What are the Seven Parts of a Business Letter?

Writing a professional business letter is a vital part of business communication.

Written communication to customers, vendors, or other businesses is a developed skill that requires practice.

Understanding the proper business letter format, the parts of a business letter and practicing writing is key to effective business correspondence.

The business letter is a little more formal than other written business communications such as email, memos, or text messages.

It is important to know the audience so the tone of the letter can be professional but not overly formal.

When drafting a letter, the author should assume that the reader has limited time and that they are looking for the bottom line and how it relates to them.

Make sure the substance is clear, specific, and to the point so the reader can make a quick assessment of the letter.

In many cases, the business letter is the first impression so it is important to ensure the content is accurate and free from errors.

This includes proofing the letter for content clarity and typos.

All business letters should be printed on the business letterhead.

If a formal letterhead is not available, the name of the company with address, contact phone number, and email should be printed on the top center of the paper.

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So what are the seven parts of a business letter?

1. Date

The date is put at the top of the page for any business communication.

The date is a critical piece of information documenting when the correspondence was sent.

This is important for correspondence that may be kept for future reference.

2. Address

The address of the person receiving the correspondence includes a formal name, street address, city, state, and zip code.

Don’t forget to double-check the spelling of the person’s name.

A misspelled name is careless, unprofessional and can negatively impact the response to the letter.

3. Salutation

The salutation is the formal way of addressing the person.

Common salutations are Dear or To Whom It May Concern.

Some people have sensitivities to what name is used in addressing them so be sure to take the time to identify the person’s most commonly used name.

For example, if the person’s name is Robert, try to find out if he goes by Robert, Rob or Bob. For instance – Dear Bob,

4. Introduction

The first few sentences of a letter are introductory.

The introduction section introduces the subject of the letter.

It is a summary in a sentence or two that explains the goal of the letter.

For example, an introduction may be something like:

I am writing today to further explore a vendor relationship with XYZ Corporation.

5. Body of the Letter

The body of the letter is where the bulk of the information is shared.

The body of the letter explains in detail all aspects of what is being communicated.

This would include detail of the information being shared.

For instance, the body may be something like this:

We understand that XYZ Corporation can provide tools for 10% less than other competitors. And, that the focus on service after the sale is amongst the best in the industry.

6. Closing

The closing of the letter summarizes what the letter was about and any next steps or action items.

This section gives the reader a heads up that the communication is coming to a close.

For instance, the closing may be something like this:

Please call me at your earliest convenience to discuss a vendor relationship and to explore if we can come to a mutually beneficial relationship. I look forward to speaking with you soon.