Professional Business Letter Template

A business letter is a professional piece of correspondence. If you are writing a cover letter, letter of recommendation, thank-you note, or any other professional correspondence, you will need to follow the formal conventions of a business letter.

Following these guidelines is important since it shows that you are taking the correspondence seriously. Plus, it ensures that the letter’s recipient can focus on your message (and not on formatting inconsistencies, typos, or any other small but distracting errors). 

Before you write—or finalize—your next business letter, take some time to review how to format the letter, from font choice to style, along with information on which salutations and sign-offs are appropriate to use. 

Types of Formats for Business Letters

There are three basic formats used in business letters:

• Block format: In this style, all text is left justified. Skip one line between each section.

• Modified block format: Most content is left justified in this style, just as in the block format letter. Here are the exceptions: for your contact information and complimentary close, tab over to the center of the page, and write your information there.

• Semi-block format: Also sometimes referred to as indented block format, this style is the same as the modified block format except that each paragraph is indented.

Any of these styles are acceptable for use in a business letter, but since the rules for the block format are so clear-cut, this may be the easiest option to select.

Many word processing programs will have templates available that will make it easier for you to format the letter appropriately.

Take advantage of these templates so you can focus on the content of your letter instead of the formatting. Whichever format you choose, make sure to single-space the letter and skip a space between every paragraph and section.

How to Format and Write a Letter

Appearances matter. A business letter is a professional piece of correspondence, but it won’t be perceived that way if you opt for a wacky font or have lots of typos. Here are some guidelines to follow: 

• Choose an appropriate font and font size. The bottom line here is that you want a simple, unremarkable font (such as Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial) that won’t stand out. The default font in your word processing program is probably an acceptable choice. 
• Avoid casual language or slang. This is a formal letter, so you’ll want to use more formal language. 
• Prevent typos and grammatical errors by proofreading carefully.
• If you are printing out the letter, consider choosing high-quality paper. Whatever paper you choose, fold the letter carefully before placing it in the envelope. If you can, type the recipient’s address on the envelope; if that’s not possible, use your neatest handwriting. 

What to Include in Each Section of the Letter

Contact Information

Include your contact information in the following order:

Your Name
Your Address
City, State Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email Address

If you are using personalized letterhead that includes this information, leave off this section.

Date: In the United States, the format for writing the date is month, date, and year, for example, May 12, 2022. Do not abbreviate the month.

Recipient’s Contact Information: Include the contact information for the person you are writing to. If you do not have a specific name, leave that off.

Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State Zip Code

Salutation: Begin the letter with a salutation, such as “Dear,” followed by the title and name. See more examples of appropriate greetings to use in a business letter as well as advice on what to do if you do not have a specific contact person. Follow the person’s name with a colon or a comma.

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

Body of Business Letter

Keep your letter simple and focused, so its purpose is clear.

• The first paragraph of your business letter should provide an introduction to why you are writing.
• In the following paragraphs, provide more information and details about your request.
• The final paragraph should reiterate the reason you are writing and thank the reader for reviewing your request.

Single-space your letter and justify your letter to the left. Leave a blank line between each paragraph.

Complimentary Close:

Respectfully yours,

Signature

Handwritten Signature (for a mailed letter)

Typed Signature

Email Signature

For an email letter, include your contact information in your signature instead of at the top of the letter:

Your Name
Your Email Address
Your Phone Number

Business Letter Template

This is an example of a professional business letter. Download the professional business letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word) or see below for more examples.

The Balance

Business Letter Example (Text Version)

Joan Lau
123 Main Street
Anytown, CA 12345
555-555-5555
[email protected] 

April 20, 2022

Steven Kramer
Director, Human Resources
Acme Office Supplies
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321

Dear Mr. Kramer,

I’m writing today to invite you or another representative from your company to speak at the annual Metropolitan Business Conference, which will be held at North Branch Hotel, September 15 – 18, 2022.

The theme of our upcoming conference is finding and hiring employees who fit company culture. With the growth that your company has seen in the past five years, I believe you would have much to offer our audience.

As part of the speaker’s package, we offer a modest honorarium and a table for six at the Saturday night dinner.

If you have any questions or wish to know more about the speaking opportunity, please let me know. My cell phone number is 555-555-5555, and my email is [email protected].

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Signature (hard copy letter)

Joan Lau

More Templates and Examples

Overwhelmed by all the steps involved in formatting business letter correspondence? A template can help. Microsoft letter templates are available as a free download for Microsoft Word users or are available within your Word program. You can use these templates to create a variety of business and employment letters.

If you’re unsure what to write in the body of a business letter, review these sample job search and employment letters for inspiration.