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Writing a Mission Statement

by Tim Berry

Your mission statement is an opportunity to define your business at the most basic level. It should tell your company story and ideals in less than 30 seconds: who your company is, what you do, what you stand for, and why you do it.

Do you want to make a profit, or is it enough to just make a living? What markets are you serving, and what benefits do you offer them? Do you solve a problem for your customers? What kind of internal work environment do you want for your employees? All of these issues may be addressed in a mission statement.

Basic guidelines in writing a mission statement

Your mission statement is about you, your company, and your ideals. Read other companies’ mission statements, but write a statement that is about you and not some other company. Make sure you actually believe in what you’re writing; your customers and your employees will soon spot a lie.

Don’t “box” yourself in. Your mission statement should be able to withstand the changes that come up over time in your product or service offerings, or customer base. A cardboard box company isn’t in the business of making cardboard boxes; it’s in the business of providing protection for items that need to be stored or shipped. The broader understanding helps them see the big picture.

Keep it short. The best mission statements tend to be three to four sentences long.

Ask for input. Run your mission statement draft by your employees. Is it clear and easily understood, or does it sound like something from the Dilbert Mission Statement Generator?

Aim for substance, not superlatives. Avoid saying how great you are, what great quality and what great service you provide.

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.

Business Plan Software

Business Plan Pro
Business Plan Pro
If you’re looking for help with your mission statement or other parts of your business plan, Business Plan Pro can save you lots of time and headaches. It contains over 500 sample business plans which can be used to help create your own plan.

Sample Mission Statements

The links below take you to the mission statements of some of our sample business plans that were created with Business Plan Pro.

Studio 67 Mission Statement
Studio67 is a medium-sized restaurant focusing on organic foods and an intriguing atmosphere, in a prime neighborhood of Portland.


AMT Computers Mission Statement
AMT is an ongoing business computer reseller which also provides service and support.


JavaNet Internet Cafe Mission Statement
JavaNet is a start-up business that will provide a unique forum for communication and entertainment through the medium of the Internet.

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30 readers have commented on “Writing a Mission Statement”

  1. Gary Hogan said on December 30th, 2007 at 11:41 am:

    How important is a mission statement? Does anyone really care about it or is it the business plan version of an objective on a resume, where nobody reads it but it’s standard protocol to include?

    And where do you find existing companies mission statements?

    PS: the Dilbert mission statement generator is a great laugh and sounds a lot like most mission statements I have read

  2. Nicole said on January 3rd, 2008 at 11:14 am:

    You can find many companies’ mission statements with a simple Google search. Just search for the company name followed by mission statement. For example, try Googling for “starbucks mission statement” and you should see theirs.

  3. IRIS LEVERETT said on January 3rd, 2008 at 8:30 pm:

    I’M LOOKING FOR A SAMPLE OF A MISSION STATEMENT FOR MY SALON VISION’S HAIR DESIGN. I REALLY LIKE THE WAY U TARGETED THE CARDBOARD BOX COMPANY STATEMENT. PLEASE SEND INFO BACK AT THE MAIL ADDRESS ABOVE.

  4. Chelle Parmele said on January 8th, 2008 at 10:20 am:

    Hi Iris,

    You can find several sample plans by going to the free sample plans page on our site. You can look through all of them for some more instances of mission plans for a variety of businesses.

    You can also try a Google search on “hair salon mission statement” and see if you can find any other samples for that specific topic.

  5. Strategic Content Development – Developing content Mission Statement. - BlueVerse said on January 14th, 2008 at 8:27 am:

    […] can be measured. For a good, and concise introduction to Mission Statements in general, see Bplans’ Developing a mission statement specifically for content development requires a few specialist […]

  6. Lorraine said on January 16th, 2008 at 7:35 am:

    I belong to a non-profit chorale group. We are in need of a mission statement to reflect that we are a community choir. Our purpose is to promote and enhance public interest in, and appreciation of, choral music.
    Thank you

  7. craig micheals said on January 16th, 2008 at 9:52 am:

    this is nice

    i really like this

  8. Sean Serrels said on January 16th, 2008 at 12:46 pm:

    Hello Lorraine,

    You can use the Google Search tool and other Internet Search tools to find what you need as well. Just go to www.google.com and type: Chorale Group “Mission Statement” into the search field and you’ll find a long list of results.

  9. Herman Mosito said on January 21st, 2008 at 11:27 am:

    Hi! there my name is Herman and I live in NWP Rusteburg
    my comment is please help me I what to create a mission
    statement for our company ( M&S Events Management)

    Thank you!

  10. Dr Arti Nagpal said on February 3rd, 2008 at 8:21 pm:

    I am a Speech Pathologist and Audiologist, set up in a hospital. I want to establish a speech hearing rehabilitation center and for this I am required to write a business plan and a mission statement. Can you help me regarding the same.

    Thanks….
    Yours sincerely

    Arti

  11. Dr Arti Nagpal said on February 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm:

    Dear Sir/Madame

    I am Speech Pathologist & Audiologist in India. I am in a hospital setup. i have to establish a speech & hearing rehabilitation center & for this i am required to write a buisness plan & a mission statement. kindly help me regarding the same.

    Thanks….
    your’s sincerely

    Arti

    ————————————————–

    Hi Arti,

    Thank you for your question.

    The bplans website is a free resource with articles and free sample plans that allows you to research and gather information on how to grow or start your business.

    We offer you the tools to get started.

    We also offer Business Plan Pro, which is a business planning software program designed to help you write your business plan.

    Good luck!

    ‘Chelle Parmele
    Palo Alto Software

  12. Chelle Parmele said on February 4th, 2008 at 9:08 am:

    Hi Herman,

    Thank you for your comment!

    The bplans website is a free resource with articles and free sample plans that allows you to research and gather information on how to grow or start your business.

    We offer you the tools to get started.

    We are not consultants, so we can’t help you with your specific mission statement, but as I said, we offer the tools to help you get started.

    Good luck!

    ‘Chelle Parmele
    Palo Alto Software

  13. ANGIE said on February 14th, 2008 at 9:52 pm:

    I NEED TO WRITE A MISSION STATEMENT FOR A DENTAL OFFICE, AND I NEED TO HAVE WORDS TO GO WITH THESE LETTERS W O I T H. IF ANYONE CAN HELP IT WOULD BE GREAT.

    THANK YOU

  14. onesmus said on February 22nd, 2008 at 1:19 am:

    hi guys i would like a business plan for a cyber cafe.thanks

  15. NISHANT said on March 1st, 2008 at 2:57 am:

    I AM A STUDENT OF FILM MAKING & I WANT TO WRITE A MISSION STATEMENT FOR MY PORTFOLIO. IF ANYONE CAN HELP IT WOULD BE GREAT.

    THANK YOU

  16. Evelyn Aguila said on March 2nd, 2008 at 10:25 am:

    I am starting a construction company have development skill and my part does construction. I need a business for construction.

  17. Christiana Oji said on March 8th, 2008 at 7:44 am:

    I am starting an internet marketing business on baby merchandise, and I am finding it difficult to write a mission statement.
    Please can you help me?
    Thanking you in advance.
    Best Regards.

  18. Frank Barnes said on March 9th, 2008 at 11:46 pm:

    I’m 30 and have become excited about starting a company.
    I’m doing so much research via the net, The paperwork has seemed to grown endless. Is this the beginging stages filing and typing?

  19. mariane Rose Malinag said on March 14th, 2008 at 6:53 pm:

    i’m mariane..i would like to ask for a sample of a feasibility study of an enterprise which is related to the tourism industry..thank you…!

  20. Malik Waheed said on March 24th, 2008 at 9:13 pm:

    Hi,
    i am a student of management sciences. i am intersted to know that why mission statements of any organization(corporation/business)differ from one to another and is there any criteria to write a mission statement? if anyone can help me itwould be great!
    thanks in advance for you reply.

  21. KING said on April 2nd, 2008 at 1:07 am:

    We can help you teach about mission statement as stratergic marketing tool.We conduct training at sandton for different companies ,consult and do small business development programme and facilitate procurement opportunities from different companies.

    Our tel number is 083 582 9617

  22. Casi Deatherage said on April 4th, 2008 at 8:47 am:

    Hi Onesmus,

    The bplans website has free sample plans and articles to help you with information on how to grow or start your business.
    I searched on bplans and found a few examples for starting a cuber cafe.

    I hope this information will be helpful.

    Casi Deatherage
    Palo Alto Software
    Customer Care

  23. Julie H. said on April 10th, 2008 at 11:26 am:

    Hello,

    I am trying to get ideas for my mission statement.

    Our company makes blankets to donate to babies born with heart problems or defects.

    Thank you.

    ~J~

  24. Casi Deatherage said on April 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pm:

    Hello Julie,

    Thanks for your comment!

    Our Bplans website is a free resource that allows you to search free sample plans to research and gather information for your mission statement.

    Goodluck!

    Casi Deatherage
    Palo Alto Software
    Customer Care

  25. Linda A. A. said on April 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pm:

    hello,

    i am exicted about starting a business of my own.

    i will like someone to help write my business plan on fish farming.

    thank you.

  26. Fleinwoods Fernandez said on April 21st, 2008 at 11:07 pm:

    I find it very helpful. Will you be able to help me what mission statement suitable for my business. I’m planning to start my TAVEL AND TOUR BUSINESS.

    Thank you!

    Flein

  27. Casi Deatherage said on April 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 pm:

    Hello Fleinwoods,

    Bplans has many helpful resources to help you search for information related to a Travel and Tour Business.

    Best regards,

    Casi Deatherage
    Palo Alto Software
    Customer Care

  28. Vickie Bankston said on April 23rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm:

    I would like very much if I could get some help on writing a mission statment for a non-profit organization. If you could send me some sample I would greatly appreaciate it.

    Thanks in advance

  29. Casi Deatherage said on April 24th, 2008 at 10:57 am:

    Hello Vickie,

    Our Bplans website is a free resource that allows you to search free sample plans to help gather information. I did a search under Nonrofit Mission Statements and found a few listings.

    I hope this will be of help to you.

    Best regards,

    Casi Deatherage
    Palo Alto Software
    Customer Care

  30. USMAN ALI said on May 1st, 2008 at 9:51 am:

    i need a mission statement for my new restaurent in peshawar cantt.
    MANAGER anwarsher

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