Business Letter format: Overview, structure and Formats

Whenever communication with another company is required, either to deliver confidential messages or to share important news, business letters are written in a classic or polished style. There are different types of business letters, and learning how to craft these letters can help individuals know which variation is most appropriate for their requirements.

In this article, let us learn more about the business letter, its structure, components, and different types.

Business Letter Format

[Your Name]
[Your Job Title]
[Your Company Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]

Date: [Month Day, Year]

[Recipient's Name]
[Recipient’s Job Title]
[Recipient's Company Name]
[Recipient’s Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]

Subject: [Clear and Concise Subject Line]

Dear [Recipient's Name],

[Introduction: Begin your letter with a polite greeting and a brief introduction about the purpose of your communication. For example:
"I am writing to discuss the recent issues concerning our partnership agreement and to propose solutions that could benefit both parties."]

[Body: Provide detailed information about the subject of your letter. Use clear, concise, and professional language. For example:
"Our review of the project’s progress indicates a delay in the delivery of the agreed-upon milestones. We propose a revised timeline with added resources to ensure on-time completion. Please find the updated schedule attached for your consideration."]

[Conclusion: End with a clear summary of your request or next steps. For example:
"We believe these adjustments will strengthen our collaboration. Please let us know your feedback by [specific date]. I am happy to discuss further over a call or meeting."]

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Job Title]


Attachments: [List any documents or files attached, such as proposals, schedules, or invoices.]

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Table Of Contents:

  • What is a Business Letter?
  • Types of Business Letters
  • Structure of a Business Letter
  • Samples of a Business Letter
    • Sample Business Letter:1 
    • Sample Business Letter:2
    • Sample Business Letter:3
    • Sample Business Letter:4
    • Sample Business Letter:5
  • How to Write a Professional Business Letter?
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a Business Letter?

Business Letter refers to a formal type of letter which is used by organisations or companies to communicate professionally with clients, shareholders investors, customers, other companies, etc. This letter is mainly used to convey confidential information and messages. Hence, this letter is crafted in formal language and a specific format. 

Along with the above-mentioned details, some professionals write business letters to apply for jobs, while some communicate updates to team members through the business letter and some professionals use the business letters to provide feedback to other companies.

Also Read: Master the Art of Formal Letter Writing

Types of Business Letters

As mentioned above a business letter is written mainly for business purposes. There are many standard types of business letters, and each of them has a specific focus. 

Some of the standard types of business letters include:

  • Sales Letters,
  • Order Letters,
  • Inquiry Letters,
  • Follow-Up Letters,
  • Complaint Letters,
  • Adjustment Letters,
  • Letters of Resignation,
  • Acknowledgement Letters,
  • Letters of Recommendation.

Business Letter Structure 

Business letters refer to any written communication that begins with a salutation and ends with a signature. A well-format business letter should be written in brief, straightforward, and polite language. As this letter is written for business or professional purposes, it should be formal and structured.

There is a pre-specified format for writing a business letter. Here is the structure of the business letter to create an effective document:

Opening

Include your mailing address, date, recipient’s name, company details, and address.

Salutation: 

  • Address the recipient using “Dear,” along with their title and last name, such as “Dear Mr. Ravi” or “Dear Director Karan.”
  • In case you do not know the recipient’s gender, use their full name. 
  • Finally, be sure to add a colon to the end of the salutation.

Body: 

  • In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and the main point of your letter. 
  • The following paragraphs should go into the details of your main point.
  • The final paragraph should summarise the letter’s purpose and provide a CTA if possible.

Closing

  • Make sure the formal closings include “Sincerely” or “Yours truly.” 
  • For a more personal closing, consider using “Cordially” or “Best regards.” 
  • Regardless of what you choose, add a comma to the end of it.

Signature

Leave space of three to four lines after the closing and write your name and below your name mention your job title and company name. 

Enclosures:

If there are any documents to be attached, they can be listed here.

A good business letter should be concise, precise, and written in polite language. The two writing styles used in this letter include:

  • Full block style: Aligning all elements to the left margin.
  • Modified block style: Align the return address, date, closing, signature, and name to the downside middle of the page. Lastly, align all other elements on the left page margin.

How to Write a Professional Business Letter?

All Business Letters are used to communicate professionally with clients, customers, other companies, shareholders, investors, and more. Crafting a Business letter requires formal language with a specific format.

Here is the simple structure of a formal Business Letter:

How to Write a Business Letter
Beginning of the Business LetterComposing the BodyClosing the Business LetterFinalising of the Business Letter

All Business letters follow a fixed format. Here are certain tips to be followed while writing an effective Business letter for success:

Beginning the Letter

  • Before the beginning of the business letter, know the format.
  • Choose the Right Kind of Paper.
  • Mention the information about the Company: Name and the address of the company. If possible use the company's letterhead for any business use.
  • Include the date, Add the Recipient’s Information and choose a Salutation.

Composing the BodyBe persuasive in the letter.

  • Always write Precisely and Clearly,
  • Avoid using fancy, lengthy, and big words.
  • The tone of the letter must be formal, clear and polite.
  • Use the Active Voice and personal pronouns in a business letter.
  • Always write a letter politely and respectfully and use courteous words.

Closing the Letter

  • Use a proper closing in a business letter,
  • Always sign the letter in ink.
  • If sending a printed copy, always affix the scanned signature.
  • One must properly enclose a list of attached documents with the letter. One can use the abbreviation of the enclosure, i.e., Encl. or Enc.
  • For persons other than the recipient, include their name on the letter by typing CC.

Finalising of the Business Letter

  • Once you are finished writing the letter:
  • Have a quick review for errors.
  • Check for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.
  •  Use a paperclip on the top of the left corner if there are many pages. The use of staple doesn’t look nice for a business letter.

Always use clear and correct spelling for mentioning the name and address of the recipient.


Sample:1 Formal Business Inquiry Letter

[Your Name]

[Your Job Title]

[Your Company Name]

[Address Line 1]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

[Email Address] | [Phone Number]

[Date]

[Recipient's Name]

[Recipient's Job Title]

[Recipient's Company Name]

[Address Line 1]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

Subject: Inquiry About [Specific Topic/Product/Service]

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am the [Your Job Title] at [Your Company Name]. I am reaching out to inquire about [specific topic, product, or service].

We are currently exploring options for [specific need] and came across your company. We would appreciate it if you could provide us with further information regarding [specific details or questions]. Additionally, if there are brochures, pricing details, or relevant documentation, we would be grateful if you could share them.

Thank you in advance for your assistance. I look forward to your response. Please feel free to contact me at [Your Email Address] or [Your Phone Number].

Sincerely,

[Your Name]


Sample Letter:2 Formal Business Acceptance Proposal Letter

[Your Name]

[Your Job Title]

[Your Company Name]

[Address Line 1]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

[Email Address] | [Phone Number]

[Date]

[Recipient's Name]

[Recipient's Job Title]

[Recipient's Company Name]

[Address Line 1]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

Subject: Acceptance of Proposal

Dear [Recipient's Name],

We are pleased to inform you that we have reviewed your proposal dated [date] regarding [specific proposal details] and have decided to move forward with it. Your detailed approach and competitive pricing have made our decision straightforward.

Please let us know the next steps required to initiate the agreement. We are committed to ensuring this partnership is successful and mutually beneficial.

Thank you for your efforts in providing such a thorough and professional proposal. Feel free to reach out to us at [Your Email Address] or [Your Phone Number] to discuss the timeline or any required formalities.

Looking forward to collaborating with you.

Warm regards,

[Your Name]


Sample Letter: 3 Formal Business Complaint Letter

[Your Name]

[Your Job Title]

[Your Company Name]

[Address Line 1]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

[Email Address] | [Phone Number]

[Date]

[Recipient's Name]

[Recipient's Job Title]

[Recipient's Company Name]

[Address Line 1]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

Subject: Complaint Regarding [Issue]

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I am writing to formally bring to your attention an issue regarding [specific product/service/experience] that we have encountered on [specific date or timeline].

The main concerns are as follows:

[Describe the first issue]

[Describe the second issue, if applicable]

This has caused [describe impact, such as financial loss, inconvenience, etc.]. We would greatly appreciate it if you could address this matter promptly by [specific solution or action you expect].

Please feel free to contact me at [Your Email Address] or [Your Phone Number] if you need further details or clarification. I trust that you will take the necessary steps to resolve this issue to our satisfaction.

Thank you for your attention. I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]


Sample Letter: 4 Formal Business Partnership Proposal Letter

[Your Name]

[Your Job Title]

[Your Company Name]

[Address Line 1]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

[Email Address] | [Phone Number]

[Date]

[Recipient's Name]

[Recipient's Job Title]

[Recipient's Company Name]

[Address Line 1]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

Subject: Proposal for Business Partnership

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I am writing to propose a business partnership between [Your Company Name] and [Recipient's Company Name]. With [mention your company’s strengths or achievements], I believe we could create a mutually beneficial relationship to achieve [specific goals].

Our proposal is aimed at [specific objectives], and we envision collaboration in the following areas:

[Outline key proposal point 1]

[Outline key proposal point 2]

We are confident that combining our efforts will lead to outstanding results. I am available for a meeting to discuss this proposal in detail at your earliest convenience. Please let me know your availability for the same.

Thank you for considering this opportunity. I look forward to your response.

Best regards,

[Your Name]


Sample Letter: 5 Formal Business Letter for placing an Order

[Your Name]

[Your Job Title]

[Your Company Name]

[Address Line 1]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

[Email Address] | [Phone Number]

[Date]

[Recipient's Name]

[Recipient's Job Title]

[Recipient's Company Name]

[Address Line 1]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

Subject: Complaint Regarding [Issue]

Dear [Recipient's Name],

Subject- Placing an order for NCERT books for the school library.

Respected Sir,

I hereby like to place an order for the NCERT textbooks for class 5 to class 8 books. Here is the following details:

NCERT Class 5th English Text Books    10 Copies
NCERT Class 5th English Worksheets  30 Copies
NCERT Class 6th English Text Books   25 Copies
NCERT Class 6th Science Text Books   14 Copies
NCERT Class 7th Science Text Books    13 Copies
NCERT Class 7th Maths Text Books   23 Copies
NCERT Class 8th Science Text Books  09 Copies
NCERT Class 8th Maths Text Books  17 Copies

Kindly ensure that these books are of the latest edition and are in proper condition. It is a request to deliver these NCERT textbooks by 5 January 2025 and bills for the same shall be cleared at the time of delivery. Please offer a suitable discount on the purchase.

Thanking you

Your’s faithfully

[Your Name]

Conclusion

Whether you are communicating with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders, this guide ensures your message is conveyed effectively and professionally. Elevate your business correspondence today.Stay tuned to our website at JAIN College, one of the Best PU Colleges in Bangalore, to explore more in-depth topics such as Business Letters, how to write a formal business letter and more.

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