How to write business thank you notes

There are many occasions where business thank you notes can be adequate. You can send them to somebody who helped you, to a client who sent you a referral or to thank a potential employer for the time they spent interviewing you. Business thank you letters can be send on its own, or as an introduction to thank you gifts.

What to say

Thank you cards wording
Business thank you notes are intended to be received on a corporate environment, and often by business relations such as a provider or a client, but there's no formal template that you should use. If you are unsure about what to write in a thank you card you should start with introducing yourself and the reasons why you are sending that letter. Make it brief and formal, but add your personal touch so it doesn't look like an automated gesture. Addressing
A business thank you card should be sent on an envelope addressed to the person it is meant to by name and position. You can include your business card if you don't personally know the person yet. It is advisable to use your company letterhead and sign the letter with your full name and position, and your hand written signature. You should address the person receiving it on the letter using either their name or, on more formal settings, their title and surname.

Other considerations

Should you send thank you presents?
You should decide if thank you presents are suitable given the reason why you are thankful. Sending flowers to somebody because they interviewed you for a job may be too much, but a bottle of wine or chocolates to somebody who sent you a referral is a common practice on many industries. Type of paper and printing
Use good quality paper and printing, even if that means having to find a third party printing service. It is right to look for inspiration on websites dedicated to thank you cards, since they have lots of thank you design examples.
Final word
However, sending a commercial, pre-printed business thank you card is often considered a social faux-pass and should be avoided. Business thank you notes should be individually crafted and fit to both the person and the reason you are thankful for.