Writing an Executive Summary

by Tim Berry

The executive summary section of a business plan is a summary of the highlights of your business plan. Even though the topic appears first in the printed document, most business plan developers leave the writing of the executive summary until the end. This summary is the doorway to the rest of the plan. Get it right or your target readers will not go further than the executive summary.

What should an executive summary include?

For a standard business plan, the first paragraph of the executive summary should generally include:

  • Business name
  • Business location
  • What product or service you sell
  • Purpose of the plan

Another paragraph should highlight important points, such as projected sales and profits, unit sales, profitability and keys to success. Include the news you don’t want anyone to miss. This is a good place to put a highlights chart, a bar chart that shows sales, gross margin, and profits before interest and taxes for the next three years. You should also cite and explain those numbers in the text.

Different plans require different summaries

An internal plan, such as an operations plan, annual plan, or strategic plan, doesn’t have to be as formal with its executive summary. Make the purpose of the plan clear, and make sure the highlights are covered, but you don’t necessarily need to repeat the location, product/service description, or other details.

Never waste words in a summary.

If you’re looking for investment, say so in your executive summary, and specify the investment amount required and the percent of equity ownership offered in return. You should probably also add some highlights of your management team and your competitive edge.

If you’re looking for a loan, say so in the executive summary, and specify the amount required. Leave loan details out of the summary.

How long should an executive summary be?

Experts differ on how long an executive summary should be. Some insist that it takes just a page or two, others recommend a more detailed summary, taking as much as ten pages, covering enough information to substitute for the plan itself. Although 50+ page business plans used to be common, investors and lenders these days expect a concise, focused plan.

The best length for an executive summary is a single page. Emphasize the main points of your plan and keep it brief. You are luring them in to read more of the plan, not explaining every detail.

Don’t confuse an executive summary with the summary memo. The executive summary is the first chapter in a business plan. A summary memo is a separate document, normally only 5-10 pages at most, which is used to substitute for the plan with people who aren’t ready to see the whole plan.

For more information on executive summaries, see our sample executive summaries below or use one of our software products, Business Plan Pro or LivePlan, which help you write an executive summary as well as contain over 500 executive summary examples.

Business Plan Software

Business Plan Pro
If you’re looking for help with the executive summary 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 executive summary, 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 Executive Summaries

The links below take you to the executive summary of some of our sample business plans that were created with Business Plan Pro.

Studio 67 Executive Summary
Studio67 is a medium-sized restaurant focusing on organic foods and an intriguing atmosphere, in a prime neighborhood of Portland.


AMT Computers Executive Summary
AMT is an ongoing business computer reseller which also provides service and support.


Javanet Internet Cafe Executive Summary
JavaNet is a start-up business that will provide a unique forum for communication and entertainment through the medium of the Internet.

  • Browse sample business plans

About the author: Founder and President of Palo Alto Software and a renowned planning expert. He is listed in the index of "Fire in the Valley", by Swaine and Freiberger, the history of the personal computer industry. Tim contributes regularly to the bplans blog, the Huffingtonpost.com as well as his own blogs, Planning, Startups, Stories, Up and Running, and others. His full biography is available at timberry.com. More »

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  • http://www.davidashforth.com David Ashforth

    Executive summaries! Probably the most important part of the business plan… It helps the reader/investor decide weather or not he is going to keep reading…

    I write a ES and include as much details as possible… then re-read it and remove the fluff (repeat that step about 5 times)… Never waste space/words when writing this summary!

  • J.Murugan

    Its really great. This has helped me in many ways in writing plan from basic. Thank You So much…

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  • http://non tom

    am inspired and i think my level of understanding has gone higher and higher>you are great people who are aimed at redeeming the world from the bondage of ignorance

    KEEP IT UP AND UP AND UP AND………..HEY HAVE RUN OUT OF WORDS

  • http://www.jessiejlove.info Jessie J

    Thanks for these great tips! “Never waste words in a summary.” – So true! Being direct is a favorable quality.

  • Drakechaput

    I had someone write a business plan for me, and in one section of the executive summary they repeated in the service part of plan as well is the bad to duplicate?

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  • Sylvia Kalenga

    Am loving this site. There is so much I didn’t know but now its all falling into place. Confident of a good business plan by the time I go through the different aspects of business planning/writing. Thanx

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