Letter of Intent: Format, Meaning and 10 Samples
A letter of intent (LOI) is a short letter that says you plan to do something, such as join a company, buy goods, rent an office or work with another business, before the final contract or offer is signed. This page explains what a letter of intent is, shows the format, and gives 10 samples for job seekers, students and businesses.
Add your name, company and contact details once at the top, and the samples below fill in. Then change the terms, amounts and dates to match your deal or application.
Letter of Intent Sample for a Job
For someone who admires a particular company and wants to be considered there, even when no post is advertised.
Address
City
Phone | Email
Recipient Name
HR Manager
Company Name
City
I am writing to express my strong interest in joining Company Name in a job title role within your department or field team. I have followed your work in area for some time, and I would like to contribute to it.
I hold a qualification and have number of years years of experience in field. In my current role at current employer, I one achievement with a result, and I also second responsibility. I am skilled in skill 1, skill 2 and skill 3.
What draws me to Company Name is [one specific reason, such as your projects, customers or way of working]. I believe my experience in area fits well with what your team does, and I am keen to grow with a company that values quality.
I have attached my resume for your review. I would welcome a chance to meet and talk about how I can be useful to your team, and I am available at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Letter of Intent to Accept a Job Offer
For a candidate who has received an offer and wants to confirm in writing that they intend to join.
Recipient Name
HR Manager
Company Name
City
Thank you for the offer of the position of Designation in the Department department. I am pleased to confirm my intent to join Company Name.
As discussed, I will serve my notice period with my current employer and join on joining date. I have read the terms in the offer letter, including the role, location and pay of Amount per annum, and I accept them.
I will submit the documents listed in the offer letter on or before my joining date. Please let me know if anything else is needed from my side before then.
Phone
Letter of Intent for College Admission
For a student applying for a master's or diploma programme where the college asks for a letter of intent or statement of purpose.
Address
City
The Admissions Committee
College Name
City
I wish to apply for admission to the programme name at College Name for the coming session. I completed my degree with percentage or grade from university.
During my final year project on topic, I became interested in subject area. I then worked for number of years years as job title, where I what you did. This work showed me the gaps in my knowledge of subject, which your programme covers well.
After the course I plan to career goal. I am confident that the teaching and projects at College Name will prepare me for this, and I will give my full effort to the programme.
Phone
What Is a Letter of Intent and Its Format
A letter of intent is a written statement that you mean to go ahead with something, sent before the final agreement. Job seekers use it to show interest in a company. Businesses use it to set out the main terms of a deal, such as price, quantity and dates, so both sides agree on the basics before lawyers draft the contract.
Letter of intent format
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Sender details | Your name or company, address and contact details at the top. |
| Date | The date of the letter. |
| Recipient | Name, designation, organisation and city. |
| Subject | "Letter of intent for" followed by the job, deal or property named. |
| Opening | One line that states your intent clearly. |
| Main terms | For a job: your skills and why this company. For business: price, quantity, dates, payment and conditions. |
| Binding or not | For business letters, say which parts are not binding and that a formal agreement will follow. |
| Next step and sign-off | Ask for a reply, meeting or signed copy, then sign with name and designation. |
A job letter of intent is close to a cover letter, but it is often sent when no post is advertised. A business letter of intent uses the business letter layout.
Business Letter of Intent for Partnership
For a business owner proposing to work with another firm, before both sides sign a formal agreement.
Address
City
Recipient Name
Designation
Organisation Name
City
Following our meeting on meeting date, Company Name would like to state its intent to partner with Organisation Name for purpose of partnership.
The main points we discussed are: Company Name will provide what you provide, Organisation Name will provide what they provide, and revenue from joint projects will be shared in a ratio of ratio. The partnership would start on start date for an initial period of duration.
This letter shows our serious interest and is not a binding contract. Both sides will sign a detailed partnership agreement after review. Until then, we will keep all shared information confidential. Please sign and return a copy if these points match your understanding.
Designation
Company Name
Letter of Intent to Purchase Goods
For a buyer telling a supplier it plans to place a bulk order, so the supplier can plan stock and production.
Address
City
The Sales Manager
Organisation Name
City
We are pleased to inform you that Company Name intends to buy quantity units of Product Name from you, as per your quotation number quotation number dated quotation date.
The proposed terms are a unit price of Amount, delivery in number of lots lots starting delivery date at our City warehouse, and payment within number of days days of each delivery.
A formal purchase order will follow once our quality team approves the samples. This letter does not commit either party to the purchase until that order is issued. Kindly confirm that the price and delivery dates suit you.
Designation, Purchase Department
Company Name
Letter of Intent to Award a Contract
For a company telling a contractor or vendor that its bid has been selected, so work can be planned before the full contract is signed.
Address
City
Recipient Name
Organisation Name
City
We are glad to inform you that your bid dated bid date for name of work at our site name site has been accepted. Company Name intends to award this contract to Organisation Name for a total value of Amount.
The work is to be completed within completion period from the start date. Please send us your acceptance of this letter within number of days days, along with the performance guarantee asked for in the tender.
The formal contract with detailed terms will be signed after we receive your acceptance. You may begin site survey and planning, but no other work should start until the contract is signed.
Designation
Company Name
Letter of Intent to Lease Office Space
For a business that wants to rent a shop or office and wants the landlord to hold it while the lease is drafted.
Address
City
Recipient Name
property address
Company Name would like to lease your office space of about area sq ft at property address. We visited the premises on visit date and found it suitable for our team.
Our proposed terms are a monthly rent of monthly rent, a security deposit of deposit amount, a lock-in period of number of months months, and possession from start date. We would also need any repair or fit-out work to be done before we move in.
This letter is only a statement of our intent. The final terms will be set out in a formal lease agreement. We request you to keep the premises available for us until date while the agreement is prepared.
Designation
Phone
Letter of Intent to Buy Property
For a buyer who has agreed on a price for a flat or plot with the seller and wants to record the main terms before the sale agreement.
Address
City
Recipient Name
seller's address
I intend to buy your flat number flat number at property address for a total price of total price, as we discussed on meeting date.
I propose to pay a token amount of token amount when the sale agreement is signed, and the balance by date, partly through a home loan. The purchase will depend on a clear title report from my lawyer and approval of my loan.
This letter is not a sale agreement. I request you to share copies of the title papers and society NOC so that the agreement can be drafted soon.
Phone
Letter of Intent for Internship (Email)
For a college student asking a company for a summer or semester internship.
I am Your Name, a year of study student of course at College Name. I would like to intern with your team name team from start date to end date, as part of my course requirement.
In college I have worked on project or activity, and I am comfortable with skill 1 and skill 2. I want to see how this work is done in a real company, and your team's work on area interests me most.
My resume and a letter from my college are attached. I can join on any date in that period and am happy to do a short interview or task first.
Phone
Letter of Intent for a Teaching Job
For a trained teacher writing to a school to show interest in a teaching post.
Address
City
The Principal
School Name
City
I would like to be considered for the post of subject teacher for the middle and senior classes at School Name. I hold a degree and a B.Ed., and I have taught subject for number of years years at previous school.
I use activities, simple experiments and regular short tests to keep students involved. My Class 10 students have done well in the board exams, and I have also handled class teacher duties and inter-school events.
I would be glad to give a demo class at a time convenient to you. My resume and certificates are attached.
Phone
Tips for Writing a Letter of Intent
- State your intent in the first sentence. The reader should not have to search for it.
- For a job letter of intent, name one or two specific things about the company. A general letter looks copied.
- For business letters, list the main terms clearly: price, quantity, dates, payment and conditions.
- Write plainly which parts are not binding and that a formal agreement will follow.
- Do not promise anything in a letter of intent that you are not ready to commit to later.
- For property, leases and large contracts, ask a lawyer to read the letter before you sign it.
- Keep a signed copy of the letter and of the reply you receive.
Questions people ask
What is a letter of intent?
It is a letter that states that a person or company intends to do something, such as take a job, buy goods or sign a contract, before the final agreement is made. It sets out the main points both sides have discussed.
Is a letter of intent legally binding?
It usually is not meant to be binding, but this depends on its wording. Some parts, like confidentiality, can be written as binding. For large deals, get legal advice before signing, and state clearly in the letter which parts bind the parties.
What is the difference between a letter of intent and a cover letter?
A cover letter is sent with a resume for a specific, advertised job. A letter of intent shows interest in a company or field more generally, and is often sent when no job is advertised.
How long should a letter of intent be?
One page is enough for most cases. A job letter of intent is usually three or four short paragraphs, and a business one can be a little longer if it lists terms.
Can a company withdraw a letter of intent?
Often yes, since most letters of intent are not final contracts, but it depends on the terms written in the letter. If you have spent money relying on the letter, take legal advice.
Every letter on this page is written and checked by our team. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write.
Other letters you may need
- Cover letter9 samples
- Job application letter10 samples
- Offer letter11 samples
- Business letter11 samples
- Joining letter11 samples
- Formal letter format9 samples