How to Write Business Reports That Make an Impact

Learn how to write a corporate report that stakeholders love from structure to final touches, from how to start to how to conclude, and build your authority.

Jackie Plaza

6 minute read

Short answer

How to write a business report?

1. Understand the Purpose: Identify the report's objective and audience.
2. Conduct Research: Gather relevant data and information.
3. Create an Outline: Organize your thoughts and structure your report.
4. Write the Report: Start with a draft, focusing on clarity and conciseness.
5. Review and Revise: Proofread, edit for clarity, and ensure accuracy of data.
6. Finalize: Prepare the final version, ensuring it's professionally presented.

Effective business reporting drive decision making

Business reports, or corporate reports, are more than just documents; they're tools that communicate vital information, drive decisions, and shape the future of your company.

They're your voice in the corporate world and they lay the foundations for your authority in the eyes of stakeholders, investors, and partners.

In this comprehensive guide on business report writing. We'll cover everything from the basics to specific report types, with actionable tips and examples.

This guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to write compelling corporate reports that move hearts and move the needle.

What is the role of business reports in corporate communication?

Business reports are the backbone of corporate communication. They provide a reliable, consistent source of information that drives strategic decisions. These reports communicate vital data to stakeholders, investors, partners, and customers.

corporate reports are a key communication tool that fosters transparency, promotes accountability, and guides decision-making within a business.

What is the accepted structure of business reports

Every great report follows a structure. Let's decode this blueprint. The basic structure of a corporate report typically includes the same sections as I cover below.

But the exact structure can vary depending on the type of corporate report and the specific requirements of the company.

1. Title Page: This is the first page of the report that includes the title of the report, the name of the company, the authors, and the date of the report.

2. Executive Summary: This is a brief overview of the report, summarizing the main points, findings, and recommendations. It should be concise and informative enough that a reader can understand the gist of the full report without reading it. Using a summarizing tool can help streamline this process.

3. Table of Contents: This section lists the main headings and subheadings of the report along with their page numbers to help readers navigate through the document.

4. Introduction: The introduction provides background information, states the purpose of the report, and outlines what will be covered.

5. Body: This is the main part of the report, where the information is presented in detail. It's usually divided into sections and subsections with headings and subheadings. The body of a corporate report often includes information about the company's operations, financial performance, and strategic initiatives.

6. Conclusion: This section summarizes the findings or results discussed in the body of the report. It should tie together the main points and show how they support the report's purpose or objective.

7. Recommendations: Based on the findings in the report, this section provides suggestions for future actions. Not all corporate reports will include this section—it depends on the purpose of the report.

8. References/Bibliography: If any external sources were used in the report, they should be listed here.

9. Appendices: This section includes any additional information that is relevant but not necessary to include in the main body of the report, such as detailed financial tables, survey results, or interview transcripts.