How To Write A Short Business Proposal – In the freelance world, a business proposal is a greeting card and a business card wrapped into one. They are really hello to potential clients who show what you can do and
In this article, we will guide you through everything you need to know when creating your next business proposal. We’ll cover everything from what to include in your proposal template and some best practices for writing a winning business proposal.
How To Write A Short Business Proposal
We’ll close with a free template you can use for future proposals and some frequently asked questions on the topic.
Why The Executive Summary Is A Critical Part Of Your Business Plan
A business proposal is a formal document that introduces and explains who you are, what you do, and what you can do for your potential clients.
The business proposal template is the framework structure for all future business proposals. It includes all the important business you can rinse and repeat and leaves room to change the template as per client and needs.
But, what should you keep in your business proposal template? We’re glad you asked. Read it.
Note: If you want to build your business game and start delivering the basics faster than ever, sign up for Bonsai for free and get instant access to everything you need.
Designing A Business Proposal Cover Page
Every business proposal is different. However, there is a lot of information about your business and expertise that you can reuse. The good thing about a business proposal is that it’s not a publicly available document, it doesn’t affect your business’s SEO, and the only people who see it are what you send.
This means you can keep a lot of the same information and leave room for tweaks. Just don’t forget to do it! There is nothing worse than receiving a proposal and seeing another company’s name halfway through the document.
Say hello to bang using a cover page your clients will remember you. This cover page is really your first impression. It helps build trust, build brand awareness, and get off to a good start.
Keep your cover page short, include relevant visuals if you can, and make sure you include everyone’s contact details. It’s also a good idea to include your company’s tagline to start presenting your mission and remember your brand.
How To Write A Business Plan Outline
Win your readers’ attention with your cover page, and provide enough info and excitement to keep them reading.
Wrap up the content of your business proposal. You should include a table of contents, so the client knows where to go for what information.
There is a high probability that your business proposal will change hands in the decision-making process, so it is easy for readers to narrow down what is on the table and move to the part that is relevant to them.
Now that we’re covered, a short paragraph or two gives the reader a better overview of who you are and what you do as a trust and good relationship.
How To Write A Proposal And Get What You Want (free Templates)
Don’t go into too much detail here; This proposal should still revolve around the client. Instead, let them know there’s a human behind branding, let them understand your business’s mission and vision, and inspire them with actionable CSR initiatives.
Continuing the human-to-human theme is a good thing, trust us. Time to introduce your team if you are working with one. Headshots are a good idea at this point.
People can relate to faces through fonts, so match headshots up with names, roles & responsibilities, and maybe a line or two from team members. At the same time, if you have a large agency, you don’t need to introduce everyone to your team. Introduce team members who are relevant to the project at hand, and who are most likely to have face time with your client.
This chapter of your business proposal template should be in flux. We recommend that you switch your portfolio of work to reflect the business you propose, what the business does, and what services you want.
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Show work that is relevant to the project you are working on, but do not show work that could be a conflict of interest.
If you’re submitting a business proposal digitally, it’s a good idea to include a link to your portfolio, with a brief summary of your work in the proposal. Give potential clients just enough information to understand and appreciate your portfolio, but don’t overwhelm them with information. If you want to read more, make sure the CTA to do so is clear.
Next, all of your business proposal templates should include a project scope. What is included in the scope of work for the prospective client, and why
Included in the agreed service package, then you run the risk of your client forcing you to do other work that you didn’t do, and feel the need to deliver.
Business Writing In Action
If you provide a custom service, then there is a good chance that the scope of your project will remain the same. So, streamline the proposal process by leaving out important information that can be transferred from one potential client to the next.
Every business proposal must include a project schedule. In what timeframe can you deliver your proposed solution, and what are the project milestones along the way? Although the business proposal is a chance to win clients, you must keep this thing as realistic as possible.
It’s all well and good raising eyebrows with an impressive project timeline for a business project. However, if you can’t deliver on that timeline, you’ll lose clients down the road and damage your brand’s reputation.
The visual examples we have provided above make your project schedule scannable, and avoid confusion. Whitespace helps readers concentrate, and perfectly manage expectations at each project milestone.
How To Write And Present A Business Proposal For A Dream Contract In 2023 (the Final Guide)
This brings us to delivery. What do you send with your business proposal? All of your business proposals should cover your final deliverables, as well as KPIs or micro-deliverables that will show you are on track to deliver results.
Try to figure out how to track the success of your posts and quantify your efforts into data.
For example, if your potential client wants to “build trust” with your target audience, then your business proposal idea to build trust must be accompanied by measurable ways to show you are achieving that goal. In this case, this could look like fewer negative reviews, more sales funnel completions, or greater social media.
All business proposal templates require a chapter on pricing and payment. Whether you are sending an unsolicited business proposal or a business proposal outline requested by a potential client, you must include the price and payment method.
Free Business Proposal (investment) Letter Of Intent
An effective business proposal is part of your business sales process, and should be treated as such. You wouldn’t have a sales process without actually discussing costs with other products or services, so don’t hurt yourself here.
Be upfront about what you charge, be firm on your payment terms, and stick to your word. Your clients will respect you and trust your services more because of it.
We are big fans of the following examples for service production. Here, you give your clients a choice, clearly divided, so that they can find what fits their budget, and suits your time. It’s important to get the fees in your proposal so you know you’re at least on the same ball as your client and can avoid awkward conversations down the line.
The “next step” chapter is not unique to business proposal templates. This should be a must-have in every proposal template you write: from sales proposal templates to marketing proposals, solicited proposals or not—all need this CTA.
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What does your potential client want next? What is your onboarding process like for new clients? Give a clear overview of what to do, so the client knows the ball is in their court.
That’s all you need to know to include in your proposal template to help potential clients. However, it doesn’t stop there, whether you’re making an unsolicited proposal, or writing for a specific project, there are best practices to keep in mind. Read it.
Some best practices emerge with every well-written business proposal posted on Bonsai. To understand these best practices, we look at some templates below:
Business proposals require a mix of quality writing, along with concise stories, statistics, and visuals. New clients are looking for a solid business plan, a company they can trust, and people who can go beyond ‘talking the talk’.
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A solid business proposal understands potential client problems and addresses them with a unique value proposition. People don’t rent nice-to-haves; they hire a must-have, so frame the proposal template as a must-have solution to a client’s business problem that they may not even know exists.
If you want your business proposal to be chosen over others, you need to stand out,
. Drive your brand home and leave your business at the top of your client’s mind as they walk away
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