How to Write a Business Report

A business report is a collection of data and analyses that helps make relevant information easily accessible to a company. There are many different types of business reports, but this guide will show you the basic outline.

Before You Begin:

• Think about your audience and their expectations, and plan your report accordingly. For example, are they expecting a formal or informal report? Do they have an understanding of the vocabulary/terms used? Do they require more background information? Do they need to be heavily persuaded?
• What is the purpose of the report? Make sure this is clear.
• Gather and organize your supporting information/data/visuals.
• Focus on the facts.
• Make sure to be clear and concise, so the report is easy for everyone to read and understand.
• Use a professional, standard font in a readable size.

Components of a Business Report

• Title Page
• Table of Contents: Depending on the length of the report, you might want to consider including a table of contents. This will make finding specific information easier for readers.
• Summary: This section includes a brief overview of the main points of the report and is usually a few sentences to a paragraph in length. If someone were to read this section, they would have an idea of the main takeaways from each section of the report.
  • Tip: Even though this is the first section, consider writing this section after you have finished the report. This will help you determine which points are the most important to address.
  • Examples of headings:
    • Methods
    • Findings
    • Research
    • Analysis
    • Graphs
    
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