How to End a Business Letter: Sign-offs, Signatures, and Postscripts

The end of a business letter does more than the end of a paragraph. It sets the recipient's last impression, signals the nature of the relationship, and either invites or closes off a reply. The default in modern American business writing is "Sincerely," which is appropriate in nearly any formal context and never reads as wrong. "Best," and "Best regards," are the standard alternatives when the relationship is established but still professional. "Warm regards," softens the tone slightly and works well for mentors, long-time clients, and warm personal-business contacts. "Cheers," is informal and reads as more British than American; use it sparingly in U.S. contexts and not at all in formal letters.

The full signature block follows the sign-off and contains your typed name, title, organization, and contact information. On a printed letter, leave four blank lines between the sign-off and your typed name to allow space for a wet signature. On an emailed PDF, an inserted image of your signature is acceptable in any context where the letter has weight (an offer, a contract, a notice). For ordinary correspondence, a typed name and title is sufficient. For a more granular breakdown of the conventions discussed here, see the companion professional drafting reference we maintain alongside this guide. Practitioners who write in regulated industries may also find our compliance-aware editorial checklist a useful next step.

Two small habits separate competent letter-closers from sloppy ones. First, match the formality of the sign-off to the formality of the salutation: "Dear Dr. Patel" deserves "Sincerely," not "Cheers." Second, resist the urge to add a postscript. The P.S. line was once a powerful tool of direct-mail marketing, and it is still useful in narrow promotional contexts, but in everyday business correspondence it almost always reads as an afterthought that should have been folded into the body. If a point is worth making, make it in the letter; if it isn't, leave it off.