When it comes to landing new customers, securing partnerships and funding and closing more deals, a well-crafted business proposal can be your silver bullet.
It's no longer enough to offer quality products and services. You need a compelling business proposal that makes a solid case for your product, attracts clients' attention and sways purchase decisions in your favor.
But how do you write a proposal that wins the hearts and minds of your potential client? What information and tools do you need? What should be in a business proposal?
This article has everything you need to know about writing a business proposal. We’ve included valuable tips and ready-made templates to help you get started.
Here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit job proposal templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:
A business proposal is a document sent to prospects persuading them to buy your products or services. It is mostly used by marketers, businesspeople and B2B and B2C companies to secure contracts and convince potential clients, investors, partners, or stakeholders to invest in or support a business idea.
You can send a business proposal in response to a client's request. Better yet, you can share it as a proposed solution to attract your client's attention.
Often, business proposals precede any business agreement and include details such as:
Take a look at these 20 proposal examples to get an idea of what yours can look like. Also, join Mike on this video from our YouTube channel to learn more about proposal design tips and templates. Don’t forget to subscribe and get notified of new videos.
The common myth is that business proposals and business plans are interchangeable. The thing is, both tools are important for growing your business. Yet, they play different roles.
Business proposals help you pitch your product and service to prospective customers. On the flip side, business plans lay a roadmap for your business and help attract investors and partners. They differ from each other by purpose, content and structure.
There are generally two main categories of business proposals: unsolicited and solicited.
Solicited business proposals are sent in response to a client's request for a proposal. It may be a request for proposal (RFP), request for information (RFI) or request for quotation (RFQ).
The request outlines the clients' needs and expectations and the evaluation criteria used to select the vendors or service providers.
A solicited business proposal is usually an easier sell for marketers. That’s because the client is already sold on making the purchase or using the service. At this point, the customer is evaluating potential vendors or service providers to get the best value or deal.
This type of business proposal emanates from informal meetings and verbal discussions with clients. Since there's no formal or official request for a proposal from the client, you may have little information to work with.
Nevertheless, you'd have to thoroughly research the organization's unique needs to win the client over.
These are proposals sent to prospects who haven't requested one. It’s more about pitching your business when they haven’t requested a proposal.
An excellent example of this proposal type is a cold email, sales brochure or marketing flyer. This type of marketing content is often generic. And even though it introduces your solution, it may not align with the client's unique requirements.
Here’s how to make prospects pay attention to your unsolicited business proposal:
A winning business proposal should include these key elements
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Your title page is the first thing your client will see when they open your proposal. Aim to make it appealing, professional and engaging as it sets the tone for further engagement.
The title page should contain the following information:
The title page below gives prospective customers a sneak peek into what the proposal is about. Aim to make it aesthetically appealing, as it helps you leave a strong first impression.
Proposals typically contain a lot of information. So, adding a table of contents helps you achieve these three things:
If you're going to send your proposal online, make your table of contents clickable. This will enable your audience to jump to the different sections with a single click.
This business proposal example shows how to craft a table of contents with a beautiful and interactive layout.
The executive summary is the ticket to getting a prospect interested in your proposal. Why's that? Clients receive lots of proposals and may not have time to read the entire content.,
Hence, writing a stellar executive summary can hook them in and nudge them to read on.
It's a summary of the entire business proposal. And you'll typically find it in sales enablement content and other business documents like reports, sales and marketing plans, surveys and more.
At a glance, your readers should get a bird's eye view of:
This business proposal template below has a brief executive summary. It highlights what the company does, the proposed services, costs and timeline.
The company background is a key aspect of the business proposal introduction. This is where you provide detailed information about your company. You should discuss your company's history, vision, mission and key staff here.
Be sure to include pictures and profiles of the executives and key personnel with experience related to your proposal. Showcase milestones, awards and industry recognition to build credibility and boost prospects' confidence in your company.
Notice how the template below offers elaborate information about the company.
This section should outline your prospect's needs, problems and pain points. To drive a client's interest or develop a sense of urgency, explain the issues your client is facing and how they impact their business.
Writing a compelling problem statement does these three things:
But how do you identify your client's needs? The simple answer is, that you have to do your homework. Research your client's business and study other companies in their niche and industry trends.
Your business proposal aims to help the prospect solve their problems. Hence, this section should address how you intend to achieve that.
Let your clients know the strategy and methods you'll use, why you chose that approach, deliverables and expected outcome.
Avoid making your proposed solution sound generic. Instead, customize it to your client's needs. Above all, paint a mental picture of how their business will turn out after implementing your solution.
At this point, you should translate your proposed solution into an action plan. Start by elaborating on the areas you'll cover during the project execution.
Check that the scope of work is relevant to the potential client's statement of needs or problems. You should also try to avoid or translate industry jargon that the reader may not understand.
This section should include an estimated timeline of when the project will start and finish and how long it will take. We recommend presenting the project schedule, milestones, timeline and deliverables in a visually appealing way.
Check out the business proposal template below to get creative inspiration.
This page should convince prospects that you're the best person or company for the job. Talk about your capabilities, experience, expertise and your team's qualifications. Also, reiterate why they should trust you to deliver.
Your job is to dispel any iota of doubt and boost the client's trust in your brand. You can include social proof like testimonials, reviews, case studies and client success stories. Also, mention relevant credentials, recognition or awards to demonstrate your authority.
Feel free to include a portfolio of the work you've done before or a list of clients you've served.
This section should outline your pricing, payment schedule and payment terms. Be sure to display the line items, the incremental cost and the total fee. You can also include a price per unit rate or a fixed monthly or hourly rate.
We recommend providing clients with options or breaking your fee into project stages or milestones. That way, the client knows his options and what he's paying for.
Not sure how to achieve this? Use an interactive pricing comparison table that automatically adjusts when the client selects the preferred product, service or plan.
Use this section to indicate when you'll require payment upfront, before or after each milestone or after project completion. Also, specify whether any portion of the payment is refundable in the event of an unforeseen event.
Look at how the business proposal template below elaborates on the budget and pricing information.
Thank the reader for considering your business. Next, summarize your proposal in this section and get the client in the mood to hire your company or purchase your solution.
Highlight the key points of your business proposal. Plus, reiterate your value proposition and why the client should choose you.
Mention that you're available for further discussion on your proposal. Add phone numbers, email and office address to enable your prospects to reach you.
This is where you outline every legal aspect of the proposed business relationship. This part has to be as clear as possible to avoid disputes or legal issues.
If you're unsure what to include in your proposal, check with your lawyer or legal team. They'll highlight the legalities, confidentiality agreements and elements of a working contract.
The template below is an excellent example of how to outline your terms and conditions.
Include a small section at the end of your proposal where both parties (you and the client) can sign off if they agree to the terms of your proposal. You can include your contact details here and prompt the client to contact you if they have any questions or concerns.
The appendix section is perfect if you have visuals, tables or other content you've cited in your content. For instance, let's say you mentioned products, materials and other tangible items you plan to use during the project. In that case, you can include the product catalog in the appendix section.
With Visme's wide range of proposal templates and easy-to-use editor, creating a professional business proposal is a breeze.
Hear what one of our customers has to say about Visme:
“Visme is something that I would highly recommend. It made us look a lot better in our clients’ eyes because it's something that's visually effective as a marketing tool.”
"With Visme, instead of days, a page would take us anywhere from 4-8 hours on a duplicate or templated process and even up to 72 hours for projects with unique needs and with immense input and back and forth on the design process.”
Brad Wills, Sourcing Executive at IBM's Recruitment Processing Outsourcing (RPO)! Read the full case study.
Check out these 28 business proposal examples professionally designed for almost every kind of business.
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Looking for a quick and concise way to communicate the value and specifics of your IT service offering to potential clients or stakeholders? This service proposal template is your sure bet.
The minimalist design gives the plan a modern look and creates a powerful visual impact. Leverage the space to detail your executive summary, description of services, scope of work and lots more.
And if you’re tight on time, you can rely on Visme's AI document generator for instant proposal creation. Simply input your prompt, provide context, choose your preferred design and witness the tool swiftly generate your initial draft within seconds.
Check out how the AI document generator tool works here.
This comprehensive template is your ultimate tool to pitch your marketing agency's services and secure deals effortlessly.
Its sleek design, captivating visuals and icons ensure an attractive presentation. You can easily spotlight the problems you’ll address, solutions, project roadmap, services, the team, client testimonials and more.
Your brand identity conveys professionalism and makes your proposal more memorable to potential clients. To showcase your brand identity, ensure your proposal is branded using Visme's brand wizard. Simply input your web URL to automatically incorporate design elements from your website and access personalized, branded templates.
This template offers a framework to showcase your clinical services expertise and present your unique value proposition with clarity. The template offers dedicated sections for services, product breakdowns, certifications, locations and more.
Against a white backdrop, various shades of blue harmoniously blend to symbolize the beauty of healthcare and increase your proposal’s aesthetic appeal. The template also features captivating visuals, icons and an engaging layout.
Convert your product proposal into an engaging page-turner using Visme's flipbook effect. This allows your audience to virtually flip through pages, mimicking a real document experience.
Seeking investment or partnerships for your groundbreaking online grocery delivery service? This online delivery service proposal template is your silver bullet.
The striking blend of lemon, blue and white gives it a great visual appeal. Each page also boasts engaging culinary visuals, icons and a refined layout that complements the content.
With detailed market analysis, innovative strategies and detailed financial projections, this template helps you present a compelling case. The best part is that the template design is fully customizable to suit any product or brand.
With our interactive features like hover effects or clickable pop-ups, you can provide more information, such as technical details or testimonials, without overwhelming the reader.
Utilize this concise yet impactful one pager proposal to secure funding for your consumer product venture. This template allows you to distill your product's essence, market potential and competitive edge into a compelling one-page format.
It features captivating visuals, icons and harmonious color combinations, delivering a compelling presentation.
Personalize the template with your text, images, brand elements and more. You can streamline editing using Visme's dynamic fields, which eliminate the need to manually enter key information when customizing it for other clients.
Just create custom fields like company name, address, contact details and other information and automatically fill in the relevant fields with a single click.
RELATED: 18 Stunning One-Pager Templates: How to Use Them & Best Practices
Looking for a way to capture potential clients' attention and secure software development projects? Start with this mobile game development proposal template. Its vibrant purple, orange and white scheme, complemented by compelling visuals and bold icons ensures your proposal stands out.
The template features sections to emphasize critical elements like introductions, overviews, goals, why to choose your services, action plans and more.
You can add more pages and customize the visuals, icons and layout to suit your brand’s needs.
Make a bold impression on your prospective software clients with this innovative proposal template.
The proposal boasts a captivating cover page, vibrant colors and stunning 3D visuals. It's structured with sections covering company overview, problem analysis, proposed solutions, delivery timelines and more.
Struggling with what to write in different sections? Leverage Visme’s AI writer for your initial draft. Simply provide instructions and the tool will generate well-written content matching your desired style and tone. Additionally, you can use this AI to refine, summarize, or edit your content effortlessly.
Present your physical products to potential clients or investors effortlessly with this stylish proposal template.
This template comes with high-resolution stock photos, appealing vector icons and data widgets. It includes sections highlighting the advantages of your service, an overview of available models, pricing options and testimonials from satisfied customers.
Although this template was designed for water sports products, it can be customized for any brand or product.
If you want to change the visuals, explore Visme's extensive library of premium stock photos to find what suits your needs.
Learn more about how to create a product proposal in this complete guide.
If you’re in search of a finance consultancy partnership proposal template that's straightforward and professional, then this proposal fits the bill. It features a clean, authoritative design using a white and green color palette.
All sections are neatly organized to present your firm's background, partnership model, client benefits, partner responsibilities and more. Leverage Visme analytics to track how your proposal is performing. You can easily monitor engagement metrics such as unique visits, average viewing time, duration, IP addresses and other analytics.
Create impactful collaborations to elevate your lifestyle brand with this exquisite proposal. Its vibrant colors, dynamic layout and striking visuals make it iconic. The template provides a clear structure to showcase your brand's mission, project scope, responsibilities, terms and more.
Utilize Visme's intuitive editor to effortlessly customize colors, fonts and other elements of this template to fit your brand identity.
Attract potential partners to your software brand using this well-structured collaboration proposal template. Each page employs a logical hierarchy in typefaces, fonts and elements to ensure an engaging reading experience.
You can highlight crucial aspects such as project objectives, payment app features, statistics and more with meticulous detail.
Visme’s data visualization tool will provide a clear and detailed presentation of statistics and figures in this proposal. You can access an extensive array of charts, graphs, maps, widgets and more from Visme’s library.
If you’re eager to team up with impactful organizations and expand your brand's reach while making a difference, this template is your blueprint.
With a sleek and modern design, a soothing color palette and exciting visuals, it’s sure to attract the reader's attention.
This template encompasses all essential sections to showcase your offerings, including a summary, project overview, plan, co-branding prospects, benefits, terms and beyond.
To get feedback about your proposal from coworkers quickly, you can invite them to your Visme project using Visme’s collaborative features. The workflow management tool also allows you to assign roles, establish deadlines and streamline approval processes effortlessly—all in one place.
Read this guide to learn more about how to create an effective partnership proposal.
Attract prospective investors and secure funding for your culinary venture using this sophisticated investment proposal template.
Its combination of vibrant color schemes, icons and captivating images creates an impression of a refined restaurant.
Utilize its various sections to highlight your executive summary, target audience, competitive edge, business model, financial projections, SWOT analysis and other crucial details.
The template also incorporates charts to depict your target audience and financial projections. Visme enables you to seamlessly link real-time data from 3rd-party apps like Excel or Google Sheets and import tables, charts and graphs into your projects.
Showcase your project's potential to investors with this sleek investment template. Its elegant design incorporates a striking blend of black and yellow, exuding professionalism.
The template includes sections such as executive summary, project goal, target community, use of funds, assessments and more.
Customize this template by using images or videos to showcase your prior projects. This visual showcase will offer investors a glimpse of your work, significantly increasing your chances of winning.
Position your company as a trusted business for real estate investments with this stunning template. The layout, colors and captivating real estate imagery create a compelling visual narrative.
The template captures everything you need to show investors that you’ve done your homework. It includes an executive summary, overview, gallery, risk assessment, investment rationale and more. You can also include video testimonials of prior clients to gain potential investors’ confidence.
Each page of this document can be easily customized using Visme's user-friendly drag-and-drop editor.
Starting a business? Utilize this startup investment proposal to highlight your idea's potential and leave a lasting impact on investors. The distinctive color scheme of yellow, white and navy blue blends to evoke a sense of innovation.
It includes clear sections to highlight your executive summary, market analysis, competitive advantage, business model and more.
In addition to your proposal, you can use Visme’s presenter studio to record your elevator pitch and share it with potential investors. This adds a personal touch and helps you engage busy executives.
Check out this guide to learn more about creating an investment proposal.
Win client's trust to hire your consulting services with this cutting-edge template proposal.
This design boasts a sleek color scheme of grays and blacks contrasted with a pristine white background, ensuring an attention-grabbing visual. It encompasses all crucial aspects, from an executive summary to project timelines, pricing models and compelling testimonials, to effectively showcase your expertise to potential clients.
You can link the icons, objects or text to a website or document for seamless navigation and engagement using interactive links.
Craft a compelling pitch for your IT consulting service with this detailed consulting proposal template. It provides a structured framework to articulate your goals, expertise, services, recommendations and project details effectively.
Packed with captivating visuals, refined fonts, modern design elements and versatile layouts, this template ensures your proposal shines among competitors.
Personalize it to match your company's processes by incorporating text, applying your branding and expanding or adapting sections as needed.
Whether you're an established social media agency or a freelancer looking to land your next big client, use this template to confidently pitch your social media consulting services.
With its sophisticated mix of blue and white hues, complemented by well-organized layouts and interactive icons, this template adds a touch of elegance to your presentation.
It covers crucial areas such as market analysis, personalized strategies, content planning and measurable objectives to craft a persuasive argument.
Make this template yours by swapping out the placeholder text and adjusting the visual elements until you're satisfied with the look and feel.
Secure lucrative marketing projects confidently with this modern consultant proposal template. Its contemporary layout, crisp imagery and fusion of vibrant color themes project a high level of professionalism.
This template provides comprehensive coverage for essential aspects like the executive summary, "why choose us" section, project scope, deliverables, timeline, budget and more.
Lacking visuals for your projects? Utilize Visme's AI image generator to create relevant, high-quality, original images that breathe life into your design. Simply type in your prompts to generate professional-grade photos, paintings, pencil drawings, 3D graphics, icons, abstract art and more in seconds.
You’ll require a standout proposal to win clients in a highly competitive web development industry. This sleek proposal can be your game-changer.
With an exquisite design layout, vector icons and a vibrant color scheme blending yellow, blue and white, this proposal immediately captures attention. The sections within cover the project overview, portfolio, website structure, timeline, budget breakdowns and more.
If you need to enhance your existing images and give them a professional look, you can utilize our AI Image Edit Tools within the Visme editor. The wizard allows you to remove backgrounds, unblur, or enlarge small images for optimal presentation.
Whether you're a seasoned roofing contractor or a startup, this template will equip you to stand out and secure your roofing projects effectively.
The template utilizes a minimalist design with well-organized sections, ensuring your proposal looks both professional and visually appealing. Key sections such as project scope, materials, timelines, safety protocols and cost breakdowns lets you showcase your expertise and reliability.
Personalize the template by substituting the placeholder text and fine-tuning the visual elements until it suits your needs.
Utilize this refined template to leave a lasting impact and win your upcoming construction or renovation projects. Its blue, yellow and white color scheme radiates professionalism, while its captivating visuals and elegant layout effortlessly highlight your content.
The template features sections such as project scope, timeline, materials, costs and service specifics which underscore your expertise and dedication to top-notch work.
Share and download this proposal in various formats—PDF, PNG, JPG and GIF—or generate a link to share it with the client.
Seal prestigious architectural deals confidently with this sleek architectural proposal template.
The template boasts high-resolution graphics, smart design elements, and engaging fonts. It includes sections for project goals, milestones, budgets and ample architectural images that add visual appeal.
Customize this template using Visme's built-in design assets or upload your own. You can use the shortcut feature for quick access to design elements on Visme. Simply type '/' to search and locate what you need in seconds.
If you would like to craft a winning bid proposal and enhance your business opportunities, this professional proposal template is perfect.
This template stands out with its captivating design layout, refined color scheme, and an impressive selection of fonts, icons, and images. It features a formal letter, budget breakdown and project commencement and completion terms.
What sets this template apart is its adaptability to suit any industry. Every aspect of this template is also customizable, allowing you to modify content, colors, fonts, shapes and logos to align perfectly with your brand identity.
Communicate your expertise and dedication to impeccable lawn care with this stunning lawn care bid proposal.
This expertly crafted template boasts a captivating cover page and is filled with captivating fonts, high-definition images of lush greenery and dynamic vector icons.
You can customize every aspect of this template effortlessly. If you want to switch up the images, Visme offers an extensive array of top-notch images and design elements, from 3D icons and shapes to animated graphics, ensuring your proposal stands out vibrantly.
Whether your agency specializes in digital banking, blockchain, payments, or other fintech solutions, this template equips you to stand out in competitive bids.
With a striking color palette of black, lemon and white, this template achieves a great balance—bold enough to captivate attention yet professional enough to exude credibility.
You can leverage the sections to highlight your firm's background, methodologies, budget and delivery aspects. The project timeline page is also particularly beneficial to provide clients with a clear glimpse of the project's completion date.
You can seamlessly integrate videos of client testimonials, your services, or a compelling brand narrative, enhancing your proposal's impact.
Looking to create a captivating bid proposal for marketing services? This template fits the bill.
The template boasts a lively color palette blending violet and white, setting the stage for a professional presentation.
It includes a succinct summary of your response to the RFP, featuring the challenge and proposed solutions, a compelling "why choose us" section and the estimated budget.
To further elevate engagement, Visme’s interactive features allow for linking specific sections to pricing pages, product page or terms and conditions. You can also employ hover effects or popups to reveal supplementary company information, enhancing the viewer's experience.
Read this article to discover professional bid proposal templates to win new clients.
You now understand how to create a business proposal and what should be in a business proposal. Here are some design tips to make your business proposal attractive.
Don't make assumptions about your audience. Instead, do your best to understand their specific and unique needs and how you can assist them. Your potential customer wants to see how your solution will address their specific needs, not a generic solution to the problem.
Map your buyer persona to understand their pain points, budget, deadlines and more. This information will improve your chances of closing the deal.
When creating your business proposals, use professionally designed proposal templates. The upside is that you won't have to start from scratch, saving you a lot of time.
Using templates allows you to focus more on the copy and contents, ensuring you cover all the bases and include all the necessary information to warrant a positive response.
Every element of your business proposal should be crafted to catch your audience's eye.
Jazz up your cover page with a captivating image that depicts what the proposal is about. Give it a personal touch and build brand recognition by adding your logo on the cover and inner pages. Remember to use beautiful colors and fonts that align with your brand guidelines.
However, when using colors, maintain a contrast between the text and the background color. For example, using dark-colored text on a dark background will make your document impossible to read.
Likewise, avoid utilizing too similar hues or a lighter version of the same color background. Colors with a lot of contrast and color pairs that follow the basic idea of light and dark color combinations function well.
Adopt a minimalistic design to make your proposal look polished and help readers focus on the important information.
Make sure that each element in your proposal has enough white space around it, whether it's text, images, charts or anything else. Avoiding clutter will make your proposal look neat and easy to read.
Visuals bring your presentation to life. And substituting text with more icons, images and visual aids makes your proposal readable. For example, you can use photos to:
The proposal template below is an excellent example of how you can use visuals to make your proposal pop.
