Business proposal template

Q: What is the difference between a business proposal and a business plan?

While there is some overlap, the purpose of these documents is quite different. A business plan is usually written with the intent of securing funds from an investor. It’s normally a factual, broad description of a company and its goals and objectives. A business proposal is a focused sales document about a specific project, written with the intent of winning a client’s business. It will provide an in-depth explanation of the benefits of the work being done, with details about scope, deliverables, milestones, and qualifications as well as budget.

Q: How many pages should a business proposal be?

Your business proposal needs to be long enough to clearly describe the work you’ll undertake, but not too long so that it would confuse the client. You’re creating a roadmap which can be easily followed, and the final length will depend largely on the specifics of the job in hand. Simple and straightforward projects may only take a few pages. Proposals for complex jobs could run long enough that they require a full table of contents and a small marketing plan.

Q: How do I write a proposal outline?

The more information you have about the problem the client wants to solve, the better. You may be able to rely on the customer’s RFP as a guide if you’re creating a solicited proposal. If you don’t have all the detail you’d like to have, see if you can talk on the phone to the potential client. Write notes of your discovery call, and draft an effective problem statement based on all the detail you’ve been able to find. From there, build your proposal around that information, using our handy and free business proposal templates .

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Create a business proposal.

Download and complete our free business proposal template to create sleek, professional proposals for new clients. Showcase your skills, stay on brand, and stand out from the crowd with our customizable business proposal sample.

Get contracts with new clients.

Boost your chances of success, whether you’re pitching a formally requested proposal, creating a supplemental business proposal, or contacting new clients with a speculative approach. Use our template to give clients all the information they need to choose you.

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Choose, create and customize your perfect business proposal, bid proposal or project proposal with our free templates.

Quickly create professional proposal documents which cover your project’s objectives, scope, milestones and budget - and grab your client’s attention immediately.

Find the proposal template that you need to boost your sales from the table on the right.

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What is a business proposal?

A business proposal - which may also be called a bid or a pitch - is used to persuade an organization to buy a product or service.

Maybe the organization is actively seeking proposals for a job they know they want doing - in this case, you’re preparing a solicited proposal. Or maybe you’re pitching a suggestion to carry out work the company has not yet commissioned. This is known as an unsolicited proposal.

Whether it’s solicited or unsolicited, your business proposal must show how you can offer a unique solution to the client’s problem. Great business proposal examples include details about goals, timelines, deliverables, and budget, to allow the client to thoroughly evaluate the idea.

Business proposal types.

There are several different types of business proposals you may create:

Formally solicited
Informally solicited
Unsolicited
Continuation
Renewal
Supplemental

A formally or informally solicited proposal is one which has - one way or another - been requested in advance by the client.

An unsolicited proposal on the other hand may be appropriate if you’ve spotted an opportunity the client may not already know about. In this case, you’re connecting to sell an idea which can benefit the business.

Once you’re already working with a client you may need to create a continuation or renewal business proposal, to update the terms of an agreement or extend an existing collaboration.

If you’re taking on extra work for an existing client, a supplementary business proposal may be required to formalize your agreement and scope everything out.

What is the business proposal format?

Your business proposal will be unique and the best format will depend on the project and the client. However, there are a few basic things you’ll usually find in a good business proposal example:

Cover page or title page
Introduction or cover letter
Company overview and contact information
Executive summary
Project overview
Scope of work documentation
Terms of the agreement
Signature field

You’ll likely find that there is some content that you’ll want to include in every business proposal - but do take the time to tailor each document to the client and the project in hand for the best results.

Business proposal FAQ.

What is the difference between a business proposal and a business plan?

How many pages should a business proposal be?

How do I write a proposal outline?

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Business proposal template