{"id":5728,"date":"2020-08-21T10:00:22","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/venngage.com\/?page_id=5728"},"modified":"2026-04-21T23:31:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T03:31:13","slug":"annual-report","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/annual-report\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an Annual Report? Definitions, Requirements and Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/What-Is-An-Annual-Report-Blog-Header.png\" alt=\"What Is An Annual Report Blog Header\" class=\"wp-image-106949\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/What-Is-An-Annual-Report-Blog-Header.png 1024w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/What-Is-An-Annual-Report-Blog-Header-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/What-Is-An-Annual-Report-Blog-Header-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/What-Is-An-Annual-Report-Blog-Header-730x411.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>You want to impress shareholders, attract new investors, highlight your brand, engage employees, or file a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For all these goals, you\u2019ll need an annual report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, businesses and organizations don\u2019t just produce one standard version. There are many different types of annual reports, each designed with a specific purpose and audience in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article breaks down everything you need to know about what is an annual report \u2014 its different types, what goes into them, who reads them and how to create one that makes an impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/annual\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>CREATE AN ANNUAL REPORT<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Click to jump ahead<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#1\">What is an annual report?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#example\"><strong>Annual report example<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#2\">What is included in an annual report?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#3\">Who reads an annual report?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#4\">What is the easiest way to create an annual report?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#5\">How do you summarize an annual report?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#6\">How do you create an attractive annual report?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1\">What is an annual report?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><b>A traditional<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/annual\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><b>annual report<\/b><\/a><b> is an in-depth, comprehensive overview of a business\u2019s achievements and financial statements from the preceding year. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is produced on a yearly basis, and provided to shareholders, investors, stakeholders and others to communicate the organization\u2019s overall performance, financial status and vision for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, annual reports are often used as marketing tools for organizations to impress shareholders, investors, or donors; attract new ones; and to showcase their brand to employees, clients and others. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, this annual report template lists business strategy, financial growth and overall performance. It uses a <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/brand-guidelines-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">colorful branding style<\/a> <\/span>for engagement. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/geometric-annual-report-a7dfbc72-7fed-485d-ac75-903ee49034e4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Geometric-Annual-Report-Template-391x1024.png\" alt=\"Geometric Annual Report Template\" class=\"wp-image-106957\" width=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Geometric-Annual-Report-Template-391x1024.png 391w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Geometric-Annual-Report-Template-115x300.png 115w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Geometric-Annual-Report-Template-768x2012.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Geometric-Annual-Report-Template-586x1536.png 586w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Geometric-Annual-Report-Template-782x2048.png 782w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Geometric-Annual-Report-Template-730x1912.png 730w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Geometric-Annual-Report-Template.png 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 391px) 100vw, 391px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/geometric-annual-report-a7dfbc72-7fed-485d-ac75-903ee49034e4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>GET THIS ANNUAL REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Companies like Mailchimp regularly publish creative <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchimp.com\/annual-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">annual year-in-review reports<\/a> to <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">highlight major milestones for that year<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Mailchimp-Annual-Report.gif\" alt=\"Mailchimp Annual Report\" class=\"wp-image-50127\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/types-of-reports\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">types of reports<\/a> are well-designed, fun, and engaging. They share information in a way that\u2019s exciting and easy to understand, and serve as great branding assets.<br><br>This isn\u2019t just something businesses do, either. Nonprofit organizations consistently promote their cause and the impact of their organizations. Annual reports, year-in-review reports, or impact reports that highlight the past year\u2019s achievements are all staple <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/nonprofit-marketing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nonprofit marketing<\/a>&nbsp;tactics to gain donors and supporters.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just take a look at this pages out of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.novozymes.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Novozymes<\/a>&nbsp;annual report.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Novozymes-Annual-Report-Example-1.png\" alt=\"Novozymes-Annual-Report-Example-1\" class=\"wp-image-50118\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Novozymes-Annual-Report-Example-.png\" alt=\"Novozymes-Annual-Report-Example-\" class=\"wp-image-50117\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is an annual report you can <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">actually enjoy reading<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The visuals are fun, engaging, informative and reflect the uniqueness of the Novozyme brand. The simple and attractive design is super helpful, since it helps us understand pretty complex information.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> For global companies, include clear currency notes, regional breakdowns and subsidiary disclosures so readers can compare performance across markets.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"example\"><strong>Annual report example<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The following annual report template is a great example of a company overview as it includes a cover page, content page, strategy section, finance section, and performance section. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The template is visually appealing and provides a framework to build on, saving you time and effort. The template also features clean graphics, enhancing readability and engagement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/geometric-annual-report-a7dfbc72-7fed-485d-ac75-903ee49034e4\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-50104\" style=\"border: 2px solid #ddd;\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Geometric-Finance-Annual-Report-Template.png\" alt=\"Geometric-Finance-Annual-Report-Template\" width=\"650\" height=\"1703\" data-darkreader-inline-border-top=\"\" data-darkreader-inline-border-right=\"\" data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom=\"\" data-darkreader-inline-border-left=\"\"><\/a><\/center>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/geometric-annual-report-a7dfbc72-7fed-485d-ac75-903ee49034e4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>GET THIS ANNUAL REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2\">What is included in an annual report?<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A typical annual report for a public company must have the following sections:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>A letter from the CEO<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Corporate financial data<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Operations and impact<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Market segment information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plans for new products<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Subsidiary activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research and development activities&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Notes &amp; footnotes for full disclosure (accounting policies, risks, contingencies)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Information for investment decisions (management&#8217;s discussion and analysis (MD&amp;A), liquidity, risk factors, capital allocation)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are the barebones expectations for an annual report. Of course, depending on the size of your organization or type of organization, your annual report can range anywhere from 20 pages to 200.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind, actual human beings read your annual report. It doesn\u2019t just get filed away in a dusty government basement, never to be seen again. Making it easy to read and review is essential in helping people understand your annual report\u2019s findings and how your business is performing.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So on top of those individual sections, it helps to include things like:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><b><b>A cover page<\/b><\/b><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>A table of contents<\/b><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Mission and vision statement<\/b><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Charts, graphs and tables<\/b><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>CSR initiatives<\/b><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>An afterword<\/b><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>A glossary&nbsp;<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are two examples of reader-friendly annual report designs.<\/span><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Year end annual report template<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This year end annual report template uses a bright color palette, quality stock photos and clear tables to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/data-visualization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">visualize financial data<\/a> and performance metrics. It includes a brief introduction and a table of contents<\/span> to set the context and help people find information easily. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/retro-year-end-annual-report-eafcee19-be51-435b-b564-d4270e94dd00\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Retro-Annual-Report-Template.png\" alt=\"Retro Annual Report Template\" class=\"wp-image-50119\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/retro-year-end-annual-report-eafcee19-be51-435b-b564-d4270e94dd00\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>GET THIS YEAR END REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Simple nonprofit annual report template<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This nonprofit annual report reduces the use of text, and relies more on visuals, icons and charts to communicate data and figures.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/non-profit-annual-report-13223525-e400-4554-9280-335e4791d34c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/2020-nonprofit-annual-report-template-1.png\" alt=\"Non Profit Annual Report Templat\" class=\"wp-image-50092\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/non-profit-annual-report-13223525-e400-4554-9280-335e4791d34c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>GET THIS NONPROFIT ANNUAL REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ultimately, you decide how much information to include in your annual report, on top of what\u2019s required. The best way to decide what to include, and how you present your annual report, is to consider the audience you\u2019re creating an annual report for<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Investors and shareholders:<\/strong>&nbsp;Emphasize financial performance, risks, and long-term strategy to help them assess stability and growth potential.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Employees:<\/strong>&nbsp;Focus on company culture, milestones, and contributions to highlight their role in the year\u2019s successes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Customers and the wider public:<\/strong>&nbsp;Showcase brand values, sustainability initiatives, and innovations to demonstrate broader impact.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regulators:<\/strong>&nbsp;Prioritize clarity and accuracy with thorough disclosures, accounting notes, and governance practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>According to Honeycomb India, &#8220;Environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, reporting is now the main body of contemporary annual reports rather than a separate segment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<cite>Honeycomb India, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.honeycombindia.net\/blog\/annual-report-design-trends-to-watch-in-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Annual Report Design Trends to Watch in 2025<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3\">Who reads an annual report?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An annual report\u2019s primary audience is your shareholders. These people have a legal right to know how your company is performing, how it is changing, what it has planned for the future and other facets of its <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/operational-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">operational plans<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>But shareholders aren\u2019t the only people with an interest in your company\u2019s performance, its products, its projects, and plans for the future. More often, businesses use annual reports to present the organization\u2019s brand as a whole.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shareholders, investors, employees, donors and journalists want to know your business\u2019s future plans, values, social efforts and goals. Consolidating all the details in the annual report help them understand where your company is going and how it makes a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Annual reports for your staff<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Annual reports are great ways for employees to learn more about your business and the brand. They can go through an annual report to see what other projects and initiatives the company has invested in. This is helpful for large businesses with hundreds or thousands of employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the most recent <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/hr-trends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HR trends<\/a>, employees care more than ever about employer branding and values. Take a look at the information highlighted in the sharply designed&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roche.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Roche Annual Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Roche-Annual-Report-Example-3.png\" alt=\"Roche-Annual-Report-Example-3\" class=\"wp-image-50121\" width=\"500\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Roche-Annual-Report-Example-2.png\" alt=\"Roche-Annual-Report-Example-2\" class=\"wp-image-50120\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among other things, this annual report&nbsp;highlights the value placed on&nbsp;the hard work of employees, teams and entire departments that have helped a business succeed.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In many instances, employees are shareholders within the company and they\u2019re just as interested in how the company is performing. It\u2019s another way to reinforce the value of their work, by showing how their team or department has helped the company to grow.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the case of nonprofit organizations, annual reports help staff understand the impact of their hard work in the community.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Annual reports for your customers<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Findings from Accenture Strategy\u2019s global survey found that customers <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accenture.com\/gb-en\/insights\/strategy\/brand-purpose?c=strat_competitiveagilnovalue_10437228&amp;n=mrl_1118\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">care deeply about the values and behaviors of major brands<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Millennials and Gen-Zers in particular care most about brands driven by a purpose other than profit. According to the survey, nearly 40% of respondents stated they would stop purchasing from brands that appear socially irresponsible or ethically questionable.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can see in this&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.loreal-finance.com\/system\/files\/2020-03\/LOREAL_2019_Annual_Report_3.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><b>L\u2019Oreal<\/b> <b>Annual Report<\/b><\/a>, there are sections dedicated to their ethics and values.&nbsp;<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/loreal-annual-report-example.png\" alt=\"loreal-annual-report-example\" class=\"wp-image-50112\" width=\"500\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual reports allow for a brand to present itself in the best light possible. Businesses can demonstrate the values that set them apart from competitors. They can talk about the types of suppliers and manufacturers they work with, how materials are sourced, the quality of their products, the well-being of their employees, their impact on the environment and more.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Nonprofit annual reports for donors<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/annual-report-design-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nonprofit annual reports<\/a> are testaments to all the money received and hard work that nonprofit organizations have done throughout the year. <\/span>Annual reports are essential to nonprofits because they demonstrate transparency, build trust with donors and clearly show the impact of fundraising efforts<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nonprofit annual reports demonstrate how the support from donors has helped to change people\u2019s lives. After all, donors aren\u2019t purchasing products the way customers do, what they\u2019re \u201cpurchasing\u201d is a social good that they want others to receive.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual reports highlight exactly how people\u2019s lives are being transformed for the better. Check out the 2018 annual report from <a href=\"https:\/\/girlswhocode.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Girls Who Code<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GWC-Annual-report-example-1.png\" alt=\"GWC-Annual-report-example-1\" class=\"wp-image-50108\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/GWC-Annual-report-example-2.png\" alt=\"GWC-Annual-report-example-2\" class=\"wp-image-50109\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2020\/08\/GWC-annual-report-example-3-1.png\" alt=\"GWC-annual-report-example-3\" class=\"wp-image-50128\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only do they share the tremendous impact of the organization which donors want to know about &#8211; they do it in a visually creative, engaging way.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A nonprofit annual report highlights your organization\u2019s successes, it provides some feel-good fulfillment to your staff who can look back at the fruits of their hard work, and donors know their money is being put to great use.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A nonprofit annual report also helps you make an appeal for more donations, bigger donations, grow your paid staff, and win over more volunteers for the coming year.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4\">How do you summarize an annual report?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two simple ways to summarize an annual report. You can create an annual report infographic, or an annual report presentation. Both are great ways to share dense data and information in a way that\u2019s manageable for your audience.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Annual report infographics&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s start with the annual report infographic. The advantage here is that you let the data tell the story. Rather than provide pages of analysis, visualize your data through charts, graphs, and icons. Take a look at this simple shareholder report infographic:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/business-report-ea081692-e16b-495a-ada3-42c175c13211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Shareholder-report-template.png\" alt=\"Business Shareholder Report Template\" class=\"wp-image-50123\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/business-report-ea081692-e16b-495a-ada3-42c175c13211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>GET THIS ANNUAL REPORT INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The infographic focuses on a single data point. There may be layers of information that explain how that figure was determined, but this summary is practical and direct. For a more detailed report, create a long-form infographic report, by adding multiple sections that highlight individual data points.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can use a layout like this annual report infographic:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/teal-nonprofit-impact-report-ba677eec-31af-45df-ac03-787590ee23eb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Modern-Nonprofit-Infographic-Report-Template-1.png\" alt=\"Nonprofit Impact Report Template\" class=\"wp-image-50114\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/teal-nonprofit-impact-report-ba677eec-31af-45df-ac03-787590ee23eb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>GET THIS INFOGRAPHIC NONPROFIT REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The use of text is minimal. The numbers and data tell the readers everything about the impact of the organization and how it has performed. This is an effective way to share relevant and valuable performance insights with shareholders, investors, or donors.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>SEE ALL INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATES<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Annual report presentations<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An alternate approach to summarizing an annual report is to <\/span><b>create annual report presentation slides<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You can share the slide deck on its own, or help it guide your presentation on key findings in your company\u2019s complete annual report.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This simple annual report presentation deck dives right into the content. It\u2019s a great example of how to break up data and make information easily digestible.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/presentations\/non-profit-annual-report-presentation-9bd6d4a2-3db0-49f9-9e35-9aec9d880b08\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Annual-report-presentation-template.png\" alt=\"Non Profit Annual Report Presentation Template\" class=\"wp-image-50097\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/presentations\/non-profit-annual-report-presentation-9bd6d4a2-3db0-49f9-9e35-9aec9d880b08\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>GET THIS ANNUAL REPORT PRESENTATION<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note how the large headings tell the audience exactly what each slide is focused on. Key findings are also highlighted on each slide, to complement the data the charts\/graphs show.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you expect a lengthier presentation slide, include an agenda or overview of your annual report presentation. This lets people know what you\u2019ll be covering and how far along in your presentation you are.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/coffee-presentation-slides-d603807c-c175-455b-a604-9fc54d08d40b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Coffee-Corporation-Annual-Report-Template.png\" alt=\"Coffee Presentation Slides Template\" class=\"wp-image-50101\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/coffee-presentation-slides-d603807c-c175-455b-a604-9fc54d08d40b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>GET THIS ANNUAL REPORT PRESENTATION<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key to presenting is letting your audience know where they are in your presentation. Are you only halfway through or three quarters of the way done? Even with a summary, preparing your audience helps to keep them engaged, rather than distracted.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our templates library has an attractive range of annual report presentation templates. Interested in designing your own? Check out our annual report presentation templates page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/presentations\/business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>SEE ALL BUSINESS PRESENTATION TEMPLATES<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5\">What is the easiest way to create an annual report?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-3.25.35\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"Venngage editor showing an annual report template\" class=\"wp-image-106958\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-3.25.35\u202fPM.png 2940w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-3.25.35\u202fPM-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-3.25.35\u202fPM-1024x543.png 1024w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-3.25.35\u202fPM-768x407.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-3.25.35\u202fPM-1536x814.png 1536w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-3.25.35\u202fPM-2048x1085.png 2048w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-22-at-3.25.35\u202fPM-730x387.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2940px) 100vw, 2940px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The easiest way to create an annual report is to use a design tool like <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/features\/report-maker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Venngage&#8217;s Report Maker<\/a> that offers a variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/annual\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">annual report templates<\/a> for different industries and audiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you\u2019ve seen from the actual annual report examples I shared, and our annual report templates, annual reports are packed with a ton of content, including text, visuals, charts, financial figures and more.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiring a design agency to design your annual report is one option. <strong>The cost for a professionally-designed annual report ranges anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000, and then depending on the types of visuals you need, even more.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind, you\u2019ll still need to pull all the content and data together yourself.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>To save your organization time and money, without compromising on design, a professional annual report template is the way to go<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You can visit Venngage\u2019s annual report templates page today, browse hundreds of unique designs for a number of industries, and use preset layouts and design styles to format your content.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Annual-report-templates-page-example-2.png\" alt=\"Annual-report-templates-page-example-2\" class=\"wp-image-50098\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customizing the templates is straightforward and doesn\u2019t require any design experience. The Venngage editor is a drag-and-drop tool that\u2019s simple to use. With it you can do a number of things like:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><b>Apply your branding<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through Venngage\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/my-brand-kit\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My Brand Kit<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which includes your organization logo, <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/brand-colors\/\">brand colors<\/a> and brand fonts<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Use chart and graph widgets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to visualize financial data, trends, statistics and more<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Add beautiful icons<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that really elevate your annual report design<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Apply high-quality stock photos<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> directly from Pixabay and Unsplash (or upload your own professional images).&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/annual\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>SEE ALL ANNUAL REPORT TEMPLATES<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6\">How do you create an attractive annual report?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Annual reports help communicate your brand\u2019s identity by showcasing company values, culture, and achievements\u2014making them valuable resources for employees and customers alike. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How you present your organization influences their opinion of you, your values, what you\u2019re all about and all the data you\u2019ve packed in.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Captivating, engaging design provides your many different readers with an enjoyable experience, and helps them walk away with your annual report\u2019s key takeaways. So below, I&#8217;ll share a handful of annual report design best practices for you to keep in mind.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Create a high-impact annual report cover page with large images<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cover of your annual report should grab readers&#8217; attention. This can be hard to achieve without the help of a professional designer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The workaround?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Use large, high quality images as the focal point of your cover page for a bold, eye-catching effect. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this annual report example, the image immediately draws the reader in. It conveys collaboration, innovation, and energy \u2014 values that align with the brand.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/simple-annual-report-template-a995b30c-1110-4555-9acb-4cff568273dd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"828\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Annual-Report-Template.png\" alt=\"Annual Report Template\" class=\"wp-image-106959\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Annual-Report-Template.png 640w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Annual-Report-Template-232x300.png 232w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/simple-annual-report-template-a995b30c-1110-4555-9acb-4cff568273dd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>GET THIS TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p>Cover images should not be used purely for decoration. They should tell your customers, stakeholders, and employees something about the culture or values of your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Use cover photos to set the tone for the report and to convey the company spirit that you\u2019d like to project to your readers. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does your company focus on positive customer experiences?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On company culture?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On high quality, professional products?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a look at how each of the companies below uses cover images to project their own, unique narrative focus. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nestle.com\/investors\/annual-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nestle<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is focused on customer experiences, GE is focused on their employees, and <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.annualreports.com\/Company\/thermo-fisher-scientific-inc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thermo Fischer Scientific<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is all about the product:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/cover-pages-11-min.png\" alt=\"cover-pages-11-min\" class=\"wp-image-50102\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><b>Source high quality images for a professional touch.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using low quality or pixelated images can make the report look amateur and reflect poorly on your company or organization. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re going to go with a full-page cover image, it\u2019s worth investing in a professional photographer to take photos of real employees or customers, like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.loreal-finance.com\/en\/annual-report-2017\/LOreal_Rapport_Annuel_2017.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">L\u2019Oreal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has done for their annual report:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/loreal-image.png\" alt=\"loreal-image\" class=\"wp-image-50113\" width=\"500\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Otherwise, try to source high-resolution images from respected sites like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsplash<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pixabay<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You can access Unsplash and Pixabay&#8217;s complete stock photo library in Venngage&#8217;s editor as well.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Choose the right charts for your annual report metrics <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual reports are all about the numbers, meaning that a key ingredient of creating an effective annual report is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-the-best-charts-for-your-infographic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">choosing the right chart for each metric<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few types metrics found in most annual reports, including:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial highlights (revenue, earnings per share, growth, profit margin)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Month by month financial trends<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sales breakdown by market and by product<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Year over year financial performance<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The type of data you are visualizing should determine what type of chart you use. Let\u2019s review the best visualization types for each type of metric.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Use \u201cbig number\u201d charts to summarize financial highlights.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/financial-reports-examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">financial highlights<\/a> section of an annual report should summarize the most important facts and figures of the year simply and concisely.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The easiest way to show this assortment of different metrics in a small space is to simply write out those numbers in big, bold text. We call this type of visualization a \u201cbig number\u201d chart. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a big number chart, the size of each number should vary based on its importance, as shown in <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.annualreports.com\/Company\/concho-resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concho Resources\u2019 2017 annual report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/by-the-numbers-02-min.png\" alt=\"by-the-numbers-02-min\" class=\"wp-image-50100\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you can see in the example below, big number charts communicate key metrics quickly, clearly, and with impact.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/monthly-report-ad96fd21-be62-4034-ad9c-e5a2b23bea27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/monthly-4.png\" alt=\"Monthly Financial Report Template\" class=\"wp-image-50115\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/monthly-report-ad96fd21-be62-4034-ad9c-e5a2b23bea27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>CREATE THIS REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>According to Report YAK, companies are using AI-powered tools to create unique graphics and layouts and personalized visuals to increase the appeal of annual reports. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Use line charts to display monthly trends.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Line charts are the standard display for tracking changes over time, which is essential in an annual report. Investors and shareholders will want to see month by month trends for all sorts of financial metrics, including sales, profits, margins, and share earnings.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Line charts are perfect for comparing and contrasting sales trends across competitors, as seen in this annual report example:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/year-review-1-3-column-3dfd4449-c4b3-40eb-b274-bfdda1d8125b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/year-7.png\" alt=\"3 Column Annual Review Report Template\" class=\"wp-image-50126\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/year-review-1-3-column-3dfd4449-c4b3-40eb-b274-bfdda1d8125b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>CREATE THIS REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As seen in Adidas\u2019 2016 annual report, line charts are particularly useful for tracking the growth of share prices over time (compared to market indices): <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/line-chart.png\" alt=\"line-chart\" class=\"wp-image-50111\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><b>Use stacked bar or donut charts to show market composition.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another core component of the finances section of an annual report is market segmentation, which shows the breakdown of annual sales into different categories. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might break down your sales by geographic region, by product category, by customer profile&#8230;whatever helps your business identify opportunities for growth and improvement.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditionally, sales breakdowns are visualized with pie or donut charts, a standard method for showing part-to-whole relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"627\" height=\"308\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/segmentation.png\" alt=\"segmentation\" class=\"wp-image-50122\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.loreal-finance.com\/en\/annual-report-2017\/LOreal_Rapport_Annuel_2017.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pie charts, while intuitive to read, are notoriously poor data visualization tools. Most people struggle to distinguish between the size of similar pie segments at a glance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A better choice would be a stacked bar chart, seen in the market segmentation report below.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/bolt-market-overview-report-be7146f3-ee17-4f03-9126-4bc8f1cf01c3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/monthly-7.png\" alt=\"Marketing Analysis Overview Report Template\" class=\"wp-image-50116\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/bolt-market-overview-report-be7146f3-ee17-4f03-9126-4bc8f1cf01c3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>CREATE THIS REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><b>Use grouped bar charts to compare year-over-year financial performance.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Year over year financial performance is of interest to many potential readers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Investors, employees, and customers will all want to see how an organization\u2019s current performance compares to that of previous years. It\u2019s arguably the most important metric to be included in an annual report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most efficient method for visualizing year-over-year performance is with grouped bar charts, like these ones in GE\u2019s 2017 annual report. The side-by-side bars emphasize the changes from one year to the next.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/grouped-bar.png\" alt=\"grouped-bar\" class=\"wp-image-50107\" width=\"500\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As seen above, it\u2019s a good idea to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/how-to-pick-colors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">use a highlight color<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to draw extra attention to the year of interest (2017, in this case).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Use bold color accents to highlight key facts, quotes, and figures<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Color should never be used simply for decoration in an annual report. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although aesthetics should be a consideration, color should primarily be used <\/span>for emphasizing key data, improving readability, or guiding the reader\u2019s attention<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I just mentioned for the bar charts above, color can be used to highlight key information. It can be used to draw the reader\u2019s attention to particularly important facts, figures, or data points in information-dense displays of text and data. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check out how the yellow color is used to create visual contrast in this annual report example:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/corporate-performance-7bf2d484-a7ff-473a-8f9c-5e2b43e09256\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/annual-3.png\" alt=\"Corporate Performance Report Template\" class=\"wp-image-50094\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/corporate-performance-7bf2d484-a7ff-473a-8f9c-5e2b43e09256\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>CREATE THIS REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The contrast between the green background and the yellow highlight color draws attention to the most valuable bits of information: the data! The contrast creates points of visual focus, helping us make sense of the information on the page.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When creating your annual report, try to pick one highlight color and apply it to every key data point that you want your readers to pay attention to. The brighter, the better!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To learn more about using contrasting color schemes, check out this guide on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/how-to-pick-colors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to use colors in infographics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Create a clear type hierarchy to make your annual report skimmable <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annual reports are typically quite information-heavy, with a great deal of technical information on each page.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To prevent your readers from getting lost (or worse: bored), it\u2019s important to create a clear hierarchy of information on each page. This hierarchy will help your reader navigate through the report, allowing them to easily skim through to the most pertinent information. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can create hierarchy by altering the size, weight, and placement of various elements. Headings should be larger than subheadings, key figures should be bolder than general body text, chart captions should be small and light, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/typographicScale-03.png\" alt=\"typographicScale-03\" class=\"wp-image-50124\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check out how text hierarchy enhances the readability of the corporate performance annual report below. The titles and key numbers are styled in bold, black, large text, making them stand out from the rest of the page, while less pertinent text, like labels and captions, are smaller and more subtle:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/corporate-annual-58782685-1fac-4faa-8b2b-a6c302f9daf9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/annual-1.png\" alt=\"Simple Corporate Annual Report Template\" class=\"wp-image-50093\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/corporate-annual-58782685-1fac-4faa-8b2b-a6c302f9daf9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>CREATE THIS REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When creating this visual hierarchy, it\u2019s important to be mindful of the principles of typography. You don\u2019t want the typography to distract from the content of the annual report. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few principles to keep in mind:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a maximum of three different fonts to ensure the text is interesting but not chaotic.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a stylized font for the header text and a minimal font for the body text.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use different font weights and styles to create contrast and draw the eye. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to learn more about typography for annual reports and infographics? Check out this guide on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-fonts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to choose fonts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Create your annual report on a grid for a balanced page layout<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I strongly suggest using a grid to format your annual report design.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building off of an underlying grid framework will ensure consistency from page to page, while allowing you to experiment with different compositions (to keep your report interesting).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/grid-14.png\" alt=\"grid-14\" class=\"wp-image-50106\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using a grid can also help you create negative space, which is critical to great design. It gives the viewer time to process what they are seeing before moving on to the next section. Negative space is the core design component of most crisp, modern designs, like the one below:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Focus on what\u2019s important with a condensed one-pager annual report<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Short, one page annual reports (also known as one-pagers) are gaining popularity as an alternative to extensive multi-page annual reports. These reports cover only the most important metrics, making it possible to grasp an organization\u2019s performance at a glance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the keys to a successful one page annual report is a simple color scheme. Pair neutral greys with a single bright highlight color for a sleek, cohesive look.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/year-in-review-spread-43ccec87-da49-4598-b803-a8b6b7c03618\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"541\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2016\/05\/year-in-review.png\" alt=\"Year in Review Template\" class=\"wp-image-18333\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/year-in-review-spread-43ccec87-da49-4598-b803-a8b6b7c03618\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>CREATE THIS REPORT TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>FAQs on what is an annual report<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. What\u2019s the difference between an annual report and an SEC filing?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An annual report is a polished overview for stakeholders, while an SEC filing (like Form 10-K) is a legal document focused on detailed financial disclosures and compliance. Annual reports are designed to <strong>inform and engage<\/strong>; SEC filings are designed to <strong>meet regulatory requirements<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2.<\/strong> <strong>Which nonprofits have standout annual or impact reports?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Several nonprofits, such as <strong>Charity: Water<\/strong>, the&nbsp;<strong>International Rescue Committee (IRC)<\/strong>, the&nbsp;<strong>American Kidney Fund<\/strong>, the&nbsp;<strong>Navy SEAL Foundation<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Midwest Food Bank<\/strong>, the&nbsp;<strong>Humane Society<\/strong>, and&nbsp;<strong>NPR (National Public Radio)<\/strong> are known for publishing transparent and engaging impact reports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. What does \u201cfull disclosure\u201d mean in annual reports?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In annual reports,&nbsp;full disclosure&nbsp;means providing transparent context behind the numbers. This includes details like notes and footnotes, accounting policies, risk factors and contingencies to help readers interpret financial results accurately and build trust in the organization\u2019s reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. What is the difference between an annual report and an impact report?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An&nbsp;annual report&nbsp;focuses on financial performance, governance, and overall company health, while an&nbsp;impact report highlights mission-driven outcomes, programs, and social or environmental results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope this guide has answered the question, \u201cwhat is an annual report\u201d. To wrap up, here are all of the design best practices you should keep in mind when creating your next annual report.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a high-impact annual <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/report-cover-page\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report cover page<\/a> with large images<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choose the right charts for your annual report metrics<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use bold color accents to highlight key facts, quotes, and figures <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a clear type hierarchy to make your annual report skimmable<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create your annual report on a grid for a balanced page layout <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on what\u2019s important with a condensed one-pager annual report<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you know everything there is to know about annual reports! If you still have burning question, comment and let us know. We&#8217;ll share our expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also check out more resources on report design examples, templates and tips below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/reports\/annual\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>CREATE AN ANNUAL REPORT<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More report design guides:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/annual-report-design-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">55+ Customizable Annual Report Templates, Examples &amp; Tips<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/annual-report-design-templates\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3421\" height=\"1875\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/annual-report-design-templates.jpg\" alt=\"annual-report-design-templates\" class=\"wp-image-50095\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/business-report-examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">7 Business Report Templates You Need to Make Data-Backed Decisions<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/business-report-examples\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2594\" height=\"1563\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2021\/08\/business-report-templates-2.jpg\" alt=\"business-report-templates-2\" class=\"wp-image-50099\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You want to impress shareholders, attract new investors, highlight your brand, engage employees, or file a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For all these goals, you\u2019ll need an annual report. Today, businesses and organizations don\u2019t just produce one standard version. There are many different types of annual reports, each designed with a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":106962,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"page-templates\/_bootstrap-landing-page_rv.php","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is an annual report? 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