1. Identify the benefits of a well-written company history

Writing a company history is typically a collaborative effort. Before you ask for assistance and support, make sure you’re prepared to explain how the project could benefit your business:

• Defines your company’s core identity: A concise company history explains how the company has fulfilled its mission statement. Employees might better connect with specific values, such as community, innovation or customer service.
• Connects with customers: A company history tells the story of how and why the founders created the business. These insights can help customers connect with your company on a personal level.
• Establishes your brand identity and reputation: A corporate history is one way to build credibility and distinguish your business from competitors. Use examples from the past to illustrate sound decision-making, capable management, clear vision, thoughtful leadership and community engagement.

2. Decide where you’ll use the company history

Before you start writing, consider where to use the corporate history. Choose channels that help you build credibility and trust with employees, customers, potential investors and other collaborators.

Places to use a corporate history include:

• Marketing materials: Use a shorter version of the company history in brochures and company manuals to add human interest and increase customers’ curiosity.
• Website: Add the history to the “About Us” section on your website. You can combine elements such as text, photographs, timelines and audiovisual content to tell a compelling story.
• Business plans: Use a corporate history to provide background information in business plans and proposals. Potential lenders, investors and partners may want to learn how your company has grown over the years.
• Employee handbooks: Help new employees understand your company’s legacy, mission and values by adding the corporate history to your employee handbook or company policy manual.
• Media kits: Help journalists craft more compelling stories about your business by including the company history in a media section on your website. You can also add it to press releases.
• Annual reports: When you’re writing stories about the year’s projects and activities, a concise corporate history can help provide context about these events.
• Commemorative books: Include an in-depth company history in a commemorative book. It makes a meaningful gift when you’re celebrating milestones such as anniversaries and retirements.
• Social media: Share your company history in a post or video on social media to help customers connect with the business on a more personal level.

3. Gather information about the business

Start collecting information about the company’s history. The approach you take may vary depending on how old the business is.

If your company is relatively young, you can start by interviewing founders, partners and long-time employees. Ask them about changes they’ve noticed, challenges met and the reasons for key decisions.

For older businesses, you may need to use historical documents. Go through the company’s files, or visit a local historical archive. Search for property deeds, news stories, letters and other items that might help you understand why and how the business was founded.

As you research, seek information about:

• Company founders: Gather information about the company’s founders and their personal and professional backgrounds.
• Original idea and vision: Find out how the founders created the idea for the business and how they persuaded others to support it.
• Turning points: Source first-hand accounts of how customers perceived the company. Research early signs of momentum and key growth moments.
• Influential figures: Learn about key people who shaped the company and helped it grow.
• Innovations: Document products and features that differentiated the business, changed the industry or affected customer behavior.
• Milestones: Collect accounts of milestones such as the opening of new stores, mergers, acquisitions and changes in ownership. Make sure to include setbacks and solutions, such as rebuilding a warehouse after a fire destroyed the original.
• Accolades: Identify notable awards and other forms of recognition.
• Media coverage: Collect interviews and profiles from print, TV and web sources that illustrate the company’s achievements.
• Community engagement: Identify examples of how the business has supported the community or established strong partnerships.
• Interesting trivia: Search for interesting facts and stories about the company. For example, you might discover that one of your products was used as a prop in a movie or that a famous athlete stopped by your store.

Whether you’re finding documents or speaking to employees, aim for transparency and honesty. The most interesting company histories include candid details about both successes and setbacks. Consider including how the founders learned from and addressed unexpected challenges. Honesty can help build trust.

4. Compile visual elements

Visual elements are just as important as the text in a company history. Compile archival material such as photographs or video footage. You might have an image of the founders working out of a garage, for example, or videos of early prototypes of your company’s products.

Other visual elements you can use to illustrate a company history include:

• Print and TV ads
• Early versions of the company logo
• Photos of the first facility
• Images of the founders
• Brochures
• Magazine and newspaper articles
• Video tour of the original production line

5. Consult real-life company history examples

Reading real-life examples of company histories can help you organize the information you’ve collected. Consider these corporate histories for inspiration:

• Randall Knives: Randall Knives tells its corporate history from the perspective of the company founder, Gary Randall. As he shares the inspiration behind the business, Randall emphasizes the company’s values of longevity, commitment to quality and family. The timeline provides a helpful visual to complement the story.
• Melissa & Doug: This toy company presents its company history in a playful and colorful layout. It combines text, video and imagery to showcase the company’s vision of creating meaningful, well-made toys for children.
• Square Books: Square Books is an independent bookseller. Its corporate history takes a traditional chronological approach, outlining its growth and the notable authors who have visited the bookstore over the decades.
• Google: Google’s corporate history is summarized into a concise list of key points.

6. Organize the information

Now that you have inspiration and information, it’s time to choose a structure. How you present the company history depends on the business.

Here are some structures to consider:

• Timeline: If your business has a long, well-documented history, consider a timeline. Highlight key moments from the company’s past and include visual elements to illustrate each one.
• Story: For companies with compelling or unusual histories, consider using a classic narrative structure to engage readers. The story will likely follow a chronological structure, but the ideas are often more important than the dates.
• Themes: Consider including themes from your company’s history. For example, you might explain how the company was shaped by examples of leadership, giving back to the community, perseverance, creativity or innovation. Revisiting these themes throughout your story is one way to emphasize company values.

7. Design the layout

The layout and visual design of your corporate history can make it a valuable asset. Use photographs to break up text and illustrate vivid moments, and consider using interactive online elements.

If you have an employee who’s skilled in video editing, consider creating a video version of the history. You can interview founders or long-time employees, include historical footage and incorporate audio from different periods in the company’s past. Video histories are ideal for sharing on your website and social media profiles.

8. Write the company history

With your research, structure and layout in mind, write your company history. Identify topics that need more information, and fill in these areas with additional research.

As you write, choose a tone, length and style that suits your brand and your primary audience. If you run a board game company, for example, you might choose a playful, informal tone. Planning to incorporate the company’s history into a business plan? Consider writing a version that’s concise, formal and written in the third person.

Once you have a first draft, ask a few friends or customers to review it and provide feedback. Their objective opinions and insights can help you focus the story or clarify key points. After you make these initial changes, ask company leaders and employees to review the text for accuracy and alignment with business goals.

The writing process may require several drafts. Because the company’s history is a shared asset, individual departments or executives may have different priorities. Once it’s complete, you can publish the history across your chosen channels.

Writing a company history can be a time-consuming project, so you might outsource it to skilled professionals. Professional writers, historians and graphic designers can elevate the level of craftsmanship and turn the history into a valuable company asset.

FAQs about writing a company history

How long should a company history be?

A company history might be up to two pages long, but the length can vary based on its purpose and the company’s past. If you intend to include the history in project plans and proposals, it might be just a few paragraphs long. If you’re hoping to turn the history into an interactive section of your website, it might be several pages long. You can also write several versions of the history, each a different length.

How often should you update the company history?

Consider revisiting your company history about once a year to add new developments, product lines or milestones. By updating it regularly, you can turn the history into a living document that reflects your company’s growth.