v DEFINITION
A business letter is a letter dealing with business. It is written in formal
language, usually used when writing from one business organization to
another, or for correspondence between such organizations and their
customers, clients and other external parties. Business letters are more
formal in writing; follow formats strictly, are concise, clear and direct to
the point.
v TYPES
There are different kinds of business letters, used for different purposes. They are divided into two types:
the business to business type and the business to client type.
Business-to-business types are intended for company to company communication. Examples are:
• Appreciation Letter - a letter of gratitude and appreciation for help extended, or a good business deal.
• Thank you - is a letter of gratitude.
• Congratulations - is a letter that praises the recipient for a job well-done
• Letter of Recognition - a written statement of recognized efforts similar to an appreciation letter.
• Letter of Reference - is a character reference letter. It is a letter building up the character of a person to be accepted in a job.
• Recommendation - is an endorsement letter to hire a certain person. Sympathy letter - is a letter of condolences to a person or family.
• Invitation letter - is a letter persuading a person or a company to join an event or an occasion.
• Letter of credit - is a way of endorsing a certain business to be considered a credit loan.
• Letter of interest - a reply to an invitation that confirms presence on the event/occasion.
• Business memorandum - notices that are distributed to the staff. They are reminders of company activities, or imminent changes in the company. Business introduction - is done to introduce a new business to the readers.
• Business letter - a letter that talks about the plans for the business.
• Donation letter - a letter asking for donations.
• Termination letter - more popularly known as a resignation letter. It signifies someone's desire to leave a job permanently.
Business-to-Client letters are:
• Welcome Letter - welcomes the client and thanking him for choosing the company.
• Letter of Appreciation - thanks the client for having business with the company.
• Apology Letter - asking the client for reconsideration, and apologizes for failing to deliver.
• Collection Letter - notice outstanding payments due.
• Invoice Letter Template - this is asking the clients to state the invoice number of their transactions.
• Letter of Invitation - inviting a client to join a certain gathering.
• Marketing Letter - is stating the newest products that the company will provide soon or is presently providing.
• Rejection Letter - is stating the rejection of the client's request.
v PARTS
[YOUR NAME]
[SENDER'S ADDRESS]
(optional[SENDER'S PHONE]
(optional[THE SENDER'S E-MAIL]
[DATE]
[RECIPIENT W/O PREFIX]
[RECIPIENT'S COMPANY]
[RECIPIENT'S ADDRESS]
(Optional) Attention [DEPARTMENT/PERSON],
Dear [RECIPIENT W/ PREFIX]:
[First Salutation then Subject in Business letters]
[CONTENT.]
[CONTENT.]
[COMPLIMENTARY CLOSING (Sincerely, Respectfully, Regards, etc.)],
[SENDER]
[SENDER'S TITLE]
Enclosures ([NUMBER OF ENCLOSURES])
cc: [CC RECIPIENT], [CC RECIPIENT TITLE]
[CC RECIPIENT], [CC RECIPIENT TITLE]
v STYLE
*Full Block
*Semi-Block
*Modified Block
*Modified Semi-Block
