Lesson Overview

A letterhead is the official heading used on your business documents. It appears on quotations, invoices, reports, proposals, contracts, and formal correspondence.

A well-designed letterhead immediately tells customers they are dealing with a professional organisation and reinforces your business identity every time they receive a document.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the purpose of a business letterhead.
• Know what information belongs on a letterhead.
• Create a clean professional layout.
• Use consistent branding.
• Prepare a reusable document template.

Why Every Business Needs a Letterhead

Essential Information

• Business logo
• Business name
• Business tagline (optional)
• Business address
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Website address
• Social media (optional)
• Business registration details (if required)
• GST number (where applicable)

Design Guidelines

Keep It Clean

Use plenty of white space. Customers should immediately focus on the content of the document.

Use Brand Colours

Include your primary brand colours in headings, lines, or design accents.

Use Consistent Fonts

Follow the typography selected in your brand guidelines.

High Quality Logo

Always use a high-resolution logo to ensure crisp printing.

Footer Information

Contact details, website, and legal information are commonly placed in the footer.

Suggested Layout

• Logo positioned at the top.
• Business name clearly visible.
• Tagline below the business name.
• Document title centred if required.
• Main document body.
• Footer containing contact information.

Where Letterheads Are Used

• Business letters
• Invoices
• Quotes
• Contracts
• Reports
• Business proposals
• Service agreements
• Certificates
• Reference letters
• Official correspondence

Common Mistakes

• Too many colours.
• Large distracting graphics.
• Poor-quality logo.
• Incorrect contact details.
• Using different layouts for different documents.
• Too much information in the header.
• Using fonts that are difficult to read.

Letterhead Checklist

• ✔ Logo included
• ✔ Business name clearly displayed
• ✔ Contact details correct
• ✔ Website included
• ✔ Email included
• ✔ Brand colours used consistently
• ✔ Fonts match brand guidelines
• ✔ Footer completed
• ✔ Printed test copy checked
• ✔ Template saved for future use

Practical Project

Design a professional A4 business letterhead using your logo, business colours, contact information, and typography. Save it as a reusable template for quotations, invoices, reports, and official correspondence.

Chapter Summary

A professional letterhead is more than decoration—it reinforces your business identity, builds customer confidence, and creates a consistent appearance across all official documents.