A well made one-page summary of your business can be a very powerful tool for garnering both interest and funding. Sometimes called an investor fact sheet, a one-page summary should serve as a quick reference for the structure of your business. Creating one can be tricky though. This page is dedicated to helping guide you through that process.
Keep it Concise
The hardest part about creating a good summary is balancing thoroughness with brevity. In other words, you must convey a large amount of information in a small amount of space. To do this, you will need to refine your idea down to its key elements. This means cutting extraneous information and choosing your words carefully. With your summary, it is all about communicating effectively. Work on making every word count and be sure to have someone proofread your summary to make sure that what is clear to you, is also clear to your reader.
Know Your Audience
Part of communicating most effectively with your summary is considering who will be reading your work. Remember, you are writing this summary for investors. These investors are likely not experts in your field, so use discretion before utilizing technical jargon. On the other hand, you should be careful not to patronize investors by using simplistic language. Again, having someone proofread your summary is a good way to check yourself on clarity. Try to find a balance in the language you use – be intelligent without being esoteric.
Keep it Professional
This tip goes hand in hand with knowing your audience. It is very important not to lose sight of the purpose behind your summary. At a fundamental level, you are trying to convince investors to entrust you with their money. While a great idea may pique their interest, you will have to show that you are capable of running a business if you hope to secure their financial support. To do this, use professional language, give accurate data, keep things organized, and follow proper form (for more help with pro forma financials, click here and check out the example summaries below).