Mission Statement
by Alan Gleeson
Writing a Mission Statement
One of the hardest things for people to write in a business plan is the mission statement. Mission statements can tell a lot about your business, so it’s important to take time, look at some mission statement examples, and put effort into writing a good one.
What is a Mission Statement?
You should think of a mission statement as a cross between a slogan and an executive summary. Just as slogans and executive summaries can be used in many ways so too can a mission statement. An effective mission statement should be able to tell your company story and ideals in less than 30 seconds.
How should I write a Mission Statement?
Here are some basic guidelines in writing a mission statement:
- A mission statement should say who your company is, what you do, what you stand for and why you do it.
- An effective mission statement is best developed with input by all the members of an organization.
- The best mission statements tend to be 3-4 sentences long.
- Avoid saying how great you are, what great quality and what great service you provide.
- Examine other company’s mission statements, but make certain your statement is you and not some other company. That is why you should not copy a statement.
- Make sure you actually believe in your mission statement, if you don’t, it’s a lie, and your customers will soon realize it.
For more information on mission statements, see our sample mission statements below or use Business Plan Pro, which helps you write a mission statement as well as containing over 500 example mission statements.
Sample Mission Statements.
“McMahon Furniture helps create pleasant, productive office environments with well-designed furniture in Dublin that incorporates new technology into the classic office mode, in which real people can work happily. We are sensitive to the look and feel of good wood and fine furniture as well as to high-powered personal computing. We always provide the best possible value to our customers who care about quality office environments, and we want every pound spent with us to be well spent. We also create and nurture a healthy, creative, respectful, and fun office and workshop environment, in which our employees are fairly compensated and encouraged to respect the customer and the quality of the product we produce. We seek fair and responsible profit, enough to keep the company financially healthy for the long term and to fairly compensate owners and investors for their money and risk.”
