Prepare the Executive Summary Last

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

The Executive Summary is a Summary of the Business Plan

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

Brevity and Inclusiveness are both Key

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

A Sample Organization of an Executive Summary

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

  1. Company Information
  2. Business Plan Purpose & Objectives
  3. Company Goals & Vision
  4. Company Mission Statement
  5. Company Description
  6. Company Purpose
  7. Company Situation
  8. Founders, Management & Principals Capabilities
  9. Products & Services
  10. The Competition
  11. Keys to Success
  12. Finance
  13. Growth & Expansion Goals
  14. Sales Forecast
  15. Return on Equity / Return on Investment

About The Article Writer ~ Frank Goley

Frank Goley works for small and medium size companies as an experienced business consultant, business turnaround consultant, business plan expert, business plan writer, business coach, small business consultant, business planner, marketing consultant, online marketing consultant, seo consultant, and business plan consultant. Frank works for ABC Business Consulting, and he is considered an expert in writing, developing and implementing business plans, business turnaround plans, funding business plans, marketing plans, strategic plans and web marketing and seo plans. Frank is the author of a business plan book, The Comprehensive Business Plan Workbook – A Step by Step Guide to Effective Business Planning, and he has over 50 published articles and 30 E-books on business success strategies. He also writes the Business Success Strategies Blog and publishes the Business Success Newsletter.