Skip to Main Content
USC logo
Library Guides

Business report writing

Learning objectives

This resource will help you:  

  • Plan and gather information effectively for your business report.  
  • Understand the structure and key elements of formal business report writing.  
  • Learn how to synthesise and reference information in your report.  

You will explore:   

  • What business reports are and how they are used.  
  • How to get started with writing a business report.   
  • The essential components of a business report. 
  • Tools and services to support your report writing process. 

What is a business report?

The purpose of a business report is to:

  • Provide information to your targeted audience.
  • Analyse and solve problems.
  • Make proposals or recommendations for change.
  • Present the findings of an investigation or project.
  • Record progress.

Typical components of a business report include:

  • Information, not arguments or persuasion.
  • Headings and sub-headings.
  • Tables and figures, where appropriate.
  • An executive summary or an abstract.
  • Recommendations and appendices, where appropriate. 
  • Concise and precise language.

Business reports are used to assess learning at university because they:

  • Provide an opportunity for you to learn to plan and gather information.
  • Help you to develop an understanding of the structure and elements of formal report writing.
  • Help you to develop graduate skills, including problem-solving, decision-making, analytical abilities, and communication.

How to write a business report

This video (5:53 min) provides an overview of the purpose and components of business reports. 

How do you structure a business report?

The table below indicates what is generally included in each section of a business report. 

Section What the section contains
Title page
  • A brief and specific title.
  • The name of the author/s.
  • Who the report was prepared for.
  • Date. 
Executive summary    
  • An overview of all the important points from the report.
  • High level and succinct.
  • Include the purpose / aim and scope of the project.
  • Approach and method used.
  • Main findings.
  • Recommendations if required.
Table of contents 
  • Lists the reports contents.
  • Demonstrates how the report is organised.
  • Includes page numbers.
Introduction    
  • State the purpose of the report.
  • Who commissioned the report or who requested it be compiled.
  • State its scope (what it covers) and limitations (what it does not cover).
Body    
  • Presents factual, objective and referenced information.
  • Discusses and analyses information.
  • Presents information in a logical sequence with appropriate headings, sub-headings and a numbering system.
  • Presented in prose (avoid using dot points).
Figures and tables
  • Should be included only if relevant.
  • Must be discussed in the body text.
  • Position figures close to the paragraph you discuss them.
  • Number each figure consecutively and ensure each figure has a title.
Conclusion
  • Restates the purpose of the report.
  • Summarises the report findings.
  • Evaluates the main findings of the investigation.
  • Check that the conclusions drawn are consistent with the aims given in the introduction.
  • Do not introduce new information
  • Do not use direct quotes or citations.
Recommendations
  • Are decisions/actions made from the conclusions. 
  • Recommend further actions.
  • Should be brief statements (dot points). 
Reference list    
  • Make sure you reference appropriately to your discipline.
Appendices 
  • Present additional material that is relevant to the report but not crucial, or too detailed, to include in the main discussion/analysis in the body of the report.  
  • Can also include charts, tables, extracts, graphs, letters, questionnaires, statistics, and computer program information.  
  • Begin on a new page and contain one major piece of information.  
  • Are labelled and numbered sequentially.  
  • Should be individually referenced and included in the list of references.  
  • Must be referred to in the body. 

 

Additional resources

Access Student Services

Your input matters: Shape the future of academic skills support!

Subjects: Academic Skills
© University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia | ABN 28 441 859 157 | CRICOS Provider No. 01595D