Adapted from the Broadway musical comedy, this is the story of J. Pierpont Finch, a young but bright window-cleaner who decides to take on the corporate world.

Guided by a success manual, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, his first ploy lands him a job in the mailroom of the World Wide Wicket Company.

Following each suggestion in the book, Finch quickly connives his way through a series of advancements and promotions until he becomes a junior executive. Rosemary, a secretary, helps Finch in his climb up the corporate ladder, and the two soon fall for each other. Finch's meteoric rise continues until he is finally made the head of advertising and eventually confronts the big boss himself, J.B. Biggley. By pretending to be a graduate of the same college as Biggley, Finch lands a job as the company’s advertising manager but of course, he knows nothing about advertising

Can Finch rise to the top or will he go down in flames?