Google “business letter templates” and you’ll find either dry Microsoft Word clones or text templates you have to copy and paste and then format yourself. Venngage has brought together professionally-designed templates with wording based on proven examples. All of our templates can be customized. Click any template to get started.
Jump to a business letter template:
- Letter of recommendation
- Employee offer letter
- Termination letter
- Contract termination letter
- Employment verification letter
- Sales letter
- Memo
- Formal business letter
Letter of recommendation template
A former employee reaches out to you. It’s a request for another recommendation letter. As much as you’re looking forward to helping your former report, it’s just another task to add to your plate. Get a head start with a letter of recommendation template–it already has the right formatting, with wording you can make your own. The University of Missouri-Columbia has a short and sweet guide on what to include in your letter of recommendation, including:
- The relationship between yourself and the candidate
- Purpose of the letter
- Candidate’s top strengths (a strong network of contacts etc.)
- Candidate’s personal characteristics (creativity, dependability etc.)
- Candidate’s unique expertise or experiences (a specific project, education etc.)
- A clear endorsement that you are recommending the candidate for the opportunity in question
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Reference letter template
Recommendation letters are also called reference letters. Reference letters focus on an employee’s past work performance, as well as any experience or skills that you believe would qualify them for a new position. A reference letter should be more than two paragraphs, but no more than one page. Ask the applicant what the letter should include before you start writing. The Muse lists sample questions you should ask, such as:
- What should I know about the company or position you’re applying for?
- Should I feature any particular personal strength or project experience?
- Who should I address the letter to? Do I need to know anything about this person?
- Why did you ask me to write this letter (over other past bosses)?
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Employee offer letter template
You’re excited about your new hire. It’s time to draft the letter that officially welcomes them to your company. But wait–don’t dash off that employment offer letter. You want to make sure you’re not using language that makes it seem like the offer letter is an employment contract or agreement. Here’s how to avoid this, according to the SHRM:
- Employee compensation listed as hourly, weekly or per-pay-period (not annually).
- A statement that the employment is “at will,” meaning either party can terminate their relationship at any time, with or without cause.
- Avoid discussing job security, contracts or future employment prospects.
- Include a sentence that the offer letter is only for information and isn’t a binding contract.
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A job offer letter can be as short as two pages, depending on the complexity of the arrangement. We recommend saving a few basic job offer templates that you can reuse again and again to cover full-time, part-time and other situations. You save all of our templates as your own template. You can then make copies without changing the original text.
SHRM again has a no-nonsense guide to what exactly an offer letter should contain, with specific requirements for U.S. companies, such as:
- Exempt vs. nonexempt classification
- List any contingencies such as a reference check or background check clearance
- Enclose a confidentiality agreement
- A caveat that duties listed are not a complete list and are subject to change
- Specific state requirements, some of which Foley lists
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A termination letter can be incredibly difficult for managers to write–whether the reason is layoffs or poor performance. That said, a well-worded termination letter lets you be direct but fair. It will also help shield your company from future legal action. Please note: the termination letter should go hand-in-hand with a private meeting, with an HR rep present says Monster. Here’s what to include in a termination letter:
- Date of letter, date termination is effective
- Name of person being terminated, the company, the manager or HR rep handling the termination
- Why the employee is being terminated and whether it’s a layoff or for cause
- If it’s a termination for cause, include reasons why
- List company property that must be returned and when to return it
- When their final paycheck will arrive and any vacation they’ve accrued
- Benefit information such as health care rights under COBRA or how to roll over their 401(k)
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Termination letter due to COVID-19
Unfortunately, many businesses are being forced to layoff employees due to the current economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To ease the pain of termination, here are some points to include in your termination letter due to COVID-19:
- Explain the financial difficulties the company has encountered and any efforts to avoid layoffs
- Include the total number of positions to be eliminated
- Outline any separation benefits that HR will detail in person, such as an outplacement firm to assist with their job search
- Thank the employee for their contributions to the company
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Business contract termination letter
It’s never easy to terminate a contract, especially with a beloved supplier, contract employee etc. But, with the economic downturn, it’s become increasingly necessary. Just be aware that lack of business due to the COVID-19 pandemic may not be enough to get you (legally) out of a contract, according to Crowell & Moring LLP. Review your contract and when if/when it allows for termination–and get legal advice.
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Employment verification letter template
Always check for the reason for the employment verification letter first. A current employee may need one in order to get a mortgage, a new apartment, a loan for their child’s education etc. A former employee or one who’s departing is a different issue and there could be legal consequences, says Upcounsel, so run your letter by HR before you send it. The employee verification letter should include:
- Your company’s official letterhead
- Your contact information
- The recipient’s contact information
- Only the information requested, no more no less
- A sentence indicating you’re open to answering further questions
- A handwritten signature
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Sales letter template
It’s the eternal question: how do I write a sales letter that’s effective but doesn’t come off as cheesy or too “salesy.” Here’s the secret: answer the question “what’s in it for me,” says Entrepreneur. By focusing on the benefits you’ll provide the customer (not what your business is and what it does), it’s much more likely the customer will take advantage of your offer. Here are some other sales letter best practices:
- Include an introduction, body and conclusion
- The introduction should explain why you’re sending the letter
- The body should be your sales pitch i.e. why your offer will benefit the customer
- The conclusion should summarize your offer and include a call to action
- The call to action means you tell the customer what you want them to do
- Urge the reader to take action right away (a limited time deal etc.)
- The letter should be easy to read. This means using headlines, short paragraphs and short sentences.
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Business memo template
Want to write a memo that actually gets read? Use headings and lists to make your business memo as accessible as possible, says Purdue OWL. Headings should be short but descriptive–think “Team Meeting Moving From Monthly to Weekly” instead of “Team Meeting Update.” All important points should be in a list format; either bullet points or a numbered list. Here’s what should be included in an office memo:
- Heading: to, from, date, subject
- Opening: a short paragraph on what the memo will be about
- Background: the problem you’re solving or the general circumstances
- Task: what you’re doing to solve the problem or the action you were requested to do
- Details: any supporting details, facts or research
- Closing: request action from the reader
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Formal business letter template
While a formal business letter can have many uses, including those we’ve discussed above, typically the format is the same. The Purdue Writing Lab recommends you include the following sections, in this order:
- Sender’s address, unless already included in the letterhead
- Date the letter was written, in this format: January 1, 2020
- Recipient’s address, including their name and title (Ms., Mrs., Mr. or Dr.)
- Salutation, in this format: Dear Bronwyn Kienapple:
- Body: left justified, no indent in the first line, one space between paragraphs
- Closing, first word capitalized only with a comma after: Thank you,
- Enclosures. Write this word if there are documents attached to the letter.
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Official letters template
An official letter requires more than attention to structure, though. You need to know how to write to your audience and get your message across simply and clearly. This U.S. government agency has excellent tips on how to do just that:
- Put your main message at the top. Don’t bury bad news or you’ll confuse your reader.
- After the main message you can start your sentence with “This letter will…(explain why your application was denied, for example)” to explain the contents of the rest of the letter.
- In general, use present tense
- Use “must” to express an obligation and avoid use of the word “shall”
- Limit each paragraph to one topic
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Grant proposal cover letter template
A grant proposal cover letter is the perfect place to draw connections between your initiative and the reader’s mission. Be sure to also include the population you’ll serve and the need your project will meet. Engage the reader with past successes and by illustrating the depth of the need you will serve. According to Candid, your grant proposal cover letter should include:
- An introduction to your project
- The dollar amount requested
- Details on how your project will fulfill the foundation’s mandate
- Any previous communications with the funding organization
- A list of what the proposal contains
- Contact information to answer any questions
- The signature of your nonprofit’s executive director
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Business Letter Template FAQ
How do I get started with creating letterhead in Venngage?
You’ll need to create a free account first. Then, you can access free and paid letterhead templates. Customize them in our simple online editor. You’ll need to upgrade to our Premium or Business plan to download your letter as a PDF (and then print it, if you like). We offer monthly, quarterly or yearly subscriptions.
How can I create letterhead in Venngage?
You have two options:
- Use one of our pre-made templates. You can customize all the colors, fonts, logos and other details.
- Start fresh with a blank canvas and create your own design using our drag-and-drop online editor.
I already have letterhead in Microsoft Word. Can I use it in Venngage?
Yes, you can. Convert your letterhead Word file (just the header and/or footer) into a JPG or PNG file format. You can then import this file into a blank Venngage canvas, add a text box and write your letter.
Here’s how you upload an image from your hard drive to your Venngage letter or other project:
That said, you may want to consider using one of our letter templates or recreating your Microsoft Word letterhead in a blank canvas on Venngage. It’s easy to drop in your logo and add brand colors and fonts. You can copy and paste text from your existing letterhead into Venngage, too.
More information is in our How Do I Create From Blank? support article.
Can I download my Venngage letterhead and then use it in Microsoft Word later?
You can download your header as a PNG image file and add it to your Word documents, Google Docs or other programs to create letters. You can’t edit Venngage files in other programs such as Word.
Here’s our advice: it’s simpler to save your letterhead in Venngage, make a new copy, edit the new file in Venngage and then download it without fussing with other programs.
Here’s how you download in the Venngage editor:
Be sure to read our support article on Account Types and Download Options. Only paid plans like our popular Business Plan allow you to download your files from Venngage to your computer and then print it.
I need letterhead for X type of company. Where can I find it?
You can find all of our letterhead templates our templates library. We have templates for these industries:
- Law firms
- Tech companies
- Education
- Retail
- Consultants
- B2B companies
- Design industry
- Marketing agencies
- Communications firms
- Real estate and developers
- … and many more!
For a helpful letterhead design guide, check out this article: How to Make a Letterhead in 5 Steps [+ Templates & Examples]
Can you design a letterhead for me?
Sorry, we can’t offer specific design advice or make your letterhead for you. Still, you can access technical assistance anytime via our 24/7 customer support chat (see the button in the bottom right corner of this screen!). You should also read our guide to designing letterhead.
Our Business Plan does offer 1-on-1 consultations and live training workshops.
Use Venngage to create better business letters
Disclaimer: While our templates have good sample verbage, you should always have legal counsel review any document presented to employees. None of the information provided herein constitutes legal advice on behalf of Venngage.