Writing a business plan takes effort. But here’s the thing—most people will only read one part of it. That part is the executive summary.

Think about this: according to the Small Business Administration, nearly 1 in 5 businesses fail in their first year. One common reason is lack of funding. Investors and lenders often decide in the first minute whether they want to keep reading your plan. A clear, focused executive summary can keep them interested.

This short section sits right at the top of your plan. It gives a quick view of what your business does, what problem it solves, and how it plans to grow. It’s like your business in a nutshell.

But writing it isn’t as easy as it sounds. You need to say a lot using just a few words—and still make it interesting.

In this guide, you'll learn how to write an executive summary that grabs attention, explains your idea, and makes your plan stand out. We’ll walk through the steps, show examples, and cover what to include and what to skip.

Let’s get into it.

An executive summary is the short version of your business plan. It goes at the beginning, but most people write it last. Why? Because it sums up everything.

This section gives readers a quick idea of your business—what you do, who you serve, and how you plan to succeed. It covers the most important parts of your full plan but in a shorter form.

Let’s say you're trying to get a loan. The lender doesn’t have time to read 30 pages right away. They’ll read the executive summary first. If it’s clear and useful, they’ll keep going. If it’s confusing or too long, they’ll stop.

Most executive summaries are one or two pages. They are short, but they matter. A good one can help you get funding, partnerships, or support. A weak one can turn people away.

For example, imagine a startup offering meal kits. The summary might say the business helps busy families eat fresh meals at home without spending hours in the kitchen.
It might mention that the company has already sold 5,000 boxes in the first three months. That gives the reader a reason to keep reading.

Most investors, lenders, and business partners don’t start with your full plan. They begin with the executive summary. If that section works, they’ll keep reading.

Think of it like a movie trailer. It gives a quick look at what’s inside. If it’s boring or hard to follow, people lose interest fast.

Now here’s the thing: Over 70% of investors say the executive summary is the most important part of a business plan. It helps them decide whether to give their time—or their money.

A strong summary shows you’re serious. It proves you’ve thought through your idea. It also shows you understand your market and know what you’re doing.

Let’s look at an example.

Say someone is starting a mobile car wash service. The summary explains that people often can’t find time to visit a car wash. This new business brings the service to their door, saving them time.
It also mentions they’ve cleaned over 200 cars in their first month, with 40% of customers booking again the next week. That’s real proof.

On the other hand, if the summary is vague, too long, or full of buzzwords, readers move on.

So why is this section important?

Because it gets your foot in the door. It opens the conversation. It gives your business a chance.

And sometimes, that’s all you need.

A strong executive summary covers the most important parts of your business plan. It gives a clear picture of what your business does and how it plans to succeed.

Here’s what to include:

Start with the basics. Say what your business does, where it operates, and who runs it. Mention your business name, type, and when it was started.

Example:
Bright Bites is a healthy snack company based in Austin, Texas. It launched in 2022 and sells protein bars made with organic ingredients.

This is one or two lines about your main goal. Why does your business exist? Keep it real. Don’t try to sound fancy.

Example:
We help busy people eat better by offering clean, grab-and-go snacks made with simple ingredients.

Talk about the gap in the market. What issue are people facing? How does your business fix it?

Tip: Use numbers if you can.

Example:
70% of office workers skip breakfast. Our meal kits provide healthy food they can eat on the go.

Explain what you sell. Keep it short. You can list key features or benefits.

Example:
We offer weekly meal kits with prepped ingredients and step-by-step recipe cards.

Who are your customers? Be specific. Mention age groups, income levels, location, or habits.

Example:
Our main audience is young professionals aged 25–40 who live in large cities and value convenience.

How does your business make money? This can be sales, subscriptions, or something else.

Example:
We use a monthly subscription model. Customers pay $49.99 per month for four snack boxes.

Briefly share how you plan to reach people. Mention any channels or tactics.

Example:
We promote through Instagram ads, email campaigns, and local pop-up events.

Share key numbers. This can include sales, profits, or growth. Use round numbers for easier reading.

Example:
In our first year, we sold 12,000 units and made $180,000 in revenue.

Say how much money you’re asking for and what it will be used for. Be clear and realistic.

Example:
We’re looking for $100,000 to expand production, hire staff, and grow our marketing budget.

Why should someone pick your business over others? What makes you different?

Example:
Unlike most snack brands, our bars have no added sugar and use 100% compostable packaging.

Writing an executive summary is easier when you follow a clear path. Here’s how to do it, step by step.

Start with the full plan. Don’t jump ahead.

You need all the details before you can write a summary. This includes your goals, market research, sales plan, costs, and financial forecasts.

Think of it like this: you can’t write the last chapter of a book before the rest of the story is ready.

Even if your summary is short—usually one to two pages—it must reflect everything in your full plan. Skipping ahead might leave out something key.

Take your time. Make sure your plan is clear and complete before moving on.

Now that your plan is done, look for the highlights.

What are the most important things someone should know?

Focus on:

Write down short notes for each. You’re not writing full sentences yet—just gathering what matters most.

Example:
Business: Online dog food store
Key points: Launched in 2023, 2,000+ customers, 30% repeat buyers, $250,000 in sales last year.

These points will shape your summary. Keep them short and clear.

The first few lines matter a lot. They decide whether someone keeps reading or stops.

Begin with a clear and simple sentence that explains what your business does. No fluff. No long introductions. Just say what the company is and who it helps.

Example:
FreshCrate is a meal box company that delivers pre-cut vegetables and quick recipes to busy families in Chicago.

After that, follow with one or two sentences about your purpose or mission. Keep it focused. Avoid buzzwords.

Tip: Make the first paragraph no longer than 3–4 sentences.

You want the reader to get the idea fast.

Now arrange the rest of your key points in a smart order.

Most people follow a structure like this:

Keep each part short—2 to 3 lines. Use plain language. No big words. No long blocks of text.

Think of each section as a quick note that gets to the point.

If you can, use bullet points for clarity. For example:

Clear layout helps busy readers scan fast.

Write the way you speak—just cleaner.

Avoid long sentences. Avoid buzzwords. Don’t try to sound clever. People want quick answers, not fancy words.

Bad example:
“Our business solution revolutionizes the way consumers interact with healthy food options.”

Better example:
“We sell ready-made meals that help people eat healthy without spending time cooking.”

Use numbers where you can. It builds trust.

Example:
We’ve served 4,200 customers and reached $300,000 in yearly sales.

Break long text into small chunks. Keep most sentences short—under 15 words. Use bullet points if needed.

This step is where most people fall short.

Once you finish writing, step away. Come back after a short break and start trimming. Cut out anything that doesn’t add value. Every line must serve a purpose.

Read your summary out loud. If something sounds awkward, change it.

Ask yourself:

You can also ask someone else to read it. If they don’t “get it” right away, revise it again.

Your final version should be short, sharp, and easy to read. That’s what works.

Every executive summary has an audience. Write with that person in mind.

If you're sharing it with a bank, focus on steady income, past results, and your plan to repay a loan. If it's for investors, highlight growth, market demand, and how their money will help your business scale.

Change the tone slightly depending on who will read it—but stay clear and honest.

Example for a bank:
We reached $120,000 in annual revenue and have kept costs low. We’re requesting a $40,000 loan to purchase delivery equipment and open a second location.

Example for an investor:
We’ve grown 25% month-over-month for six months. We’re looking for $100,000 to expand marketing and grow our team.

You're still telling the same story. You’re just shining the light on what matters most to that reader.

End your summary with one final sentence that leaves a strong impression. Something like:

We’re ready to grow, and with your help, we can reach the next level.

Short. Clear. Confident.

Here’s a full sample of a clear and easy-to-follow executive summary. This shows how you can write one that’s simple but strong. We’ll walk through each part so you understand how it works—not just what it looks like.

Business Name: FreshBite Meals
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Business Type: Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Industry: Food delivery / Meal prep

FreshBite Meals is a local food delivery company that helps busy people eat healthier. We cook fresh meals every morning and deliver them across Atlanta. The meals are ready to eat—no prep or cooking needed.

We started in 2022 with a goal to make eating well simple. Our team includes a professional chef, a nutritionist, and two co-founders who run daily operations. Right now, we operate from a rented commercial kitchen and work with local farms for fresh ingredients.

Our goal is to help working adults enjoy healthy food without wasting time on cooking. We believe fresh, balanced meals should be easy to get and fairly priced.

People want to eat better—but don’t have the time. In fact, over 60% of professionals skip home-cooked meals during the week. They often rely on fast food or snacks. This leads to poor nutrition and low energy.

The market is crowded with frozen options or expensive meal kits that still require cooking. That’s where FreshBite comes in.

We solve this problem with daily-prepared meals that are ready to eat. Our service brings fresh, handmade food to customers’ homes and offices. Each meal is packaged for single use, labeled with calories and ingredients, and delivered the same day it’s made.

We offer meal plans for different needs:

Customers can order through our mobile app or website. Plans start at $59 per week.

Our main audience is busy adults aged 25 to 45. Most live in metro Atlanta, work full-time, and care about their health. Many are single or living in two-person households.

They want real food that’s quick, healthy, and doesn’t involve dishes or cleanup.

We also serve office teams who order lunch as a group. This helps us increase order volume during weekdays.

We run on a simple subscription model. Customers choose weekly or monthly plans. They can pause, cancel, or change their meal preferences anytime.

We also offer one-time orders and small business lunch packages.

Here’s how it breaks down:

We’ve grown mainly through social media and word of mouth. Over 40% of new users come from referrals. Our Instagram account grew from 500 to 5,200 followers in 6 months.

We partner with local gyms and co-working spaces to promote weekly offers. Our email list has 3,000+ active users, and we send out weekly deals.

To grow further, we plan to:

In our first year, FreshBite earned $180,000 in revenue with a 30% repeat customer rate. Our current monthly revenue is around $22,000, and it grows by about 12–15% each month.

We’re profitable on each order, with a 25% margin after food and delivery costs.

We’re seeking $75,000 in funding. Here’s how we plan to use it:

This funding will help us serve more customers and expand to two nearby cities—Marietta and Decatur—within the next 12 months.

Most meal services send frozen meals or kits that still need cooking. Ours are fresh, already made, and ready to eat.

We cook daily, use local ingredients, and deliver fast. Our customers stick around because the food tastes good, and the process is easy.

Out of 130 reviews, we have an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.

Even a small change can make a big difference. These tips will help you write an executive summary that’s clear, easy to follow, and actually gets read.

Let’s start with two important ones:

This might sound simple, but it’s often skipped. Always finish your full business plan before you write the summary. Why? Because you need the full picture first.

If you try to write the summary early, you’ll miss key points. You may also change your business model, pricing, or goals as you go.

Once the full plan is done, you'll know exactly what matters most—and what to leave out.

This step saves time and makes the summary sharper.

Anyone can say, “Our business is growing fast.” But that doesn’t mean much unless you prove it.

Use real numbers to back up your points:

Example:
In our first 8 months, we grew from 100 to 1,200 monthly orders. Revenue rose from $4,000 to $52,000.

This tells a clear story. No guessing. No hype.

People trust numbers—especially when they’re simple and easy to read.

Most people skim. Long paragraphs slow them down.

Use short sentences. Avoid repeating the same ideas. Break big chunks into smaller bits.

Instead of this:
We provide an innovative solution to meal delivery that sets us apart by offering healthy, convenient, and affordable choices.

Try this:
We deliver fresh, healthy meals. They’re ready to eat. No cooking. No cleanup.

See the difference? Shorter sentences move faster. They hold attention. That’s what you want.

Skip the big words. Speak in a way people understand.

You’re not writing a school paper. You’re telling someone why your business matters. So, keep the tone friendly and natural.

Write like you're explaining your idea to a friend—just more organized.

Example:
We make energy bars with five ingredients. No junk. Just good food for busy people.

That hits harder than a line full of buzzwords or corporate talk.

People want answers fast. So help them find what they’re looking for.

Use:

A clean layout makes your summary look professional. It also makes it easier to read.

Tip: Don’t cram too much in. Leave white space between sections. That breathing room helps readers stay focused.

Even good business ideas can fall flat if the summary is poorly written. Many people make the same mistakes—so let’s help you skip those.

Below are five common errors to watch for:

Your executive summary should be short and sharp. One to two pages is enough.

If it’s too long, people won’t read it. They’ll lose interest before they even get to the plan.

Cut the fluff. Stick to the key facts.

Tip: Every sentence should serve a purpose. If it doesn’t, cut it out.

Big words don’t make your business sound better. They make it harder to understand.

Avoid terms like “disruption,” “synergy,” or “groundbreaking.” Say what you mean in plain English.

Instead of:
We offer an innovative solution for modern meal delivery problems.

Try:
We deliver healthy meals to people who don’t have time to cook.

Simple wins.

Saying “we’re growing fast” isn’t helpful without proof.

Use real stats. Talk about revenue, sales, users, or repeat orders. Numbers build trust.

Example:
Our revenue grew from $8,000 to $46,000 in six months.

That says more than any buzzword.

If you don’t explain the problem, readers won’t understand why your business matters.

Every business should solve something. Make that clear.

Think: What problem are people facing? How does your business fix it?

This is not the full business plan. It’s just a preview.

Don’t pack in every detail. Don’t list every team member or product feature. Keep it light, focused, and easy to skim.

Your goal is to get people interested, not overwhelmed.

A strong executive summary can open doors. It's often the first thing people read—and sometimes the only thing.

Keep it short. Make it clear. Focus on what matters.

Say what your business does. Explain the problem. Share your numbers. And write like a real person, not a robot.

Whether you’re trying to raise money, get support, or simply share your idea, a well-written summary shows you're serious and prepared.

Don’t overthink it. Keep it honest. Keep it simple.

You’ve got the tools. Now write it.

The purpose of the executive summary is to give a quick overview of the business plan. It highlights the business idea, goals, market, and financial needs so readers can understand the plan without reading the full document.

An executive summary should be one to two pages long. It must stay brief while covering key points like the business idea, target market, and financial highlights.

The executive summary should go at the beginning of the business plan. It appears right after the title page and before the main sections.

The two documents that summarize a business plan are the executive summary and the pitch deck. The executive summary is a written overview, while the pitch deck is a visual presentation.