The Executive Summary of your business plan is an important part of your entire presentation, and making sure you've included only key in a compelling way is your primary goal. The Executive Summary serves as the preview for the oncoming plan; it will explain what your business is about, and why it's important. Even though this seems simple enough, it can be difficult to pull it together with the often-overwhelming task of creating your plan in the first place!

If you approach the Executive Summary as an overview, it becomes easier to see how it fits together in the larger scope of your plan. You'll need to create a summary for any plan that is longer than four pages; you'll want to make sure that it's not longer than 1/10 of the report in length, since it shouldn't cover specifics but needs to be more general.

Your summary will need to cover all the topics in the same order of your entire plan. Make sure you pay attention to this since you'll need to keep this consistent. Consistency and attention to detail throughout your business plan will give you the quality presentation you need to make it attractive! If you need some help in getting started, dissecting the Executive Summary may make it easier to develop.

To begin, you'll need to carve out a declarative sentence. This needs to be a balance of a compelling message and attention-grabbing statement. You may need to write a few of these before picking the best. Taking the time to find the right match can be an important step as you pull this portion of the paragraph together. You'll need this sentence to include key details of each of the main points, but it will also lead into the next area: defining the problem.

You'll need to outline an important problem that your business is attempting to solve. Explain shortages, outline why a particular industry is looking grim, and then you can explain how your business will be beneficial. Pitching your business idea in this way gives people a more compelling reason to learn more. Follow this with the solution; explain how and why your unique selling proposition will overcome all of these obstacles and provide something of substance for the potential investors involved. Next you'll need to discuss your team, your competitive advantage, and your overall business model. Finish up by a simple request of what you are looking for.

All of your supporting sentences after the declarative sentence are important. You'll want to keep things general and easy to read in this area, keeping in mind that this needs to be a seamless summary. Avoid technical details or any direct copying of quotes from your business plan. The idea for this area is to keep it simple! Keep the tone formal and professional, but make sure it aligns with your overall presentation as well. This is an introduction that acts as a lead-in for your entire project.

Finally, make sure you check for errors, grammar, and punctuation. You may need someone to proofread it for you to make sure you haven't missed anything. You'll need to read it slowly, and it's okay to be critical with this; remember that your purpose is to keep it simple and make sure it is easy to read. Reading out loud can help you understand the general tone and direction of the paragraph, and will help you fine tune it as necessary.

The Executive Summary is an essential part of your business plan, and is the only way you can pique the interest of investors in one quick sweep! Writing strategically may take some practice and revisions, but once you have it tightened up, you'll discover how powerful it can be!