

Folder with a light bulb emerging from it. Represents summarizing your business as an executive summary from a larger document.

9 min. read

Updated December 13, 2023

An executive summary isn’t just the beginning of your business plan – it’s your opening act, your first chance to impress potential investors, banks, clients and other stakeholders.

An effective executive summary gives decision-makers critical information about your business instantly.

Creating an executive summary is more than just a writing exercise. It requires careful crafting and strategic thinking, as well as an ability to balance the needs to be both succinct and comprehensive.

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  • What is an executive summary?

The executive summary is a brief introduction and summary of your business plan. It introduces your business, the problem you solve, and what you’re asking from your readers. Anyone should be able to understand your business by simply reading this section of your plan.

While structurally it is the first chapter of your plan—you should write it last. Once you know the details of your business inside and out, you will be better prepared to write this section.

  • Why write an executive summary?

The business plan executive summary provides quick access to critical information from your more detailed business plan.

It is essential for informing anyone outside of your business. Many people—including investors and bankers—will only read your summary. Others will use it to decide if they should read the rest. For you, it is a snapshot of your business to reference when planning or revising your strategy.

Now if you’re writing a business plan solely for internal use you may not need an executive summary. However, some internal plans may necessitate writing an executive summary for assignment—such as for an annual operations plan or a strategic plan .

It takes some effort to do a good summary, so if you don’t have a business use in mind, don’t do it.

  • How long should it be?

Business plan executive summaries should be as short as possible. Your audience has limited time and attention and they want to quickly get the details of your business plan.

Try to keep your executive summary under two pages if possible, although it can be longer if absolutely necessary. If you have a one-page business plan, you can even use that as your executive summary.

What’s your biggest business challenge right now?

  • Executive summary outline

Two pages isn’t a ton of space to capture the full scope of your vision for the business. That means every sentence of your executive summary counts.

You will want to immediately capture the reader’s attention with a compelling introduction. Without getting too lengthy, present who you are as an organization, the problem you are seeking to solve, your skills, and why you are the best entity to solve the problem you’ve outlined.

It’s crucial to establish the need or problem your business is solving in a clear manner, in order to convince your audience that it must be addressed. Following that, recommend the solution and show its value. Be clear and firm in your recommendation, making sure to justify your cause and highlighting key reasons why your organization is the perfect fit for the solution you’re proposing. Finally, a strong conclusion is needed to reiterate the main points and wrap up the executive summary.

What to include in your executive summary

1. business overview.

A one-sentence description that explains what you do, why you do it, and how you do it.

Summarize the problem you’re solving in the market and reference any data that solidifies that there is a need.

3. Solution

Describe your product or service and how it addresses the problem you identified.

4. Target market

Who is your ideal customer? Describe who they are, how they’ll benefit, and why they’re an attainable customer base.

5. Competition

Who are your competitors? List out any primary competition as well as alternatives that your customers may consider. Include key details about their current offerings, promotions, and business strategy.

6. Your team

In your executive summary, outline your organizational structure and current team. List out brief explanations of who you and your team are, your qualifications, and what your function will be within the business. It may be valuable to also highlight any gaps in your team and how you intend to fill them. If you have potential partners or candidates in mind, briefly mention them and expand on their qualifications within your full business plan.

7. Financial summary

Highlight key aspects of your financial plan that address sales, expenses, and profitability. Try to keep these in chart or graph form to ensure the information is easy to consume and resonates visually.

8. Funding requirements

This section is only necessary if you’re seeking out funding or pitching to investors. Be sure to throw out your financing number and reasoning upfront, rather than hiding it later on in your plan. It helps investors understand your position, what you’re asking for, and how you’ll use it.

9. Milestones and traction

Add initial sales, pre-sales, newsletter sign-ups, or anything else that showcases customer interest. Outline what steps you’ve already taken to launch your business, the milestones you’ve hit, and your goals and milestones for the next month, six months, year, etc.

Executive summary vs introduction

A common mistake some people make when starting an executive summary outline is thinking it performs the same function as the introduction to their business plan. In fact, the two serve different purposes and contain different types of information, even though they are both essential.

As we’ve discussed, the executive summary is a high-level overview of the entire business plan. The introduction, by contrast, dives deeper into your business, providing information about the nature of your business, the history of your company, your mission statement, products or services, and the specific problem that your business solves.

The introduction is more detailed, and usually comes right after the executive summary.

On the other hand, the introduction gives investors or lenders – anyone reading your business plan – a sense of why they should continue reading. Think of it more as the space to tell stakeholders why you are speaking to them. An executive summary can also serve this purpose, but the introduction is meant to speak more directly to your target audience, while an executive summary could give a larger audience a general overview of your business.

Tips for writing an effective executive summary

Here are a few best practices to make writing your executive summary easier, and ultimately more effective. 

1. Think of an executive summary as your pitch

The executive summary is like an elevator pitch. You’re selling someone on reading your full plan while quickly summarizing the key points. Readers will expect it to cover certain areas of your business—such as the product, market, and financial highlights, at the very least.

While you need to include what’s necessary, you should also highlight areas that you believe will spark the reader’s interest. Remember, you’re telling the brief but convincing story of your business with this summary. Just be sure that you’re able to back it up with the right details with the rest of your business plan. 

2. Write it last

Even though the executive summary is at the beginning of a finished business plan, many experienced entrepreneurs choose to write it after everything else. In theory, this makes it easier to write since all of the information is already written out and just needs to be condensed into a shorter format. 

Now, if you’ve started with a one-page plan, this process is even easier. Just use your one-page plan as a starting point and add additional details to any sections that need it. You may even find that no changes are necessary.  

3. Keep it short

Ideally, the executive summary is short—usually just a page or two, five at the outside—and highlights the points you’ve made elsewhere in your business plan. Whatever length you land on, just focus on being brief and concise. Keep it as short as you can without missing the essentials. 

4. Keep it simple

Form follows function, so don’t overcomplicate or over-explain things. The best executive summaries are a mixture of short text, broken up with bullets and subheadings, and illustrations, such as a bar chart showing financial highlights. 

Run through a legibility test after writing your summary. Is it easy to skim through? Are the right pieces of information jumping out? If the answer to either of those questions is no, then work back through and try breaking up information or adjusting the formatting.

5. Create an executive summary outline based on importance and strengths

Organize your executive summary outline so that the most important information appears first. While there are specific components to include, there is no set order of appearance. So, use the order to show emphasis.

Lead with what you want to get the most attention, and add the rest by order of importance. For example, you may start with the problem because that can add drama and urgency that tees up the solution you provide.

Additional resources to write a great executive summary

Need more information and guidance to craft a convincing executive summary? Check out these in-depth resources and templates.

Key mistakes to avoid when writing an executive summary

Here are the critical mistakes you should avoid when writing your executive summary.

How to write your executive summary for specific audiences

The executive summary should tell your audience exactly what your business is, what it does, and why it’s worth their time. Here’s how you can take it a step further and fine-tune it for specific people.

How to develop a mission statement

Learn to put a heart behind the business and create an easy-to-understand narrative by writing a mission statement.

Executive Summary FAQ

What is in an executive summary?

The executive summary of a business plan is a brief introduction and summary of your business strategy, operations, and goals.

What is the purpose of an executive summary?

An executive summary is typically written to convince someone to read your more detailed plan. For investors, it may be the only thing they look at when deciding if they’d like to hear your pitch. Loan officers may review it to determine if your business seems financially sound. And partners, mentors, or anyone else may use it to determine if they want to be involved with your business.

How do you start an executive summary?

While there is no required order for an executive summary, it’s often recommended that you lead with the problem you’re solving or the purpose of your business. This will help frame your intent for the reader, and ideally make them more interested in learning more.

How do you write a good executive summary?

A good executive summary is brief, convincing, and easy to read. Focus on keeping things short and concise, only including necessary information. Be sure to lead and highlight anything that is especially interesting or important about your business. And after writing, spend some time reviewing and reformatting to make your summary as attractive to read as possible.

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Content Author: Tim Berry

Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software , a co-founder of Borland International, and a recognized expert in business planning. He has an MBA from Stanford and degrees with honors from the University of Oregon and the University of Notre Dame. Today, Tim dedicates most of his time to blogging, teaching and evangelizing for business planning.

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  • Writing tips
  • Additional resources

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Executive Summary of the Business Plan

How to Write an Executive Summary That Gets Your Business Plan Read

Susan Ward wrote about small businesses for The Balance for 18 years. She has run an IT consulting firm and designed and presented courses on how to promote small businesses.

example of a summary business plan

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An executive summary of a business plan is an overview. Its purpose is to summarize the key points of a document for its readers, saving them time and preparing them for the upcoming content.

Think of the executive summary as an advance organizer for the reader. Above all else, it must be clear and concise. But it also has to entice the reader to read the rest of the business plan .

This is why the executive summary is often called the most important part of the business plan. If it doesn’t capture the reader's attention, the plan will be set aside unread—a disaster if you've written your business plan as part of an attempt to get money to start your new business . (Getting startup money is not the only reason to write a business plan; there are other just-as-important reasons .)

Because it is an overview of the entire plan, it is common to write the executive summary last (and writing it last can make it much easier).

What Information Goes in an Executive Summary?

The information you need to include varies somewhat depending on whether your business is a startup or an established business.

For a startup business typically one of the main goals of the business plan is to convince banks, angel investors , or venture capitalists to invest in your business by providing startup capital in the form of debt or equity financing .

In order to do so you will have to provide a solid case for your business idea which makes your executive summary all the more important. A typical executive summary for a startup company includes the following sections:

  • The business opportunity. Describe the need or the opportunity.
  • Taking advantage of the opportunity. Explain how will your business will serve the market.
  • The target market . Describe the customer base you will be targeting.
  • Business model . Describe your products or services and and what will make them appealing to the target market.
  • Marketing and sales strategy . Briefly outline your plans for marketing your products and services.
  • The competition. Describe your competition and your strategy for getting market share. What is your competitive advantage, e.g. what will you offer to customers that your competitors cannot?
  • Financial analysis. Summarize the financial plan including projections for at least the next three years.
  • Owners/Staff. Describe the owners and the key staff members and the expertise they bring to the venture.
  • Implementation plan. Outline the schedule for taking your business from the planning stage to opening your doors.

For established businesses the executive summary typically includes information about achievements, growth plans , etc. A typical executive summary outline for an established business includes:

  • Mission Statement . Articulates the purpose of your business. In a few sentences describe what your company does and your core values and business philosophy.
  • Company Information. Give a brief history of your company —d escribe your products or services, when and where it was formed, who the owners and key employees are, statistics such as the number of employees, business locations, etc.
  • Business Highlights. Describe the evolution of the businesshow it has grown, including year-over-year revenue increases, profitability, increases in market share, number of customers, etc.
  • Financial Summary. If the purpose of updating the business plan is to seek additional financing for expansion, then give a brief financial summary.
  • Future goals. Describe your goals for the business . If you are seeking financing explain how additional funding will be used to expand the business or otherwise increase profits.

How Do I Write an Executive Summary of a Business Plan?

Start by following the list above and writing one to two sentences about each topic (depending on whether your business is a startup or an established business). No more! 

The Easy Way of Writing One

Having trouble getting started? The easiest way of writing the executive summary is to review your business plan and take a summary sentence or two from each of the business plan sections you’ve already written.

If you compare the list above to the sections outlined in the  Business Plan Outline , you’ll see that this could work very well.

Then finish your business plan’s executive summary with a clinching closing sentence or two that answers the reader’s question, “Why is this a winning business?”

For example, an executive summary for a pet-sitting business might conclude: “The loving on-site professional care that Pet Grandma will provide is sure to appeal to both cat and dog owners throughout the West Vancouver area.”

(You may find it useful to read the entire Pet Grandma  executive summary example  before you write your own.)

Tips for Writing the Business Plan’s Executive Summary

  • Focus on providing a summary.  The business plan itself will provide the details and whether bank managers or investors, the readers of your plan don’t want to have their time wasted.
  • Keep your language strong and positive.  Don’t weaken your executive summary with weak language. Instead of writing, “Dogstar Industries might be in an excellent position to win government contracts,” write “Dogstar Industries will be in an excellent position.”
  • Keep it short–no more than two pages long . Resist the temptation to pad your business plan’s executive summary with details (or pleas). The job of the executive summary is to present the facts and entice your reader to read the rest of the business plan, not tell him everything.
  • Polish your executive summary.  Read it aloud. Does it flow or does it sound choppy? Is it clear and succinct? Once it sounds good to you, have someone else who knows nothing about your business read it and make suggestions for improvement.
  • Tailor it to your audience.  If the purpose of your business plan is to  entice investors , for instance, your executive summary should focus on the opportunity your business provides investors and why the opportunity is special. If the purpose of your business plan is to get a small business loan , focus on highlighting what traditional lenders want to see, such as management's experience in the industry and the fact that you have both collateral and strategies in place to minimize the lender's risk.
  • Put yourself in your readers’ place. And read your executive summary again. Does it generate interest or excitement in the reader? If not, why? Also try giving it to a friend or relative to read, who is not engaged in the business. If you've done a good job on the executive summary, an impartial third party should be able to understand it.

Remember, the executive summary will be the first thing your readers read. If it's poorly written, it will also be the last thing they read, as they set the rest of your business plan aside unread.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. " Business Plan Guidelines ," Page 2.

Corporate Finance Institute. " Executive Summary ."

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. " How to Prepare Your Business Plan ," Page 167.

Iowa State University. " Types and Sources of Financing for Start-up Businesses ."

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Write Your Business Plan ."

Clute Institute. " Using Business Plans for Teaching Entrepreneurship ," Page 733.

24 of My Favorite Sample Business Plans & Examples For Your Inspiration

Clifford Chi

Published: February 06, 2024

Free Business Plan Template

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I believe that reading sample business plans is essential when writing your own.

sample business plans and examples

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As you explore business plan examples from real companies and brands, it’s easier for you to learn how to write a good one.

But what does a good business plan look like? And how do you write one that’s both viable and convincing. I’ll walk you through the ideal business plan format along with some examples to help you get started.

Table of Contents

Business Plan Format

Business plan types, sample business plan templates, top business plan examples.

Ask any successful sports coach how they win so many games, and they’ll tell you they have a unique plan for every single game. To me, the same logic applies to business.

If you want to build a thriving company that can pull ahead of the competition, you need to prepare for battle before breaking into a market.

Business plans guide you along the rocky journey of growing a company. And if your business plan is compelling enough, it can also convince investors to give you funding.

With so much at stake, I’m sure you’re wondering where to begin.

example of a summary business plan

  • Outline your idea.
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  • Get to work!

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Fill out the form to get your free template.

First, you’ll want to nail down your formatting. Most business plans include the following sections.

1. Executive Summary

I’d say the executive summary is the most important section of the entire business plan. 

Why? Essentially, it's the overview or introduction, written in a way to grab readers' attention and guide them through the rest of the business plan. This is important, because a business plan can be dozens or hundreds of pages long.

There are two main elements I’d recommend including in your executive summary:

Company Description

This is the perfect space to highlight your company’s mission statement and goals, a brief overview of your history and leadership, and your top accomplishments as a business.

Tell potential investors who you are and why what you do matters. Naturally, they’re going to want to know who they’re getting into business with up front, and this is a great opportunity to showcase your impact.

Need some extra help firming up those business goals? Check out HubSpot Academy’s free course to help you set goals that matter — I’d highly recommend it

Products and Services

To piggyback off of the company description, be sure to incorporate an overview of your offerings. This doesn’t have to be extensive — just another chance to introduce your industry and overall purpose as a business.

In addition to the items above, I recommend including some information about your financial projections and competitive advantage here too.:

Keep in mind you'll cover many of these topics in more detail later on in the business plan. So, keep the executive summary clear and brief, and only include the most important takeaways.

Executive Summary Business Plan Examples

This example was created with HubSpot’s business plan template:

business plan sample: Executive Summary Example

This executive summary is so good to me because it tells potential investors a short story while still covering all of the most important details.

Business plans examples: Executive Summary

Image Source

Tips for Writing Your Executive Summary

  • Start with a strong introduction of your company, showcase your mission and impact, and outline the products and services you provide.
  • Clearly define a problem, and explain how your product solves that problem, and show why the market needs your business.
  • Be sure to highlight your value proposition, market opportunity, and growth potential.
  • Keep it concise and support ideas with data.
  • Customize your summary to your audience. For example, emphasize finances and return on investment for venture capitalists.

Check out our tips for writing an effective executive summary for more guidance.

2. Market Opportunity

This is where you'll detail the opportunity in the market.

The main question I’d ask myself here is this: Where is the gap in the current industry, and how will my product fill that gap?

More specifically, here’s what I’d include in this section:

  • The size of the market
  • Current or potential market share
  • Trends in the industry and consumer behavior
  • Where the gap is
  • What caused the gap
  • How you intend to fill it

To get a thorough understanding of the market opportunity, you'll want to conduct a TAM, SAM, and SOM analysis and perform market research on your industry.

You may also benefit from creating a SWOT analysis to get some of the insights for this section.

Market Opportunity Business Plan Example

I like this example because it uses critical data to underline the size of the potential market and what part of that market this service hopes to capture.

Business plans examples: Market Opportunity

Tips for Writing Your Market Opportunity Section

  • Focus on demand and potential for growth.
  • Use market research, surveys, and industry trend data to support your market forecast and projections.
  • Add a review of regulation shifts, tech advances, and consumer behavior changes.
  • Refer to reliable sources.
  • Showcase how your business can make the most of this opportunity.

3. Competitive Landscape

Since we’re already speaking of market share, you'll also need to create a section that shares details on who the top competitors are.

After all, your customers likely have more than one brand to choose from, and you'll want to understand exactly why they might choose one over another.

My favorite part of performing a competitive analysis is that it can help you uncover:

  • Industry trends that other brands may not be utilizing
  • Strengths in your competition that may be obstacles to handle
  • Weaknesses in your competition that may help you develop selling points
  • The unique proposition you bring to the market that may resonate with customers

Competitive Landscape Business Plan Example

I like how the competitive landscape section of this business plan below shows a clear outline of who the top competitors are.

Business plans examples: Competitive Landscape

It also highlights specific industry knowledge and the importance of location, which shows useful experience in this specific industry. 

This can help build trust in your ability to execute your business plan.

Tips for Writing Your Competitive Landscape

  • Complete in-depth research, then emphasize your most important findings.
  • Compare your unique selling proposition (USP) to your direct and indirect competitors.
  • Show a clear and realistic plan for product and brand differentiation.
  • Look for specific advantages and barriers in the competitive landscape. Then, highlight how that information could impact your business.
  • Outline growth opportunities from a competitive perspective.
  • Add customer feedback and insights to support your competitive analysis.

4. Target Audience

Use this section to describe who your customer segments are in detail. What is the demographic and psychographic information of your audience?

If your immediate answer is "everyone," you'll need to dig deeper. Here are some questions I’d ask myself here:

  • What demographics will most likely need/buy your product or service?
  • What are the psychographics of this audience? (Desires, triggering events, etc.)
  • Why are your offerings valuable to them?

I’d also recommend building a buyer persona to get in the mindset of your ideal customers and be clear on why you're targeting them.

Target Audience Business Plan Example

I like the example below because it uses in-depth research to draw conclusions about audience priorities. It also analyzes how to create the right content for this audience.

Business plans examples: Target Audience

Tips for Writing Your Target Audience Section

  • Include details on the size and growth potential of your target audience.
  • Figure out and refine the pain points for your target audience , then show why your product is a useful solution.
  • Describe your targeted customer acquisition strategy in detail.
  • Share anticipated challenges your business may face in acquiring customers and how you plan to address them.
  • Add case studies, testimonials, and other data to support your target audience ideas.
  • Remember to consider niche audiences and segments of your target audience in your business plan.

5. Marketing Strategy

Here, you'll discuss how you'll acquire new customers with your marketing strategy. I’d suggest including information:

  • Your brand positioning vision and how you'll cultivate it
  • The goal targets you aim to achieve
  • The metrics you'll use to measure success
  • The channels and distribution tactics you'll use

I think it’s helpful to have a marketing plan built out in advance to make this part of your business plan easier.

Marketing Strategy Business Plan Example

This business plan example includes the marketing strategy for the town of Gawler.

In my opinion, it really works because it offers a comprehensive picture of how they plan to use digital marketing to promote the community.

Business plans examples: Marketing Strategy

Tips for Writing Your Marketing Strategy

  • Include a section about how you believe your brand vision will appeal to customers.
  • Add the budget and resources you'll need to put your plan in place.
  • Outline strategies for specific marketing segments.
  • Connect strategies to earlier sections like target audience and competitive analysis.
  • Review how your marketing strategy will scale with the growth of your business.
  • Cover a range of channels and tactics to highlight your ability to adapt your plan in the face of change.

6. Key Features and Benefits

At some point in your business plan, you'll need to review the key features and benefits of your products and/or services.

Laying these out can give readers an idea of how you're positioning yourself in the market and the messaging you're likely to use. It can even help them gain better insight into your business model.

Key Features and Benefits Business Plan Example

In my opinion, the example below does a great job outlining products and services for this business, along with why these qualities will attract the audience.

Business plans examples: Key Features and Benefits

Tips for Writing Your Key Features and Benefits

  • Emphasize why and how your product or service offers value to customers.
  • Use metrics and testimonials to support the ideas in this section.
  • Talk about how your products and services have the potential to scale.
  • Think about including a product roadmap.
  • Focus on customer needs, and how the features and benefits you are sharing meet those needs.
  • Offer proof of concept for your ideas, like case studies or pilot program feedback.
  • Proofread this section carefully, and remove any jargon or complex language.

7. Pricing and Revenue

This is where you'll discuss your cost structure and various revenue streams. Your pricing strategy must be solid enough to turn a profit while staying competitive in the industry. 

For this reason, here’s what I’d might outline in this section:

  • The specific pricing breakdowns per product or service
  • Why your pricing is higher or lower than your competition's
  • (If higher) Why customers would be willing to pay more
  • (If lower) How you're able to offer your products or services at a lower cost
  • When you expect to break even, what margins do you expect, etc?

Pricing and Revenue Business Plan Example

I like how this business plan example begins with an overview of the business revenue model, then shows proposed pricing for key products.

Business plans examples: Pricing and Revenue

Tips for Writing Your Pricing and Revenue Section

  • Get specific about your pricing strategy. Specifically, how you connect that strategy to customer needs and product value.
  • If you are asking a premium price, share unique features or innovations that justify that price point.
  • Show how you plan to communicate pricing to customers.
  • Create an overview of every revenue stream for your business and how each stream adds to your business model as a whole.
  • Share plans to develop new revenue streams in the future.
  • Show how and whether pricing will vary by customer segment and how pricing aligns with marketing strategies.
  • Restate your value proposition and explain how it aligns with your revenue model.

8. Financials

To me, this section is particularly informative for investors and leadership teams to figure out funding strategies, investment opportunities, and more.

 According to Forbes , you'll want to include three main things:

  • Profit/Loss Statement - This answers the question of whether your business is currently profitable.
  • Cash Flow Statement - This details exactly how much cash is incoming and outgoing to give insight into how much cash a business has on hand.
  • Balance Sheet - This outlines assets, liabilities, and equity, which gives insight into how much a business is worth.

While some business plans might include more or less information, these are the key details I’d include in this section.

Financials Business Plan Example

This balance sheet is a great example of level of detail you’ll need to include in the financials section of your business plan.

Business plans examples: Financials

Tips for Writing Your Financials Section

  • Growth potential is important in this section too. Using your data, create a forecast of financial performance in the next three to five years.
  • Include any data that supports your projections to assure investors of the credibility of your proposal.
  • Add a break-even analysis to show that your business plan is financially practical. This information can also help you pivot quickly as your business grows.
  • Consider adding a section that reviews potential risks and how sensitive your plan is to changes in the market.
  • Triple-check all financial information in your plan for accuracy.
  • Show how any proposed funding needs align with your plans for growth.

As you create your business plan, keep in mind that each of these sections will be formatted differently. Some may be in paragraph format, while others could be charts or graphs.

The formats above apply to most types of business plans. That said, the format and structure of your plan will vary by your goals for that plan. 

So, I’ve added a quick review of different business plan types. For a more detailed overview, check out this post .

1. Startups

Startup business plans are for proposing new business ideas.

If you’re planning to start a small business, preparing a business plan is crucial. The plan should include all the major factors of your business.

You can check out this guide for more detailed business plan inspiration .

2. Feasibility Studies

Feasibility business plans focus on that business's product or service. Feasibility plans are sometimes added to startup business plans. They can also be a new business plan for an already thriving organization.

3. Internal Use

You can use internal business plans to share goals, strategies, or performance updates with stakeholders. In my opinion, internal business plans are useful for alignment and building support for ambitious goals.

4. Strategic Initiatives

Another business plan that's often for sharing internally is a strategic business plan. This plan covers long-term business objectives that might not have been included in the startup business plan.

5. Business Acquisition or Repositioning

When a business is moving forward with an acquisition or repositioning, it may need extra structure and support. These types of business plans expand on a company's acquisition or repositioning strategy.

Growth sometimes just happens as a business continues operations. But more often, a business needs to create a structure with specific targets to meet set goals for expansion. This business plan type can help a business focus on short-term growth goals and align resources with those goals.

Now that you know what's included and how to format a business plan, let's review some of my favorite templates.

1. HubSpot's One-Page Business Plan

Download a free, editable one-page business plan template..

The business plan linked above was created here at HubSpot and is perfect for businesses of any size — no matter how many strategies we still have to develop.

Fields such as Company Description, Required Funding, and Implementation Timeline give this one-page business plan a framework for how to build your brand and what tasks to keep track of as you grow.

Then, as the business matures, you can expand on your original business plan with a new iteration of the above document.

Why I Like It

This one-page business plan is a fantastic choice for the new business owner who doesn’t have the time or resources to draft a full-blown business plan. It includes all the essential sections in an accessible, bullet-point-friendly format. That way, you can get the broad strokes down before honing in on the details.

2. HubSpot's Downloadable Business Plan Template

Sample business plan: hubspot free editable pdf

We also created a business plan template for entrepreneurs.

The template is designed as a guide and checklist for starting your own business. You’ll learn what to include in each section of your business plan and how to do it.

There’s also a list for you to check off when you finish each section of your business plan.

Strong game plans help coaches win games and help businesses rocket to the top of their industries. So if you dedicate the time and effort required to write a workable and convincing business plan, you’ll boost your chances of success and even dominance in your market.

This business plan kit is essential for the budding entrepreneur who needs a more extensive document to share with investors and other stakeholders.

It not only includes sections for your executive summary, product line, market analysis, marketing plan, and sales plan, but it also offers hands-on guidance for filling out those sections.

3. LiveFlow’s Financial Planning Template with built-in automation

Sample Business Plan: LiveFLow

This free template from LiveFlow aims to make it easy for businesses to create a financial plan and track their progress on a monthly basis.

The P&L Budget versus Actual format allows users to track their revenue, cost of sales, operating expenses, operating profit margin, net profit, and more.

The summary dashboard aggregates all of the data put into the financial plan sheet and will automatically update when changes are made.

Instead of wasting hours manually importing your data to your spreadsheet, LiveFlow can also help you to automatically connect your accounting and banking data directly to your spreadsheet, so your numbers are always up-to-date.

With the dashboard, you can view your runway, cash balance, burn rate, gross margins, and other metrics. Having a simple way to track everything in one place will make it easier to complete the financials section of your business plan.

This is a fantastic template to track performance and alignment internally and to create a dependable process for documenting financial information across the business. It’s highly versatile and beginner-friendly.

It’s especially useful if you don’t have an accountant on the team. (I always recommend you do, but for new businesses, having one might not be possible.)

4. ThoughtCo’s Sample Business Plan

sample business plan: ThoughtCo.

One of the more financially oriented sample business plans in this list, BPlan’s free business plan template dedicates many of its pages to your business’s financial plan and financial statements.

After filling this business plan out, your company will truly understand its financial health and the steps you need to take to maintain or improve it.

I absolutely love this business plan template because of its ease-of-use and hands-on instructions (in addition to its finance-centric components). If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing an entire business plan, consider using this template to help you with the process.

6. Harvard Business Review’s "How to Write a Winning Business Plan"

Most sample business plans teach you what to include in your business plan, but this Harvard Business Review article will take your business plan to the next level — it teaches you the why and how behind writing a business plan.

With the guidance of Stanley Rich and Richard Gumpert, co-authors of " Business Plans That Win: Lessons From the MIT Enterprise Forum ", you'll learn how to write a convincing business plan that emphasizes the market demand for your product or service.

You’ll also learn the financial benefits investors can reap from putting money into your venture rather than trying to sell them on how great your product or service is.

This business plan guide focuses less on the individual parts of a business plan, and more on the overarching goal of writing one. For that reason, it’s one of my favorites to supplement any template you choose to use. Harvard Business Review’s guide is instrumental for both new and seasoned business owners.

7. HubSpot’s Complete Guide to Starting a Business

If you’re an entrepreneur, you know writing a business plan is one of the most challenging first steps to starting a business.

Fortunately, with HubSpot's comprehensive guide to starting a business, you'll learn how to map out all the details by understanding what to include in your business plan and why it’s important to include them. The guide also fleshes out an entire sample business plan for you.

If you need further guidance on starting a business, HubSpot's guide can teach you how to make your business legal, choose and register your business name, and fund your business. It will also give small business tax information and includes marketing, sales, and service tips.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of starting a business, in addition to writing your business plan, with a high level of exactitude and detail. So if you’re in the midst of starting your business, this is an excellent guide for you.

It also offers other resources you might need, such as market analysis templates.

8. Panda Doc’s Free Business Plan Template

sample business plan: Panda Doc

PandaDoc’s free business plan template is one of the more detailed and fleshed-out sample business plans on this list. It describes what you should include in each section, so you don't have to come up with everything from scratch.

Once you fill it out, you’ll fully understand your business’ nitty-gritty details and how all of its moving parts should work together to contribute to its success.

This template has two things I love: comprehensiveness and in-depth instructions. Plus, it’s synced with PandaDoc’s e-signature software so that you and other stakeholders can sign it with ease. For that reason, I especially love it for those starting a business with a partner or with a board of directors.

9. Small Business Administration Free Business Plan Template

sample business plan: Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers several free business plan templates that can be used to inspire your own plan.

Before you get started, you can decide what type of business plan you need — a traditional or lean start-up plan.

Then, you can review the format for both of those plans and view examples of what they might look like.

We love both of the SBA’s templates because of their versatility. You can choose between two options and use the existing content in the templates to flesh out your own plan. Plus, if needed, you can get a free business counselor to help you along the way.

I’ve compiled some completed business plan samples to help you get an idea of how to customize a plan for your business.

I chose different types of business plan ideas to expand your imagination. Some are extensive, while others are fairly simple.

Let’s take a look.

1. LiveFlow

business plan example: liveflow

One of the major business expenses is marketing. How you handle your marketing reflects your company’s revenue.

I included this business plan to show you how you can ensure your marketing team is aligned with your overall business plan to get results. The plan also shows you how to track even the smallest metrics of your campaigns, like ROI and payback periods instead of just focusing on big metrics like gross and revenue.

Fintech startup, LiveFlow, allows users to sync real-time data from its accounting services, payment platforms, and banks into custom reports. This eliminates the task of pulling reports together manually, saving teams time and helping automate workflows.

"Using this framework over a traditional marketing plan will help you set a profitable marketing strategy taking things like CAC, LTV, Payback period, and P&L into consideration," explains LiveFlow co-founder, Lasse Kalkar .

When it came to including marketing strategy in its business plan, LiveFlow created a separate marketing profit and loss statement (P&L) to track how well the company was doing with its marketing initiatives.

This is a great approach, allowing businesses to focus on where their marketing dollars are making the most impact. Having this information handy will enable you to build out your business plan’s marketing section with confidence. LiveFlow has shared the template here . You can test it for yourself.

2. Lula Body

Business plan example: Lula body

Sometimes all you need is a solid mission statement and core values to guide you on how to go about everything. You do this by creating a business plan revolving around how to fulfill your statement best.

For example, Patagonia is an eco-friendly company, so their plan discusses how to make the best environmentally friendly products without causing harm.

A good mission statement  should not only resonate with consumers but should also serve as a core value compass for employees as well.

Patagonia has one of the most compelling mission statements I’ve seen:

"Together, let’s prioritise purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home."

It reels you in from the start, and the environmentally friendly theme continues throughout the rest of the statement.

This mission goes on to explain that they are out to "Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to protect nature."

Their mission statement is compelling and detailed, with each section outlining how they will accomplish their goal.

4. Vesta Home Automation

business plan example: Vesta executive summary

This executive summary for a smart home device startup is part of a business plan created by students at Mount Royal University .

While it lacks some of the sleek visuals of the templates above, its executive summary does a great job of demonstrating how invested they are in the business.

Right away, they mention they’ve invested $200,000 into the company already, which shows investors they have skin in the game and aren’t just looking for someone else to foot the bill.

This is the kind of business plan you need when applying for business funds. It clearly illustrates the expected future of the company and how the business has been coming along over the years.

5. NALB Creative Center

business plan examples: nalb creative center

This fictional business plan for an art supply store includes everything one might need in a business plan: an executive summary, a company summary, a list of services, a market analysis summary, and more.

One of its most notable sections is its market analysis summary, which includes an overview of the population growth in the business’ target geographical area, as well as a breakdown of the types of potential customers they expect to welcome at the store. 

This sort of granular insight is essential for understanding and communicating your business’s growth potential. Plus, it lays a strong foundation for creating relevant and useful buyer personas .

It’s essential to keep this information up-to-date as your market and target buyer changes. For that reason, you should carry out market research as often as possible to ensure that you’re targeting the correct audience and sharing accurate information with your investors.

Due to its comprehensiveness, it’s an excellent example to follow if you’re opening a brick-and-mortar store and need to get external funding to start your business .

6. Curriculum Companion Suites (CSS)

business plan examples: curriculum companion suites

If you’re looking for a SaaS business plan example, look no further than this business plan for a fictional educational software company called Curriculum Companion Suites. 

Like the business plan for the NALB Creative Center, it includes plenty of information for prospective investors and other key stakeholders in the business.

One of the most notable features of this business plan is the executive summary, which includes an overview of the product, market, and mission.

The first two are essential for software companies because the product offering is so often at the forefront of the company’s strategy. Without that information being immediately available to investors and executives, then you risk writing an unfocused business plan.

It’s essential to front-load your company’s mission if it explains your "Why?" and this example does just that. In other words, why do you do what you do, and why should stakeholders care? This is an important section to include if you feel that your mission will drive interest in the business and its offerings.

7. Culina Sample Business Plan

sample business plan: Culina

Culina's sample business plan is an excellent example of how to lay out your business plan so that it flows naturally, engages readers, and provides the critical information investors and stakeholders need. 

You can use this template as a guide while you're gathering important information for your own business plan. You'll have a better understanding of the data and research you need to do since Culina’s plan outlines these details so flawlessly for inspiration.

8. Plum Sample Business Plan

Sample business plan: Plum

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5 Steps for Writing an Executive Summary

Table of contents.

example of a summary business plan

Anyone starting a new business must create a business plan that clearly outlines the organization’s details and goals. The executive summary is a crucial element of that business plan.

We’ll explore five steps to writing your business plan’s executive summary, including what to include and avoid. We’ll also point you toward executive summary templates to help you get started. 

What is an executive summary?

New entrepreneurs or business owners typically use a business plan to present their great business idea to potential stakeholders like angel investors . The purpose of the business plan is to attract financing from investors or convince banking executives to get a bank loan for their business . An executive summary is a business plan overview that succinctly highlights its most essential elements. 

It’s not just a general outline; the executive summary might be the only part of your business plan that busy executives and potential investors read. 

“The executive summary of a business plan is designed to capture the reader’s attention and briefly explain your business, the problem you are solving, the target audience, and key financial information,” Ross Kimbarovsky, CEO and founder of Crowdspring, told Business News Daily. “If the executive summary lacks specific information or does not capture the attention of the reader, the rest of the plan might not be read.”

While your executive summary should be engaging and comprehensive, it must also be quick and easy to read. These documents average one to four pages – ideally, under two pages – and should comprise less than 10% of your entire business plan.

Along with an executive summary, a business plan will include your business’s legal structure , the products and services you sell, and a financial plan with sales forecasts .

How do you write an executive summary?

Your executive summary will be unique to your organization and business plan. However, most entrepreneurs and business owners take the following five steps when creating their executive summary.

  • Write your business plan first. The executive summary will briefly cover the most essential topics your business plan covers. For this reason, you should write the entire business plan first, and then create your executive summary. The executive summary should only cover facts and details included in the business plan.
  • Write an engaging introduction. What constitutes “engaging” depends on your audience. For example, if you’re in the tech industry, your introduction may include a surprising tech trend or brief story. The introduction must be relevant to your business and capture your audience’s attention. It is also crucial to identify your business plan’s objective and what the reader can expect to find in the document.
  • Write the executive summary. Go through your business plan and identify critical points to include in your executive summary. Touch on each business plan key point concisely but comprehensively. You may mention your marketing plan , target audience, company description, management team, and more. Readers should be able to understand your business plan without reading the rest of the document. Ideally, the summary will be engaging enough to convince them to finish the document, but they should be able to understand your basic plan from your summary. (We’ll detail what to include in the executive summary in the next section.)
  • Edit and organize your document. Organize your executive summary to flow with your business plan’s contents, placing the most critical components at the beginning. A bulleted list is helpful for drawing attention to your main points. Double-check the document for accuracy and clarity. Remove buzzwords, repetitive information, qualifying words, jargon, passive language and unsupported claims. Verify that your executive summary can act as a standalone document if needed.
  • Seek outside assistance. Since most entrepreneurs aren’t writing experts, have a professional writer or editor look over your document to ensure it flows smoothly and covers the points you’re trying to convey.

What should you include in an executive summary?

Your executive summary is based on your business plan and should include details relevant to your reader. For example, if your business plan’s goal is pitching a business idea to potential investors , you should emphasize your financial requirements and how you will use the funding. 

The type of language you use depends on whether your audience consists of generalists or industry experts.

While executive summary specifics will vary by company, Marius Thauland, business strategist at OMD EMEA, says all executive summaries should include a few critical elements:

  • Target audience
  • Products and services
  • Marketing and sales strategies
  • Competitive analysis
  • Funding and budget allocation for the processes and operations
  • Number of employees to be hired and involved
  • How you’ll implement the business plan 

When synthesizing each section, highlight the details most relevant to your reader. Include any facts and statistics they must know. In your introduction, present pertinent company information and clearly state the business plan’s objective. To pinpoint key messages for your executive summary, ask yourself the following questions: 

  • What do you want the reader to take away from the document? 
  • What do you want to happen after they read it? 

“Put yourself in the business plan reader’s shoes, and think about what you would like to know in the report,” Thauland advised. “Get their attention by making it simple and brief yet still professional. It should also attract them to read the entire document to understand even the minute details.”

If securing financing is your priority, read our reviews of the best business loans to compare options.

What should you avoid in an executive summary?

When writing your executive summary, be aware of the following common mistakes: 

  • Making your executive summary too long. An executive summary longer than two pages will deter some readers. You’re likely dealing with busy executives, and an overlong stretch of text can overwhelm them.
  • Copying and pasting from other executive summary sections. Reusing phrases from other sections and stringing them together without context can seem confusing and sloppy. It’s also off-putting to read the same exact phrase twice within the same document. Instead, summarize your business plan’s central points in new, descriptive language.
  • Too many lists and subheadings in your executive summary. After one – and only one – introductory set of bullets, recap your business plan’s main points in paragraph form without subheadings. Concision and clarity are more important for an executive summary than formatting tricks.
  • Passive or unclear language in your executive summary. You’re taking the reins of your business, and your executive summary should show that. Use active voice in your writing so everyone knows you’re running the show. Be as clear as possible in your language, leaving no questions about what your business will do and how it will get there.
  • Avoid general descriptions in your executive summary. Kimbarovsky said it’s best to avoid generalities in your executive summary. For example, there’s no need to include a line about “your team’s passion for hard work.” This information is a given and will take attention away from your executive summary’s critical details.
  • Don’t use comparisons in your executive summary. Kimbarovsky also advises staying away from comparisons to other businesses in your executive summary. “Don’t say you will be the next Facebook, Uber or Amazon,” said Kimbarovsky. “Amateurs make this comparison to try and show how valuable their company could be. Instead, focus on providing the actual facts that you believe prove you have a strong company. It’s better if the investor gives you this accolade because they see the opportunity.”

When you’re starting a new business, the first people you should hire include a product manager, chief technology officer (CTO) , chief marketing officer and chief financial officer.

Executive summary templates and resources

If you’re writing an executive summary for the first time, online templates can help you outline your document. However, your business is unique, and your executive summary should reflect that. An online template probably won’t cover every detail you’ll need in your executive summary. Experts recommend using templates as general guidelines and tailoring them to fit your business plan and executive summary.

To get you started, here are some popular executive summary template resources:

  • FormSwift. The FormSwift website lets you create and edit documents and gives you access to over 500 templates. It details what an effective executive summary includes and provides a form builder to help you create your executive summary. Fill out a step-by-step questionnaire and export your finished document via PDF or Word.
  • Smartsheet. The Smartsheet cloud-based platform makes planning, managing and reporting on projects easier for teams and organizations. It offers several free downloadable executive summary templates for business plans, startups, proposals, research reports and construction projects.
  • Template.net. The Template.net website provides several free business templates, including nine free executive summary templates that vary by project (e.g., business plan, startup, housing program development, proposal or marketing plan). Print out the templates and fill in your relevant details.
  • TemplateLab. The TemplateLab website is a one-stop shop for new business owners seeking various downloadable templates for analytics, finance, HR, marketing, operations, project management, and time management. You’ll find over 30 free executive summary templates and examples.
  • Vertex42. The Vertex42 website offers Excel templates for executive summaries on budgets, invoices, project management and timesheets, as well as Word templates for legal forms, resumes and letters. This site also provides extensive information on executive summaries and a free executive summary template you can download into Word or Google Docs.

Summing it all up

Your executive summary should preview your business plan in, at most, two pages. Wait until your business plan is complete to write your executive summary, and seek outside help as necessary. A thorough, engaging business plan and executive summary are well worth the time and money you put into them. 

Max Freedman contributed to the reporting and writing in this article. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

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How To Write A Good Business Plan Executive Summary

The executive summary for a business plan is a brief, positive synopsis of the business that goes at the beginning of your business plan. 3 min read updated on February 26, 2023

What Is An Executive Summary?

What is an executive summary for a business plan, and how do you create one? 

An executive summary is a brief, positive synopsis of the business and goes at the beginning of your business plan. An executive summary is normally about one to two pages long, contains two-sentence overviews of each section within the plan, and covers the most important information about the business. 

Ideally, potential  investors will be able to quickly grasp the key elements of your business plan from the executive summary alone. They can then read deeper into areas they are particularly interested in.

Finally, the executive summary should be clear, succinct, and engaging while remaining succinct and professional. A dry executive summary will not entice readers to take an interest in your business.

What Goes into an Executive Summary?

The full content of the executive summary will vary depending on if the business is a startup or an established business. However, there are certain elements common to both.

Every executive summary should include:

  • The name and location of the business.
  • Your company's value proposition, explaining what sets your company apart from your competitors.
  • The marketplace need(s) your company meets, with evidence of that need.
  • How your company's products and/or services meet that need.
  • A description of your competition and the advantages your company has over them.
  • A description of your target market and customer.
  • An overview of your company's management team and how each member contributes to its success.
  • A description of the company's current developmental stage.
  • A financial summary, showing projected sales and profits for the next three years in a way that is both honest and convincing.
  • If you are requesting money from a financial institution, state the specific amount you want. For investors, state the percentage stake in the company you're offering for their financial backing.
  • A summary of major milestones so far and your goals for the future.

Startups, or pre-revenue companies, should also include:

  • A brief overview of your sales and marketing strategy.
  • Your implementation plan, describing how you intend to get the business from planning to opening.

For established businesses, be sure to add:

  • Your  mission statement , which is a brief description of the purpose and values of the company. This helps to attract the right investors who share your common vision.
  • A short history of the company, including the products and/or services it provides and general statistics (number of employees, locations, etc.).
  • An overview of how the business has grown, both revenue and market share.
  • A financial summary.
  • A   business roadmap describing your plans for the company. Investors want to see how you plan to use their money to grow the business.

How To Write A Business Plan Executive Summary

  • Write it after - Write the executive summary after you have completed  the entire business plan .
  • Create a compelling case - Start the executive summary with a compelling case for why you have a great business idea. No matter how good the rest of the plan looks, no one is going to be interested in a bad idea.
  • Keep the tone upbeat, but don't oversell. While you don't need to mention ordinary risks, it's OK to note unusual challenges. However, always be sure to highlight the positives.
  • Write in concise language using layman's terms. Anyone without knowledge of your business should be able to understand your executive summary and recognize the opportunity it presents.
  • Present a clear plan for your business. Do not be ambiguous. Multiple options convey indecision and uncertainty which are turn-offs for potential investors.
  • Conclude with positivity. Your executive summary should end with a few sentences that tell the reader why your business will be successful. Keep the language positive and confident, and avoid unsure words like “maybe” and “possibly.”
  • When you've finished, read it back to yourself aloud. Make changes where sentences sound awkward or don't flow well. Then give it to someone who is unfamiliar with your business to read. Note their feedback.

The executive summary is the most important part of your business plan, but it need not be the hardest to write. If you've written the plan, you've already done most of the work.

Do you want a lawyer to review your business plan?

There are plenty of  examples of executive summaries online to guide you further.

If you need help reviewing your business plan with a legal counsel business plan, you can  post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.

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How to Write an Executive Summary for a Business Plan

How to Write an Executive Summary for a Business Plan

3-minute read

  • 19th November 2023

An executive summary is the part of a business plan that gives an outline of the main plan. So to write an executive summary, we first need to read the business plan carefully and understand its key points. These key points are what we will condense to form the executive summary. It’s important to ensure that the executive summary can stand alone because plenty of users will read only that and not the main business plan. We could say that the business plan is the original TL;DR (too long; didn’t read)!

But first, let’s take a quick look at what goes into a business plan so we can focus on the sections we need for our executive summary.

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a document that sets out a business’s strategy and the means of achieving it. The business plan usually contains the following sections:

How to Write an Executive Summary

The executive summary covers the same headings as the main business plan but not in so much detail. This is where our editing skills come to the fore!

The following six steps explain how to approach writing the executive summary.

Consider the Audience

Who will be using the summary? The business plan might be issued only to a very specific group of people, in which case, their needs are paramount and specialized. If the business plan is going out on wider release, we need to think about what a general reader will want to know.

Check That It Makes Sense on Its Own

Make sure the summary can be read as a stand-alone document for users who won’t read the whole plan.

Use Formatting Effectively

Make good use of formatting, headings, numbering, and bullets to increase clarity and readability.

Keep It Brief

One page (or around ten percent of the total word count for a large document) is great.

Avoid Jargon

Try to avoid jargon and use straightforward language. Readers of the executive summary might not have business backgrounds (for instance, if they are friend and family investors in a small start-up business).

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Proofread the Executive Summary

The executive summary will very likely be the first – and perhaps the only – part of the business plan some people will read, and it must be error-free to make a professional impression.

●  Consider the audience .

●  Ensure that the executive summary can stand alone.

●  Use formatting tools to good advantage.

●  Keep it brief.

●  Keep it simple.

●  Proofread it.

If you’d like an expert to proofread your business plan – or any of your writing – get in touch!

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How to Write an Executive Summary (Example & Template Included)

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Here’s the good news: an executive summary is short. It’s part of a larger document like a business plan, business case or project proposal and, as the name implies, summarizes the longer report.

Here’s the bad news: it’s a critical document that can be challenging to write because an executive summary serves several important purposes. On one hand, executive summaries are used to outline each section of your business plan, an investment proposal or project proposal. On the other hand, they’re used to introduce your business or project to investors and other stakeholders, so they must be persuasive to spark their interest.

Writing an Executive Summary

The pressure of writing an executive summary comes from the fact that everyone will pay attention to it, as it sits at the top of that heap of documents. It explains all that follows and can make or break your business plan or project plan . The executive summary must know the needs of the potential clients or investors and zero in on them like a laser. Fortunately, we’ll show you how to write and format your executive summary to do just that.

Getting everything organized for your executive summary can be challenging. ProjectManager can help you get your thoughts in order and collaborate with your team. Our powerful task management tools make it easy to get everything prioritized and done on time. Try it free today.

List view in ProjectManager

What Is an Executive Summary?

An executive summary is a short section of a larger document like a business plan , investment proposal or project proposal. It’s mostly used to give investors and stakeholders a quick overview of important information about a business plan like the company description, market analysis and financial information.

It contains a short statement that addresses the problem or proposal detailed in the attached documents and features background information, a concise analysis and a conclusion. An executive summary is designed to help executives and investors decide whether to go forth with the proposal, making it critically important. Pitch decks are often used along with executive summaries to talk about the benefits and main selling points of a business plan or project.

Unlike an abstract, which is a short overview, an executive summary format is a condensed form of the documents contained in the proposal. Abstracts are more commonly used in academic and research-oriented writing and act as a teaser for the reader to see if they want to read on.

example of a summary business plan

Get your free

Executive Summary Template

Use this free Executive Summary Template for Word to manage your projects better.

How to Write an Executive Summary

Executive summaries vary depending on the document they’re attached to. You can write an executive summary for a business plan, project proposal, research document, or business case, among other documents and reports.

However, when writing an executive summary, there are guidelines to ensure you hit all the bases.

Executive Summary Length

According to the many books that have been written about executive summaries, as well as training courses, seminars and professional speakers, the agreed-upon length for an executive summary format should be about five to 10 percent of the length of the whole report.

Appropriate Language

The language used should be appropriate for the target audience. One of the most important things to know before you write professionally is to understand who you’re addressing. If you’re writing for a group of engineers, the language you’ll use will differ greatly from how you would write to a group of financiers.

That includes more than just the words, but the content and depth of explanation. Remember, it’s a summary, and people will be reading it to quickly and easily pull out the main points.

Pithy Introduction

You also want to capture a reader’s attention immediately in the opening paragraph. Just like a speech often opens with a joke to break the tension and put people at ease, a strong introductory paragraph can pull a reader in and make them want to read on. That doesn’t mean you start with a joke. Stick to your strengths, but remember, most readers only give you a few sentences to win them over before they move on.

Don’t forget to explain who you are as an organization and why you have the skills, personnel and experience to solve the problem raised in the proposal. This doesn’t have to be a lengthy biography, often just your name, address and contact information will do, though you’ll also want to highlight your strengths as they pertain to the business plan or project proposal .

Relevant Information

The executive summary shouldn’t stray from the material that follows it. It’s a summary, not a place to bring up new ideas. To do so would be confusing and would jeopardize your whole proposal.

Establish the need or the problem, and convince the target audience that it must be solved. Once that’s set up, it’s important to recommend the solution and show what the value is. Be clear and firm in your recommendation.

Justify your cause. Be sure to note the key reasons why your organization is the perfect fit for the solution you’re proposing. This is the point where you differentiate yourself from competitors, be that due to methodology, testimonials from satisfied clients or whatever else you offer that’s unique. But don’t make this too much about you. Be sure to keep the name of the potential client at the forefront.

Don’t neglect a strong conclusion, where you can wrap things up and once more highlight the main points.

Related: 10 Essential Excel Report Templates

What to Include in an Executive Summary

The content of your executive summary must reflect what’s in the larger document which it is part of. You’ll find many executive summary examples on the web, but to keep things simple, we’ll focus on business plans and project proposals.

How to Write an Executive Summary for a Business Plan

As we’ve learned above, your executive summary must extract the main points of all the sections of your business plan. A business plan is a document that describes all the aspects of a business, such as its business model, products or services, objectives and marketing plan , among other things. They’re commonly used by startups to pitch their ideas to investors.

Here are the most commonly used business plan sections:

  • Company description: Provide a brief background of your company, such as when it was established, its mission, vision and core values.
  • Products & services: Describe the products or services your company will provide to its customers.
  • Organization and management: Explain the legal structure of your business and the members of the top management team.
  • SWOT analysis: A SWOT analysis explains the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of your business. They describe the internal and external factors that impact your business competitiveness.
  • Industry & market analysis: This section should provide an overview of the industry and market in which your business will compete.
  • Operations: Explain the main aspects of your business operations and what sets it apart from competitors.
  • Marketing plan: Your marketing plan describes the various strategies that your business will use to reach its customers and sell products or services.
  • Financial planning: Here, you should provide an overview of the financial state of your business. Include income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements.
  • Funding request: If you’re creating your business plan to request funding, make sure to explain what type of funding you need, the timeframe for your funding request and an explanation of how the funds will be used.

We’ve created an executive summary example to help you better understand how this document works when using it, to sum up a business plan.

To put all of that information together, here’s the basic format of an executive summary. You can find this same information in our free executive summary template :

  • Introduction, be sure to know your audience
  • Table of contents in the form of a bulleted list
  • Explain the company’s role and identify strengths
  • Explain the need, or the problem, and its importance
  • Recommend a solution and explain its value
  • Justify said solution by explaining how it fits the organization
  • A strong conclusion that once more wraps up the importance of the project

You can use it as an executive summary example and add or remove some of its elements to adjust it to your needs. Our sample executive summary has the main elements that you’ll need project executive summary.

Executive summary template for Word

Executive Summary Example

For this executive summary example, we’ll imagine a company named ABC Clothing, a small business that manufactures eco-friendly clothing products and it’s preparing a business plan to secure funding from new investors.

Company Description We are ABC Clothing, an environmentally-friendly manufacturer of apparel. We’ve developed a unique method of production and sourcing of materials that allows us to create eco-friendly products at a low cost . We have intellectual property for our production processes and materials, which gives us an advantage in the market.

  • Mission: Our mission is to use recycled materials and sustainable methods of production to create clothing products that are great for our customers and our planet.
  • Vision: Becoming a leader in the apparel industry while generating a positive impact on the environment.

Products & Services We offer high-quality clothing products for men, women and all genders. (Here you should include pictures of your product portfolio to spark the interest of your readers)

Industry & Market Analysis Even though the fashion industry’s year-over-year growth has been affected by pandemics in recent years, the global apparel market is expected to continue growing at a steady pace. In addition, the market share of sustainable apparel has grown year-over-year at a higher pace than the overall fashion industry.

Marketing Plan Our marketing plan relies on the use of digital marketing strategies and online sales, which gives us a competitive advantage over traditional retailers that focus their marketing efforts on brick-and-mortar stores.

Operations Our production plant is able to recycle different types of plastic and cotton waste to turn it into materials that we use to manufacture our products . We’ve partnered with a transportation company that sorts and distributes our products inside the United States efficiently and cost-effectively.

Financial Planning Our business is profitable, as documented in our balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. The company doesn’t have any significant debt that might compromise its continuity. These and other financial factors make it a healthy investment.

Funding Request We’re requesting funding for the expansion of our production capacity, which will allow us to increase our production output in order to meet our increasing customer demand, enter new markets, reduce our costs and improve our competitiveness.

If you’d like to see more executive summary examples for your business plan, you can visit the U.S. small business administration website. They have business plans with executive summary examples you can download and use.

Executive summaries are also a great way to outline the elements of a project plan for a project proposal. Let’s learn what those elements are.

How to Write an Executive Summary for a Project Proposal

An executive summary for your project proposal will capture the most important information from your project management plan. Here’s the structure of our executive summary template:

  • Introduction: What’s the purpose of your project?
  • Company description: Show why you’re the right team to take on the project.
  • Need/problem: What is the problem that it’s solving?
  • Unique solution: What is your value proposition and what are the main selling points of your project?
  • Proof: Evidence, research and feasibility studies that support how your company can solve the issue.
  • Resources: Outline the resources needed for the project
  • Return on investment/funding request: Explain the profitability of your project and what’s in for the investors.
  • Competition/market analysis: What’s your target market? Who are your competitors? How does your company differentiate from them?
  • Marketing plan: Create a marketing plan that describes your company’s marketing strategies, sales and partnership plans.
  • Budget/financial planning: What’s the budget that you need for your project plan?
  • Timeline: What’s the estimated timeline to complete the project?
  • Team: Who are the project team members and why are they qualified?
  • Conclusions:  What are the project takeaways?

Now that we’ve learned that executive summaries can vary depending on the type of document you’re working on, you’re ready for the next step.

What to Do After Writing an Executive Summary

As with anything you write, you should always start with a draft. The first draft should hit all the marks addressed above but don’t bog yourself down in making the prose perfect. Think of the first draft as an exploratory mission. You’re gathering all the pertinent information.

Next, you want to thoroughly review the document to ensure that nothing important has been left out or missed. Make sure the focus is sharp and clear, and that it speaks directly to your potential client’s needs.

Proofread for Style & Grammar

But don’t neglect the writing. Be sure that you’re not repeating words, falling into cliché or other hallmarks of bad writing. You don’t want to bore the reader to the point that they miss the reason why you’re the organization that can help them succeed.

You’ve checked the content and the prose, but don’t forget the style. You want to write in a way that’s natural and not overly formal, but one that speaks in the manner of your target audience . If they’re a conservative firm, well then, maybe formality is called for. But more and more modern companies have a casual corporate culture, and formal writing could mistakenly cause them to think of you as old and outdated.

The last run should be proofing the copy. That means double-checking to ensure that spelling is correct, and there are no typos or grammatical mistakes. Whoever wrote the executive summary isn’t the best person to edit it, however. They can easily gloss over errors because of their familiarity with the work. Find someone who excels at copy-editing. If you deliver sloppy content, it shows a lack of professionalism that’ll surely color how a reader thinks of your company.

Criticism of Executive Summaries

While we’re advocating for the proper use of an executive summary, it’d be neglectful to avoid mentioning some critiques. The most common is that an executive summary by design is too simple to capture the complexity of a large and complicated project.

It’s true that many executives might only read the summary, and in so doing, miss the nuance of the proposal. That’s a risk. But if the executive summary follows the guidelines stated above, it should give a full picture of the proposal and create interest for the reader to delve deeper into the documents to get the details.

Remember, executive summaries can be written poorly or well. They can fail to focus on results or the solution to the proposal’s problem or do so in a vague, general way that has no impact on the reader. You can do a hundred things wrong, but if you follow the rules, then the onus falls on the reader.

ProjectManager Turns an Executive Summary Into a Project

Your executive summary got the project approved. Now the real work begins. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that helps you organize tasks, projects and teams. We have everything you need to manage each phase of your project, so you can complete your work on time and under budget.

Work How You Want

Because project managers and teams work differently, our software is flexible. We have multiple project views, such as the kanban board, which visualizes workflow. Managers like the transparency it provides in the production cycle, while teams get to focus only on those tasks they have the capacity to complete. Are you more comfortable with tasks lists or Gantt charts? We have those, too.

A screenshot of the Kanban board project view

Live Tracking for Better Management

To ensure your project meets time and cost expectations, we have features that monitor and track progress so you can control any deviations that might occur. Our software is cloud-based, so the data you see on our dashboard is always up to date, helping you make better decisions. Make that executive summary a reality with ProjectManager.

ProjectManager’s dashboard view, which shows six key metrics on a project

You’ve now researched and written a persuasive executive summary to lead your proposal. You’ve put in the work and the potential client sees that and contracts you for the project. However, if you don’t have a reliable set of project management tools like Gantt charts , kanban boards and project calendars at hand to plan, monitor and report on the work, then all that preparation will be for nothing.

ProjectManager is online project management software that gives you real-time data and a collaborative platform to work efficiently and productively. But don’t take our word for it, take a free 30-day trial.

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  • How to write an executive summary, with ...

How to write an executive summary, with examples

Julia Martins contributor headshot

The best way to do that is with an executive summary. If you’ve never written an executive summary, this article has all you need to know to plan, write, and share them with your team.

What is an executive summary?

An executive summary is an overview of a document. The length and scope of your executive summary will differ depending on the document it’s summarizing, but in general an executive summary can be anywhere from one to two pages long. In the document, you’ll want to share all of the information your readers and important stakeholders need to know.

Imagine it this way: if your high-level stakeholders were to only read your executive summary, would they have all of the information they need to succeed? If so, your summary has done its job.

You’ll often find executive summaries of:

Business cases

Project proposals

Research documents

Environmental studies

Market surveys

Project plans

In general, there are four parts to any executive summary:

Start with the problem or need the document is solving.

Outline the recommended solution.

Explain the solution’s value.

Wrap up with a conclusion about the importance of the work.

What is an executive summary in project management?

In project management, an executive summary is a way to bring clarity to cross-functional collaborators, team leadership, and project stakeholders . Think of it like a project’s “ elevator pitch ” for team members who don’t have the time or the need to dive into all of the project’s details.

The main difference between an executive summary in project management and a more traditional executive summary in a business plan is that the former should be created at the beginning of your project—whereas the latter should be created after you’ve written your business plan. For example, to write an executive summary of an environmental study, you would compile a report on the results and findings once your study was over. But for an executive summary in project management, you want to cover what the project is aiming to achieve and why those goals matter.

The same four parts apply to an executive summary in project management:

Start with the problem or need the project is solving.  Why is this project happening? What insight, customer feedback, product plan, or other need caused it to come to life?

Outline the recommended solution, or the project’s objectives.  How is the project going to solve the problem you established in the first part? What are the project goals and objectives?

Explain the solution’s value.  Once you’ve finished your project, what will happen? How will this improve and solve the problem you established in the first part?

Wrap up with a conclusion about the importance of the work.  This is another opportunity to reiterate why the problem is important, and why the project matters. It can also be helpful to reference your audience and how your solution will solve their problem. Finally, include any relevant next steps.

If you’ve never written an executive summary before, you might be curious about where it fits into other project management elements. Here’s how executive summaries stack up:

Executive summary vs. project plan

A  project plan  is a blueprint of the key elements your project will accomplish in order to hit your project goals and objectives. Project plans will include your goals, success metrics, stakeholders and roles, budget, milestones and deliverables, timeline and schedule, and communication plan .

An executive summary is a summary of the most important information in your project plan. Think of the absolutely crucial things your management team needs to know when they land in your project, before they even have a chance to look at the project plan—that’s your executive summary.

Executive summary vs. project overview

Project overviews and executive summaries often have similar elements—they both contain a summary of important project information. However, your project overview should be directly attached to your project. There should be a direct line of sight between your project and your project overview.

While you can include your executive summary in your project depending on what type of  project management tool  you use, it may also be a stand-alone document.

Executive summary vs. project objectives

Your executive summary should contain and expand upon your  project objectives  in the second part ( Outline the recommended solution, or the project’s objectives ). In addition to including your project objectives, your executive summary should also include why achieving your project objectives will add value, as well as provide details about how you’re going to get there.

The benefits of an executive summary

You may be asking: why should I write an executive summary for my project? Isn’t the project plan enough?

Well, like we mentioned earlier, not everyone has the time or need to dive into your project and see, from a glance, what the goals are and why they matter.  Work management tools  like Asana help you capture a lot of crucial information about a project, so you and your team have clarity on who’s doing what by when. Your executive summary is designed less for team members who are actively working on the project and more for stakeholders outside of the project who want quick insight and answers about why your project matters.

An effective executive summary gives stakeholders a big-picture view of the entire project and its important points—without requiring them to dive into all the details. Then, if they want more information, they can access the project plan or navigate through tasks in your work management tool.

How to write a great executive summary, with examples

Every executive summary has four parts. In order to write a great executive summary, follow this template. Then once you’ve written your executive summary, read it again to make sure it includes all of the key information your stakeholders need to know.

1. Start with the problem or need the project is solving

At the beginning of your executive summary, start by explaining why this document (and the project it represents) matter. Take some time to outline what the problem is, including any research or customer feedback you’ve gotten . Clarify how this problem is important and relevant to your customers, and why solving it matters.

For example, let’s imagine you work for a watch manufacturing company. Your project is to devise a simpler, cheaper watch that still appeals to luxury buyers while also targeting a new bracket of customers.

Example executive summary:

In recent customer feedback sessions, 52% of customers have expressed a need for a simpler and cheaper version of our product. In surveys of customers who have chosen competitor watches, price is mentioned 87% of the time. To best serve our existing customers, and to branch into new markets, we need to develop a series of watches that we can sell at an appropriate price point for this market.

2. Outline the recommended solution, or the project’s objectives

Now that you’ve outlined the problem, explain what your solution is. Unlike an abstract or outline, you should be  prescriptive  in your solution—that is to say, you should work to convince your readers that your solution is the right one. This is less of a brainstorming section and more of a place to support your recommended solution.

Because you’re creating your executive summary at the beginning of your project, it’s ok if you don’t have all of your deliverables and milestones mapped out. But this is your chance to describe, in broad strokes, what will happen during the project. If you need help formulating a high-level overview of your project’s main deliverables and timeline, consider creating a  project roadmap  before diving into your executive summary.

Continuing our example executive summary:

Our new watch series will begin at 20% cheaper than our current cheapest option, with the potential for 40%+ cheaper options depending on material and movement. In order to offer these prices, we will do the following:

Offer watches in new materials, including potentially silicone or wood

Use high-quality quartz movement instead of in-house automatic movement

Introduce customizable band options, with a focus on choice and flexibility over traditional luxury

Note that every watch will still be rigorously quality controlled in order to maintain the same world-class speed and precision of our current offerings.

3. Explain the solution’s value

At this point, you begin to get into more details about how your solution will impact and improve upon the problem you outlined in the beginning. What, if any, results do you expect? This is the section to include any relevant financial information, project risks, or potential benefits. You should also relate this project back to your company goals or  OKRs . How does this work map to your company objectives?

With new offerings that are between 20% and 40% cheaper than our current cheapest option, we expect to be able to break into the casual watch market, while still supporting our luxury brand. That will help us hit FY22’s Objective 3: Expanding the brand. These new offerings have the potential to bring in upwards of three million dollars in profits annually, which will help us hit FY22’s Objective 1: 7 million dollars in annual profit.

Early customer feedback sessions indicate that cheaper options will not impact the value or prestige of the luxury brand, though this is a risk that should be factored in during design. In order to mitigate that risk, the product marketing team will begin working on their go-to-market strategy six months before the launch.

4. Wrap up with a conclusion about the importance of the work

Now that you’ve shared all of this important information with executive stakeholders, this final section is your chance to guide their understanding of the impact and importance of this work on the organization. What, if anything, should they take away from your executive summary?

To round out our example executive summary:

Cheaper and varied offerings not only allow us to break into a new market—it will also expand our brand in a positive way. With the attention from these new offerings, plus the anticipated demand for cheaper watches, we expect to increase market share by 2% annually. For more information, read our  go-to-market strategy  and  customer feedback documentation .

Example of an executive summary

When you put it all together, this is what your executive summary might look like:

[Product UI] Example executive summary in Asana (Project Overview)

Common mistakes people make when writing executive summaries

You’re not going to become an executive summary-writing pro overnight, and that’s ok. As you get started, use the four-part template provided in this article as a guide. Then, as you continue to hone your executive summary writing skills, here are a few common pitfalls to avoid:

Avoid using jargon

Your executive summary is a document that anyone, from project contributors to executive stakeholders, should be able to read and understand. Remember that you’re much closer to the daily work and individual tasks than your stakeholders will be, so read your executive summary once over to make sure there’s no unnecessary jargon. Where you can, explain the jargon, or skip it all together.

Remember: this isn’t a full report

Your executive summary is just that—a summary. If you find yourself getting into the details of specific tasks, due dates, and attachments, try taking a step back and asking yourself if that information really belongs in your executive summary. Some details are important—you want your summary to be actionable and engaging. But keep in mind that the wealth of information in your project will be captured in your  work management tool , not your executive summary.

Make sure the summary can stand alone

You know this project inside and out, but your stakeholders won’t. Once you’ve written your executive summary, take a second look to make sure the summary can stand on its own. Is there any context your stakeholders need in order to understand the summary? If so, weave it into your executive summary, or consider linking out to it as additional information.

Always proofread

Your executive summary is a living document, and if you miss a typo you can always go back in and fix it. But it never hurts to proofread or send to a colleague for a fresh set of eyes.

In summary: an executive summary is a must-have

Executive summaries are a great way to get everyone up to date and on the same page about your project. If you have a lot of project stakeholders who need quick insight into what the project is solving and why it matters, an executive summary is the perfect way to give them the information they need.

For more tips about how to connect high-level strategy and plans to daily execution, read our article about strategic planning .

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Example of Executive Summary for a Business Plan

Starting a business can be intimidating due to the complex web of decisions, uncertainties, and risks that entrepreneurs must navigate through, while ensuring the path to success for their businesses. Business plans serve as a business’s compass to direct a business and drive its growth to achieve its goals and objectives. 

Consequently, a concise but striking executive summary is an essential part and arguably, one of the most critical components of a business plan.

However, people spend only an approximate 48 minutes a day reading about business, according to a study by The Economist Intelligence Unit and Peppercomm. In a week, about 69% of young executives and 43% of veteran professionals read for business for less than four hours. 

Similarly, an article from Time Magazine mentioned that 55% of people only actively read content for less than 15 seconds. This implies that a robust executive summary of a business plan should capture a reader’s interest and show that a business plan is worthy of a reader’s attention in a very narrow timeframe.

As such, it is necessary to know how to craft an impactful executive summary that will communicate the vision of a business. Let’s explore the how-tos of writing an executive summary of business plan, its significance, and some business plan executive summary examples.

What is an Executive Summary?

An executive summary is the first key component in a document such as a business plan, proposal, or report that serves as a concise snapshot that effectively captures reader interest. It also encapsulates vital details that discuss the identified issue or opportunity, market findings, overarching goals, and strategic plans .

A variety of professional documents incorporate executive summaries. Here are some examples:

  • Business plans
  • Financial reports
  • Marketing proposals
  • Professional resumes

What is an Executive Summary in a Business Plan?

In a business plan, the executive summary should vouch for a business through a writing that is positive and assertive. The focus should be on factual and practical information that readers want to know, instead of subjective or emotional aspects such as hard work and passion. 

Considering the interest of the target audience in the executive summary will answer their underlying questions about a business and avoid creating new ones that will hold them back from reading a business plan further.

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Executive Summary vs. Business Overview

In general, both an executive summary and business overview play the role of providing a project summary in business plans to give readers a short outline. Both provide essential information but serve distinct purposes. 

The executive summary is a high-level synopsis crafted to capture the reader’s attention, providing a quick understanding of a business plan’s main points. In contrast, a business overview focuses on specifically highlighting a company’s background, mission, vision, and market positioning. This offers a brief description of the business and a comprehensive perspective of its brand and place within an industry.

What Makes the Executive Summary Significant?

The executive summary is that one business plan section that everyone will read. It saves the readers’ time, provides clarity, and assists with document navigation. The benefits of a solid executive summary make it an important portion of a business plan.

Readers look into the executive summary to acquire critical information about a business in a short period to quickly formulate an appropriate decision or course of action thereafter. The contents of the executive summary are important as these outline what the audience will expect to learn while reading a business plan. The executive summary further helps readers navigate the business plan, indicating the main topics discussed in the plan. This makes a business plan more accessible and usable.

What are the Elements of an Effective Executive Summary?

The following will detail the important areas to be included in the executive summary of the business plan:

Business Opportunity: The business opportunity discusses the problem in the existing market that the business aims to address. This section highlights the market need and a business’s plans to meet said demand. The business opportunity will outline the solutions to the market problem and how these initiatives will create a change in the current business scene. 

Target Market: This pertains to the demographic a business intends to reach as its customer base. The target market section in the executive summary will include market research and highlight the consumer group who has potential interest in a business’s product or service. This studies traits such as age, occupation, gender, education level, and socioeconomic status.

Business Model: The business model is the part of the executive summary that zooms into the business concept. This includes the specific products or services a business intends to offer and specific characteristics that allow them to compete in the market.

Marketing Strategy: The marketing strategy presents the methods a business will implement to mold its brand and build brand recognition for its products or services. Marketing techniques such as digital marketing efforts, like Google Ads , and traditional media are discussed in this part.

Competition: This part provides a summary on the analysis of a business’s competitors, industry trends, and customer demand. This highlights the results of a business’s market research and showcases its understanding of the industry. This will allow a business to stand out on a local or international level.

Financial Analysis: A business plan’s executive summary should include how a business intends to control its finances, while generating revenue in the long-term. This section talks about how resources and funds will be utilized to propel the business towards growth and success and how the potential investors will benefit from these plans.

Company Overview: The company overview helps readers understand the growth of a business, its milestones, and how it has evolved throughout the years. This part is a brief description of the business and also includes an introduction of its key members, their qualifications and achievements, and how these people influenced and assisted in the development of the business.

Implementation Plan: The implementation plan is one of the vital parts of an executive summary. This component of the executive summary sketches both a structure and a timeline, starting from a business idea and moving towards launching an actual business.

5 Helpful Executive Summary Writing Tips

 1. Engage Your Audience through Your Story

      As an entrepreneur that steers a business forward, the executive summary should reflect the leadership you want to showcase. Set the tone of the business plan through the executive summary and make your readers understand what your business is about. Tell your story and how that pushed you to start the business that you aspire to build. Using an active voice in writing will demonstrate your proactive role in the business. Ambiguity does not have a place in your business and in achieving your business goals.

2. Highlight Key Elements

Working as a business plan overview, the executive summary focuses on the most critical aspects of your business plan, such as the problem, solution, market research , competitor analysis, and financial projections . While the business plan body elaborates on the details, specific findings will be highlighted in the executive summary.

3. Use a Compelling Tone and Tailor it to Your Audience

      Staying true and accessible is essential to writing an executive summary, similar to the importance of keeping a professional and concise tone in your writing. Discussing information objectively and substantiating it with evidence, projects authority and credibility, while also showing an approachable and engaging side. Avoid voicing out personal opinions and using excessive claims. The key is to strive for clarity and simplicity to resonate with the interest and concerns of your readers.   

4. Steer Clear from Clichés

      Avoiding cliché language is a vital point on how to make an executive summary effective. A good tip to stay true to this is to stay away from using general descriptions in your executive summary. Generalities and clichés tend to create unrealistic expectations that your business may fall short of meeting. Understand and detail the uniqueness of your business by being specific. Do not sell your business short, but stay truthful.

5. Complete it After Doing the Entire Business Plan

      Building the executive summary after completing the whole business plan allows you to have a better understanding of your business and to communicate the vital aspects in the summary. Writing it at the beginning risks the miscommunication of your business’s core concepts to its intended readers. This may further lead to inconsistent and irrelevant details and reduce the precision of the executive summary.

Final Thoughts

Empathizing with business plan readers and grasping the most valuable information to them makes a comprehensive and persuasive executive summary. Overall, keep in mind the following questions before starting an executive summary:

  • What knowledge and key takeaways should the business plan reader have?
  • What outcomes should the readers achieve after reading the executive summary in business plan?
  • Do these expected outcomes align with the business’s mission and long-term goals?

Business Plan Executive Summary Template and Examples

Now, we have established the key elements of and some writing tips on creating an executive summary. If you don’t have a business plan yet, BSBCON has a free business plan template that can help you start with building your own. Looking at an example of executive summary for business plans will allow you to be more familiar with its contents. Below are two examples of an executive summary in a business plan:

example of a summary business plan

Executive Summary Example 1

“ProSecure Squad Corporation” operating as “ProSecure Squad” (The Company) was first incorporated in September of 2016 in Massachusetts, USA and subsequently incorporated in the State of Massachusetts on June 10th 2020. Over the past years ProSecure Squad has developed and patented revolutionary Cyber- security products.  

With digital transformation of industries being hastened by factors such as E-Commerce, Internet of Things (IoT), Connected Machines, Self-Driving vehicles, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), there has been an enormous increase in the amount of electronic data.

Despite strong cyber-security defenses implemented, cyber-criminals have been getting past these defenses at an increasingly alarming rate and the cost for an organization to retain end-to-end cybersecurity professionals has become astronomical.  This has made the Cybersecurity Market one of the fastest growing industries.  

With patented products, an accomplished team of cybersecurity experts, and a clear strategy for product and service deployment, ProSecure Squad is ready to lead the next wave of cybersecurity.  The company is focused on making its world class data security solutions accessible and inclusive; therefore, targeting wide-scale adoption from medium to large businesses, and government organizations across the globe.

What makes the company’s offering so unique is our focus on simplifying data resiliency; making it easy to protect your data from being spied on, stolen or held for ransom even if a hacker or malware gets past the current cyber-defenses. 

With years of research and development, ProSecure Squad has refined our products and has garnered the interests of large corporations in the security and other Industries. With our offering being tailored to meet the current data security demands, ProSecure Squad is well positioned to become leaders in data security. 

ProSecure Squad Corporation is seeking a 15 Million USD capital investment in return for a 15% equity and voting stake in the company.  These funds will be allocated to taking the company’s products and services to market through direct sales, marketing, customer onboarding and customer support.  With this investment the company will execute on established opportunities, further develop its capabilities, and forge a notable position in one of the fastest growing industries.

Executive Summary Example 2

“Silver Studios, Inc.” (herein also referred to as “Silver”, “Silver Studios” and “the company”) was incorporated on January 9, 2021, in the City of Chicago by Founder and CEO, Jamie Malcolm. With plans to expand the company’s operational reach, Silver Studios also incorporated in New York, U.S.A. on April 30, 2022.

Silver Studios has rapidly emerged as a promising record label and music production company following the successful signing of eight talented artists who have achieved impressive results to date. These include charting on the Top Chicago Downloads, Top U.S. Rotation AC Tracks, U.S. Billboard Country Indicator Chart, and the American Billboard Chart. Additionally, the artists signed to the Silver Studios label have amassed a substantial following with over 58,000 collective monthly listeners and a significant number of streams on Spotify alone.

Today, Silver sits at a focal point where there is an abundance of opportunity to discover emerging artists, sign new talent and support existing artists.  In order to complete the development of the studio, acquire a variety of recording equipment, and hire additional staff, the company is seeking a strategic partnership and capital investment of $8.5M. With this partnership secured, Silver Studios will be positioned to welcome an array of upcoming artists and expedite growth within the music production and distribution industry.

Under the leadership of Mrs. Malcolm, Silver Studios has achieved significant success and earned a reputation as a champion for emerging artists. The company’s unwavering commitment to being an artist-first record label, along with a unique approach to equitable contracts and creative expression, has resulted in the discovery and development of exceptional talent. With increased strategic and financial resources, Silver Studios will continue to push boundaries and pave the way for the next generation of emerging artists.

This business plan acts as a strategic roadmap for Silver Studios in terms of operations, marketing, human resources and finance.

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Executive Summary Example For A Business Plan

Executive Summary Template

Free Executive Summary Template

  • December 12, 2023

Executive Summary Example

The Executive Summary writing could be overwhelming. Hence we have come up with a detailed business plan executive summary example . We hope that this example explains you well and helps you with an executive summary outline that serves your objection.

Important details about the example:

The following example is explicitly drawn out for people wanting to start child care services in America. The business name/domain and other important details are fictional facts and figures. We, as a company has solely used the details to draw an example for our readers like you. Any relevance in the details and the format of the business plan’s executive summary is completely coincidental.

Executive Summary Example of a Child Care Business Plan:

Executive summary for samantha’s child care services.

child care services

Samantha’s Child Care Services is a day child care service center in Seattle, Washington.

The center offers daycare and hands-on learning facilities for children between three to five. The center is headed by Samantha Wheeler, from UCLA University with 15 years of experience working as Principal of CIS of Seattle.

The main objective of presenting this executive summary for child care is to seek investments.

Today’s children need a hands-on learning experience right from the start. They need to learn the lessons that don’t feel like ‘learning’. They should not feel forced to learn. Rather, they must enjoy it. They need a curriculum that allows them to read, write, play, and have fun.

On the contrary, the school system is failing.

Samatha Wheeler, the founder, and director of Samantha’s Child Care Services is trained and has been teaching and looking after children for more than 5 years.

According to her experience, here are the solutions Samantha’s Child Care Services offer:

  • Offering practical learning experiences
  • Including activities like developing activities in art, self-defense, robotics, phonics, and others under the same roof.
  • We will nurture and look after the neighborhood children like their parents would by offering more than just babysitting.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to offer holistic childcare along with fun and engaging extracurricular activities to children. So that they don’t miss the joy of community.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to offer every child here fun and an international standard daycare center where kids can be groomed and prepared to be leaders of tomorrow.

Target Market

Samantha’s Child Care Services will be offering child care/development for infants aged three to five.

Our services are specifically for families where both parents (or all elders) are working professionals. And due to work obligations, can not manage child care during the day.

Which includes:

  • Corporate Executives
  • Business Professionals
  • Sports Professionals
  • Government Officials

We will be targeting parents and guardians who are looking for a daycare center that offers help in the overall development of their child.

Competition and Competitive Advantages:

Direct competition:.

  • Sunflower Day Care
  • Little Lilies Child Care

Indirect Competition:

Tertiary competition:, competitive advantages.

  • We offer quality childcare services with hands-on early education at affordable prices
  • Everything that a child needs for a healthy and happy childhood, we provide under one roof.
  • It’s not just another child care center. But a child’s second home. Where every child is looked after and nurtured, physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

Procedure and Implementations

The current procedure at Samantha’s Child Care Services are:

  • Renovating the center
  • Management provisions
  • Recruiting teacher’s staff
  • Recruiting a team of pediatric nurses and counselors
  • Setting up the marketing team
  • Culinary team to suffice breakfast and lunch provision

Financial Summary

Samantha’s Child Services has been a side hustle for the last two years. During that time, it’s been quite stable. However, upon the thought of expansion, here are a few financial facts and figures for Samantha’s Child Care Services:

  • Our sales projections for the first year are $270,000.
  • We project a growth rate of 10% per year for the first three years.
  • The salary for each partner will be $30,000

Financing Requirements

We are seeking an operating line of $100,000 to finance our first-year growth. Samantha Wheeler, the founder has invested $47,000 to meet working capital requirements.

Write executive summary for your business plan

1. Define your business idea

It is very important to mention what you do, how you do it, and for whom you do it. Of course, you don’t have to go into the details of how you started. Explain the purpose of your business and the impact it brings to the market.

2. Identify business metrics

The business metrics are also called key performance indicators . These key indicators vary with the type of business. However, here are a few metrics you can consider regardless of your business-

  • Year-on-year revenue
  • Number of customers and users
  • Industry rankings and positions
  • Marketing investments and results
  • Year-on-year return on investments

3. Pay attention to your niche

While you get into framing your business plan, stay close and true to your niche. Study the recent trends and techniques going on in the industry. Try to be a little intuitive so that you can see those trends and techniques. We would suggest you go through the business plans that have worked in your industry. This will help you to stand out from your competitors.

4. Use simple language

Any person, regardless of his/her age and designation, has an attention span of 5th grade. Plus your readers are busy. They are looking for a business and do not want to be impressed by your vocabulary. In that case, write your content in the simplest manner possible. The best is if you can stick to your industry lingo. In any case, writing short and easy sentences with a decent vocabulary is the best fit for your executive summary for the business plan.

5. Don’t write the executive summary first

Writing an executive summary first can put you in a big confusion. Because, it is simply too early to give any facts and figures, let alone the briefs. To write a business plan , you need to do a lot of research. You need to go to the very bottom of all the aspects before you come to any conclusion. Once you complete all other chapters of your business plan, know that you know how to write an executive summary.

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example of a summary business plan

If you take a look at any business plan , the first section you will come across is the executive summary. The executive summary essentially provides an overview of the rest of the document.

It summarizes the contents of the business plan for readers, giving them a glimpse of what they should expect to find within the business plan and thereby helping them save time.

Because of this, the executive summary should be clear and concise, and interesting enough to entice the reader to dive deeper into the business plan.

Since it provides the reader with a glimpse of the rest of the business plan, the executive summary is often regarded as the most important section of a business plan.

If the executive summary fails in its purpose of capturing the reader’s attention, the reader will set aside the business plan without reading the rest of it. This would be a very great disadvantage, especially if the purpose of the business plan was to help you raise capital to start your business .

Considering that it is an overview of the rest of the business plan, the executive summary is typically the last section of the business plan to be written. Writing it last is also a lot easier. You can easily come up with an executive summary by simply reviewing and creating a summary of each section of your business plan.

Like I mentioned before, the executive summary is meant to save time for the reader, therefore it should be brief – typically, an executive summary does not exceed 2 pages.

The executive summary should end with a closing sentence or two aimed at showing the reader why the proposed business is a winning business.

Given that it is easier to learn how to do something by looking at example, below is a sample business plan executive summary that you can use as a guide as you write one for your business plan.

In the example, we are going to use a fictitious business named Pronto Lounge and Restaurant.

SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR PRONTO LOUNGE AND RESTAURANT

1.1 introduction.

The future looks promising for Queens Borough in Manhattan, particularly the Bay Terrace Neighborhood. Already, there are a number of high end commercial and residential developments coming up in the neighborhood. The development of a state of the art mixed use estate in the nearby Bayside neighborhood is also well underway.

Combined, these new developments will add over 150,000 sq. feet of commercial space and over 1000 residential units. The residential units will be sold at prices in the range of $200,000 to $500,000, while rents for the units will range from $1000 to $2500 per month. The completion of these developments will provide the Bay Terrace neighborhood with a year-round economy.

While the completion of these developments will increase the population within the neighborhood and stimulate the expansion of the economy, the area does not have a warm and friendly place where residents and visitors can enjoy some fine food. Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will provide such a place.

Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will be a fine-dining restaurant with a capacity of 50 seats and a lounge with a 20 seat capacity. The lounge and restaurant will focus on offering an American-Italian menu, with a little Moroccan influence.

The lounge and restaurant will be located in the booming Bay Terrace area in Queens, Manhattan, overlooking the ocean and Fort Totten Park along Cross Island parkway.

Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will have an elegant lounge and a cozy dining room, complete with comfortable furnishings and exquisite décor. The lounge will be fitted with antique love seats and comfortable leather couches.

On one corner of the lounge will be a softly lit bar stocked with classical drinks. Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will be the perfect place for people to get a drink or a bite, or for small business meetings.

1.2 Mission

Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will be a great place to eat, offering a combination of excellent food and an interesting, welcoming atmosphere. The mission is to be New York’s leading restaurant, with the best tasting food and the highest quality of service.

We want Pronto Lounge and Restaurant to be the restaurant of choice for all within this area, the young and the old, singles and married couples. Good treatment of our staff will be part of our success, since we believe that employee satisfaction will translate into employees who care deeply about the business and its clients.

We want the staff of Pronto Lounge and Restaurant to feel as part of the business and to give their best in ensuring the success of the business. Through a combination of excellent menu variety, great and interesting atmosphere and exceptionally friendly staff, we want to create a lounge and restaurant that will be a great place for clients to eat, a rewarding place for our staff to work, and a profitable business for its owners.

1.3 The Service And Products

The menu at Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will focus on American-Italian cuisine. It will also offer of few of the best Moroccan dishes. For those who want to please their palates with an Italian taste, there will be several specialties to choose from, such as pasta carbonara, bruschetta, mushroom risotto, osso buco alla Milanese and ribollita.

For those who choose to enjoy American dishes, there will be a wide variety, from Charleston red rice and Hawaiian haystack to Texan barbeque, baked beans, chicken nuggets, coleslaw and lobster rolls.

Every day, the menu will feature a single special Moroccan dish, such as Moroccan Seafood Bastilla, tagine, Moroccan mixed salad, eggplant zalouk and chickpea stew. The food at Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will have premium pricing to match its upscale feel. The strategy is to give Pronto Lounge and Restaurant a perception of a high end, fine dining restaurant through its food, price, entertainment and excellent service.

Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will be open on all days of the week. The restaurant will be defined by its warm and comfy atmosphere. To create such an atmosphere, the restaurant will be painted in warm colors.

On the walls will be amazing artwork by some of the world’s best contemporary artists. On each table will be a small vase with fresh flowers. Soft piped music will subtly sooth and entertain our guests. Every week, Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will have a special theme night with the aim of attracting new clients.

During summer months, the restaurant will have some extra seating on the patio where clients will get to enjoy a special summer menu. The patio setting will provide tourists with a casual atmosphere to enjoy their meal while taking in the sights of the street.

The service offered at Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will be very friendly and very relaxed. The business will hire people with a diploma in hospitality, people we can count on to provide the best service to our clients.

In addition, the business will provide continuous training for its staff and keep motivating and encouraging them to ensure they continue providing the best possible service to clients.

The management team will be comprised of professionals with several years’ experience in management, hotel and restaurant, food, catering, marketing and finance.

1.4 Management

Pronto Lounge and Restaurant has assembled a strong and able management team. The team will be led by Cameron Pryce as the general manager. Pryce has a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and an MBA.

He has extensive experience in the hotel and management industry and spent the last five years as the manager at a Las Vegas restaurant that made over $1 million in annual sales.

The financial and accounting functions of the business will be overseen by Leslie Montrose, who has over five years’ experience as a certified public accountant.

Marketing will be overseen by Frank Shields, who has a marketing degree and has formerly worked with some of the city’s best marketing agencies.

Finally, we have Everett Bracket as the senior chef. Chef Bracket has over ten years’ experience in the culinary industry. Before agreeing to join the Pronto Lounge and Restaurant team, Bracket was an assistant chef on a private yacht.

1.5 Target Market

Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will be targeting locals who live and work within Queens Borough and the greater New York and are active restaurant seekers. We will also target the tourists who flock to the many tourist attractions in Queens Borough.

We will specifically focus on young to middle aged adults with an income of $30,000 to $60,000 who are looking for excellent food and a great time.

The general demographics of our target market are males and females in the 20-50 years age bracket who have at least a college degree and are employed.

1.6 Competitive Advantages

  • Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will differentiate itself from the competition by creating a unique and exciting fine dining atmosphere. The restaurant will be set apart from other restaurants by its unique, well thought out design and its exquisite décor. Each client dining at Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will enjoy an experience that is unlike anything they’ve experienced before.
  • Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will also set itself apart through its commitment to high product quality, not only in terms of food but also through offering friendly and high quality service.
  • A unique and varied American-Italian menu with a touch of Moroccan influence.
  • Commitment to controlling and minimizing costs at all times.
  • Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will have a special theme night once each week, which will help to attract new and varied clientele to the restaurant.

1.7 Financial Projections

The most important thing for us is to ensure financial success for Pronto Lounge and Restaurant. We believe that we can achieve this by offering excellent food to our clients and maintaining a high quality of service.

Based on our knowledge and experience in the hotel and restaurant industry, we have come up with projections for the business.

Starting with an expenditure of $300,000 in the first year, we have forecasted sales of $1,200,000 and $2,000,000 for years two and three. We expect to achieve a net profit of 15% in year three.

1.8 Financing Requirements

We are seeking for an investment of $200,000 which will go towards financing Pronto Lounge and Restaurant’s first-year growth. The founders of Pronto Lounge and Restaurant have already invested $100,000 of our own capital into the business.

In exchange for their investment, investors will be given 40% equity in the business.

1.9 Objectives

In the first three years of operation, the objectives for Pronto Lounge and Restaurant will be:

  • To launch the lounge and restaurant with a highly publicized grand opening event that will coincide with the New Year celebrations.
  • To keep the costs of food under 35% of revenue.
  • To keep the labor costs below 30% of revenue.
  • To maintain a reputation of providing excellent food and high quality service.
  • To keep the average sales of the business between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 every year.
  • To expand our marketing and advertising efforts so as to attract clients from the whole of New York.
  • To achieve over 10% profit for the first two years and increase it to 15% from the third year.

There is a lot of competition in the hotel and restaurant business, and restaurateurs must find ways to make their restaurants unique if they want to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage.

Pronto Lounge and Restaurant’s founders are well aware of this. With the developments coming up in Bay Terrace and the nearby Bayside neighborhood, the area will need a pace that will fit into its sophisticated and entertaining new look.

The developments will also attract a significant population of moneyed adults into the area. Considering that no other restaurant in the area has come up with such a concept, we believe that we have a window of opportunity to enter and fill a profitable niche in the market.

There you have it. If you are in the process of writing a business plan for your business, you can use the above example as a guide to help you come up with a clear, concise and interesting executive summary for your business plan.

Business Plan Executive Summary Example

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Business Plan Executive Summary

Business Plan Executive Summary Examples

Just like in any reading material, especially lengthy, consolidated ones, it is important to include a summary work plan that will give a background as to what the document is all about. This will help the reader/s prepare for what is up ahead and at the same time entice them to read on. If you are able to present compelling in your summary, it may convince your reader/s to give your document a chance.

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What Is a Business Plan Executive Summary?

An  executive summary  is a section in a document that presents the highlights of the discussed topics. This includes the long term goal and the objectives of the business plan executive summary. The executive summary simplifies the discussions as well as state the purpose of the document. It is basically the summary of the entire document that is intended to encourage the reader/s to read further.

How to Write the Executive Summary of a Business Plan

Step 1: the company information.

Although the first paragraph of your executive summary is intended for an introduction , you can also use it formally introduce the business to the reader/s. You should use a compelling intro before you include the information of your business.

Step 2:  The Problem/S the Business Will Solve

If you have a personal mission statement for the company, it is more fitting to put it in this part. Although it is not a requirement in the business plan, the mission statement gives your business direction and defines the character and culture of your company. Your business is only viable if the products and/or services you provide answers or solves an existing problem in the market.

Step 3: The Solution the Business Will Provide

Since you have clearly determined the problem your business will address and solve, explain how your business will be able to do just that. This is where you present the solution your business will provide to the target consumers in order to address and solve such existing issue. However, you have to remember that this is only a budget summary .

Step 4: Concept of the Business

In this part, you need to explain the consumers you are trying to sell your products and/or service to. You also have to explain how your concept fits directly into what they need. This is where you explain and lay out how you will be able to entice your target clients through the concept you have already established.

What are the guidelines of making an executive summary of a business plan?

Writing it with too much or too little information can highly affect your chances of achieving your goal. It should be written once the entire business plan is completed. It should be 3–4 pages in length and should be attached on the first part of the business plan. Its ultimate goals should be enticing and convincing the reader/s to read the entire business plan. It needs to clearly outline the core idea and the main purpose of the business plan. It should be consistent with the contents of the entire business plan as well as the business pitch or presentation. It needs to be compelling, professional, and present the business as well as the owner in a good light so that the reader/s can be convinced to give the business a chance.

What to expect in an executive summary for a business plan?

Here is a list of what you should include in the executive summary of your business plan: name and location of the business, one-sentence summary explaining what separates the business from its competition, overview what problem the business intends to solve, brief explanation of how the business’s products or services solve the stated problem, honest acknowledgment of existing competitors and a short description of your business’s competitive advantages, description of your target customer evidence or proof that the products or services have a target market.

Why do you need an executive summary for a business plan?

It explains the purpose of your business, what you intend to produce or provide, how you plan to sustain it, and so on. Aside from helping you securing funding, a good business plan will also help you run your business since it includes all necessary stages and information needed to start and manage your business.

An executive summary of your business plan will help you present a comprehensive outline of your company’s purpose and goals. It is the part of your business plan that can either make or break your chances to achieving your purpose especially if it meant to help you secure financial aid.

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Sample Daycare Business Plan

Daycare Business Plan Template

Writing a business plan is a crucial step in starting a daycare. Not only does it provide structure and guidance for the future, but it also helps to create funding opportunities and attract potential investors. For aspiring daycare business owners, having access to a sample daycare business plan can be especially helpful in providing direction and gaining insight into how to draft their own daycare business plan.

Download our Ultimate Daycare Business Plan Template

Having a thorough business plan in place is critical for any successful daycare venture. It will serve as the foundation for your operations, setting out the goals and objectives that will help guide your decisions and actions. A well-written business plan can give you clarity on realistic financial projections and help you secure financing from lenders or investors. A daycare business plan example can be a great resource to draw upon when creating your own plan, making sure that all the key components are included in your document.

The daycare business plan sample below will give you an idea of what one should look like. It is not as comprehensive and successful in raising capital for your daycare as Growthink’s Ultimate Daycare Business Plan Template , but it can help you write a daycare business plan of your own.

Example – TinySteps Playhouse

Table of contents, executive summary, company overview, industry analysis, customer analysis, competitive analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, financial plan.

At TinySteps Playhouse, we are committed to providing exceptional childcare services in the vibrant city of Denver, CO. Our daycare center is designed to offer a safe, educational, and nurturing environment for children ranging from infants to pre-kindergarteners. Our comprehensive curriculum is tailored to meet the developmental needs of each age group, fostering growth and learning through play. With a passionate and experienced team at the helm, TinySteps Playhouse is dedicated to supporting the families in our community by offering flexible care options that accommodate the diverse needs of modern families. Our location in Denver positions us perfectly to serve a growing demographic of parents seeking quality childcare solutions.

Our success at TinySteps Playhouse is anchored in our commitment to providing a nurturing environment that supports the holistic development of children. We have successfully established a reputation for quality care, thanks to our experienced and passionate team, comprehensive curriculum, and flexible childcare solutions. To date, we have achieved several milestones, including the successful launch of our center, consistent positive feedback from families, and a growing enrollment. Our dedication to fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment sets us apart and drives our continued success.

The childcare industry is witnessing significant growth, driven by increasing demand from working parents seeking reliable and quality daycare services. In Denver, CO, this trend is particularly pronounced, with a rising number of families requiring childcare solutions that offer both educational and emotional support. The industry’s expansion is further fueled by growing awareness of the importance of early childhood education, prompting parents to seek out establishments that provide more than just basic care. In response, daycare centers are evolving to offer comprehensive curriculums that encourage cognitive, social, and emotional development. This shift towards more holistic childcare services is reshaping the industry, making it an opportune time for TinySteps Playhouse to establish and expand its presence in Denver.

Our target customers at TinySteps Playhouse are working parents in Denver, CO, who value both the emotional and educational development of their children. These parents are looking for more than just a daycare; they seek a partner in nurturing their child’s growth. They are typically well-educated, middle to upper-middle-income earners who understand the importance of early childhood education and are willing to invest in quality childcare services. Our customer base values the flexible care options we provide, which cater to the diverse needs of modern families. By understanding and addressing the specific needs and preferences of this demographic, TinySteps Playhouse aims to become the go-to childcare solution in our community.

Top Competitors:

  • Happy Tots Daycare: Known for its large facility and wide range of extracurricular activities.
  • Little Scholars Childcare: Offers a strong educational program with certified teachers.
  • Sunshine Kids Academy: Praised for its outdoor play areas and emphasis on physical activity.

Our Competitive Advantages: TinySteps Playhouse stands out in the competitive landscape of Denver, CO, by offering a uniquely tailored curriculum that promotes holistic development. Our passionate and experienced team is dedicated to providing personalized attention to each child, ensuring their emotional, social, and educational needs are met. Furthermore, our flexible childcare solutions cater to the diverse needs of modern families, making us a preferred choice for parents in the area.

TinySteps Playhouse will implement a comprehensive promotional strategy to attract and retain customers in Denver, CO. Our approach includes a robust online marketing campaign leveraging social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to connect with potential clients by sharing engaging content, testimonials, and educational tips. We will also employ SEO techniques and Google Ads to enhance our visibility online. Additionally, email marketing will keep us in direct contact with interested parents, sharing updates, events, and special promotions. Beyond digital efforts, we will engage in community outreach by partnering with local businesses and schools, sponsor events, and offer special promotions to establish ourselves as a trusted community member. Open houses and free trial days will allow parents and children to experience our daycare firsthand, building trust and demonstrating our high level of care. Word-of-mouth, encouraged through referral discounts, will further amplify our reach. Together, these strategies are designed to establish TinySteps Playhouse as the premier choice for daycare services in Denver.

Our operations at TinySteps Playhouse are centered around key processes that ensure the provision of high-quality childcare services. These include rigorous staff training, implementation of our comprehensive curriculum, and maintaining a safe and nurturing environment for the children. We have outlined several milestones to guide our growth, such as expanding our facility to accommodate more children, achieving specific enrollment goals, and obtaining additional certifications that reflect our commitment to excellence. These operational milestones are integral to our strategy for providing exceptional childcare and education services in Denver, CO.

The leadership at TinySteps Playhouse is comprised of individuals with extensive experience in early childhood education and business management. Our team includes a Director with over a decade of experience in childcare management, an Educational Coordinator who specializes in curriculum development, and a Business Manager skilled in operations and finance. Together, our management team brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for childcare, driving TinySteps Playhouse towards achieving its mission of providing outstanding childcare services in Denver, CO.

Welcome to TinySteps Playhouse, a new Day Care/Daycare that has recently opened its doors to serve our fellow residents in Denver, CO. As a local daycare center, we are acutely aware of the lack of high-quality daycare options within our community. With this in mind, we have stepped forward to fill this crucial gap, providing a nurturing and educational environment for the children in our care.

At TinySteps Playhouse, we offer a comprehensive range of services designed to meet the needs of busy families and their children. Our offerings include childcare, early education programs, nutritious meals and snacks, and ample opportunities for outdoor play and physical activities. We understand the importance of a balanced approach to child development, and our programs are crafted to foster growth, learning, and fun in a safe and welcoming environment.

Located in the heart of Denver, CO, TinySteps Playhouse is perfectly positioned to serve the local community. We are committed to becoming a cornerstone of support for Denver families, providing peace of mind to parents and caregivers while their children are in our care.

Our ability to succeed in this competitive market is grounded in several key factors. Firstly, our founder brings a wealth of experience from previously running a successful daycare, ensuring that TinySteps Playhouse is built on a foundation of proven practices and passion for child care. Additionally, we pride ourselves on offering superior childcare services compared to our competitors, supported by a team of highly experienced staff. This unique combination of experience, passion, and quality positions us to become the preferred choice for daycare services in Denver, CO.

Since our founding on January 5, 2024, as a S Corporation, we have achieved several significant milestones. We have developed our brand identity, including designing our logo and finalizing our company name, which resonates with our mission and values. Furthermore, we have secured an ideal location for our daycare, ensuring that we are accessible and convenient for the families we serve. These accomplishments serve as the foundation for our future growth and success, as we continue to build our reputation and expand our offerings to meet the needs of our community.

The Day Care/Daycare industry in the United States is a significant and growing market. Currently, the industry generates over $56 billion in revenue annually, with an average growth rate of 3.9% over the past five years. This indicates a strong demand for daycare services across the country, making it a lucrative industry for new businesses to enter.

One of the key trends in the Day Care/Daycare industry is the increasing number of working parents in the United States. With more parents entering the workforce, the demand for reliable and high-quality daycare services is on the rise. This trend bodes well for TinySteps Playhouse, as it positions itself to cater to the needs of busy families in Denver, CO. By offering convenient and flexible daycare options, TinySteps Playhouse is well-positioned to capitalize on this growing market.

Another trend in the Day Care/Daycare industry is the focus on early childhood education and development. Parents are increasingly looking for daycare providers that offer more than just basic childcare services, but also enriching educational experiences for their children. TinySteps Playhouse can differentiate itself in the market by emphasizing its educational curriculum and dedicated staff, attracting parents who prioritize their child’s learning and development. With the industry expected to continue growing in the coming years, TinySteps Playhouse has a promising future ahead.

Below is a description of our target customers and their core needs.

Target Customers

TinySteps Playhouse will target local residents primarily, focusing on families with young children in need of daycare services. The community within Denver has a significant portion of dual-income households where both parents work full-time jobs. This demographic is in dire need of reliable and nurturing childcare solutions, making them a primary customer segment for TinySteps Playhouse.

The daycare will also cater to single-parent families seeking a supportive and engaging environment for their children during work hours. Denver’s diverse population includes a notable number of single parents who require affordable, high-quality daycare services. By offering flexible hours and a curriculum that promotes early childhood development, TinySteps Playhouse will meet the specific needs of this customer group.

Moreover, TinySteps Playhouse will tailor its services to attract parents who prioritize educational content in their childcare selection. With an emphasis on learning and development, the daycare plans to integrate educational programs into its daily schedule. This approach will appeal to parents interested in providing their children with a head start in education, further broadening the daycare’s customer base.

Customer Needs

TinySteps Playhouse steps in to meet the critical need for high-quality daycare services that Denver parents desperately seek. Parents expect a safe, nurturing environment where their children can learn, play, and grow under the supervision of caring and professional staff. This establishment ensures that every child receives personalized attention, fostering a sense of belonging and security.

Moreover, TinySteps Playhouse recognizes the importance of convenience for working parents. It offers flexible hours to accommodate the varying schedules of Denver’s diverse workforce. By doing so, parents can maintain their professional responsibilities without compromising their child’s care and well-being.

In addition to basic caregiving, TinySteps Playhouse provides an educational curriculum designed to stimulate young minds and prepare them for future academic success. Parents can rest assured that their children are not only cared for but also engaged in meaningful learning activities. This comprehensive approach to daycare fulfills a critical need for developmental support beyond mere supervision.

TinySteps Playhouse’s competitors include the following companies:

Kiddie Academy of Denver-Boulevard One offers a comprehensive child care program that focuses on early childhood education and development. Their services include infant care, toddler care, preschool, and pre-kindergarten programs. The academy emphasizes a Life Essentials® curriculum, which supports the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development of children. Price points vary based on the program and age of the child, but they generally fall within the mid to high range of daycare services in the Denver area. Kiddie Academy of Denver-Boulevard One operates primarily in the Boulevard One neighborhood of Denver, catering to families residing in or near this area. They target middle to upper-middle-class families looking for a blend of education and care for their children. A key strength of Kiddie Academy is its national reputation and standardized curriculum. However, its location-specific weakness may be its higher price point, which could be a barrier for some families.

Crestmoor Learning Center provides early childhood education with a focus on creating a nurturing and safe environment for children to learn and grow. Services include infant care, preschool programs, and after-school care for older children. The center adopts a personalized approach to learning, tailoring activities to the developmental needs of each child. Pricing information is typically customized based on the specific needs and schedule of the family, aligning with industry standards in the Denver area. Serving the Crestmoor neighborhood and surrounding areas, Crestmoor Learning Center appeals to families seeking a more intimate and personalized daycare experience. The center’s strengths lie in its community-focused approach and flexible scheduling options. However, its smaller size and limited capacity could be viewed as a weakness, potentially limiting availability for new enrollments.

The Learning Experience – Westminster operates in the broader Denver metro area, with a specific focus on the Westminster location. This center offers educational childcare programs for children ages six weeks to six years, including toddler care, preschool, and kindergarten prep. Their proprietary L.E.A.P. (Learning Experience Academic Program) curriculum is designed to promote cognitive, social, and physical development. While The Learning Experience – Westminster has a competitive pricing structure that aims to be accessible to a wide range of families, they also offer premium features such as a mobile app for parents. This center serves a diverse customer base, including families from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Their key strength is the blend of affordability and technology-enhanced services. A potential weakness is the reliance on a franchise model, which may result in variability in service quality across locations.

Competitive Advantages

At TinySteps Playhouse, we pride ourselves on offering superior child care services that set us apart from our competitors. Our commitment to providing a nurturing and educational environment ensures that every child in our care receives the attention and support they need to grow and thrive. We understand the importance of early childhood development, and our programs are designed to stimulate learning and creativity in a safe and welcoming setting. Our approach is not just about watching over children; it’s about engaging them in activities that promote their social, emotional, and intellectual development.

Another significant competitive advantage we have is our team of highly experienced staff. Each member of our team brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in child care, early childhood education, and child psychology. This experience allows us to create a supportive and enriching environment for the children we serve. Our staff’s dedication to continuous learning and improvement means that we are always at the forefront of best practices in child care. Parents can trust that their children are in capable and caring hands, receiving the best possible care and education. This level of service and expertise distinguishes us in the Denver area, making us a preferred choice for discerning parents.

Our marketing plan, included below, details our products/services, pricing and promotions plan.

Products and Services

TinySteps Playhouse offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to meet the needs of busy families while providing a nurturing and educational environment for children. At the core of its offerings is Childcare, a service that ensures children are cared for in a safe, engaging, and supportive setting. Parents can expect to pay an average of $250 per week for full-time childcare, which includes a range of activities aimed at promoting the physical, emotional, and cognitive development of children.

Understanding the importance of early education, TinySteps Playhouse provides Early Education Programs tailored to different age groups. These programs are designed to lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning by incorporating elements of play, discovery, and structured learning. The cost of these programs is included in the weekly childcare fee, ensuring that every child has access to quality early education without additional financial burden on the families.

Nutrition plays a crucial role in the development and well-being of children, which is why TinySteps Playhouse offers Nutritious Meals and Snacks as part of its services. These meals and snacks are prepared with children’s dietary needs in mind, ensuring they receive balanced and healthy food throughout the day. This service is also included in the weekly fee, providing peace of mind to parents that their children are not only cared for but also receive proper nutrition.

Recognizing the importance of physical activity in children’s growth, TinySteps Playhouse incorporates Outdoor Play and Physical Activities into its daily schedule. This ensures that children have ample opportunity to engage in physical exercise, enjoy fresh air, and develop their motor skills. Like the other services, this is included in the overall childcare fee, offering a comprehensive approach to child development and care.

In summary, TinySteps Playhouse stands out by offering an all-inclusive package that covers childcare, early education, nutritious meals, and physical activities. With a focus on holistic development and a commitment to providing high-quality services, TinySteps Playhouse is positioned as a premier choice for families seeking the best care and education for their children in Denver, CO.

Promotions Plan

TinySteps Playhouse will utilize a comprehensive promotional strategy to attract customers in Denver, CO. At the heart of this strategy lies a robust online marketing campaign. The daycare will leverage social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, to connect with potential clients. Through these channels, TinySteps Playhouse will share engaging content, including day-to-day activities, testimonials from satisfied parents, and educational tips for children. This approach not only builds a community around the daycare but also showcases the quality and care provided. Furthermore, the daycare will implement search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to improve its visibility in search engine results. By targeting keywords related to daycare services in Denver, TinySteps Playhouse will attract parents actively searching for childcare options. Additionally, the daycare will use Google Ads to reach a wider audience, ensuring that parents searching for daycare services in the area encounter TinySteps Playhouse at the top of their search results. Email marketing will also play a crucial role in the promotional strategy. TinySteps Playhouse will collect email addresses from interested parents through its website and social media channels. The daycare will then send out regular newsletters featuring updates, events, and special promotions. This direct line of communication will keep TinySteps Playhouse top-of-mind for parents considering daycare options. Beyond online marketing, TinySteps Playhouse will engage in community outreach. The daycare will collaborate with local businesses and schools to sponsor events and offer special promotions. These partnerships will not only increase visibility but also establish TinySteps Playhouse as a trusted community member invested in the well-being of local families. To further attract customers, TinySteps Playhouse will host open houses and free trial days. These events will allow parents and children to experience the daycare firsthand, meet the staff, and see the facilities. Such experiences are invaluable in building trust and demonstrating the high level of care and education that TinySteps Playhouse provides. Word-of-mouth will also be a vital component of the promotional strategy. Satisfied parents are the best advocates for TinySteps Playhouse. The daycare will encourage referrals by offering discounts or special offers to families that bring new clients. This approach not only rewards current customers but also harnesses the power of personal recommendations. In conclusion, TinySteps Playhouse will deploy a multifaceted promotional strategy to attract customers. By combining online marketing, community outreach, and word-of-mouth, the daycare will establish a strong presence in Denver, CO. These efforts will ensure that TinySteps Playhouse becomes a preferred choice for parents seeking quality daycare services.

Our Operations Plan details:

  • The key day-to-day processes that our business performs to serve our customers
  • The key business milestones that our company expects to accomplish as we grow

Key Operational Processes

To ensure the success of TinySteps Playhouse, there are several key day-to-day operational processes that we will perform.

  • Opening Procedures: Staff arrive early to prepare the facility, ensuring that play areas are clean and safe, and that all necessary materials for the day’s activities are ready and accessible.
  • Health and Safety Checks: Conduct daily health checks of all children upon arrival to monitor for any signs of illness, and ensure that all play equipment and toys are sanitized and in good condition.
  • Attendance Tracking: Accurately record the arrival and departure times of children to maintain an up-to-date attendance log for safety and billing purposes.
  • Meal and Snack Preparation: Prepare and serve nutritious meals and snacks at scheduled times throughout the day, adhering to any dietary restrictions or allergies.
  • Educational Program Implementation: Execute planned educational activities and programs that stimulate cognitive, social, and physical development, adjusting as necessary to meet the needs of different age groups and individual children.
  • Continuous Supervision: Maintain constant supervision of children to ensure their safety and well-being, intervening as necessary to guide behavior and facilitate positive interactions among peers.
  • Communication with Parents: Provide regular updates to parents about their child’s day, including any notable achievements, behavior observations, and any incidents or accidents that occurred.
  • Cleaning and Maintenance: Perform regular cleaning of the facility throughout the day, with a deep clean at the end of the day, to maintain a hygienic environment. This includes laundering of any used fabrics and sanitizing toys and equipment.
  • Staff Coordination: Conduct briefings with staff at the start and end of each day to ensure everyone is informed about the day’s schedule, any special needs of children, and to discuss any issues that may have arisen.
  • Financial Management: Process payments from parents, manage billing inquiries, and ensure accurate financial records are kept for accounting purposes.
  • Professional Development: Encourage staff to engage in ongoing professional development and training opportunities to stay current with best practices in early childhood education and care.
  • Emergency Preparedness: Ensure that all staff are trained in emergency procedures and that emergency contacts for each child are readily accessible. Conduct regular drills for different types of emergencies.

TinySteps Playhouse expects to complete the following milestones in the coming months in order to ensure its success:

  • Securing a Suitable Location : Find and lease or purchase a facility in Denver, CO, that is safe, accessible, and compliant with state and local regulations for childcare services. This location should also offer potential for growth and expansion.
  • Obtaining Licenses and Permits : Complete all necessary state and local licensing requirements for operating a daycare. This includes passing health and safety inspections and obtaining a childcare license.
  • Building and Equipping the Facility : Renovate and equip the facility to meet the needs of children of various ages, including purchasing educational toys, furniture, outdoor play equipment, and safety features. Ensure that the environment is inviting, stimulating, and secure for children.
  • Hiring and Training Staff : Recruit, hire, and train qualified childcare providers who are passionate about child development. Staff training should focus on health and safety protocols, educational strategies, and emergency procedures to ensure a high-quality care environment.
  • Developing Curriculum and Activities : Design a comprehensive, age-appropriate curriculum that promotes physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. Plan a variety of engaging activities and routines that cater to the interests and needs of children.
  • Launching Marketing and Enrollment Campaigns : Implement targeted marketing strategies to attract parents and guardians in Denver, CO. Develop an attractive website, engage in social media marketing, and host open house events to facilitate enrollment.
  • Launching Our Daycare : Officially open TinySteps Playhouse for business, welcoming children and their families. Ensure a smooth operation from the first day, with staff ready to provide high-quality care and education.
  • Monitoring and Improving Quality : Establish mechanisms for regular feedback from parents and staff to continuously monitor and improve the quality of care and education provided. Implement changes as necessary to meet the evolving needs of children and families.
  • Reaching $15,000/Month in Revenue : Through effective marketing, quality service, and word-of-mouth referrals, steadily increase enrollment to reach the milestone of $15,000 in monthly revenue. This financial stability is crucial for covering operating costs and planning for future growth.
  • Evaluating Expansion Opportunities : After establishing a successful operation in Denver, CO, assess the feasibility of expanding TinySteps Playhouse to additional locations or offering new services to meet the needs of the community and drive further growth.

TinySteps Playhouse management team, which includes the following members, has the experience and expertise to successfully execute on our business plan:

Mason Clark, President

Mason Clark, President, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to TinySteps Playhouse. With a strong background in early childhood education and management, Mason has previously steered a daycare center towards operational excellence and growth. His expertise lies in strategic planning, staff leadership, and implementing innovative programs that enhance the learning and development of young children. Mason’s ability to drive business success, coupled with his passion for creating nurturing and educational environments for children, positions him as a key asset in guiding TinySteps Playhouse towards achieving lasting success.

TinySteps Playhouse requires significant funding to reach our growth goals and fulfill our mission of providing top-tier childcare services in Denver, CO. Our financial plan outlines the need for investment in facility expansion, curriculum development, marketing efforts, and operational enhancements to support our increasing enrollment and ensure the highest level of care. By securing the necessary funding, we will be able to implement our strategic plan, achieve our operational milestones, and continue to serve the families in our community with excellence.

Financial Statements

Balance sheet.

[insert balance sheet]

Income Statement

[insert income statement]

Cash Flow Statement

[insert cash flow statement]

Daycare Business Plan Example PDF

Download our Daycare Business Plan PDF here. This is a free daycare business plan example to help you get started on your own daycare plan.  

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Car Wash Business Plan PDF Example

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  • February 21, 2024
  • Business Plan

The business plan template for a car wash

Creating a comprehensive business plan is crucial for launching and running a successful car wash. This plan serves as your roadmap, detailing your vision, operational strategies, and financial plan. It helps establish your car wash’s identity, navigate the competitive market, and secure funding for growth.

This article not only breaks down the critical components of a car wash business plan, but also provides an example of a business plan to help you craft your own.

Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or new to the service industry, this guide, complete with a business plan example, lays the groundwork for turning your car wash concept into reality. Let’s dive in!

Our car wash business plan is designed to encompass all vital components necessary for a well-rounded strategy. It details the car wash’s operations, marketing approaches, market landscape, competitors, leadership team, and financial projections.

  • Executive Summary: Presents a snapshot of the car wash business idea, market evaluation, management team, and financial tactics.
  • Car Wash & Location: Explains the setup, features, and strategic location choice for attracting customers.
  • Services & Pricing: Enumerates the car wash services, including various cleaning options and pricing models.
  • Key Stats: Provides industry scale, growth patterns, and important market data for the car wash sector.
  • Key Trends: Outlines current trends influencing the car wash industry.
  • Key Competitors: Evaluates prominent local competitors and differentiates your car wash from them.
  • SWOT: Analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
  • Marketing Plan: Tactics for drawing in and keeping customers.
  • Timeline: I mportant goals and benchmarks from the outset through the initial year.
  • Management : Details on the car wash’s management team and their roles.
  • Financial Plan: Forecasts the car wash’s financial outlook over five years, covering income, profit margins, and anticipated costs.

The business plan template for a car wash

Car Wash Business Plan

Download an expert-built 30+ slides Powerpoint business plan template

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary introduces your car wash business plan, offering a concise overview of your car wash facility and its services. It should detail your market positioning, the range of car cleaning and detailing services you offer, its location, size, and an outline of day-to-day operations. 

This section should also explore how your car wash will integrate into the local market, including the number of direct competitors within the area, identifying who they are, along with your car wash’s unique selling points that differentiate it from these competitors. 

Furthermore, you should include information about the management and co-founding team, detailing their roles and contributions to the car wash’s success. Additionally, a summary of your financial projections, including revenue and profits over the next five years, should be presented here to provide a clear picture of your car wash’s financial plan.

Make sure to cover here _ Business Overview _ Market Overview _ Management Team _ Financial Plan

Car Wash Business Plan executive summary1

Dive deeper into Executive Summary

Business Overview

For a Car Wash, the Business Overview section can be adapted and concisely divided into 2 main categories:

Car Wash & Location

Briefly describe the car wash’s physical setup, focusing on its design, efficiency, and the welcoming environment it creates for customers. Mention the car wash’s location, emphasizing its accessibility and the convenience it offers to customers, such as proximity to major roads, shopping centers, or residential areas. Explain why this location is advantageous for attracting your target clientele.

Services & Pricing

Detail the range of car wash and detailing services offered, from basic exterior washes to comprehensive interior and exterior detailing. Outline your pricing strategy, ensuring it reflects the quality of services provided and is competitive within the market you’re targeting. Highlight any special packages, membership deals, or loyalty programs that provide added value to your customers, encouraging repeat business and fostering customer loyalty.

Make sure to cover here _ Car Wash & Location _ Services & Pricing

example of a summary business plan

Market Overview

Industry size & growth.

In the Market Overview of your car wash business plan, start by examining the size of the car wash industry and its growth potential. This analysis is essential for understanding the market’s breadth and pinpointing opportunities for expansion. Consider factors like the increasing number of vehicles, urbanization, and the growing consumer preference for professional car care services over DIY methods.

Key Market Trends

Proceed to discuss recent market trends, such as the rising consumer interest in eco-friendly and water-saving car wash technologies, the popularity of comprehensive detailing services, and the integration of digital technologies for enhanced customer experiences. For instance, highlight the demand for services that use environmentally friendly cleaning agents, the adoption of automated systems for efficiency, and the trend towards subscription-based models for regular customers.

Key Competitors

Then, delve into the competitive landscape, which includes a spectrum of car wash options from luxury detailing services to budget express models, as well as mobile car wash services. Emphasize what sets your car wash apart, be it through superior service quality, innovative technology, or specialization in high-end detailing. This section will help articulate the demand for car wash services, the competitive environment, and how your car wash is positioned to excel in this dynamic market.

Make sure to cover here _ Industry size & growth _ Key market trends _ Key competitors

Car Wash Business Plan market overview

Dive deeper into Key competitors

First, conduct a SWOT analysis for the car wash , highlighting Strengths (such as state-of-the-art equipment and a comprehensive range of services), Weaknesses (including potential environmental concerns or high initial setup costs), Opportunities (for example, the growing environmental consciousness leading to a preference for professional car washes over home washing), and Threats (such as water usage regulations or economic downturns that may impact discretionary spending).

Marketing Plan

Next, develop a marketing strategy that outlines how to attract and retain customers through targeted advertising, promotional offers, loyalty programs, an engaging online presence, and participation in local events. Consider partnerships with local businesses and eco-friendly initiatives that can differentiate your car wash in the market.

Finally, create a detailed timeline that outlines critical milestones for the car wash’s launch, marketing initiatives, customer base development, and potential expansion or diversification plans, ensuring the business advances with clear direction and purpose.

Make sure to cover here _ SWOT _ Marketing Plan _ Timeline

Car Wash Business Plan strategy

Dive deeper into SWOT

Dive deeper into Marketing Plan

The Management section focuses on the car wash’s management and their direct roles in daily operations and strategic direction. This part is crucial for understanding who is responsible for making key decisions and driving the car wash toward its financial and operational goals.

For your car wash business plan, list the core team members, their specific responsibilities, and how their expertise supports the business.

Car Wash Business Plan management

Financial Plan

The Financial Plan section is a comprehensive analysis of your financial projections for revenue, expenses, and profitability. It lays out your car wash’s approach to securing funding, managing cash flow, and achieving breakeven.

This section typically includes detailed forecasts for the first 5 years of operation, highlighting expected revenue, operating costs and capital expenditures.

For your car wash business plan, provide a snapshot of your financial statement (profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow statement), as well as your key assumptions (e.g. number of customers and prices, expenses, etc.).

Make sure to cover here _ Profit and Loss _ Cash Flow Statement _ Balance Sheet _ Use of Funds

Car Wash Business Plan financial plan

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  25. Car Wash Business Plan PDF Example

    Executive Summary. The Executive Summary introduces your car wash business plan, offering a concise overview of your car wash facility and its services. It should detail your market positioning, the range of car cleaning and detailing services you offer, its location, size, and an outline of day-to-day operations.