How to Write a Business Report
A business report isn’t an essay in disguise — it’s a structured, scannable document that leads a busy reader to a decision. Master the sections and the formatting and you’re most of the way there.
How a report differs from an essay
An essay flows as continuous argument; a report is built from labelled sections a reader can jump between. Reports use headings, numbered sections, bullet points, and often tables or figures, and they front-load conclusions so a decision-maker can get the gist in a minute. Write for someone who may read only the executive summary and the recommendations.
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The standard sections
- Title page & executive summary — the summary states the purpose, key findings, and recommendations in a few sentences. Write it last.
- Introduction — the problem, scope, and what the report sets out to do.
- Methods (if applicable) — how you gathered and analysed information.
- Findings / discussion — the evidence, organised under sub-headings, supported by tables or charts.
- Conclusions — what the findings mean; no new information here.
- Recommendations — specific, actionable next steps that follow from the conclusions.
- References & appendices — sources, plus detail that would clutter the body.
Writing each section well
Keep the introduction tight and the findings evidence-led. In the discussion, interpret — don’t just present a table and move on; tell the reader what it shows. Conclusions must trace back to findings, and every recommendation should map to a conclusion. If a recommendation appears from nowhere, the reader won’t trust it.
Make it scannable
Use informative sub-headings, keep paragraphs short, and put comparative data in tables. A reader should be able to skim the headings and still follow the logic.
Formatting
Number your sections and sub-sections, label every table and figure, and stay consistent with fonts and spacing. Any figure or table should be referred to in the text (“as Table 2 shows”) and readable in black and white.
Quick checklist
- Could a reader get the essentials from the executive summary alone?
- Does every recommendation follow from a stated conclusion?
- Are findings interpreted, not just presented?
- Are sections numbered and figures labelled and referenced?