How To Close a Business Letter (With Tips and Examples)

Updated July 31, 2023

Letters are an essential way of communicating in the business world. Whether sent by mail or email, a well-written and well-formatted note can help you create and maintain positive business relationships. The way you end a business letter gives you an opportunity to leave a good impression on the recipient.

In this article, we review how to end a letter professionally with proper final sentences and closings and provide 22 examples of closings.

Image description

The image is titled "Business Letter Format" and shows an example letter with the parts of the letter identified on the left side.

The left side includes:

Date
Name and address
Greeting
Opening paragraph
Closing paragraph
Complimentary close and signature

The letter reads:

February 1, 20XX

Deborah Jones
ABC Company, Inc.
1234 East Main Street
San Diego, CA 92101

Dear Ms. Jones,

I am submitting this request for a leave of absence to tend to important personal matters beginning next month. If possible, I would like to take my leave beginning March 15 and return to the office April 3, 20XX.

I can make myself available intermittently to answer questions via phone or email, and am happy to do whatever necessary to ensure a smooth transition before my leave begins.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Johanna Jansen

What is a business letter closing?

The closing of a letter is a word or phrase used before the signature to indicate farewell. This phrase shows respect and appreciation for the recipient.

When you are ready to end your letter, you should choose a complimentary closing that is appropriate, respectful and professional to draw the reader’s attention to the message of your letter. You can also use a closing to relate the ending to the content of the letter.

How to end a business letter

There are several things to consider when choosing how to end a business letter. The final words may leave a strong impression in the recipient’s mind, so you should choose an ending that reinforces the purpose of the letter and emphasizes your professional relationship. Use these five steps to craft an ending that can leave your reader with a positive impression:

1. Use a purposeful final sentence

After the main body of your letter but before the closing, you may want to include a short final paragraph that is only one or two sentences long. You can use this last sentence to accomplish a few different things, including the following:

Clarify or restate the letter’s purpose
Summarize a key point
Request an action
Offer an invitation
Express thanks
Confirm a connection

Consider these example final sentences to help you finish your business letter:

I look forward to hearing from you soon.
I appreciate your input on this matter.
Thank you for your understanding, and I will contact you next week with more details.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I await your reply with interest.
It has been a pleasure doing business with you.
Thank you for the recommendation, and I will keep you updated on my status.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Please let me know if I can be of any more assistance.

2. Consider the context

The ending of your business letter should relate to the purpose of the letter. If you write to request assistance or convey gratitude, you could end the letter with a phrase like “With appreciation.” If your letter is to pursue a business connection, you should maintain formality and respect by ending with a word like “Respectfully” or “Sincerely.” Consider the context of your letter when choosing your closing.

3. Consider your relationship

Your closing should be appropriate to the relationship you have with the recipient. If the letter is to a supervisor, someone you’ve never met or someone you don’t know very well, choose a formal and professional ending like “Sincerely,” “Regards” or “Respectfully.” If the letter is for someone you have interacted with frequently or know well, then you may use a more informal closing while still maintaining a professional tone, such as “Best,” “Cordially” or “Thanks.”

4. End with your signature

After the closing phrase, include your signature. Follow your signature with your contact information unless it is already included at the top of a formal letter. You can include your title, email address and phone number. If you are emailing the letter, you may also include a link to your online professional profile or work portfolio.

Formatting tips for business letter closings

Use these tips to professionally format the end of your business letter:

Begin the complimentary closing on a new line after the last paragraph of the body of your message. If the letter is in a block format (all lines flush with the left margin), the closing line should also begin on the left. If you use a semi-block style (indenting the first lines of each paragraph), then begin the closing phrase to the right of the center, so it will align with the date in the heading.
Start the closing with a capital letter. If the closing is more than one word, use lowercase for any following words.
Use a comma after the complimentary closing, before your signature.
Leave four spaces before your typed name so you can sign the letter if you're sending it by mail. If you send the letter by email, include one space between the closing and your name.

Business letter closing examples

If you want to be very formal in closing your business letter, consider using one of these phrases:

Respectfully
Yours sincerely
Yours respectfully
Yours faithfully

Depending on the situation, you can use formal ways to conclude a business letter:

Faithfully
Sincerely
Best regards
Thank you
With appreciation
With gratitude
With sincere thanks
Sincerely yours

If you have a close relationship with the person you are corresponding with, consider an informal sign-off to conclude a business letter:

Best
All the best
Best wishes
Cordially
Kindest regards
Kind wishes
Many thanks
Regards
Thanks again
Warm regards

Sample business letter endings

Below are examples of ways to end a letter that you can use as a guide when writing your own:

Sample 1: Ending a formal letter

Thank you again for your attention to this matter. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

[handwritten signature]
Alexis Parino

Sample 2: Ending an informal email

It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.

Best wishes,

Jacob Winters
Marketing Director, L&H Firm
882-671-5642
j_winters@email.com

Frequently asked questions

Why's it important to close a business letter properly?

Closing a business letter properly can help you show your professionalism to a client or supervisor. The way in which you close a business letter may also reflect on your attitude as an employee, so try to keep your closing statement courteous and professional.

Can I close a paper letter and a digital letter in the same way?

You can generally close a paper letter and a digital letter in the same way. If you compose a digital business letter via email, you may be able to use a more informal closing statement like "Best wishes." If you're unsure of how to close a business letter, err on the side of caution and use a more formal closing statement.

How do I decide what statement to provide before my letter closing?

It's common to conclude a letter with a brief statement before the closing. To determine what kind of statement to write, reflect on the content of your letter. If you're expressing a new idea to improve business operations, your concluding statement might be an expression of gratitude for the recipient's attention. If you're trying to persuade the reader to take a specific action, you might include a firm but polite call to action that provides them with the opportunity to decline.