A company profile can show investors and stakeholders the value of your company, along with its mission, goals and performance. Discovering what to include can help you write a company profile that engages readers and promotes your company’s image.
1: Start with a company profile template.
No need to start from scratch. We have included 3 editable company profile templates for you to use. You can download these templates for free and follow along with the next steps in this article, replacing images and text where necessary, and using your own brand colours.
Free Company Profile templates
Alternatively you can use a free online editing programme such as Canva where these templates originate from.
2: Decide on the purpose of the company profile.
You need to decide the purpose of your company profile before you start and make sure it acts as your guide throughout the process. Are you writing your company profile for your investors or your customers? Will it include things like your business’ performance indicators and revenue to inform investors, or will it mostly contain images and information on your products to attract customers?
Defining the purpose is the most critical part when writing an effective company profile, so take your time on it.
3: Decide on the format or style.
How you present your company profile will depend a lot on what kind of audience you are writing it for, as well as what kind of business it is. For example – if you are an accounting or law firm, it is probably better to stick to a traditional style which offers excellent readability and lists the company’s achievements and credentials. On the other hand, if you’re in the design or marketing industry, it is advisable to be creative and visual.
4: Incorporate contact information.
Always make sure you include the company name, website (if you have one) and contact information. This demonstrates your company’s credibility, and allows readers to perform more research into the company if necessary. Most importantly, it also ensures they know how to reach you! You can include these details either at the beginning or the end.
5. Include the company’s mission and vision statement.
A mission statement describes the purpose and values of your company. Here are elements of a strong mission statement:
- Target audience: A strong mission statement describes the key consumer market the company targets.
- Product or service: Mission statements also can make clear what product or service the company offers.
- Distinction: Lastly, a mission statement can describe what makes its product unique in its market.
6. Write your company’s history.
Many company profiles include a brief story of the company’s founding. You can format this information into a timeline or write a short paragraph that gives more insight into the motivations for creating your company. You can include the company’s founding date and location in this area of the company profile.
7. Describe your products and services.
Next, you can provide a description of the products or services the company offers. This can be an exhaustive list, a summary of the company’s top-selling products or a broader description of the types of products the company sells. Depending on who your audience is (whether potential customers, investors or the press) you can include prices and market value here.
8. Include awards and recognitions.
In the next section of the profile, you can list or describe awards and other recognition the company has earned. This can help you use the company profile to demonstrate the company’s value and prestige in its industry and community.
9. Include customer testimonials.
Your customers may take everything you say with a pinch of salt, but they will believe other customers who have used your products, which is why you should always include their comments on your website. Be honest – include the bad and the good – but always finish on why they keep coming back to you. Potential customers who are on the fence will appreciate and value them.
10. Tell your story and be genuine.
Even though there may be other businesses that sell what you’re selling, no one else shares your story. Your story is what makes you unique, and it’s what will make you stand out from the others. Be vulnerable, share the good and the bad, and tell people why you started your business. It doesn’t have to be glamorous, it just has to be genuine.
Top tips for creating a winning company profile.
Here are tips you can follow to create a winning company profile:
- Use subheadings: You can create subheadings for each section of the company profile to organise information in a way that’s easy for readers to understand.
- Include the logo: Including your company’s logo on the profile can promote brand recognition and act as a design element for the document.
- Consider design elements: Fonts, colour, graphics and white space can define the design of a company profile. You can follow your company’s branding style to achieve a cohesive company profile design.
- Proofread the profile: Before you distribute the company profile, be sure to use spell-checking software to ensure there are no errors in the profile. This can help your profile appear clean and professional to readers.
