Business Proposal Templates
Business proposals vary in how they’re structured, but there are some key aspects to keep in mind. For one, businesses expect to see certain categories in a proposal.
It’s important to include a clear, concise executive summary that sells your business and the services you offer. A well-written proposal will hold your buyer’s attention and help you close the deal.
Executive Summary
A great business proposal starts with an executive summary that clearly and quickly outlines the problem your prospect is facing, identifies how you can solve it, and provides a call to action. This template from ThinkBig does a great job of hitting all the marks, focusing on the client with an opener that sets the tone and then clearly identifying what their project is about and why you are best suited for it.
This section can take the form of a separate document, an opening paragraph in your proposal, or even a full-page summary memo. Some suggest that this should come before the rest of the proposal, while others say it’s a good idea to write it last so you have a chance to focus on how your solution will improve the client’s business – positive outcomes and benefits are more important than features.
Whether you choose to write the executive summary before or after the rest of your proposal, it’s essential that you be consistent in how your template is structured and what information you include. The executive summary should only feature the most important elements of your proposal. Don’t try to fit in too much or you will risk overwhelming your reader. Also, be sure to use the same formatting and fonts throughout your proposal. Keeping everything consistent and neat will make your proposal look professional and organized.
Problem and Solution
Identifying your client’s problem and providing a solution is the main purpose of a business proposal. Often, this starts with an executive summary that introduces your company and gives your prospective client insight into the “why” behind what you do. This is followed by the problem and solution section where you outline your proposed solutions to their problems. You can also use this section to demonstrate your qualifications and why you are the best choice for the project.
You can also include a table of contents in the middle of your proposal to provide additional ways to reference different sections and highlight important parts of your proposal. This is especially helpful if your proposal is long and may be read by multiple people.
A business proposal templates can be as long or short as you want it to be, but it is important to include all of the standard information that your clients need to know. This includes an introduction, a summary, a proposal timeline, pricing and billing, legal information, terms and conditions, and a confirmation page where your client can sign the proposal electronically or on paper. With Bit, you can create your business proposals without distractions and quickly document the information that your clients need to know. You can then share these documents in a live state so that your clients always receive the most up-to-date version of the proposal.
Pricing
A client will want to know what they’re getting for their money. Include a pricing table within your business proposal to show your buyer that you can provide them with multiple options. However, you don’t want to scare them off with a high estimate. Keep your pricing in line with your industry standards but also be flexible for a potential client who’s trying to make a decision.
You might be tempted to put too much information on one page for your business proposal, but remember that a buyer’s attention is limited. Your proposal should communicate everything you need to in a short amount of time. If you do include more than a few pages, then it’s best to make sure your business proposal template is well-organized and includes clear, concise, and easy-to-read text.
This is especially true for the title page of your business proposal, as it’s the first thing your client will see. A title page should convey a couple of important pieces of information: the name of your proposal, your company’s logo, and your contact details. You may also add an appendix to the proposal if you need to present additional information about your solution such as figures, statistics, illustrations, or information about your team. This can be inserted into your business proposal alongside the main content without disrupting the flow of your writing.
Timeline
A business proposal timeline is a useful tool for your project team to keep everyone on track. It shows the key milestones and dates of a project, helping the team understand where they stand in relation to the target completion date. It also enables managers to identify and address any potential issues that may arise.
Gantt charts are a popular choice for creating business proposal timelines. They’re easy to read and allow for flexible customization. However, some people have a love-hate relationship with them. Some think they’re difficult to work with, while others say they provide a clear overview of the project schedule and can help avoid over-extending the project budget.
The key to writing a successful business proposal is clearly identifying your prospect’s problem and providing a solution. The bold design in this business proposal template clearly outlines the prospect’s problem and offers a ray of hope – your solution. This creates a sense of urgency in the prospect and will drive them to find out more about your product or service.
Regardless of what industry you’re in, you can use these business proposal templates to quickly complete your next RFP response. These professionally designed templates provide a roadmap for success and can be customized to align with your company’s brand guidelines and project requirements. With ClickUp, you can even create a custom proposal cover and include a table of contents to make it easier for your prospects to navigate your proposal.