Key takeaways:
The best business relationships often start with a single conversation, and a well-crafted elevator pitch is what opens the door. A great elevator pitch example gives you a quick, confident way to share what you do and why it matters, so you never get caught fumbling for words when you meet a potential customer or investor.
Read on to learn how to write an elevator pitch, and explore 14 examples plus a template to help you build your own.
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An elevator pitch is a brief summary of your business that takes about 30 seconds to say, roughly the length of an average elevator ride. For a small business owner, it is a tool to generate interest and build rapport. The goal of an elevator pitch is to start a conversation, not to close a deal on the spot.
A stand-out pitch takes practice. While it can be hard to boil down your business into a few sentences, shorter is always better. Each element of your pitch builds on the last. Here’s a five-step framework to help you write a 30-second elevator pitch example like a pro.
Start your pitch by stating your name, your role, and what your business does. Keep this brief. This is just the opening, not the whole pitch.
Examples of this include:
Leading with the problem you solve, rather than just the product you sell, is much more compelling. It helps listeners immediately understand who your ideal customers are and the pain points you eliminate. You can use your value proposition to transition smoothly from the problem to your solution.
Here are a few examples of problem statements:
Once you share the problem, present your solution. Show how your business naturally resolves the issue you just mentioned. This is the most important part of the pitch, so tailor it to your audience.
Here are some examples of how to phrase this:
Provide one detail that makes your business special. This could be a unique method, proprietary technology, a compelling backstory, or a notable client. Keep it to one sentence maximum.
Here are some ideas about how to do that:
Now that you’ve shared who you are and what you do, it’s time to close the pitch and open the conversation. A clear call to action (CTA) reels in the listener with an actionable next step.
Here are a few ways to do that:
Now that you know the framework, here are 14 scenario-specific examples you can adapt for your situation.
Keep your pitch short, sweet, and flexible enough to apply to both investors and customers alike.
“We’re a meal delivery company specializing in vegan and vegetarian cuisine, so we know how difficult it can be to find healthy food that tastes amazing. We’ve helped a number of your peers improve their accessibility by creating and shipping custom meal kits. This means that our customers can enjoy delicious food tailored to their dietary needs. Do you have any experience within the healthy food market?”
Focus on addressing your niche in your pitch and clearly communicate how your product or service solves their problem.
“It’s hard to find a reliable barber in a new city. Our startup aims to help traveling professionals access skilled hairdressers at the top of their game. Thanks to our app, over 3,000 business professionals have looked sharp while traveling across the continental United States. We’re also rolling out a dog grooming service to provide even more options for our customers. Follow us on Instagram to learn more about our services.”
Getting a new client is a fantastic opportunity, so you want to make sure your pitch is tight and easy to understand. Avoid buzzwords and appeal to logic, reasoning, and humanity.
“Hi, my name is Jen, and I’m here representing Water. Are you familiar with our products? By choosing us, you are making a decision to provide your employees with clean, fresh water. Our products go through an advanced filtering system that removes dangerous pollutants and minerals from water. Since you’re based in the downtown area, I’m sure you’re aware of how important it is to have a clean water system. If you have further questions or would like to get in touch, here’s my business card.”
Show the listener you’ve done your homework and are confident in your business by impressing them with data that your work can back up.
“With rent, utilities, and staffing costs continuing to rise, I started a professional network of individuals who can team up to rent a shop together, rather than taking on the costs alone. I know it works because I moved my candle business in with a local florist, and we each saw a 15% increase in revenue year-over-year. With additional funding, we’re sure that we can grow this to a 30% revenue increase. If that’s caught your attention, I’d love to talk more over coffee sometime."
Specify your language to address the needs of an investor. Touch on your experience, business model and what your business could accomplish with small business loans, lines of credit, or other funding options.
Once your pitch lands and funding follows, having your financials in order is critical. Learn how QuickBooks helps new businesses track cash flow from day one.
“We’ve created a company that matches vehicles to businesses hoping to move supply. Transportation companies can now generate business from previously wasted drives. We’re hoping to earn more money so we can grow our investments and expand into new regions. We have more than 20 years of experience in our niche and are more than able to improve this business. With your help and funding, we’re confident our revenue will increase by 40%. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, here’s my business card.”
Share the innovative approach your startup takes to address the problems your target audience faces and emphasize what sets you apart from your competition.
“My company is responsible for designing and developing personalized sales funnels. This means that our customers can enjoy a smooth user experience, tailored to their needs and interests. They can also receive automated solutions that help boost sales. The last client we helped saw their online revenue increase by 120%. Does your company have any experience with ecommerce automation?”
This pitch puts the audience in someone else's shoes, helping them to imagine the target audience that needs the product or service.
“Imagine you're a truck driver who hasn’t seen their family in over a month. You’re missing big moments while doing everything you can to ensure they have a bright future. What if there was a physical way to let them know you’re thinking about them while on the road? We’ve created a personalized care package system that can be customized to the geography of your route and interests of your loved ones. This enables our client’s family to be a part of the adventure while their family member is away. What’s a good business address that we could send a prototype to?”
Let the listener feel the weight of the problem that your small business is attempting to solve for your customers.
“Our company wants to help grieving families cope with the loss of their four-legged family members by creating custom portraits of their best friends. With just a few pictures of their lost loved one, we’re able to give them a gift that lasts forever. Would you be interested in helping us create these meaningful memories?”
Share the legacy that your small business has successfully built and the reasons why you’ve been able to keep your business healthy for so many years.
“We’ve been helping businesses in our community plan, execute, and enjoy amazing events for the last 40 years. It is our privilege to remove the headache of event planning by curating luxurious experiences that their team members and clients love attending. Our large network of caterers, florists, and hosts enables us to think outside the box and create unforgettable occasions. I’d love for you to stop by our showroom to browse our gala options sometime next week!”
End your trade show or conference pitch with a CTA that creates an immediate action that the listener can take while at the event.
"My company has done business and found great success with [another company name]. Our products have helped nonprofits cut costs by 20%, since we designed them for organizations relying on funding. Unlike other products, ours don't need replacing, which lowers costs. By incorporating our products into your current system, your company will run at a smoother rate. We’re actually giving a talk on this tomorrow afternoon—here’s the schedule and a list of the products we’ll be presenting if you’re interested."
Take advantage of the fact the listener understands the technical jargon of your shared industry and showcase how collaboration can be mutually beneficial.
“We’re a social media company specializing in B2B finance, so we know how intricate your field can be. We’ve helped a number of your peers improve their social media engagement by over 20% across platforms this past year alone. Are you interested in finding out more about how we can assist you?”
Mention the person or organization that you both share to establish a sense of connection and trust before pitching your business to an acquaintance.
“Hey Maria! Ted said that you are interested in trying out a new content management system. We know how difficult it is for small businesses to keep their files organized as they’re starting out. That’s why we developed a user-friendly app that keeps everything you need in one place. Our UX design features make it a breeze to navigate through and share with team members. Would you like me to schedule a demo session for you to test it out?”
Respect established friendships by keeping elevator pitches to old friends warm and casual. End with a CTA that is something you both would enjoy.
“It’s so nice to see you again! I’ve been working on a new product for busy professionals who are tired of wearing wrinkled clothes to their business meetings. Our service picks up and delivers dry-cleaning at the press of a button, allowing you to stay home and prep for the important stuff. Let’s grab coffee so we can catch up while I tell you more about the process.”
When pitching on behalf of a non-profit or organization that is raising funds, stress the urgency of how this money could impact the audience they serve by detailing how the project will use their new funds to the listener.
“Our organization aims to help rehabilitate farm animals by providing a safe and loving habitat for them to live out the rest of their lives. We’ve secured a grant to buy a 10 acre property and hire staff for our social media engagement team. With extra funding from people like you, we’d be able to pay for regular veterinary services to keep our animals healthy. Would you like to set up a call to learn about our donation program?”
Pitching your business is the first step to securing a new client, funding a new project, or gaining a new partner. Once you wow them with your elevator pitch, make sure you have the right processes in place to maintain their trust.
Investing in reliable accounting software, like QuickBooks, is a great way to streamline your invoicing process and set your clients up for success while interacting with your small business.
Backed by trusted experts and powerful AI automation, QuickBooks helps you save time, make smart decisions, and grow with clarity.
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