An executive summary is a short overview of your entire business plan, usually one or two pages long, that tells funders exactly what your business does and what you need from them. You write it last, but it goes at the very front of your document. If a loan officer at a bank or an officer at SEFA reads this page and does not understand your business, they will not read the rest of your plan.
What goes into an executive summary
Your executive summary must answer the most important questions about your business. It needs to be clear and straight to the point. Do not use big words just to sound professional. Plain English is always better.
You must include:
- Your business name and CIPC registration details.
- The problem your customers have and how your business solves it.
- Your target market and where they are located.
- Your main competitors and why you are better.
- The amount of funding you need and what you will use it for.
- A quick summary of your financial projections for the next year.
Executive summary business plan sample
Here is a simple sample for a fictional cleaning service in Gauteng. You can use this structure as a template for your own business.
Business Name: Clean Streets Pty Ltd
Registration: 2023/123456/07
Owner: Thabo Mokoena
Overview:
Clean Streets Pty Ltd is a registered cleaning company based in Soweto. We provide deep cleaning and sanitation services to local schools, clinics, and small business offices. We are B-BBEE compliant and hold a valid tax clearance certificate from SARS.
The Problem:
Many local clinics and schools struggle to find reliable cleaning services that use safe, eco-friendly products. They often hire informal cleaners who do not have the right equipment or training, which leads to poor hygiene standards.
The Solution:
Clean Streets provides trained cleaning teams using industrial equipment and approved chemicals. We offer weekly and monthly contracts so our clients always have a clean environment without having to manage the staff themselves.
Target Market:
Our main customers are public clinics, primary schools, and retail shops within a 20 kilometre radius of our base. We have already secured verbal agreements with two local clinics.
Financial Highlights:
In our first year, we project a total revenue of R450,000. Our main costs are cleaning chemicals, staff wages, and transport. We expect to break even by month eight.
Funding Required:
We are requesting R150,000 from SEFA. This money will be used to buy two industrial floor scrubbers, a reliable delivery van, and cleaning supplies for the first three months. We will repay the loan from our monthly contract income.
How to write your executive summary
Writing this section is easier if you follow a strict order. Do not try to write it until your full business plan and financial plan are finished.
- Finish your full business plan first. You cannot summarise something you have not written.
- Write a short paragraph explaining what your business does. Keep it under four sentences.
- List your main products or services. Explain who buys them and why.
- Summarise your financial plan. State your expected income and main expenses.
- State exactly how much money you need. Be specific about what equipment or stock you will buy with it.
- Read your summary out loud. If you run out of breath or get confused, rewrite it.
Getting it right for South African funders
Funders in South Africa look for specific things before they hand over money. They want to see that you are a registered business with CIPC. They also want to know that your tax matters are sorted with SARS. If you are applying for government tenders or certain loans, your B-BBEE status matters.
Your executive summary should mention that your company is registered and tax compliant. This shows the funder that you are serious and ready to operate legally. If you have a CIDB grading for construction or a specific licence for your sector, mention it in the summary.
How KAGO can help you
Writing an executive summary is hard when you are not sure what funders want to see. At KAGO, we build a Complete Business Plan for R3,495 that includes a professional executive summary. We also build a Financial Plan for R1,895 to make sure your numbers make sense.
We make your business funding-ready, but the funder always decides. We do the writing and the formatting so you can focus on running your business. We ensure your summary includes all the details that South African banks, SEFA, and the NYDA look for.
Final checks before you submit
Before you send your business plan to anyone, check your executive summary one last time. Make sure there are no spelling mistakes. Ensure the numbers you mention in the summary match the numbers in your financial plan exactly. If you ask for R150,000 in the summary, your financial plan must show how that R150,000 is spent.
Keep your executive summary to one or two pages. Funders are busy people. If you give them a clear, short summary, they are more likely to read the rest of your plan and consider your application.
Questions people also ask
How long should an executive summary be?
It should be one to two pages long. Funders do not have time to read a long summary, so keep it short and only include the most important facts about your business.
Do I write the executive summary before the rest of the plan?
No, you write it last. You can only summarise your business plan accurately after you have finished your market research and financial projections.
What if my business is not registered with CIPC yet?
You should register your business before applying for funding. Funders want to see that you are a legal entity before they give you money.
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Let KAGO build it for you.
Business plans, financial plans, company registration, logos and tender packs, at a menu price, in days. We make your business funding-ready. The funder always decides.