How to end a business letter (with examples)

You’re writing a business letter, and you’re almost finished. The question now is: how do I end my business letter? How do I sum up my main point(s)? What word should you use to compliment your signature? What level of formality is best?

The question of how to end a  business letter is a good one; asked by those who care enough to make an effort – and with that, an impact.

Letters are a common and essential way to communicate in the business world, and how you close your letter is just as important as how you begin it. The key is to ensure your closing signature matches the tone of the rest of the letter; and you strike a balance with the right level of formality.

Ideally, if you get it right, no one will remember how you closed your letter — they’ll remember the highlights of the body of your letter, instead.

How to end a business letter

When choosing the best way to end a business letter, your goal is to leave a positive impression. You don’t want the closing of your letter to take away from the rest of your letter, and you definitely don’t want it to leave a bad taste so that it minimizes the most crucial part of your letter — the body that holds the primary message.

Use these tips to ensure you leave the reader with a good impression:

• Use a meaningful final sentence
• Consider the relationship
• Align with the context
• End with your closing signature

Use a meaningful final sentence

You might choose to include a final sentence or two following the main body and before the closing of your letter. You can use the sentence prior to your closing signature to accomplish any of the following:

• Reiterate the letter’s purpose
• Request a follow-up action
• Provide an invitation
• Offer thanks
• Confirm the connection
• Summarize a key point

Some final-sentence examples of closing a letter before the closing signature include:

• I appreciate your assistance with this matter.
• Thank you for the recommendation. I will keep you informed of my status.
• Thank you for your time. Your consideration is greatly appreciated.
• Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
• I appreciate your consideration in this matter.
• I look forward to hearing from you.
• Please let me know if you have any questions.
• Please advise if I can be of any assistance.
• It has been a pleasure working with you.
• If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
• You can direct additional questions to [insert name] at [insert information].

Consider the relationship

All business letters should use a professional closing. However, the audience and your relationship with the reader will dictate how formal your closing is. If you address the letter to an individual you know well or interact with frequently, your closing might be more informal than a letter addressed to a recipient you don’t know well. “Thanks” is less formal than “Regards,” for example.

Align with the context

The closing of your letter should connect to the overall goal of your letter. For example, if you’re writing a letter of appreciation, you might end with “Thank you” or “With appreciation.” If your letter relates to a job application, you will use a more formal closing, such as “Sincerely” or “Respectfully yours.”

End with your closing signature

Your closing signature will include the complimentary closing word(s) — “Regards,” “Yours truly,” “Warm wishes,” etc. — followed by your name.

• You should include your contact information at the top of the letter for hard copy letters and letters attached to emails, so it doesn’t need to be in your closing.
• You don’t include your contact information at the top of the letter for email letters. Instead, include your contact information with your signature.

Professional letter closing and complimentary word examples

Below are some complimentary closing examples to use for the myriad of formal and informal business letters you might write.

Formal closings for a professional letter

These closings work for almost all instances as a formal way to close a letter. They’re perfect for job inquiries, cover letters, and letters of recommendation.

• Regards
• Sincerely
• Sincerely yours
• Yours faithfully
• Yours truly
• Yours sincerely

The following closings are still considered formal, though they are less formal than those listed above. They’re appropriate to use for letters addressed to individuals that you have had some correspondence with, such as emailing back and forth or a phone or face-to-face interview.

• Best regards
• Cordially
• Cordially yours
• Respectfully
• Respectfully yours
• Thank you
• Yours cordially
• Yours respectfully
• With appreciation
• With gratitude
• With sincere thanks

Informal closings for a professional letter

Here are informal closings (that are still professional) to utilize when you know and have a close relationship with the person you’re addressing.

• All the best
• Best
• Best of luck
• Best wishes
• Fond regards
• Kind regards
• Kind wishes
• Kind thanks
• Kindest regards
• Many thanks
• Stay well
• Stay safe and well
• Thanks
• Thanks again
• Warm regards
• Warm wishes
• Warmly

Additional signature closing examples

Use the following complimentary letter closings for formal and informal closings based on the letter’s context. For example, if you’re writing to provide your condolences, closings like “In sympathy” or “With sympathy” would be appropriate. When requesting assistance or thanking someone for their help, “With great appreciation” or “In appreciation” can be applied.

• In appreciation
• In sympathy
• With deepest sympathy
• With great appreciation
• With sympathy

Steer clear of these closings

Just as there is a right way to close a letter, the opposite is true — some closings are crucial to avoid. You don’t want to be too informal or casual when closing a business letter, even if you’re friends with the reader outside of work. Complimentary closings to avoid using include:

• Always
• Chat soon
• Chat later
• Cheers
• Ciao
• Hugs
• Later
• Love
• Passionately
• See ya
• Talk soon
• Talk to you later
• Take care
• XOXO

How to capitalize and format your closing signature

• The first word in your complimentary closing is capitalized. The following terms are lowercase.
• Use a comma following the complimentary word(s).
• Leave four spaces between the complimentary close and your printed name if sending a hard copy letter. The four spaces leave room for your handwritten signature. If emailing the letter in the body of an email, include one space between the complimentary closing and your printed name.

How to write your signature

Below are several examples of informal and formal hard copy and email letter closing signature examples.

Signature examples — formal hard copy letter or email attachment

1.

Sincerely,

(Handwritten signature)

Typed name

2.

Regards,

(Handwritten signature)

Typed name

3.

With gratitude,

(Handwritten signature)

Typed name

Signature examples — informal hard copy letter or email attachment

1.

Best wishes,

(Handwritten signature)

Typed name

2.

All the best,

(Handwritten signature)

Typed name

Signature examples — formal email

1.

Yours truly,

Typed name
Title
Phone number

2.

Thank you,

Typed name
Title
Phone number

Signature examples — informal email

1.

Thanks again,

Typed name
Phone number

2.

Stay well,

Typed Name
Title
Phone number

Take note of closing signatures

Use these tips as a guideline to help you close your letters with the best closing signature possible. The more attention you give to the closing of each business letter and email you send and receive, the more you’ll develop a natural instinct on how to best close each communication.