Every entrepreneurs know that there are hundreds of thousands of things to organize, plan, and worry about before launching your startup. Any new business owner can feel like a circus performer spinning dozens of plates at the same time. Although you’ll have plenty to do before launching your business, one of the most important “to-dos” on your list should be to create a mission statement. While this should be done in the beginning stages when you write out your business plan, it is never too late to form a mission statement.

People sometimes question the need for a mission statement. An accurate, effective a mission statement is essential to your organization because it allows you to show potential clients and customers what your goals are as a company, and helps you gain public support. Take a look at the following tips and create a killer mission statement for your new startup:

What to Include

A quality mission statement encompasses several ideas in a short, concise manner, and shows outsiders what the company is all about. This is why it is best to form the mission statement before the company gets rolling, so that you can establish objectives from the get-go, and have a clear vision for the business from the beginning.

A mission statement should include the following:

• Explanation of why your organization exists
• Definition of what you do
• An outline of your priorities
• The motivation for your activities

Writing Your Mission Statement

The purpose of a mission statement is not to give all your program descriptions, because you want to keep it short. A mission statement serves as a blueprint of your activities, so it should be clear, uncluttered, and not full of adjectives – just stick to the facts. While you won’t have the space to get into the nitty gritty in the mission statement, you want to avoid vague terms that merely sound nice. Use words that convey your message without sounding fluffy to customers. One method that is helpful when drafting a mission statement is to indicate the who, what, where and how of your organization then use these items to form the statement. This will allow you to get to the point quickly and effectively.

What Purpose Does a Mission Statement Serve Once it is Written?

You should include your mission statement frequently throughout your business practices. For example, within your publications, in your press releases, and everywhere you say something about your organization. You can even put it on your fax cover sheets. Ultimately, it serves as a brief introduction for those who do not know you and a constant reminder for those who do.

Use Your Mission Statement to Measure Success

Your success as an organization can be measured by how effectively you perform to achieve the mission you have outlined. Therefore, any projects your organization chooses to undertake should be compatible with the mission statement you have already established. A mission statement serves as a yardstick for deciding what programs your organization can and should undertake. Even if a project is valuable and interesting, if it is not relevant to your organizational mission it may interfere with your compliance. This is also why it is important to ensure that your mission statement doesn’t promise or promote anything that your company doesn’t intend to deliver on.

While a mission statement might seem like a small task that can be thrown on your business cards, it is much more than that. This should be given serious thought and time, in order to set the tone for your business, and help customers know what they can expect. Start your business on the right foot, and create a solid mission statement that will guide your future endeavors. The information for this article was provided by the professionals of CharityNetUSA who help charities and nonprofits with their business plans and mission statements.