Business Proposal Executive Summary: Guide + Examples
AUG 01, 2024 | LAST UPDATED ON OCT 01, 2024 BY ANGELICA NAIDU
A business proposal executive summary is a document that is included in your project proposal with the purpose of grabbing the investor’s attention. It’s usually a 1-4 page long document that includes things like the company’s mission, information about company history and management, and some information about the industry and what makes this business different from its competitors. Executive summaries that are designed for business proposals are very different from those of grant proposals.
When we talk about business proposals, an executive summary will highlight how your business will solve the stakeholders’ pain points. But that’s not it; there are multiple other reasons for having a compelling executive summary. As we also mentioned above, the primary task of a summary is to grab attention, persuade readers, introduce the business, and sell the solution.
Let’s understand this with a small example: suppose you’ve started a marketing agency; the purpose of your business proposal will most likely be to get investment, right? Here’s where an executive summary kicks in, where you’ll be elaborating your business, your goals, the investment you require, and why they should invest in your solution.
When Should You Write The Executive Summary?
You can write an executive summary before or after a proposal. Both approaches have pros and cons, and we will ensure that you are equipped with enough knowledge to choose what approach is best for you.
Writing an executive summary at the start helps you create an outline for the entire proposal. You can devise concepts and organize how to work along the whole proposal.
On the other hand, if you write an executive summary at the end of the proposal, you will already know your own strategies and outlines that have been created. This also gives you the freedom to make changes in your proposal during curation. This cannot be done if you have already written an executive summary at the start of the proposal.
The choice always remains yours!
How To Write a Business Proposal Executive Summary
While writing an executive summary in a business proposal, we suggest that you have all the information that needs to be included at your fingertips. This will ensure that you don’t have to make multiple revisions.
If you were provided with guidelines in the RFP, make sure to follow them and draft an executive summary accordingly.
For example, if you’re writing a startup plan, you’ll want to include a product or service description, financial projections, key business metrics, and your funding request. A project proposal executive summary, on the other hand, might cover project scope and constraints, resources, change management plans, and major deliverables. Whatever the case, be sure to check if there are any specific requirements you need to follow. By doing your homework upfront, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a clear, concise, and compelling executive summary that gets your point across.
What Are The 6 Essential Components Of An Executive Summary?
What to include and not to include in an executive summary remains questionable. So, we are here with 6 essential components that can make your executive summary instantly grab your prospect’s attention. Let’s get started:
Start with an Attention-grabbing opening.
As we know, an executive summary is a document designed to hook the readers. Hence, it’s important that you start with an attention-grabbing opening. This can be easily done if you focus more on them instead of you. Address issues in a way that the readers might feel connected and read the further document.
Tip: So, what’s the best way to hook the readers? Make them feel you’re actually interacting with them. And the easiest route is to ask them questions and be direct in your information.
Example: Instead of starting your pitch with “Company x is a leading provider of…” Try something like what you can see in our Social Media Marketing Proposal: “Are you facing low social media engagement? You need a social media strategy to experience exponential growth.”
This statement can grab your attention and make you read the executive summary simultaneously.
Summary of pain points/challenges
Every potential investor is probably looking for solutions, right? So, when you understand their pain points and challenges, present your solution in a way that can help them overcome those pain points. Don’t you think they’ll instantly connect and want to understand your business further? That’s all you gotta do to build trust and credibility.
Tip: State their problems very clearly, and use quantifiable data wherever possible to show the clients you’ve actually done your homework and you’re ready to provide them with logical and strategized solutions.
Example: To understand this better, look at our Shopify e-commerce proposal template. It has clearly outlined the pain points of the clients. “The problem is that as awesome as your chopsticks are, you’ve got a static website that merely shows photos of your product line and requires customers to pick up the phone or send an email and place orders manually.”
Overview of how your company/solution helps achieve the goal
Now, this is your space; the spotlight is on you; make sure to use it optimally. Present your value proposition smartly and elaborate on how your product/service is going to conquer the pain points of the client. Here’s your chance to show off your brand and its skill sets.
Tip: Ok, so here’s where most people go wrong. This is your space, but you still need to impress the client, right? So make sure to still keep it solution-oriented more than feature oriented.
Example: “With over 25 years of expertise in the cleaning services sector, we have amassed a seasoned staff and a vast cleaning toolkit that will leave your facility immaculate. We provide cleaning schedules that are daily, weekly, or biweekly to make sure your properties are always immaculate for your tenants.”
Brief overview of the company/team (optional)
This is where you’ll be talking about your expertise and take a chance to introduce your team. This is also necessary, especially if you’re a startup. By doing this you can gain credibility as the clients are aware of who’ll be working on their projects and what skills and experience they hold.
Tip: It’s suggested that you keep this section short and crisp. Include skills that are relevant to the project and create a team that is skilled enough to handle this specific project.
Testimonials/Case studies (optional)
Social proof is an amazing way to ensure your targeted clients know you’re worth the effort they’d put in. This is a space where you can flaunt your previous achievements that are related to this specific project.
Tip: Ensure that the selected testimonials are appropriate for the client you are working on in terms of industry, specialized demands, skills, etc.
Call to action
As you conclude your summary, do not give the reader a feeling of being left suspended in mid-air. Lead them to a call to action. It could be a phone number, a call for the demo, or requesting them to view the whole proposal.
Tip: Ensure that the call to action does not complicate things and leave the readers or viewers guessing what you want them to do.
Business Proposal Executive Summary Examples
Executive Summary for Project proposal
We are here to introduce a new project that is going to revolutionize how urban transportation functions. Our aim? To make cities more sustainable, connected, and livable.
At [Your company name], our team of innovators has created solutions to bring revolutionary changes to urban transportation. With 10+ years of experience in transportation and planning, we’ve crafted amazing frameworks on how transportation works and what will benefit the cities more.
Our project [project name] is a well-crafted transport system that optimizes traffic flow and promotes eco-friendly travel options. We have included real-time traffic management, smart traffic signals, and much more in our solutions.
Our expert team has always been coming up with creative and workable ideas for transportation. [Company name] is a trusted partner in transportation innovation. Says [client name].
Are you ready to join this transformation? We invite you to support our project and help create a more sustainable city.
Proposal Executive Summary Example For HVAC Services
We believe we are liable to provide you with a perfectly climate-controlled home or office. To ensure your comfort and health. With our expert HVAC solutions, we promise you’ll never be dissatisfied.
We’re a locally owned and operated HVAC company dedicated to providing ventilation, heating, and air conditioning services for corporate or residential spaces in [city/region]. With over 10+ years of experience and dedication to customer satisfaction, we’ve built a reputation for reliability, efficiency, and affordability.
We are here with a range of solutions to choose from:
- Smart sensors
- Heating and cooling systems
- Air quality solutions
- Energy-efficient upgrades
We have been proudly introducing our team of certified technicians who have been delivering excellent services since the start. Here’s what one of our clients says: “I was impressed with the quick response and fair pricing.”
Ready to experience a comfortable, healthy environment around you? Contact us today and schedule an appointment. Call us at [Phone Number] or visit our website at [Website URL].
Additional resource: Check out our HVAC proposal template to close leads faster.
Executive Summary For Grant Proposal
Have you seen a world where education is accessible to all? Would you like to see one? We are focused on making this a reality. Our dedication to providing education is never-ending, hoping to bring this change together!
[Your company name] is a non-profit organization that has been working towards its only goal. That is to deliver quality education to each and every underserved society. We believe that every individual has the right to educate themselves; hence, we put all our efforts into making that happen.
We collaborate with the local educational institutes, schools, libraries, and bookshops to bring together individuals and help provide them with the best education we can. We also connect with teachers who are ready to bring this amazing change to society.
Our team has had a proven track record of delivering exceptional results on all projects.
[Company name] has helped achieve education in [city/region] by improving literacy and helping people support their families through their education.
We hope you’ll hop in on our project and become a part of this amazing journey where we see people learn and become their best selves. Support our grant and help us reach more such communities.
Read more: How to write a rationale in a project proposal
Business Proposal Executive Summary Example For Marketing proposal
Additional Resources: Check out our video production proposal template.
Is your business growth stuck? Are you still finding ways to achieve your goals and targets? Let us take your business to unimaginable heights. At [Your company name], we help businesses grow and thrive in this competitive world.
We are a marketing agency with a passion for creativity and strategic marketing campaigns. According to our past experience this has been the most rewarding combo for most of our clients. Our experts come with years of research and experience in digital marketing, branding, and lead generation. We are dedicated to helping businesses in [city/region].
Our marketing package includes a lot. Let’s have a look at a few of our services:
- Custom marketing plan
- Social media management
- Advertising
- Content and copywriting
- SEO
- Email marketing and lead generation
Our clients are happy with our services and the result-driven approach we follow. We ensure that the clients are connected with us through every stage of marketing. Here’s what they have to say: “The team at [your company name] has helped us increase our organic traffic by 400% within six months of onboarding.”
Ready to achieve all your business goals? Let’s discuss some amazing branding strategies to get there. Call us at [Phone Number] or email us at [Email Address].
Read more: How to write a business proposal letter
Read more: Proposal Title Examples
Executive summary tips: The Do’s and Don’ts
Before you send your executive summary to potential clients or investors, take a moment to review it thoroughly. Here are the key areas to focus on:
Areas to focus | Dos | Don’ts |
Length | When writing the proposal executive summary, emphasize the key points. Ideally, the length of your proposal executive summary should be concise and, at most, 5-10% of the total size of your proposal. | Your executive summary should summarize the general proposal you are presenting to your readers. Do not elaborate too much; just provide the key points concisely. |
Language | Avoid using industry-standard terms and complex vocabulary that your core audience will most likely have a limited understanding of. | Don’t presume your intended readers know all the jargon of one’s field of work. When you use any technical terms or acronyms, define them because sometimes it might be difficult for laymen to understand what they stand for. |
Content | Ensure that the executive summary section mirrors the essence of your proposal. | Introduce new information or arguments in your executive summary. It should only summarize what’s already in your proposal. |
Format | If your proposal includes formatting guidelines, adhere to them strictly. Otherwise, structure your executive summary in a way that’s easy to read and digest. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break up text and highlight important information. | Submit an executive summary with dense paragraphs of text. This can be overwhelming and discourage readers from engaging with your proposal. |
Final review | Re-read your executive summary thoroughly before you submit it to avoid any mistakes in grammar or spelling. Perhaps it would be wise to have someone else read the final product and ask if it can be more concise and understandable. | Rush to submit your executive summary without a thorough review. A polished and error-free summary demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail. |
Conclusions
Learning how to write a good executive summary is vital in today’s economic world. Following these guidelines and using tools such as Super Proposal, you can create executive summaries that leave no one indifferent and bring the desired performance.
Ready to streamline your proposal process and elevate your sales game? Sign up for Super Proposal’s 15-day free trial today! Our all-in-one platform replaces MS Excel, MS Word, and e-sign tools, boosting your conversion rates by up to 40%. Experience the difference firsthand and unlock your proposal’s full potential.
Proposal Executive Summary FAQs
Is an executive summary the same as a project plan?
No! The executive summary and project plan are not at all the same. A project plan is a detailed document that includes the project’s roadmap, budget, team, and goals. An executive summary is like a jist of the whole project containing only the important information about the project, the company’s about us, and anything necessary to gain the stakeholders’ attention and set the stage for the project proposal.
What is the main difference between an abstract and an executive summary
An abstract is usually a short document as compared to an executive summary. If we talk about abstracts, it should be a one-page document at maximum, whereas an executive summary can be anywhere between 1 and 4 pages. To conclude, an abstract is mostly for reviewers, while a summary is for decision-makers.
When do you use an executive summary in a business proposal?
An executive summary is a document that literally sets the stage for the whole proposal. It can be used in various types of proposals like grants, business plans, and reports. Executive summaries are designed to grab the attention of the audience and ensure that they are hooked and will read the document.
When should you not use an executive summary?
An executive summary is unnecessary if the proposal is explanatory enough and not very long. You can also avoid executive summaries when writing any kind of technical report where investors already understand the topic.
Where does an executive summary go in a report?
An executive summary can go at the start or at the end. However, it’s most impactful if it’s at the start, just after the cover page. This way, the readers will get a quick overview of the whole project. Enhancing your chances of impressing the investors.
How long should an executive summary be?
The length of an executive summary will be totally dependent on what you want to project in the proposal. As per the norms, a summary should be anywhere between 5-10% of the entire document. Following this will help you effectively craft a summary that includes all information and is ready to persuade stakeholders.
Read more: What is the difference between executive summary and cover letter
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