A Cover That Frames a Business Case Like an Approval Form
A business case asks decision makers to say yes, so the cover should suggest order and clear logic. This design uses an orange frame, bold charcoal diagonal stripes in the corners and a clipboard icon with ticked boxes above the title. It suits project managers, analysts, finance teams and consultants who prepare investment cases, change requests and funding applications.
Orange Frame and Charcoal Stripes
The page is 8.5 x 11 inches, portrait, one page. A thick orange line outlines a large rectangle that holds the title. Wide charcoal stripes cut across the top left and the lower right, passing outside the frame. The overlap feels dynamic yet controlled. All shapes are graphics and stay as designed.
The Checklist Icon
Above the title, an icon shows a clipboard with a check mark and a diagram of two ticked boxes and one empty one. It hints at options appraised and a choice still to make. The icon is a picture. Replace it if you prefer, or keep it, since it suits this document type well.
BUSINESS CASE REPORT and the Date
The title, BUSINESS CASE REPORT, is set in tall black condensed capitals at the right. Above it, the date reads DECEMBER, 2027, which is a sample. Change it to the date of your submission. Below the title is a short paragraph of placeholder text, which you can use as a one sentence statement of the decision requested.
Prepared By Block
Under the frame, PREPARED BY: shows James Mikron with a job title in orange, a company placeholder, an address, two phone numbers and an email. Replace the sample with your own details. The cover does not have a Prepared For label, so add a text box if the case is addressed to a named committee or sponsor.
What a Business Case Usually Contains
- The problem or opportunity in one paragraph.
- Options considered, including doing nothing.
- Costs, benefits and risks for each option.
- The recommended option with reasons.
- Timeline, resources and the decision needed.
Editing and Printing for the Business Case Cover
All text can be edited and resized. The paragraph under the title is useful for the decision requested, for example Approval of 250,000 for a new warehouse system. Print on 120 gsm paper, or send as a PDF with a short email.
Numbers a Business Case Cannot Do Without
The cover is only the entry. Inside, readers look for three figures: the total cost, the expected benefit and the payback period. Put them in a small box on the summary page. If the numbers rest on assumptions, list the two or three that matter most and say how sure you are about each.
Wording the Decision Request
End the first page with a single sentence that states what you want, for example Approve a budget of 120,000 to replace the booking system by June. Readers often decide on page one, and a plain request stops them hunting through pages for the point.
Consider the business report cover page. Similar designs include the strategic business plan cover. Compare it with the financial report cover. Every business case style alternative sits in business and report cover pages.
