Writing is a significant portion of any job; most professional jobs require writing documents. Many documents, such as reports, benefit from the inclusion of a business acknowledgment page. A business acknowledgment page indicates you, as the researcher and writer of the document, recognize businesses and individuals who helped you write your document.

Additionally, some organizations, especially nonprofits, frequently receive assistance and support, financial and otherwise, from local businesses. When such assistance is given and is associated with your organization's work, writing a business acknowledgment page is a professional and generous way to publicly say thank you.

1. List People Who Helped You

Write down those businesses and individuals, if appropriate, who have helped you achieve your goal, helped you research information, or supported your project. Carry this list around for a week or two, adding businesses to your list as you think of them.

2. Liaise With Managers

Ask your manager and colleagues if they have any suggestions for businesses and individuals, if appropriate for the project, who should be included in a business acknowledgment page for your project. Write these suggestions down on your list if the suggestions are appropriate.

3. Arrange the Names Alphabetically

Organize the list you compiled in step 1 and step 2 to determine in what order you will acknowledge the businesses. Alphabetical order is a politically safe arrangement.

4. Write an Introductory Paragraph

Write an introductory paragraph for your business acknowledgment list. This paragraph should tell the reader what the following list is and why it is important. For example, the paragraph could read, "I would like to thank the following for their support." The introduction can be as short or long as you like. It is wise, however, to keep your introduction as short and concise as possible.

Follow this by typing the list of businesses you compiled in step 1 and step 2. You can list the names of the businesses in paragraph form or as bullet points. If you have numerous businesses to acknowledge, consider organizing the businesses in columns.

5. Check and Proofread

Print out your business acknowledgment page once you are done writing it. Read over your page, marking any spelling or grammatical errors. Double-check each business name to ensure proper spelling. Ask a trusted colleague with excellent writing skills to look over your list, checking for proper spelling, grammar and style and to ensure the business names are spelled correctly. Implement any changes your colleague suggests that makes sense for your business acknowledgment page.

Include your business acknowledgment page in your final document, for example, as an acknowledgement in your business plan. This page should be included at the front of the document, after all title pages and before the table of contents.