company profile business plan

What Is a Company Profile? (And How to Write One)

Whether you’re creating content for an established business or a startup, a company profile should be part of your plan. In this post, we’ll discuss what a company profile is, and how to write one.

A company profile can be an effective way to highlight the business to customers or stakeholders. And you’ll quickly find that it is a vital part of business communication.

It’s a way to state what your business stands for, what your goals are, and where you place your focus. As well as featuring all the practical information that anyone might need to know about your company.

The Ultimate Designer Toolkit: 2 Million+ Assets

Envato gives you unlimited access to 19+ million pro design resources, themes, templates, photos, graphics and more. Everything you'll ever need in your design resource toolkit.

Web Templates

Landing pages & email.

Sans Serif, Script & More

Icons, Vectors & More

What is a company profile.

A company profile is a professional introduction to your business. It informs potential customers, stakeholders and the general public about your products, services, and business as a whole.

A company profile can be anything from a few sentences to an entire page on your website – most businesses have a long and short version – and is a good way to differentiate yourself from other businesses.

Why Is It Important?

A company profile is important for several reasons. It is a set of guiding words that describe your business.

Use it to shape how employees talk about your company and present a cohesive and consistent vision of the company to people outside of it.

A good company profile will get used frequently. These words can be copy and pasted into all kinds of other documents – grant applications, social media profiles, websites, professional directories and more.

A well-written company profile communicates three key things:

• It persuades others to interact and engage with your company. The profile should entice people to learn more.
• It includes contact information to build business credibility and tell people how to get in touch with your business.
• It tells your company story and sets a vision for the future. It should mention where you’ve been and where you are going.

How to Write a Company Profile

When it comes to actually writing a company profile, start with a plan.

• Outline a purpose. A company profile will get used in a lot of places. Outline what you want each audience to know and tailor the writing to match.
• Pick a style that matches your brand. Your company profile should read like the other elements on your website. Use the same voice so it feels like it belongs to your company.
• Highlight your mission and tell a story. A well-written company profile often has a narrative that makes people want to know more.
• Include plenty of relevant information at a glance. While the company profile might include a few paragraphs of narrative, you can also use bulleted lists to highlight products or services or key company information. Also, make sure to include a block with contact information and links to your website or social media profiles.
• Spellcheck and edit several times. Nothing is worse than a company profile with errors in it.

Once your write a company profile, you’ll likely edit to a couple of versions:

• Long version for applications and business documents
• Short version for quick introductions or descriptions
• About us page on your website version that includes the full company profile
• Tiny version for about lines in social profiles

Where Will You Use a Company Profile?

You will get a lot of mileage out of a company profile. The great thing about having this description written and ready to go is that you can make small tweaks to use it almost anywhere you need to post business information.

Using the company profile as a starting point will ensure that you post consistent business listings everywhere you provide information.

This includes in web and print materials distributed by your company, as boilerplate content for media and press releases, as descriptions for team members when they have speaking engagements, on social media in profiles for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, in job descriptions and applications, and anywhere you need to tell people about your business.

A company profile is an important element in your overall brand strategy.

Don’t Be Afraid to Design Your Own

While most of the focus is on writing a company profile, the design matters as well.

While you can’t always dictate what a company profile will look like, you can design it on your website or print pieces.

Don’t overlook this important part of your overall design. Too often, company profile pages are stripped down and look like an afterthought rather than a key element in the design. (Did you know that About pages are some of the most read on the web?)

Stick to trusted design principles when planning how company profile information will look.

• Add visuals that relate to your company. Use images of products or services or team members in action.
• Use white space to your advantage.
• Format intentionally and use the same structure as the rest of the design.
• Show off with testimonials, awards or fun company information.
• Organize content into logical sections that are easy to read at a glance.

Every company – no matter how big or small – can benefit from having a strong company profile. This language will get used everywhere and helps establish consistent messaging for your company or brand.

Having a strong company profile will save you time and effort in the long run because you will have a set of guiding words that you can use time and time again to describe your business, product or service.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to footer

How to Write a Company Profile (w/ Templates & Examples)

Last Updated – May 2, 2023 @ 6:39 am

Whether you own an international brand or a startup , writing a company profile is something you should prioritize.

While you may think company profiles are boring and will only want to make readers hit the snooze button, it is vital if you want to be competitive in your industry. 

If you haven’t written this document before, you may feel overwhelmed and intimidated.

After all, your company profile should not only list your company’s details but also what makes it stand out. To help you make the best company profile, we’ve compiled this thorough guide. 

What is a Company Profile?

The simplest way to describe your company profile is to think of it like your business’ resume . This professional document introduces your brand and informs people, especially investors and buyers, about your services, products, and current status.

Company profiles should be included on your social media pages and website to inform people about your story, mission, and values. 

Now that you know what a company profile is, you’re probably wondering how long this document should be. There are no hard rules when it comes to the length of your company profile.

There are companies with profiles that are one page long, while the profiles of huge corporations can run up to 10 pages or more. How long your company profile depends on factors such as:

• Company age
• Company size

Related: 150+ Profitable Business Ideas in the Philippines

What is a Company Description?

The company description is a part of your business plan . It includes key facts like your business name , location, and structure, among many others.

The company description is geared towards potential partners and lenders so they can have a clear picture of the direction your company is taking.

Components of a Company Profile

The components you need to include in your company profile depend on what details you think are most important about your business.

However, there are foundational parts that need to be present in this document, such as:

Company name

This part clearly states the name of your business, exactly as it is written in your business registration.

Make sure to include the name of the owner because potential investors and lenders want to know who the person behind the business is.

Do not forget to include your company’s contact details like your email, phone number, and fax.  

Business structure

This section of your company profile will answer what entity your business is. Is it a sole proprietorship, corporation , LLC, or partnership? 

Target customer

Another integral part of your company profile is the description of who your target customers are.

Who are you selling your services and products to? You have to be sure who your company appeals to.

Depending on who your audience is, list down the demographics of your audience, including details like:

Products or Services

In this section, you need to convey the details of your services and products, and how it helps the lives of your customers.

Keep this section straightforward. If investors and lenders want to know the nitty-gritty details of your offers, provide another link with more in-depth content, or ask them to contact you.

If you have a physical store or an office, list where it is located. If you have multiple branches, also list down the locations.

Management team

You’ve already listed the owner/s of the business, but that’s not enough.

You must also work on this section if you have a highly involved team. List their names as well as their roles in the company. 

One of your selling points as a brand is your unique history. Even small startups need to include this section in their company profile.

While it’s not recommended to make this section long, make sure to inject interesting details to add some personality to it. 

Mission statement

Not all companies have a mission statement. If you still have not worked on this, think of it as the purpose of your business.

This should be based on the problems you promise on solving through your products or services. 

While your readers want to focus on the concrete details of your company, it also helps to let them know what your vision is. This is extremely important especially for brands who are looking for financial backing to scale their business. 

The current state of your company will tell your readers a lot, but chances are, they also want to know which direction you plan on heading. Include a short description of the milestones you want to tick off in the coming years. 

Competitive advantage

In your profile, you need to be clear on why your company stands out among the competition.

Your competitive advantage could come from any aspect of your business such as innovative products to exceptional customer service.

For example, maybe you’re using cutting-edge technology or a specialized approach that sets you apart from others in your industry.

Highlighting your competitive advantage will give potential customers a reason to choose your company over others.

By showcasing your competitive advantage, you not only differentiate your business but also provide potential customers with a clear understanding of why they should choose your company over others in the market.

Awards and recognitions

Your company profile should also include your company’s awards and recognitions. List any accolades, certifications, or achievements that your company has earned. This will help to establish your credibility and expertise in your industry.

For instance, if your company has won industry-specific awards such as best new product, innovation award, or company of the year, be sure to include this information in your profile.

If your company has received any recognition from the media, such as being featured in a reputable publication or news outlet, you should also mention this in your profile.

This will help to increase your brand visibility and establish your company as a reputable and trustworthy organization.

Overall, incorporating your company’s awards and recognitions into your profile will help to build trust.

Corporate social responsibility

Your corporate social responsibility refers to your company’s efforts to make a positive impact on society and the environment.

Including information about your company’s social responsibility initiatives in your profile shows readers that your company is actively engaged in making a difference in the world.

Are you involved in any charitable causes such as donations to non-profit organizations or volunteering events?  Make sure to include this information in your profile.

Additionally, highlighting your efforts to reduce your environmental impacts, such as through sustainable practices or eco-friendly products, will also help to establish your company as a socially responsible organization.

Contact information

Your contact information is crucial in your company profile section as it provides readers with a way to get in touch with your business. List your addresses, phone numbers, email, and website.

Your contact information must always be up-to-date and accurate at all times because this will help to avoid any confusion or frustration for individuals who are trying to contact you.

Importance of Writing a Company Profile

Your company profile says a lot about your company. It is a powerful tool that will allow you to stand out in today’s competitive business landscape.

We’ve gathered more reasons why you should work on this document. 

It’s an awesome marketing tool

First impressions are key when it comes to your business. However, that is not all. Aside from making a good first impression, you also have to ensure that it lasts.

Company profiles are designed to reach as many people as possible and leave a lasting impression. 

Company profiles should be viewed as a marketing tool because it’s visible on all important platforms such as physical prints, websites, and social networks.

It’s also a convenient way for clients and investors to know all information about your company in one place.

It will prove your uniqueness

Company profiles allow you to share information and assure potential customers that you can meet their needs. If you don’t work on this document, people would find it challenging to know more about what value you can give to them.

When your company profile is both informative and engaging, it can propel your brand to greater heights.

It builds credibility

Your business surely has tough competition, and you must ensure that it stands out. An effective way to promote your company is to create a profile that shares your powerful story to customers and other stakeholders.

When you have a good company profile, you will gain the confidence of people and they will find your company credible. Therefore, they would want to see what you have to offer. 

If you want to take the extra mile to build your credibility, include testimonials from customers and employees. You can also list your rewards. 

It lets people know what you offer

You should see your company profile as a chance to tell people what your brand is about, and what services and products you offer.

This way, it can act as a window to future customers, business partners, and employees. When you spend time making this document, you will enjoy a higher chance of standing out from your competition. 

It helps you recruit top-tier talent

Every business wants the best people on their team. But with so many companies today fighting for the attention of talented professionals, it can be a challenge to win them.

Your company profile has the power to convince professionals to work for you because they already know what to expect.

How to Write a Company Profile

Here are the steps you need to take to write a good company profile.

1. Write your elevator pitch

Think of your first paragraph as the written equivalent of elevator pitches. It should be brief, concise, and interesting. This short section is meant to grab the attention of your readers.

The idea is to let your audience finish reading it in just a few seconds, and get the overall picture of what your business is all about.

2. Do not include irrelevant information

Before writing your company profile, take time to sift through all information about your company. This way, you know which ones are the most important and relevant.

All these should be read early by your audience. Also, make sure that all information is up to date. 

Your company description should only include vital information about your business. Do not insert unrelated information and details in the first part. Simply leave those out for other sections. 

Keep in mind where you want to publish the company profile and tailor it to whoever is reading it. For example, if it’s meant to be on your website, it is most likely to be read by potential customers.

You don’t want to make your profile sound too stuffy by filling it with numbers because chances are, your customers don’t want to know about that. 

3. Look at your competitors

Check the businesses in your industry and take note of the tone of their company profile. If there’s a leading business that you look up to, check their company profile.

How did they make it stand out? This step is not to encourage you to copy what makes them unique. Instead, it’s so you can incorporate some of the elements into your profile. 

4. Follow a clean format

Whether you want your company profile to be extremely formal or creative, make sure to follow a clear structure. Do not try to manipulate how to present facts for the sake of visual appeal. 

There are many formats you can try when writing your profile. For example, you can go with a standard style with different sections.

You can also do a timeline style, or a more graphic approach. Whatever format you choose, stick to it throughout. 

Remember that your job is not simply to relay all the facts and figures of your company as is. You must also make sure that your reader can see your company’s journey.  

5. Double-check information

When you’re writing your company profile, it’s easy to get carried away. Before you know it, you’ve already included a lot of irrelevant information and your profile is already unnecessarily long.

After finishing the first draft of your company profile, do not go straight to proofreading it. Instead, take a break to get a clear mind. Then, re-examine its contents and omit irrelevant information. 

6. Proofread

Before publishing your company profile, proofread it first. This way, you’ll get rid of all grammatical errors, typos, and flow problems that will affect its readability.

You can try reading your company profile aloud to ensure that all parts are compelling. 

Tips for Writing an Effective Company Profile

Creating a good company profile is easy once you keep these tips in mind.

Do not be too technical

It’s fine to sprinkle in some jargon on your company profile to illustrate a point, but when you overload your profile with terms that are too technical, it will be ineffective because people who do not have technical knowledge will not understand it.

Get creative

Millions of people consider themselves as visual learners. You can use this to your advantage by getting creative with your business profile.

Try adding engaging designs and graphics to create a powerful impression. 

Showcase beyond your services and products

Instead of putting all the focus on your products or services, go beyond that information.

You can do this by highlighting the values and benefits people can gain and experience if they do business with you. 

Include links

After reading your company profile, people want to know where they can find you and how to reach you.

Instead of limiting yourself by just putting your contact numbers, also include links to your social media pages and website.

Company Profile Template

This template inspired by Indeed can be used for your company profile. 

[Company name] [Company website] Contact: [Contact name] [Contact phone number] [Contact email address] [Facebook link,] [Instagram link,] [Twitter link] Mission statement: [Mission statement] About us: [information that describes the founding, history, and other facts about the company] Our team: [Description of top-level employees and employee demographics] Our products/services: [Description of products and services, with benefits] Financial information: [Description of the company’s financial goals and performance] Awards and recognition: [List of awards and certifications] Testimonials: [Quote from customer or employee] — [Name], [Title] [Quote from customer or employee] — [Name], [Title]

Best Company Profile & Description Samples

To further inspire you to write the best company profile, we’ve gathered our favorite examples.

Taking a page out of the books of these brands will enable you to stand out. 

• In-depth, yet not overwhelming
• Accessible links
• Versatile tone that appeals to customers and potential investors
• Inspires emotion

Security Bank  

• Credible tone
• Contains bulleted points that make reading easier
• Some pages are graphic and colorful
• Contains an interview with the owner to make it more personal
• Great use of storytelling to illustrate points
• Very consistent with their brand image
• Contains great images 
• Concise sentences
• Easy to read layout
• Introduction paragraph is straight to the point
• Eye-catching design
• Great use of images to illustrate values, and locations
• Easy access to numbers and important information 
• Illustrates credibility by showing awards
• Not text-heavy

Company Profile FAQs

Still got questions about company profiles? We’ll answer them below.

How long should a company profile be?

The length of your company profile can vary depending on your industry and audience. However, a good rule of thumb is to keep it concise and to the point.

Aim for two to ten pages, and focus on highlighting the most important aspects of your business.

Remember, potential customers and investors are likely to skim your profile, so it’s important to make a strong impression quickly.

What is the appropriate tone and style for a company profile?

The appropriate tone and style for a company profile should be professional yet engaging.

You want to showcase your company’s strengths and accomplishments in a way that’s easy to understand and captures the attention of the readers, especially potential investors.

Avoid using overly technical language or jargon that may be difficult for some readers to understand. Instead, use clear and concise language that highlights the unique aspects of your business.

Can I use visuals in a company profile?

Yes, you can use visuals in a company profile. In fact, incorporating visual elements such as images, charts, or graphs can make your profile more engaging and help to illustrate key points about your business.

When using visuals, be sure to choose high-quality images or graphics that are relevant to your business and add value to your profile.

You should also ensure that any visual elements you use are consistent with your overall branding and style.

How often should a company profile be updated?

A company profile should be updated as needed to reflect any major changes or updates to your business.

This could include changes to your products or services, new awards or recognitions, or updates to your contact information.

It’s a good idea to review and update your company profile at least once a year to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date.

Additionally, if you notice that your profile is not generating the desired results, it may be time to revisit and update it to better align with your business goals and audience.

What common mistakes should I avoid when writing a company profile?

When writing a company profile, there are several common mistakes you should avoid. These include:

• Using overly technical language or jargon that may be difficult for readers to understand.
• Focusing too much on your company’s history or background instead of highlighting your strengths and accomplishments.
• Making claims or statements that you can’t back up with evidence or data.
• · Neglecting to include important information about your company’s products or services, awards, recognitions, or social responsibility initiatives.
• Using a tone or style that’s too informal or not professional enough for your industry.

Where can I find examples of well-written company profiles? 

You can find examples of well-written company profiles through various sources, including:

• Company websites: Many companies feature their profiles on their websites, so browsing their “About Us” or “Our Story” sections can provide helpful examples.
• Business publications: Magazines and online publications that cover business news often feature profiles of successful companies, providing you with examples to study.
• Professional organizations: Professional organizations in your industry usually have examples of company profiles from other members. This will allow you to see how your peers are presenting their businesses.
• Online templates: There are many online resources that provide templates for creating company profiles, and browsing these can give you a sense of the structure and content that should be included in your own profile.

It’s important to remember that while these examples can be helpful, your company profile should ultimately be unique to your business and tailored to your specific audience and goals.

Don’t be afraid to get creative and showcase what sets your company apart from the rest.

About MJ de Castro

MJ de Castro is the lead personal finance columnist at Grit PH.

MJ started her career as a writer for her local government’s City Information Office. Later on, she became a news anchor on PTV Davao del Norte.

Wanting to break free from the shackles of her 9-to-5 career to live by the beach, she pursued remote work. Over the years, she has developed a wide specialization on health, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, branding, and travel.

Now, she juggles writing professionally, her business centering on women’s menstrual health, and surfing.

Education: Ateneo de Davao University (AB Mass Communication) Focus: Personal Finance, Personal Development, Entrepreneurship, & Marketing

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We need your help!

Our team is currently conducting research for an upcoming guide focusing on starting a business in the Philippines . We would greatly appreciate your contribution, which should only require a few seconds of your time. 

Thank you in advance!

• Digital Marketing
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Digital PR & Link Building
• Social Media Marketing
• Digital Advertising (PPC & Social)
• Content Marketing
• Copywriting
• Email Marketing
• Conversion Optimization
• Web/App Development
• Ecommerce Development

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Location of Business * Number of Employees * 1 - 10 11 -50 51 - 100 100 - 500 500+ Phone Number * Email * Insurance Company Standard Insurance AXA Philippines BDO AIG Submit

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Full Name * Company Name * Mobile Number * Email Address * Submit

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Contact Number * Email Address * Target Location Preferred Developer * Ayala Land SM Prime Megaworld Alveo Land DMCI Homes Federal Land Robinsons Land Corp Vista Land and Lifescapes Filinvest Land Shang Properties Century Properties Empire East Rockwell Land Name Submit

Disclosure: Your personal details will not be shared with any third-party companies. We’ll just need your contact details so our resident real estate agents can reach you to provide you with the details for any of the listed property developments you’re interested to invest in.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Age * Location* Phone Number * Email Address * Insurance Company Sun Life Financial Pru Life U.K. AXA Philippines AIA Philippines Manulife Insular Life BPI-AIA BDO Life Etiqa FWD Insurance Allianz PNB Life Phone Get a Quote

Disclosure: Your personal details will not be shared with any third-party companies. We’ll just need your contact details so our resident financial advisors can reach you to provide you with the details for any of the listed insurance company you’re interested in.

🎧 Real entrepreneurs. Real stories.

Subscribe to The Hurdle podcast today!

How to Write the Company Overview for a Business Plan

10 min. read

Updated January 17, 2024

What does your business structure look like? Who is involved? What’s your history?

These are all important questions that you’ll answer by writing the company overview section of your business plan. 

We’ll explain what to include, how to write it, and provide completed examples for you to reference.

• What is a company overview?

The company overview (or business overview) section of your business plan briefly explains the legal structure, management team, and history of your business. 

The company overview is typically the shortest chapter of your plan and works as a sort of company record. 

It’s incredibly important if you’re seeking investment as it explains how the business is legally structured and who is involved from an ownership and management perspective.

However, you likely don’t need a company overview if you don’t plan on presenting or sharing the plan with someone outside of your business.

• What to include in the company overview

What’s included in your company overview depends on how you intend to use your business plan. 

For example , if you don’t intend on sharing your plan with anyone outside of your organization, you can likely skip documenting simple legal information.

For this guide, we’ll cover the basics that most businesses should include in their company description.

Business structure

First, you’ll want to define what type of organization your business is registered as. The most common business structures in the US include:

• Sole proprietor
• Partnership

Take some time to understand the differences. Your business structure will impact how you file your taxes , your liability for business debt, and the type of insurance you’ll need. 

For the purposes of this section, it provides context for how your business legally operates. Consider adding an explanation of why you chose this specific structure and how it impacts your business.

Read More: Types of Business Structures Explained

Brought to you by

Create a professional business plan

Using ai and step-by-step instructions.

Secure funding

Validate ideas

Build a strategy

You’ll also need to outline the ownership stake in your company. Just list out who owns what percentage of your business, even if it’s just you. 

It may also be useful to include how each individual is involved in your business. 

However, if an investor or equity holder is involved in day-to-day operations, you may want to go more in depth on the management portion of your company overview, detailing each member’s experience and qualifications.

Location(s)

Include basic logistical information about where your business is located , additional locations the business owns, and any locations that may be acquired in the near future.

Don’t worry about going overly in-depth regarding each location’s facilities and operational functions. You will cover those details as part of the operations section of your business plan .

Company history

Your company background or history is the “Once upon a time…” of your business plan. At a minimum, you should include:

• When it was founded
• Who was involved
• Major milestones up to this point

The details in this section will vary depending on who this business plan is being presented to and the stage of your company. 

For example: if you’re a relatively young business, don’t assume you have no history. 

It may not be a lengthy epic, but you have the history of who came up with the idea , how they came up with it, and how and why other people joined. 

This can matter to potential investors.

So, stay flexible when describing your history. Always keep your specific business purpose and your target reader in mind. 

If you share your plan with a third party, focus on presenting a strong track record of success and good decision-making. If you have a longer history, there are likely highlights to include and some key points you want to make. 

Just make sure not to bore them by overloading your plan with lengthy information that doesn’t connect back to your key business decisions.

Management team

The management team section of your business plan is where you showcase your team and their finest attributes.

Be sure to include details about yourself and your employees , including: 

• Work experience
• Past successes
• Degrees or other credentials 

Professional gaps and planned hires

There may be team members you know you’re lacking. In that case, mention these roles and your plans to fill them.

Include which people might be taking on multiple responsibilities to fill the current gap. Additionally, if you have specific people in mind, include them, even if they aren’t currently on staff.

It’s worth pulling in supporting data from your personnel forecast that’s part of your financial plan . It doesn’t have to be overly detailed. It can just be a simple personnel table with reference to where the full financial exploration is located.

Board of advisors

If you have mentors or board members who aren’t directly involved, but help you to define your vision and overall strategy—they’re also worth mentioning. 

This can bolster your credibility through association with well-respected and experienced individuals. 

Just like with your management team and staff, include their name, position, credentials, experience, and any other important information that showcases why their involvement is valuable.

Similarly, if you are working with a lawyer , accountant, or other supporting professional—include them.

• How to write your company overview

The company overview is one of the more straightforward sections when writing a business plan. You already know what to include, so here’s how we recommend you approach the writing process.

1. Cover the basics

Start by listing and grouping your business information into the appropriate sections. 

Depending on what you intend to do with your plan, this may be all you need for now. This is a high-level overview of your business; the most important thing is having all the necessary information in one place.

Focus on brevity. 

You can always reference other areas of your plan and house additional documents (like resumes, articles of incorporation, legal documents, full company timeline, etc.) in your appendix .

2. List the high points of your history

Take the time to accurately reflect your company history. Avoid creating a vague story or an overly long narrative documenting every small decision you’ve made. 

Like everything else in this section, keep it short and sweet. Highlight key dates, milestones (like a product or service launch), and other crucial events that impacted the trajectory of your business.

Remember, you can always point to other areas of your plan when necessary.

3. Adjust to your target audience

While we recommend keeping this section simple, it may require updates depending on who is reading your plan. That typically means adding more context or reasoning for why your business is set up as it is.

For example: You start as a partnership and include your business structure as a formality. However, you are now planning to apply for a loan . It would be worth revisiting the overview at this stage to add a brief statement about why you chose this structure and how it impacts your business.

• Company overview examples

Even if you know what to include, it can still be helpful to review completed business overview examples to confirm you’re on the right track. 

Agriculture farm company overview example

Ownership & structure.

Botanical Bounty is an Oregon L.L.C. owned by David and Susan Nealon. The L.L.C. business structure has been chosen as a strategic way to shield the Nealons from personal liability.

Botanical Bounty has been in operation for two years. It started as a hobby where Susan could use her plant biology skills while covering some of the costs. The Nealons were able to achieve this lifestyle due to a windfall that David received as a result of exercising stock options. 

After the second year, the Nealons decided that although they had the money to live on for many years, it would be irresponsible to needlessly spend it so they got serious about the business and made a concerted effort to become profitable.

Botanical Bounty has chosen the Willamette River Valley as an ideal place to grow perennials and owns 10 acres of land used for production. During several of the winter months, production is moved into their greenhouse for propagation. Botanical Bounty employs a drip irrigation system for all of the plants.

Botanical Bounty will be led by the husband and wife team of David and Sue Nealon. David brings a wealth of business and project management skills to the company. 

While working at Yahoo!, David was responsible for the successful launch and market lead capture of Yahoo!’s driving directions section. David will be responsible for the business operations of the farm. 

Sue, with a background in plant biology, will be the driving force of the operation, growing the highest active ingredient content plants in the country. Additionally, because of her wealth of knowledge, she will lead the sales department.

Nursing home company overview example

Ownership & structure.

Bright House is chartered as a nonprofit 501(C)(3) corporation in Middletown, CT, with the goal of providing holistic and respectful assisted living and skilled nursing home care to a small group of elderly residents. 

Our primary location is the old Wayfield Bed and Breakfast on Farmer’s Road, which we have spent the last five months converting into a two-building nursing home facility in line with Eden Alternatives “Greenhouse” model for enlightened elder living.

Management Team

Bright House offers a different management structure from that of the typical hospital-model nursing home. Our primary caregivers, the 6 Elder Assistants, work as a self-managed team. They meet with the Medical Director and the nurse on-call every morning to coordinate care for the coming day.

The Medical Director has the ultimate responsibility for the health and well-being of all residents and visitors. However, the nursing and caregiving staff have unique knowledge about the residents’ physical, social, and mental well-being. They are expected to note, discuss, and recommend courses of action for all residents who, in their combined estimation, need help.

Our compensation packages, management structure, and caregiving requirements are designed to continually remind our LPNs and Elder Assistants how very valuable they are. 

Dr. Mildred Johnson is our Medical Director

Dr. Johnson has served as the head of Gerontology for six years at The Connecticut Hospital and oversaw the creation last year of their Elder Assistant training program, which provides certification for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) to provide in-home hospice and respite care. 

Dr. Johnson has 20 years of experience working with elderly patients in this area and has been integral in designing the physical layout, management structure, and priorities of Bright House.

The rest of our already-hired caregiving staff brings a whopping 75 years of professional experience in caring for elderly patients.

Financial Management

Madeleine Morgan has been overseeing the financial management of nonprofit organizations in Connecticut for 27 years. 

She became involved in our project when her mother developed a long-term care plan with Dr. Johnson which included home-based hospice care.

“I wish everyone could have the same love and attention Dr. Johnson showed to my mother,” Madeleine said. 

Ms. Morgan will be in charge of all financial operations at Bright House, overseeing billing, personnel payment and benefits, and development efforts.

Advertising and Marketing

We are fortunate to have a skilled public relations officer in our group. Janice Ruthers is a retired ad executive living in Middletown with her husband (a professor at the university). 

She will be working 20 hours per week in our offices as a volunteer for the first two years of our plan, helping us design advertisements and brochures and plan events like our Open House in December to let the public see the results of our efforts.

Management Team Gaps

We still need to hire one swing-shift LPN and one Elder Assistant. We are currently recruiting through Dr. Johnson’s connections at The Connecticut Hospital and expect to complete our team by mid-December at the latest.

• Explore more business plan examples

Want to see more examples like these? Check out our library of over 550+ sample business plans to see how other real-world businesses structured their company overview sections. 

You can also download a free business plan template to ensure you cover all the necessary details. It includes step-by-step instructions to make writing quick and easy.

Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software , a co-founder of Borland International, and a recognized expert in business planning. He has an MBA from Stanford and degrees with honors from the University of Oregon and the University of Notre Dame. Today, Tim dedicates most of his time to blogging, teaching and evangelizing for business planning.

Table of Contents

Related Articles

10 Min. Read

How to Set and Use Milestones in Your Business Plan

6 Min. Read

How to Write Your Business Plan Cover Page + Template

24 Min. Read

The 10 AI Prompts You Need to Write a Business Plan

How to Write a Competitive Analysis for Your Business Plan

The LivePlan Newsletter

Become a smarter, more strategic entrepreneur.

Your first monthly newsetter will be delivered soon..

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy .

The quickest way to turn a business idea into a business plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software

ZenBusinessPlans

Home » Business Plans

How to Write a Detailed Company Profile for a Business Plan

If you own a company, the only way for people to have a quick preview of what your company is all about, the products or services you offer, and who are the owners of the company is through your company profile. This section of your business plan will fundamentally answer two important questions:

• Who are you?
• What do you plan to do ?

Answering these questions in a succinct and simple manner would provide an ample introduction of why you are in business, why you are different from the competition, what you have going for you, and why investing in your business would be a good bet.

In essence, if you want to introduce your company to potential clients or to organizations calling for bids and submission of proposals, then you must have a detailed and self-explanatory company profile.

Interestingly, there are several business doors a good company profile can open. For example, an angel investor who is looking to invest in a business would naturally read through the profiles of all the companies he or she is interested in.

The company profile that catches his or her fancy would no doubt be the company he or she would invest in. This is just a bit of what a good company profile can do for a business.

This section of your business plan also offers you the opportunity, if you haven’t done so before, to evaluate and document the intangible facets of your business principles, ideals, and cultural philosophies that will allow you to better grasp your own corporate identity. Here are the necessary components that should go under your company profile:

What is a Company’s Profile?

A company profile is a formal introduction of your business. It usually contains all you would want potential clients, investors, and the general public to know about your business. It is used as a marketing tool and it is your company’s unique selling point.

A complete company profile is expected to contain the vision, mission, and goals of the company, a detailed description of the product and service offering of the company, the profile of the founding members of the company, a brief story of how the company got started and what they intend to achieve. So also, information like company name, address, phone number, website and email et al must be part of your company profile.

Components of your Company’s Profile

• Structure of your business ( sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, or an incorporated company )
• The date your business was established ( for existing businesses )
• The nature of your business ( what are you selling, or what are you planning to sell ?)
• The industry you are in
• Business vision, mission, and values
• Background information on your business or its history
• Business Objectives ( short and long-term )
• The Business team

Now, let’s discuss tips for tackling some of the more tricky components in the list above:

If you are looking forward to writing a top selling company profile, then the following guide will come in very handy for you.

Study Other Company Profiles

The first step when it comes to writing a good company’s profile is to study other profiles. To better put it, you should go source for companies that are doing the same thing as your do; companies that are selling the same services or products as you do.

If you study their profiles properly, you will be able to have a clear-cut idea of what you should capture in your own profile, and of course, you will be able to improve on it to make yours better.

Please note that you are not expected to plagiarize any company’s profile when writing yours because you can be sued for plagiarism.

Create an Outline

The next step to take after you must have carefully studied several companies’ profiles is to create an outline of your own profile. You can start this by making use of bullet points to highlight the main points you want to make in your company profile.

You should also figure out the angle you want your readers to see your company from, what your company represents, and of course the caliber of people that formed the company et al. This will help you determine what information you need to gather.

Interview Potential Clients

If you truly you want to capture information on your company profile that will resonate with your potential clients, then you will need their inputs. Some of the ways you can get their input is to interview them or via questioners and surveys.

Please make sure that you are prepared with your questions but also be ready to follow the natural flow of the conversation. Ask questions during your meeting that you think readers will want to know.

Pose questions that will encourage your potential clients to give you useful information. Ask them to share anecdotes. Avoid yes or no questions. You want them to open up. Make sure to record and transcribe the entire interview.

As you review their answers on paper or on your computer, highlight the best quotes that can guide you to describe and give reasons why your products or services will better serve them.

Start Writing Your Company Profile

Once you are done with gathering the information that will aid you in writing a fantastic company profile, what is left for you is to start writing. You can settle down in your study, library, hotel room, or any location that will give the concentration that is needed for this all important task.

Although a company profile is not expected to be a large document, but it should capture all that your company represents, the products and services your company offers, and of course all that you want people to know about your company. This information can be captured in a simple and easy to understand format.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

No matter how fantastic your company is especially as it relates to your product and service offering, there will still be some drawbacks that can dissuade potential clients from patronizing your products or services.

For example, if you have someone who has been involved in financial crime in time past as a founding member of your company or a financier of your company, it will not be a wise decision to capture such a person in your profile.

What is expected from you when writing your company profile is to put your best foot forward by projecting people without any controversy around them.

Please note that your company profile is supposed to capture a brief profile of the board of directors, executive members, and key persons that are part of the company.

Edit and Edit

After you have finished writing your profile, you should make sure that it is properly edited. You can contract the editing to a professional. Although it is going to cost you a bit, but trust me, it is worth every cent you will spend.

Please note that you shouldn’t just settle for just one editor, you can give it out to two or more editors to edit until you get a perfect piece. This is important because a good company profile will easily sell your company (products and services) to potential clients with little or no additional effort from your end.

In Conclusion;

A company profile is an essential part of a business plan and a business plan cannot be complete without a company profile. So, when writing your business plan, make sure you come up with a good and highly sellable company profile, and the guide you have here will help you achieve this.

More on Business Plans

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

How to Write a Company Overview for a Business Plan

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

When you start a company, you ideally want it to grow. If you’re seeking a business loan to scale your business or an initial investment to get your business off the ground, you’re going to need a business plan . Putting together a business plan can be an intimidating process that involves a lot of steps and writing — but breaking it down piece by piece can help you accomplish this seemingly insurmountable task.

One small piece of your business plan is the company overview, so let’s take a look at what that is, exactly, check out some company overview examples and go over how to make a company overview of your very own.

LLC Formation

on ZenBusiness' website

What is a company overview?

A company overview provides the reader of your business plan with basic background information about your company so they have an understanding of what you do, who the management team is and what customers your business serves.

The company description is the second piece of a business plan, falling right after the executive summary. Similar to the executive summary, your company overview will be short and succinct. Your reader needs to have a grasp on what your business does and who your customers are, even if they have limited time.

Why do I need a company overview?

The company overview is the part of your business plan that gives the basics and background of your business. It’s the foundation on which you will build the rest of your business plan.

If you’re looking to appeal to investors or potential clients, you need a reader to make an informed decision about your company. Before they can do that, they must know what your company does and who your customer is. Lenders in particular need a reason to keep reading, since they see tons of business plans regularly. The company overview provides those answers, and it will help you get a better sense of your business so you can firm up things like your marketing plan.

Compare cards

How much do you need.

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

What should I include in a company overview?

The exact elements that you need in your company overview will depend upon what details of your business are important, but there are some foundational elements that will be included in every company overview.

Once you’ve covered the basics, you can include any other minor details that will benefit a reader who will need to make an informed decision about your business.

Basic company information

Consider the company overview like an introduction for your business. In the opening paragraph of your company overview, you’ll want to include basic company information. That includes:

Your company name: This should be the official name of your business, exactly as it is written when you registered your business with the state.

Business structure: Your reader will want to know what business entity your company comes in: sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership or corporation.

Location(s): Share where your business is headquartered and other locations the business owns.

Ownership and management team

Break down who owns your business and how each owner is involved with the business. What shares of the company belong to whom? If you have a highly involved management team, share their names and key roles with the company as well.

Company history

Part of what makes your company unique is its history. And, even startups have some history. Don’t put too much focus on this section, but do add some personality and interesting details if possible, especially if they relate to your company culture.

Mission statement

Your company’s mission statement should be included in the company overview. If you don’t yet have a company mission statement, that’s okay. Think of a mission statement as the purpose of your company.

If you don’t have one, you can create one with your team. Or you can simply replace the mission statement with a problem statement. Your business idea should exist to solve a problem or pain point faced by your customers. Share what that problem is and what your business does to solve it. That’s essentially your mission statement.

Product/service and customer

This section of the company overview is where you can share the nitty-gritty details of your business. Talk about what product or service you provide and to whom you provide it. You can share some numbers here, but in general, save the numbers for later in your business plan.

The company overview should give the reader a general understanding of your business, your product or service, and your customer. If they’re interested to know more, they’ll reach out to you for a meeting or take the time to read the rest of your business plan. Keep it simple and straightforward here.

Future goals

While concrete details and facts about your business are important to whoever is reading your company overview, it’s also important to share your dreams and your vision. If you’re writing a business plan for a business that’s already in place, it’s very likely you’re looking for business financing to scale or solve a business problem. If you’re just starting out, though, then it’s likely you’re hoping to find startup funding.

The section on your future business goals should include a brief description of your growth goals for your business. Where you are now tells the reader a lot, but they also want to know where you plan to go.

A company overview is comprised of many small parts. Each part shares just a little bit more about your company with your reader.

Tips for writing a company overview

While a company overview is simply the details of your company written out, it might not be easy to write. Break it down into small steps and use these tips to make putting together your company overview just a little bit easier.

Start with the elevator pitch

If your business is already in operation, then you likely have an elevator pitch. Your company overview can start off with your elevator pitch.

The first paragraph of your company overview should include just a few sentences that explain your business and what you do. The shorter and clearer this is, the more likely your reader will understand and keep reading.

Stick to the basics

It’s tempting to pile on all the details when you’re writing a company overview. Remember, many of the details of your company, including the numbers, will be included in later sections of your business plan.

Your company overview should include only the most basic details about your company that the reader needs to know.

Be passionate

When you share the history, mission statement, and vision for the future of your company, it’s okay to show your passion. You wouldn’t be in business if you didn’t love what you do.

Your excitement for your business could spark interest for the reader and keep them engaged with your company overview and business plan.

Keep it succinct

When you’re passionate about something, it’s easy to get carried away. Remember that you’ve got plenty of space for details in your business plan. The company overview should be just the most basic information someone needs to understand your business.

It’s OK if your first draft of your company overview is long. Simply go through and edit it to be shorter, removing unnecessary details and words each time you read through it. Clear, concise descriptions are more likely to be read and to keep the reader reading to other sections of your business plan.

Have structure

Your company overview is just one piece of a multi-tiered business plan. Creating a clear structure for your business plan makes it easier to read. The same is true for your company overview.

Your business plan should have chapters, one of which is the company overview. Then, you can further break down the content for easy skimming and reading by adding sub-chapters. You can denote these breaks in content with bold headers.

While you can break down each section of the company overview with bold headers based on the above suggestions, you can also interweave some information together, such as the company structure and leadership structure. Each section should be only a few sentences long.

Write it later

If you’re struggling to write your company overview, come back to it. Write the rest of your business plan first and then write your company overview.

While this might seem like the opposite way of doing things, knowing what will be contained in the rest of your business plan can help you to focus in on the very most essential details in the company overview and to leave everything else out.

Get a test reader

If you’re struggling to edit down your company overview, get a test reader. Ideally, you’ll want to ask someone who doesn’t know a lot about your business. They’ll help you understand whether or not you’ve clearly communicated your message.

Proofreading is the final step in editing something you’ve written. This type of editing looks for typos, misspellings and grammatical errors that have been missed. Many of these small errors can be difficult to spot in our own writing, so be sure to ask someone who hasn’t seen multiple drafts of your company overview.

Company overview examples

If you don’t want to shell out for business planning software, but would still like some company overview examples to get you started, there are many places online you can look to for help getting started, like the Small Business Administration and SCORE.

Many successful companies also have some version of their company overview made public as their company profile page online. There are some variations from the company overview steps we’ve listed above, of course, but you can use the language and style of these company overview examples for inspiration:

Starbucks company profile .

Puma company page .

TaskRabbit About page .

Peloton company page .

Nestlé About page .

If you’re still feeling stuck, or want more company overview examples, try searching the websites of your favorite companies for more information. You might be surprised what you find — the Nestlé page, for example, has more information about their strategy and business principles.

On a similar note...

• Search Search Please fill out this field.
• Building Your Business
• Becoming an Owner
• Business Plans

How to Write the Company Summary in a Business Plan

Company Overviews Show How the Pieces of a Business Work

What to Include in Your Company Summary

Getting started on your company summary, examples of a company summary, tips for writing a company summary, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Image by Theresa Chiechi © The Balance 2019

The company summary in a business plan—also known as the company description or overview—is a high-level look at what you are as a company and how all the elements of the business fit together.

An effective company summary should give readers, such as potential investors, a quick and easy way to understand your business, its products and services, its mission and goals, how it meets the needs of its target market, and how it stands out from competitors.

Remember to stick to the big picture before you begin writing your company summary. Other sections of your business plan will provide the specific details of your business. The summary synthesizes all of that information into one page.

Key Takeaways

• The company summary in a business plan provides an overview with a high-level description of your company.
• A company summary might include your mission statement, goals, target market, products, and services, as well as how it stands out from competitors.
• The company summary can also be customized for a specific objective or audience, such as to secure financing from investors or banks.

The company summary section of a business plan should include:

• Business name
• Legal structure (i.e., sole proprietorship ,  LLC ,  S Corporation , or  partnership )
• Management team
• Mission statement
• Company history (when it started and important milestones)
• Description of products and services and how they meet the needs of the marketplace
• Target market (who will buy your product or services)
• Competitive advantage (what sets you apart in the marketplace to allow you to succeed)
• Objectives and goals (plans for growth)

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website has a lot of information available if you've never written a business plan before. The SBA provides examples of business plans for different types of companies.

Before you begin, you should decide whether you want to go with a traditional business plan format or a lean startup format. The traditional format is appropriate if you want to have a comprehensive, detail-oriented plan or if you are requesting financing. The lean startup format is best for those who have a relatively simple business and want to start it quickly or as a starting point for those who plan to refine and change the plan regularly.

No matter which type of business plan you choose, you'll need to include a company summary.

Although there are many blueprints for writing a company summary, below are a couple of examples to get you started.

Consulting Firm

You can opt for a concise opening paragraph such as this one:

XYZ Consulting is a new company that provides expertise in search marketing solutions for businesses worldwide, including website promotion, online advertising, and search engine optimization techniques to improve its clients' positioning in search engines. We cater to the higher education market, including colleges, universities, and professional educational institutions.

Several elements of the company summary are covered here, including the name (XYZ Consulting), history (new company), description of services (web promotion, SEO, advertising) and why it's needed (improve positioning in search engines), and the target market (higher education).

Starbucks Coffee Company Overview

Starbucks breaks down the company overview on its website into the following sections:

"Our Heritage"

Here the company describes how long the company has been in business, citing its roots, the founder, Howard Schultz, and how he was inspired to open the first Starbucks in Seattle after visiting Italy. It briefly mentions the growth of millions of customers and how the company's heritage remains important to its long-term success.

"Coffee & Craft"

The overview describes the high-quality products and services being offered and why they stand out from the competition by describing the detailed process of choosing and growing coffee beans. You'll notice they don't suggest their product is a low-cost product but instead provide a high level of "experiences to savor."

"Our Partners"

Starbucks describes its employees as partners that work together in an inclusive manner to achieve success. It highlights how they are at the center of the experience.

"Pursuit of Doing Good"

The company describes its values and how it gives back to the community.

Tesla Inc. Business Overview

Below are excerpts of the business overview pages from the annual 10-K filing for Tesla Inc.

"We design, develop, manufacture, sell and lease high-performance fully electric vehicles and energy generation and storage systems, and offer services related to our products. We generally sell our products directly to customers, including through our website and retail locations.

We also continue to grow our customer-facing infrastructure through a global network of vehicle service centers, mobile service technicians, body shops, supercharger stations and destination chargers to accelerate the widespread adoption of our products.

We emphasize performance, attractive styling and the safety of our users and workforce in the design and manufacture of our products and are continuing to develop full self-driving technology for improved safety.

Our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy, engineering expertise, vertically integrated business model and focus on user experience differentiate us from other companies."

Competition

Tesla highlights the competitive automotive market and how the company differentiates itself from the larger, more established competitors.

"The worldwide automotive market is highly competitive and we expect it will become even more competitive in the future as we introduce additional vehicles in a broader cross-section of the passenger and commercial vehicle market and expand our vehicles’ capabilities. We believe that our vehicles compete in the market both based on their traditional segment classification as well as based on their propulsion technology.

Competing products typically include internal combustion vehicles from more established automobile manufacturers; however, many established and new automobile manufacturers have entered or have announced plans to enter the market for electric and other alternative fuel vehicles."

Intellectual Property

The company highlights its intellectual property, including trademarks and patents.

"We place a strong emphasis on our innovative approach and proprietary designs which bring intrinsic value and uniqueness to our product portfolio. As part of our business, we seek to protect the underlying intellectual property rights of these innovations and designs such as with respect to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other measures, including through employee and third-party nondisclosure agreements and other contractual arrangements."

Mission Statement

The company highlights its mission statement and its sustainability goals using environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and human capital resources.

"The very purpose of Tesla's existence is to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy. We believe the world cannot reduce carbon emissions without addressing both energy generation and consumption, and we are designing and manufacturing a complete energy and transportation ecosystem to achieve this goal. As we expand, we are building each new factory to be more efficient and sustainably designed than the previous one, including with respect to waste reduction and water usage, and we are focused on reducing the carbon footprint of our supply chain."

There are other items you can include in your company summary to expand on the areas that you'd like people to focus on, depending on your objective.

You might provide more information about the company's location, legal structure, and management team. You can also include more information about the:

• Company's history, such as a family business that's been in operation for multiple generations
• Business objectives, including short-term and long-term goals
• Business strengths, highlighting anything that might give your company a competitive advantage in the field

You can also customize the summary if you have a specific objective or a targeted audience. For example, if the goal of your business plan is to secure funding, you might focus on areas that appeal to investors and lending institutions, including:

• Why you're the best person to manage the business
• Your experience in your field, as well as the total years of experience of your management team
• Expertise or special talents of your team, including training, licenses, certifications
• How you plan to make the business a success
• Financial information, such as a high-level discussion of your track record of revenue growth and the financial opportunities that can be realized as a result of securing financing

You may also want to address any areas of perceived weakness by explaining how you'll overcome them or compensate.

How do you write a company overview?

You might describe the company, its location, legal structure, and management team. You can also highlight the company's business objectives, goals, and strengths. You can also customize the summary to a specific audience, such as a bank or lender, focusing on your competitive advantages and highlights of recent financial success.

What should an organizational overview include?

Some of the discussion points to include in a company overview might be:

• Company name and location
• Legal structure such as a sole proprietorship, LLC, or partnership
• Mission statement and management team
• Description of your products and services and how they are needed
• Target market or who are your customers
• Competitive advantage or what makes your company different

The Clute Institute. " Using Business Plans for Teaching Entrepreneurship ," Page 734.

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Write Your Business Plan ."

Starbucks Coffee Company. " Our Company ."

United States Securities and Exchange Commission. " Form 10-K, Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(D) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021, Tesla, Inc., " Pages 3-12.

How To Write a Company Overview for a Business Plan

Written by Dave Lavinsky

The Company Overview is a key section of your business plan where you will describe your company. This section comes second after the executive summary of your business plan , but before the industry analysis section .

The Company Overview section of your business plan has three main goals:

• to give a brief company description and profile
• to detail your past accomplishments
• to specify your unique qualifications

Note that a detailed description of your products/services generally does not belong in your company section; rather that will go in the Products/Services section of your marketing plan .

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here

What is a Company Overview in a Business Plan?

The company overview, also known as the business overview, provides a concise and compelling snapshot of your business. This critical section is designed to captivate your reader and offer a clear understanding of your business’s purpose and core identity. It should highlight your legal structure, company history, mission statement, long-term vision, operational model, geographic location, and revenue generation strategy. By effectively conveying this basic information, you’ll establish a strong foundation for your business plan and position your company for success.

Tips for an Effective Company Overview

• Keep it Concise: While providing essential details, strive for brevity. Aim to convey your company’s essence in a few well-crafted paragraphs.
• Focus on the Future: While acknowledging past achievements, emphasize your future aspirations and growth potential.
• Highlight Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Clearly articulate what sets your company apart from competitors.
• Tailor to Your Audience: Consider the specific needs and interests of your target audience (e.g., investors, lenders, business partners).
• Use Strong, Active Voice: Employ vivid language to engage your reader and create a memorable impression.

Why Your Company Overview is Important

A well-crafted Company Overview sets the stage for the entire document, captivating your reader’s attention and providing a clear understanding of your business. This section:

• Establishes Credibility: A concise and informative business overview demonstrates your professionalism and commitment to your business.
• Informs Decision-Makers: It provides essential details about your business structure, company mission statement, and operations, helping potential investors, lenders, and partners assess your business potential.
• Guides Your Business: The process of writing a business overview forces you to articulate your core values, long-term business goals, and strategic direction, which can serve as a valuable roadmap for your business.

Investing time and effort into this section can significantly enhance the overall impact of your business plan.

What to Include When Writing a Company Overview

Here are the 3 essential components of the Company Overview section of your business plan:

1. Company Profile

In just a few sentences, this is where you craft a compelling narrative about your business including its origins, mission, and the company’s vision. Imagine painting a picture with words, highlighting your unique selling proposition (USP) and the value you bring to the market. Start with a detailed company description including your:

• Legal Structure: Clearly outline your company’s legal structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, Limited Liability Company (LLC), S-Corp, C-Corp, or Partnership).
• Date of Formation: Specify the year your company was established.
• Geographic Location: Indicate the primary location of your operations, including any specific regions or markets you serve.
• Business Stage: Detail your company’s current stage of development (e.g., startup, early-stage, growth stage, mature).
• Business Type: Briefly describe the industry or sector in which your company operates (e.g., technology, healthcare, retail).

2. Past Accomplishments

This section showcases your company’s track record and demonstrates its ability to execute on its business plan. To effectively convey your accomplishments, consider using a combination of paragraphs and a bullet list or table, including a description and date accomplished when:

• Funding Rounds: Date, amount raised, investor names (if applicable)
• Product/Service Launches: Product/service name, launch date, key features, and benefits
• Revenue Milestones: Year-over-year revenue growth, specific revenue figures, or significant sales contracts
• Partnerships: Partner names, nature of partnership (e.g., strategic, distribution, technology), and key benefits
• Customer Acquisition: Number of customers acquired, key customer segments, or significant customer wins
• Team Building: Key hires, team expansion, or leadership changes
• Awards and Recognition: Industry awards, certifications, or media coverage

This information is critical to investors as it indicates the company’s ability to execute upon a previous game plan. Attaining milestones is an excellent indicator for potential investors that their money will be used to create value and lead to a liquidity event.

3. Unique Qualifications

This section is crucial for highlighting your company’s competitive advantages. It should be a compelling blend of narrative and data, showcasing your unique selling proposition (USP) and why your company is poised for success. Consider including information about your:

Management Team:

• Briefly introduce your core management team members and their relevant experience and expertise.
• Highlight any unique qualifications or industry connections that set your team apart.

Intellectual Property:

• Describe any patents, trademarks, copyrights, or proprietary technology that your company owns.
• Explain how these assets contribute to your competitive advantage and protect your business.

Strategic Partnerships:

• Detail any strategic partnerships or alliances with key industry players.
• Explain how these partnerships enhance your market position and provide access to valuable resources.

Customer Relationships:

• Highlight any long-standing customer relationships or significant customer wins.
• Discuss any customer loyalty programs, retention strategies, or unique customer value propositions.

Operational Excellence:

• Describe any proprietary operational systems, processes, or methodologies that improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Highlight any certifications or industry standards that your company adheres to.

Financial Performance:

• If applicable, provide a brief overview of your company’s financial performance, including revenue growth, profitability, and cash flow.
• Highlight any significant financial milestones or achievements.

By effectively communicating your unique qualifications, you can strengthen your company’s credibility and increase your chances of securing funding or partnerships.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

If you’d like to quickly and easily complete your business plan, download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template and complete your plan and financial model in hours.

Company Overview Examples

The following Company Overview examples are for two fictional businesses: a medical spa and a private school.

Example #1 – Company Overview for a Medical Spa Business Plan

Company profile.

[Your Medical Spa Name] is a premier medical spa located in Ankeny, Iowa, dedicated to enhancing natural beauty and promoting overall well-being. Established in [Year], our mission is to provide cutting-edge aesthetic treatments and personalized skincare solutions to our valued clients. With a focus on delivering exceptional results and unparalleled customer service, we strive to be the leading medical spa in the region.

• Legal Structure: [Your Legal Structure, e.g., LLC]
• Date of Formation: [Year]
• Geographic Location: Ankeny, Iowa
• Business Stage: [Your Business Stage, e.g., Early-Stage]
• Business Type: Medical Spa

Past Accomplishments

• [Year]: Successfully launched our state-of-the-art facility in Ankeny, Iowa.
• [Year]: Expanded our service offerings to include [List of new services, e.g., laser hair removal, injectables, facials].
• [Year]: Achieved [Percentage]% year-over-year revenue growth.
• [Year]: Established partnerships with renowned skincare brands [Brand Names].
• [Year]: Gained recognition as a top-rated medical spa in Ankeny on [Review Platform].

Unique Qualifications

• Experienced and Skilled Team: Our team of highly qualified medical professionals and licensed aestheticians is dedicated to providing personalized care and delivering exceptional results.
• State-of-the-Art Technology: We utilize advanced medical-grade equipment and cutting-edge techniques to ensure optimal patient safety and satisfaction.
• Luxurious and Relaxing Environment: Our spa offers a serene and inviting atmosphere, providing a tranquil escape from daily stressors.
• Comprehensive Range of Services: We offer a wide array of services tailored to address your specific needs, including [List of services, e.g., Botox, fillers, chemical peels, laser treatments].
• Commitment to Patient Education: We prioritize educating our clients about the latest advancements in aesthetic medicine and skincare.

By combining expertise, innovation, and a client-centric approach, [Your Medical Spa Name] is poised to continue its growth and success in the Ankeny community.

Example #2 – Company Overview for a Private School Business Plan

[Your School Name] is a premier private school in Falcon, Colorado, dedicated to providing an exceptional education that fosters academic excellence, character development, and a lifelong love of learning. Founded in [Year], our school is committed to nurturing well-rounded individuals who are prepared to succeed in a globalized world.

• Legal Structure: [Specify, e.g., LLC]
• Geographic Location: Falcon, Colorado
• Business Stage: [Specify, e.g., Startup, Early-Stage]
• Business Type: Private K-12 Education

While [Your School Name] is a relatively new institution, we have already made significant strides in establishing ourselves as a leading educational provider in the Falcon community.

• Curriculum Development: We have developed a rigorous and innovative curriculum that aligns with state standards and prepares students for college and beyond.
• Faculty Recruitment: We have assembled a talented and experienced faculty committed to inspiring students and fostering a love of learning.
• Facility Development: We have invested in state-of-the-art facilities, including classrooms, a library, a science lab, and a sports field.
• Community Partnerships: We have forged strong partnerships with local organizations to provide students with enriching extracurricular opportunities.

[Your School Name] offers a unique blend of academic rigor, character development, and extracurricular activities. Our key differentiators include:

• Personalized Learning: We employ a personalized learning approach that caters to the individual needs of each student.
• Character Education: We prioritize character development, teaching students values such as honesty, respect, and responsibility.
• Strong Community: We foster a strong sense of community among students, faculty, and parents.
• Experienced Leadership: Our experienced leadership team is dedicated to providing a high-quality education.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: We have invested in modern facilities to enhance the learning experience.

By focusing on these key areas, [Your School Name] is poised to become a leading educational institution in the Falcon community.

Crafting a compelling Company Overview is a crucial step in developing a successful business plan. By clearly articulating your company’s mission, vision, and unique selling proposition, you can capture the attention of potential investors, lenders, and partners. Keep your business overview concise, focused, and informative, highlighting your company’s strengths and future potential. By following the guidelines and examples provided in this article, you can create a powerful Company Overview that sets the stage for the rest of your business plan.

Finish Your Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!