How to End a Business Presentation – 12 Top Tips

How do you end a business presentation?  What are the best ways to conclude a presentation? What do you need to know about finishing a presentation with style?

Meet the Author: Benjamin Ball

Ben is the founder of Benjamin Ball Associates and leads the presentation coaching and pitch deck creation teams. Formerly a corporate financier in the City of London, for 20+ years he’s helped businesses win with better pitches and presentations, particularly investor pitches. He is a regular speaker and a guest lecturer at Columbia Business School and UCL London.  Follow Ben on LinkedIn or visit the contact page. 

Why is the End of Your Presentation Important?

To end a presentation well is just as important as starting it well. A strong conclusion leaves your audience with a clear understanding of your message and, ideally, a desire to take action.

The conclusion of your presentation is your last chance to make a strong impression and ensure your key message resonates with your audience. To achieve this, you need to summarise your main points, leave the audience with key takeaways, and create a moment that sticks in their minds long after the presentation ends.

How to End a Business Presentation With Impact

You should have two distinctive sections to the end of your presentation.  

1. Your summary or recap
2. Your conclusion

These two sections both play an important role in getting your messages across.

Your Summary: At its name implies, your summary does not introduce new ideas.  Instead, it reinforces what people have already heard.   This can be a short punchy recap or restatement of your key points.

For example:  “To wrap up, we’ve discussed how our new marketing strategy will increase customer engagement, reduce churn, and boost revenue by 15% over the next year.”

Your Conclusion: The conclusion is what you leave your audience with.  It will probably have an emotional element to it – i.e. you will not rely on a purely logical argument.  Outlined below are a number of tried and tested ways you can end your next presentation.

See examples of how to end your business presentation powerfully.

Let’s review each of these tips in more detail:

1. Never End Your Presentation With a Q&A Session

Ending with a q&a session is a big mistake.  Why?  Because if you end with questions then the last thing people remember is that you were not brilliant at answering some obscure question.  Instead, if you have a Q&A towards the end, then make sure you have another summary and conclusion at the very end, so you control the final words.

For example:  “After those questions, let me recap…..”

2. Summarise Key Points Before the End

Recap your main message and key points to reinforce what you’ve discussed. This helps the audience members leave with a clear takeaway. By briefly summarising your presentation, you ensure the audience remembers the most important information.Then you are free to move onto your emotional conclusion.

For example:

“To wrap up, we’ve discussed how our new marketing strategy will increase customer engagement, reduce churn, and boost revenue by 15% over the next year.”

3. Create an Impactful Conclusion

A good conclusion should be concise, compelling, and clear. First, recap your main points to ensure your audience remembers the most important aspects of your presentation. This kind of end delivers clarity while reinforcing your key takeaways.

A powerful close which combines a summary and a conclusion might sound like this:

“To summarise, our solution will streamline your operations, save 20% on costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. These are the reasons why we’re excited to work with you on this project.”

Why Pick Benjamin Ball Associates for Your Coaching

At Benjamin Ball Associates, we’ve been coaching business people to improve their business communication skills for over 15 years.  Our coaching is fast and effective.  We work with individuals and with companies, one-to-one and in groups.  Call us today to learn more.

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4. End with a Call to Action

Tell your audience what you want them to do next. Whether it’s approving a proposal, signing a contract, or scheduling a follow-up meeting, a clear call to action gives direction. A direct and actionable closing motivates your audience to take the next step.

For example:

“We believe this project is a perfect fit for your company’s growth strategy. Let’s schedule a meeting next week to discuss implementation details.”

5. Use a rhetorical question or a quote

Another powerful way to end a business presentation is to ask rhetorical questions or use a powerful quote that resonates with your topic. This approach inspires reflection and connects emotionally with your audience.

 For example, in a presentation about leadership, you might end with: “How will you ensure your team thrives in the next decade? As Simon Sinek said, ‘Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.’”

6. Use a Memorable Closing Statement

A strong closing statement can make your presentation unforgettable. This could be a relevant quote, a bold prediction, or a thought-provoking question. Memorable statements give your audience something to reflect on after the presentation ends.

For instance:

“As Steve Jobs once said, ‘Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat.’ With this plan, we’re turning change into opportunity for our company.”

7. Invite Questions

Encouraging questions can foster engagement and show your openness to feedback. A polite invitation such as, “I’d be happy to answer any questions you have before we close,” creates an opportunity for dialogue and clarification.

Tip: Remember, never end with a Q&A session (see 1 above)

8. Loop Back to Something You Said at the Start

One of the best ways to end a business presentation on a high note is by tying your conclusion back to your opening statement. For instance, if you began with a personal anecdote or a bold claim, revisit it in your final moments to give your presentation a sense of completion. This approach reinforces your core message while leaving a lasting impact.

For example: “At the start, I shared how our process transformed one client’s business. Now, as you’ve seen through our data and case studies, the same approach can transform yours.”  

9. Leave a Lasting Impression

To make your presentation truly memorable when you end a business presentation, consider finishing with a personal anecdote, an inspirational quote, or even a challenge to the audience.

For example, if you’re speaking to business owners, you might end a business presentation with:

“We’ve explored how this strategy can unlock growth and efficiency. Now, the question is, are you ready to take the next step for your business?”

10. End on a Positive Note

End your business presentation with enthusiasm and optimism. Positivity helps leave a lasting impression and shows confidence in your ideas.

For example:

“We’re excited to move forward and make these ideas a reality together. Thank you for your time and trust.”

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11. Use a Closing Slide

When you end a business presentation, if you’re using visual aids or a PowerPoint presentation, your final slide is crucial. It should summarise your main ideas or include a compelling visual with your contact details.

Professional tip:  never end a business presentation with a slide saying “Q&A” or “Questions” or “Thank you.”

Instead, summarise in a few words what you’d like the audience to take away.

12. Combine a Strong End with a Strong Performance 

Finally, remember that your body language and your voice both play a crucial role in leaving a strong impression when you end a business presentation. Stand confidently, make eye contact, and deliver your closing lines with conviction. A polished ending not only ensures an effective presentation but also sets the stage for your next presentation.

Example: Closing a Sales Pitch

Let’s say you’re pitching a new software product to a potential client. This approach combines a recap, a call to action, and an invitation for questions, ensuring a polished finish.

“In summary, our software will streamline your operations, reduce costs by 20%, and give your team more time to focus on strategic goals. If this sounds like the right solution for your business, let’s set up a trial next week. Thank you for your time, and I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.”

A well-structured conclusion doesn’t just mark the end of a presentation—it sets the tone for what happens next. Whether you’re securing a deal, delivering a project update, or inspiring a team, the way you close can make all the difference.

Creating a great end to your presentation is just part of what makes a powerful and effective business presentation.  

If you’d like to improve your presentation skills and build important business skills to last a lifetime, learn how we can help.  

Our presentation coaching sessions can help you build lasting skills.  We can help you on a particular presentation, or coach you to build lasting skills.  

How to improve your presentation skills – quickly

These presenting tips and techniques will definitely help you become a better presenter, but they are just the start. If you want to accelerate your journey to improve your business presentation skills, please get in touch.

We’d be happy to show you how our intensive presentation coaching can transform the impact you make.

We’ll help you polish what you say, how you say it and how you feel about saying it.  You’ll end up clear, confident and compelling.

Speak to Louise on +44 20 7018 0922 or email info@benjaminball.com to transform your speeches, pitches and presentations.

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For 15+ years we’ve been the trusted choice for leading businesses and executives throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East. We’ll help you improve corporate presentations through presentation coaching, public speaking training and expert advice on pitching to investors.

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Speak to Louise on +44 20 7018 0922 or email info@benjaminball.com to transform your speeches, pitches and presentations.

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FAQ: How to End a Presentation

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