ACROBAT FOR BUSINESS | 10-MINUTE READ
What is a business one-pager and free downloadable template.
Create a one-pager for your business that stands out from the crowd.
As a small business owner or solopreneur, you need a concise way to tell others about your business, whether you’re hunting for clients, seeking out investors, or need to persuade partners to join your business.
That’s where a one-pager comes in handy. Not only does this document help external stakeholders better understand your business’s value, but it also clarifies the future direction of your business, which is a must-have for any small business dreaming of growth.
In this article, we’ll explain what a one-pager is, share a downloadable one-pager template, and offer one-pager ideas to speed up your writing process.
What is a business one pager?
A business one-pager summarizes key elements of your business, from its mission to critical metrics, to communicate your message more effectively. Think of it as a snapshot of your business that offers a clear, compelling view of what you do, why, and how.
One pagers are especially helpful for small businesses because they lay the foundation for a more in-depth business proposal you may need to write as your business grows.
8 one-pager components.
Every one-pager should include:
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A business overview. List the business name, display your logo, and share your tagline.
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Mission statement. Explain the purpose of your business and its core values.
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Value proposition. Outline how your business's benefits solve specific problems for your target audience. Focus on what sets you apart from competitors.
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Explanation of products, services, or business model. Highlight your company’s unique features or why your business is more effective than the competition. Additionally, explain how your company makes money by sharing your revenue streams or pricing information.
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Target audience and market information. Share an overview of your ideal customer demographics and target market segments. Analyze the market’s size and growth potential, sharing quantitative trends and data to support your conclusions.
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Metrics. Show the business’s performance at a high level with critical metrics like revenue, growth rate, and customer lifetime value (CLV).
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Team. Build credibility by introducing key team members and briefly describing their credentials or experience in the field.
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Contact information. Include your website, email, phone number, and social media handles.
Don’t overlook the importance of designing a professional document. Use tools like Adobe Acrobat for business to create a polished and professional one-pager in less time. Not only does Acrobat streamline mobile PDFs, but it also supports e-signatures and process automation to get even more mileage out of your one-pagers.
What are the advantages of a one-pager?
A one-pager has many benefits for small businesses, including:
- Improved focus. A one pager distills your business’s key information into one place, getting to the heart of your work and allowing readers to understand your business quickly.
- Easy access. One-pagers are easier to share than complete business plans, which are often over a dozen pages long. Easily attach one-pagers to emails, share them via social media, or post them on your website. Since they’re one page, they’re easy to print out before meetings, conferences, and networking events.
- Professional reputation. A well-designed one-pager makes a great first impression. Compiling important information in one document increases your business’s credibility.
- Versatility. Applicable for just about anything, use this high-level overview to apply for awards, source investors, or find business partners.
As useful as one-pagers are, finding the time to sit down and write one for your business can be challenging. Fortunately, the right template will make it a cinch to quickly assemble a professional document that makes a great first impression, whether you’re creating a proposal template or a simple one-pager. If you’re pressed for time, use a template that’s easy to customize in just a few clicks.
How to make a one-pager for your business.
Creating a business one-pager involves distilling the essence of your business into a single, impactful page.
Gather information.
One-pagers are relatively short but contain a lot of facts about your business. Save time by gathering all relevant data points before you sit down to write.
Details will vary depending on the template, but you’ll always need the following information:
- Business name, logo, and mission statement
- Value proposition or unique selling point (USP)
- Product or service details
- Business model
- Target market
- Key metrics
- Team member bios
- Contact information
Understand your goal and audience.
One-pagers are general-purpose business documents, though define a goal for yours. For example, you might want to persuade others to recognize the company’s financial success or boost your credibility as a new vendor. The way you position the company in the one pager will differ based on your overall objective.
Additionally, consider who will read this one pager, such as potential investors, customers, or partners. Clarifying your audience and purpose will help you tailor the content accordingly.
Create the structure and design.
Well-organized one-pagers make the best impression. Follow a solid one pager format to tell your story. Start with a header containing your business name, logo, and tagline. From there, write a quick introduction with your mission statement or value proposition. The document should then cover your products or services, target market, and metrics before ending with your contact information.
Use headers, bullets, and bolded text to make the one pager as engaging and skimmable as possible. Bold impressive milestones or metrics to draw readers’ eyes to the most important information.
Ensure the content supports your document’s goal. For example, if your goal is to prove financial viability to a potential investor, the copy should lean heavily on your team’s expertise and the business’s performance metrics.
Plan for distribution.
Many businesses distribute their one pagers via multiple channels. Choose a universal file format like PDF so your readers can access it on any device.
Acrobat for business has the tools in place to help you share with all the right people. Pre-built integrations ensure your team always follows up on one-pagers at the right time, helping you secure more timely investments, sales, and opportunities.
Free downloadable one pager template.
One pager templates ensure a polished look for a great impression. Insert your business details and branding into this downloadable template to quickly generate a brief, powerful business one-pager.
Three one pager examples and ideas.
One-pagers are incredibly versatile. No need to create a new document from scratch — just use the one-pager template to generate a document for your use case quickly. Here are a few one-pager ideas for three use cases:
- Startup VC support. Startups need investment dollars to get off the ground. An early-stage company can use a one pager with their pitch deck to get more investors on board in less time. Use the template to explain your startup offering, focusing on user engagement metrics, financial performance, and market opportunities. Since your startup is new, lean heavily on the expertise of more seasoned team members to garner support.
- Product launch. One-sheeters are a great option for product promotion, but you can still use the one page template above to let the world know about your latest release, too. Under the product/service section, introduce your new product. Explain its features and emphasize what makes this product better or different than what’s on the market.
- Partnership proposal. It’s hard to lead a business alone. However, not just any business partner will do. Follow our one pager template to quickly get potential partners up to speed and assess whether they’ll fit. Potential business partners want a well-rounded view of the company’s performance, offerings, and team, although they may need more information than other audiences since you’re asking them to join the ranks of your business.
Frequently asked questions.
What should a 1 pager include?
A one-pager should include:
- Business overview
- Mission statement
- Value proposition
- Product or service overview
- Audience and market information
- Performance metrics
- Team bios
- Contact information
How to make a 1 pager?
To make a one pager:
- Gather pertinent information on the business, including performance metrics and team bios.
- Set a goal of the one pager and remember your audience’s expectations.
- Use a template to structure the content in a logical format.
- Add your branding to the template.
- Distribute the one pager via email, social media, print, or your website.
What is the difference between a one sheeter and a one pager?
Common in marketing and sales, one sheeters promote a product feature or event for the business. They are also designed with more specific audiences in mind, while one pagers are for a more general audience.
To promote your business, use a one-sheeter to share targeted information with a specific audience and opt for a one-pager when you need to quickly get someone up to speed on your business.
What are the advantages of a one pager?
A one pager helps small businesses:
- Quickly summarize their business’s key details
- Easily share business information either digitally or in person
- Make a great first impression
- Excel in multiple scenarios, including award submissions, investor funding requests, and business partner searches
What is a one pager deck?
A one pager deck is a collection of several one pagers documents. Each one pager provides details about a different aspect of the same business. Small businesses will create a one pager deck ahead of time to provide comprehensive overviews for various occasions.
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