The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →A business reference letter can recommend either a company’s products or services or an individual employee; those are different letters with different evidence. The examples below show what to include in each, how to tailor the recommendation to its reader, and how to keep every claim grounded in what you personally know.
Choose the right kind of reference letter
Before drafting, identify who or what you are recommending and what decision the reader needs to make. A business recommendation supports another business, vendor, supplier, or service provider. An employment reference supports an individual’s work history, abilities, and fit for a role. Do not use one format as if it were interchangeable with the other.
| Letter type | What it recommends | Evidence to include |
|---|---|---|
| Business recommendation | A company’s products or services | Your professional relationship with the business, what you used or purchased, and specific service details or outcomes you observed |
| Employment reference | An individual employee or candidate | Your relationship to the person, their role and employment period if known, and observed skills, responsibilities, or achievements relevant to the next position |
Formats vary by industry, market, region, and relationship; there is no single required form. For further guidance, see Indeed’s business recommendation letter guidance and its employment reference letter guidance.
Business reference letter example: recommending a company or service
Use this adaptable example when a recipient wants to assess a business you have actually worked with or whose offering you have used. Replace the bracketed details with accurate information and remove any claim you cannot personally support.
#1 Best Overall
- E-mails, memos and letters that get read—and get action
- Proposals, recommendations, and presentations that sell ideas
- Plans and reports that get things done
- Fund-raising and sales letters that produce results
- Resumes and letters that lead to interviews
[Your name]
[Your title]
[Your business]
[Professional email and phone]
[Date]
[Recipient name]
[Recipient title]
[Recipient business]
[Address, if sending a formal printed letter]
Rank #2
- New
- Mint Condition
- Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
- Guaranteed packaging
- No quibbles returns
Dear [Recipient name or professional greeting],
I am writing to recommend [business name] for [specific purpose or service need]. I am [your role] at [your business], and I have worked with [business name] since [time period] in connection with [service, product, or project].
In our work together, [describe one specific, firsthand example of service quality, responsiveness, product performance, or problem-solving]. This mattered because [explain how the example relates to the recipient’s needs or decision]. [Add one other concise example or outcome, if relevant and supportable.]
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
Based on that experience, I recommend [business name] for [the recipient’s stated need]. Please contact me at [contact method] if you would like further information about our experience.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Title]
What makes the example credible
- It identifies the writer’s role and how the writer knows the business.
- It names the product, service, or work involved and gives a timeframe or context.
- It uses observable details rather than broad praise such as “excellent” without evidence.
- It connects the example to the recipient’s decision and makes a proportionate recommendation.
If sending by email, use a clear subject such as “Reference” or “Recommendation,” and keep the same relationship, evidence, and contact details. A printed letter can include the recipient’s name, title, business, and address when available.
Employment reference letter example: recommending an individual
Use this format when the reader is evaluating a person for a role. Focus on what you observed directly and connect a small number of relevant strengths to the prospective position.
[Your full name]
[Your title]
[Organization]
[Work email and phone]
[Date]
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute[Recipient name and title, if known]
Dear [Recipient name or professional greeting],
I am pleased to recommend [candidate name] for [position or opportunity]. I worked with [candidate name] as [your role or relationship] at [organization] for [time period or context]. [Candidate name] worked as [role] from [employment dates, if known].
One strength relevant to this opportunity is [skill]. I observed it when [specific project, responsibility, or situation], where [candidate name] [describe the person’s actions and a supportable result]. [Add a second relevant strength and example only if you can substantiate it.]
Based on my experience working with [candidate name], I recommend [him/her/them or candidate name] for [position or opportunity]. I can be reached at [professional contact method] if you need additional information.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Title and organization]
When you cannot provide a positive reference
Do not write praise that exceeds your experience or knowledge. Indeed advises writers who do not feel able to provide a positive reference to decline or suggest someone else who can assess the candidate more directly. Be truthful about what you observed and avoid implying knowledge of work you did not oversee.
How to adapt either example to the reader
- Name the decision. State whether the recipient is choosing a vendor or service, or evaluating a person for a role. Keep the recommendation focused on that purpose.
- Establish your basis for writing. Give your role, relationship, and the duration or context of your work with the business or candidate.
- Choose relevant evidence. For a business, describe the offering used and a concrete example of quality, responsiveness, or outcome. For a person, connect observed skills or achievements to the target role.
- Make a clear, proportionate recommendation. Say what you recommend and for what purpose; do not promise results or make claims beyond your knowledge.
- Provide a professional way to follow up. Include contact details you are comfortable sharing and close professionally.
Using a company title, letterhead, or work account
A recommendation written in a personal capacity does not automatically represent the writer’s employer. Organizational rules differ. The NIH Ethics Program, for example, describes limits for NIH staff using official titles or stationery in certain personal recommendations and notes that vendor recommendations can raise endorsement and preferential-treatment concerns. Those rules apply to NIH employees, not universally; check your own organization’s ethics and communications policies before using its letterhead, title, or work account to recommend a vendor. See the NIH Ethics Program guidance on endorsements.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
