Looking for tips for your annual report printing? Every year, businesses publish an annual report. In some states, you must file an annual report to keep your status as a corporation. If you’re dreading this yearly task, it’s time to simplify your routine. Here’s a guide to annual report printing that will help you get it done quickly and painlessly.
What Is Annual Report Printing?
It’s a complete, comprehensive summary of a company’s activities over the past year. It details what the company did, hiring changes, investment information, profits, and financial performance.
An annual report serves several purposes:
- Organizes your data into a single document.
- Informs shareholders of the company’s status.
- Keeps employees informed about the company.
- Provides information to customers and potential investors.
- Follows state regulations for corporations.
- Helps accountants understand the company’s finances.
Get Creative with Annual Report Design
Many people think of an annual report as a long, dry document filled with boring numbers that nobody in their right mind wants to read.
However, that isn’t always the case. Some small companies may file an annual report that’s only a page long. Even larger companies who file lengthy reports have found they can get creative with annual report printing. These corporations publish annual reports that are highly readable because they use graphics, infographics, and great-looking layouts.
No matter how long or short your annual report printing is, you can make it look professional and attractive.
Components of an Annual Report Printing
Before you get to annual report printing, start by understanding the components of the report.
Mission statement
All companies have a mission statement that informs their approach to work. Think about what you wanted to do with your business when you started it. What inspired you? What drives you to succeed every day? Put this in terms the average person can understand.
A good mission statement describes what you do and how it helps your community. It might be based on your values or on the unique talents you bring to the marketplace.
For instance, you might say of your mission: “To run a family business that creates financial success for us while staying true to our values of honesty and hard work.” If you’re a solo creative professional, you might say: “To create beautiful jewelry that is customized to each buyer, so that they feel their unique sense of style is celebrated.”
Facts and figures
These are the key part of an annual report printing. You must include detailed information about your expenses, profits, and current financial status. This doesn’t refer to your personal financial status. It’s strictly about the finances related to your business.
Where will you get this information? If you have a bookkeeper or accountant, you can ask them for all the pertinent facts. What were your profits, losses, and expenses over the past year? Ask for balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. Best of all, ask them to provide graphs or charts that explain the numbers in visual formats.
If you don’t have a bookkeeper and do your own books, you may have a tougher road. Did you take note throughout the year of your expenses and income? You may have to study your credit card receipts, business account balances, and other sources to get the facts you need. You can also use the information from your tax records.
Current structure
You should note changes in business structure or ownership here. Also, note any changes in staffing or in consulting companies you use.
Income and Expenses
Provide a brief description of where you made your money and where you spent money running your business. Note any unusual expenses or profits here.
Financial statement
The financial statement is the most important part of an annual report. Use this format for your statement:
Beginning balance for the year
- Operating budget that shows projects, customers, and other sources of business income
- Any contributions, donations, or bonuses that increased your normal income
- Where you distributed the money, including business costs, subscriptions, office rent, salaries, and other expenses.
- Current balance at year’s end
License information
If your work requires you to be licensed or certified, include the status of these licenses here.
Projections for the future
Do you expect to continue in business next year? If so, do you expect to get the same amount of business, more, or less? You don’t need extensive details, but a quick summary is helpful.
Photos and other illustrations
Make your annual report printing more readable with colorful charts, photos, and infographics. You can use online design sites like Canva, Venngage, or Miro to create infographics. With these sites, you just enter the topic, data, and other elements to your infographic template.
Annual Report Printing in 6 Steps
1. Gather the information for annual report printing
Start by putting together the information you want to include. You must collect all your financial reports, expense reports, business receipts, and related documents. Look up your original mission statement, and include it in the report. This is a good time to decide which pictures, graphs, and other illustrations you want to include, too.
2. Write the report
Once you gather the financial and other information, drafting the report won’t take long. You don’t need to be wordy or descriptive. Keep it brief and businesslike.
Divide the report into the following subheadings:
- Corporate Address
- Mission Statement
- Current Structure
- Revenues and Expenses
- Financial Statement
- Licensing and Certificates
- Future Projections
3. Design your report
Even the simplest report can look professional with the right annual report design. Start with your logo. Place it in a prominent place on the report. Choose a color scheme that matches your logo or your company colors. With online design software, it’s easy to get an attractive design by using customizable templates. These sites offer templates specifically for annual report design:
- Canva
- TemplateLab
- Template.net
- ClickUp
- Adobe InDesign
- Microsoft Word
4. Pump up the design with graphics
Add graphs, charts, and pictures to your annual report to make it more user-friendly. Remember to add your company logo.
Your report is serious, and it should be professional, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Use images where they fit, and use graphs and infographics to make numbers easier to understand.
5. Choose your paper
Select the right paper for your report. Glossy or coated paper is an excellent choice if you want a high-end look with bright colors. Uncoated paper has a more down-to-earth look and creates softer, more muted colors. Either one is right for annual report printing.
6. Get it printed
You can file a digital copy of your annual report, but it is helpful to have printed, bound copies on hand. You never know when you might meet investors or auditors who want to look it over. If you have employees, you may want a copy for each one. It’s also good to keep copies from past years, so you can track how well you’ve progressed from your starting point.
Annual Report Printing Tips
When you work with a template, be sure to follow these pointers before you create a print file. They’ll help your report look its best.
- Proofread first: Before you send it off, proofread your document carefully. Typos and grammatical errors don’t belong in a business report.
- Set the trim line: This is where the printer cuts the design during printing. The trim line should match the design you’ve chosen.
- Bleed area: Set a bleed area of 3mm outside each trim line. Your design and colors must extend over the bleed area.
- Color profile: Use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) when you prepare it for printing.
Professional Annual Report Printing for All Businesses
We hope you found this guide to annual report design and printing useful. When it’s time to print your own report, contact the experts at Dazzle Printing. We specialize in making businesses of all sizes look their best in print.
