THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The executive summary is often considered the most critical component of a successful business plan. It provides a brief synopsis of the most important information found in the business plan. There are two schools of thought when it comes to writing an executive summary: either write it before everything else in your business plan, or write it last.

Either way works, and it is simply a matter of personal preference. The most important thing is ensuring that your executive summary captures the attention of the people reading it and entices them to read the whole business plan.

Additional Resources

Getting Started
Formatting Your Plan
Structuring Your Plan
» The Executive Summary
Market Research
Market Analysis
Customer Profiles
Industry Overview
Analyzing the Competition
Competitive Advantage
Intellectual Property
Development Strategy
Financial Projections
Financial Assumptions
Cash Flow Projections

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