Your mission statement is an opportunity to define your business at the most basic level. It should tell your company story and ideals in less than 30 seconds: who your company is, what you do, what you stand for, and why you do it.
Do you want to make a profit, or is it enough to just make a living? What markets are you serving, and what benefits do you offer them? Do you solve a problem for your customers? What kind of internal work environment do you want for your employees? All of these issues may be addressed in a mission statement.
Basic guidelines in writing a mission statement
Your mission statement is about you, your company, and your ideals. Read other companies’ mission statements, but write a statement that is about you and not some other company. Make sure you actually believe in what you’re writing; your customers and your employees will soon spot a lie.
Don’t “box” yourself in. Your mission statement should be able to withstand the changes that come up over time in your product or service offerings, or customer base. A cardboard box company isn’t in the business of making cardboard boxes; it’s in the business of providing protection for items that need to be stored or shipped. The broader understanding helps them see the big picture.
Keep it short. The best mission statements tend to be three to four sentences long.
Ask for input. Run your mission statement draft by your employees. Is it clear and easily understood, or does it sound like something from the Dilbert Mission Statement Generator?
Aim for substance, not superlatives. Avoid saying how great you are, what great quality and what great service you provide.
For more information on mission statements, see our sample mission statements below or use Business Plan Pro or LivePLan, both of which help you write a mission statement as well as contain over 500 example mission statements.
Business Plan Software
Business Plan Pro
If you’re looking for help with your mission statement or other parts of your business plan, Business Plan Pro can save you lots of time and headaches. It contains over 500 sample business plans which can be used to help create your own plan.
LivePlan
LivePlan includes expert guidance and built in help to ensure your mission statement, and entire plan, is error-free. Being that it’s online, LivePlan allows you to collaborate with others and access your plan from anywhere.
Sample Mission Statements
The links below take you to the mission statements of some of our sample business plans that were created with Business Plan Pro.
Studio 67 Mission Statement
Studio67 is a medium-sized restaurant focusing on organic foods and an intriguing atmosphere, in a prime neighborhood of Portland.
AMT Computers Mission Statement
AMT is an ongoing business computer reseller which also provides service and support.
JavaNet Internet Cafe Mission Statement
JavaNet is a start-up business that will provide a unique forum for communication and entertainment through the medium of the Internet.
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
How important is a mission statement? Does anyone really care about it or is it the business plan version of an objective on a resume, where nobody reads it but it’s standard protocol to include?
And where do you find existing companies mission statements?
PS: the Dilbert mission statement generator is a great laugh and sounds a lot like most mission statements I have read
You can find many companies’ mission statements with a simple Google search. Just search for the company name followed by mission statement. For example, try Googling for “starbucks mission statement” and you should see theirs.
I belong to a non-profit chorale group. We are in need of a mission statement to reflect that we are a community choir. Our purpose is to promote and enhance public interest in, and appreciation of, choral music.
Thank you
Hello Lorraine,
You can use the Google Search tool and other Internet Search tools to find what you need as well. Just go to http://www.google.com and type: Chorale Group “Mission Statement” into the search field and you’ll find a long list of results.
I am starting a construction company have development skill and my part does construction. I need a business for construction.
I am starting an internet marketing business on baby merchandise, and I am finding it difficult to write a mission statement.
Please can you help me?
Thanking you in advance.
Best Regards.
Hi,
i am a student of management sciences. i am intersted to know that why mission statements of any organization(corporation/business)differ from one to another and is there any criteria to write a mission statement? if anyone can help me itwould be great!
thanks in advance for you reply.
Hello,
I am trying to get ideas for my mission statement.
Our company makes blankets to donate to babies born with heart problems or defects.
Thank you.
~J~
Hello Julie,
Thanks for your comment!
Our Bplans website is a free resource that allows you to search free sample plans to research and gather information for your mission statement.
Goodluck!
Casi Deatherage
Palo Alto Software
Customer Care
hello,
i am exicted about starting a business of my own.
i will like someone to help write my business plan on fish farming.
thank you.
I find it very helpful. Will you be able to help me what mission statement suitable for my business. I’m planning to start my TAVEL AND TOUR BUSINESS.
Thank you!
Flein
Hello Fleinwoods,
Bplans has many helpful resources to help you search for information related to a Travel and Tour Business.
Best regards,
Casi Deatherage
Palo Alto Software
Customer Care
I would like very much if I could get some help on writing a mission statment for a non-profit organization. If you could send me some sample I would greatly appreaciate it.
Thanks in advance
Hello Vickie,
Our Bplans website is a free resource that allows you to search free sample plans to help gather information. I did a search under Nonrofit Mission Statements and found a few listings.
I hope this will be of help to you.
Best regards,
Casi Deatherage
Palo Alto Software
Customer Care
Hi,
for a new restaurant in Peshawar city, Pakistan, The Mission statement may be
” We are here to provide you the best services and traditional hosptality with not only our traditions but also with international standards.”
I’m a offering business management, and i want to know how business culture of an organization differs from other organization.
i am a student of management sciences. i am intersted to know that why mission statements of any organization(corporation/business)differ from one to another and is there any criteria to write a mission statement? if anyone can help me itwould be great!
thanks in advance for you reply.
Great contribution…
I believe the creator of any business idea MUST know the purpose (Mission) of his or her business. In this way we will be able to survive the risks and challenges that will come along our way. And most importantly it must be SHARED to all not just to impress people but its a kind of mind setting to both concerned.
All dbest!
Interesting facts.I have bookmarked this site. stephanazs
I did a recent blog on company mission statements. Its really fascinating to see how they are constructed and what keywords they are using to reinforce their company values – as your article above points out.
I once worked for a company that refused to produce a mission statement. It eventually turned out they didn’t want one because they were going in a different direction than their employees!
I am a Paralegal student who wish to start my own paralegal services and Business Consulting. Today, we have asked in class as part of the course to write a business paln. I looked hard at your site and I did not find a templates geared towards my future business. Can you help me before this coming Monday?
Thanks,
Gamal
Excellent business support site. Market research need to be emmphasized as it forms a very critical part of successful business take off and its sustainability especially in a country like Nigeria where the market is huge with enormous potentials.
“We test what the trainees know”
This is a proposed mission statement for an examining body. Can anybody improve upon it.
Thanx
Job
I am trying to find out how to get a business startup capita I have absolutely no startup money. I want to start an automobile inspection place or business. Anybody with any valuable input I would appreciate it.
we are looking for a sample of a business plan that will be used in our business plan… can i ask for a copy just for reference purpose…
we are students of accounting in university of Dhaka. we are start new business of accounting service and accounting relative consultancy. However, we are benefit, I We need HELP with our Business Plan and Mission Statement.
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Ratul,
It’s important to note that all our business plans are available, in full, for free, on our website. If you are looking for access to edit the plan, you will need to purchase our business plan software.
Hello,
I am trying to get ideas for my mission statement.
“To be the leading fast food restaurant in the region seeking to improve the quality of food for our customers. To maintain the position as the best quality and taste producer of delicious and remarkable food and drinks in the country and at the same time make a strategic transition to become an international fast food restaurant exploiting food and drinks beyond the borders of Pakistan, resulting in value addition to shareholder’s investment and to the nation as a whole.”
I am working on a mission statement and have written three so far and I keep going over it deleting what is not really needed, as I am trying to get it down to at lease four sentance, You blog here has given me some good ideas thank you for putting this out there.
I thought writing a mission statement was a simple thing to do, but I’m finding it really hard and harder each time I condenm a statement or more. I have spent hours to come up with a precise mission statement about a vocation I am starting, but not getting the right wordings yet. Does it matter if I do not have one? O.k. if I must have one, can some help me to put words together that fit in my plan to help poorer people in communities heavily stricken by poverty in the world. My organizational title is “Vision Of Hope Itnl.” My aim is to restore hope for survival to those whose hopes and lives have been shattered by their societies and to expand Christian faith through the power of gifts which signify love and care for others.
This mission is already in effect. I am taking quantities of new and old clothes of all types and books in English to Sierra Leone in west Africa out of my personal expenses, to offer to a minute population of about a little over hundred of the poorest people in that country and I want to do more to many poorer people in the whole world. But I need to make this known to others for support to be able to help the poor. Therefore I need a precise mission statement. Can you Help?
————
This article is a couple years old, but I think it would be helpful in your struggles with the mission statement.
Mantras vs Mission Statements
I am trying to start my own business as non profit organization for homeless women. I need some feed back on your throughts and concern about home women or homeless people in general.
Your help would be greatly appreicated.
God Bless!!
Don’t think about making your mission statement sound impressive just be honest and your thoughts will flow. Also, use words that are simple but compelling when writing your mission statement.
hi, i am trying to write my business plan. can i get some one to help me write it.
I will put fame and fortune at risk to breathe life into dreams.
I will help people grow and test their edges of what they know they can achieve.
I will develop as a human being and teach my children by good example.
I will show that putting spirit into my work will unleash the artist within.
Mate and I’m an Aussie builder… stretch yourself a little.(or a lot)
hello!
i just wanna need your help and advise in making the mission statement of our business plan..our proposed study is a souvenir product w/c symbolizes on the different tourist spots in the philippines. And our mission is like this: “to provide quality souvenirs focusing on the different tourist spots in the philippines that promote the cultural heritage of the country.
have been struggling to write a business plan but moving through your site
one has been able to get the basics and your advices came in handy, and
thank you.
regards
thabo ndhlovana
interesting plan and out line, i am inspired i would like to continued in this quest
of business start up plans.
Always go for the business you have a passion for.
be Blessed.
I am interested to start my new company that will be dwelling on educational training services. As i went through your website, I have gained a lot of benefits that will help me to frame out my company mission statement. Thank you for this service.
My sister and I are trying to start up a Child Care for low income women. We are trying to get ideas to start a Mission statement. We would appreciate it if you could give us some feedback.
Thank you
can you help me to come up with a mission statement for my business plan which is involved with having a place where one can have their pizza and still watch a movie??/
What do you think of this mission statement?
Grande Events is an event planning business serving those who need guidence through planning and implementing for their event with an one-on-one communication baseline.
mission statement says who you are and what you represent. we need them and never take such things lightly.
It seems like it would be really hard to own a senior care business or a senior care franchise. I really want to learn how to start a home care business and hopefully make it work.