We give an approach to exponential stability within the framework of evolutionary equations due to Picard [Math. Methods Appl. Sci. 32(14) (2009), 1768–1803]. We derive sufficient conditions for exponential stability in terms of the material law operator which is defined via an analytic and bounded operator-valued function and give an estimate for the expected decay rate. The results are illustrated by three examples: differential-algebraic equations, partial differential equations with finite delay and parabolic integro-differential equations.