Should the Executive Summary be written first in a business plan?

The Executive Summary serves as a concise snapshot of the entire business plan, giving readers a quick overview of the goals and key information. While it can be beneficial to write it first for clarity and focus, many professionals prefer to tackle the detailed sections of the business plan first. This approach allows them to have a thorough understanding of all components before summarizing them effectively. By writing the detailed sections initially, the writer can capture the most important insights and nuances, which can then inform and enhance the content of the Executive Summary. This leads to a more accurate and compelling overview, as the summary is built on a solid foundation of detailed information.

The preference for writing the Executive Summary last aligns with the idea that a well-informed summary will better reflect the depth and breadth of the business plan’s content. Therefore, many find it more practical to develop the full plan before distilling its essence into the summary.