Business proposals play a critical role in the corporate world. They serve as a key communication tool to convey your organization's capabilities and vision to potential clients or partners.
Business proposals are important because they outline your enterprise's solution to a specific problem. They demonstrate your understanding of your client's needs, your company's ability to meet them, and your commitment to delivering high-quality service or products.
The document should have the following sections: Title page, Table of contents, Executive summary, Problem statement, Pricing details, Company overview, Timeline, Terms, Acceptance, and Annexes. Learn the essential details for each one of them by reading on.
A business proposal is a document that describes a specific service, product, or solution that you're offering to a potential client or partner. It details the cost, timeline, and method of execution and is generally written in response to a client's Request for Proposal (RFP).
Business proposals are also known as bids or pitches highlighting your product or service to a prospective customer.
There are practically three types of business proposals depending on the relationship between the prospective client and the solution that is offered:
You have a prospective client asking for a business proposal for a certain service, product, or solution. You want to provide as many details as possible; however, you must follow a certain structure that ensures that the customer can understand exactly what this collaboration implies, what he has to win, and why this collaboration is good without overwhelming your counterpart.
If you're planning to create a business proposal template, it's essential to understand its components. A winning business proposal should include the following at a high level:
To help you get started, let's take a closer look at each of these sections.
The title page is the first page of your business proposal and serves as a formal introduction. It includes essential information about your proposal, such as the proposal title, your company name/logo, the date, and contact information.
Here are the top elements that you should not miss:
The table of contents provides an organized outline of the sections and subsections within your proposal, allowing readers to navigate easily. Word processors will automatically generate the table of contents, with the chapters and page numbers; however, if you're using a design tool like Canva, you will have to write them manually. Consider not missing the following elements:
The executive summary is a concise overview of your entire business proposal. It provides a high-level summary of the most important points and aims to captivate the reader's interest. New founders are often blocked when they have to write the executive summary. What we do recommend is to write it after you have the other sections detailed, and you will be able to summarize the key details that matter for the prospective buyer:
The problem statement section identifies and articulates the specific issue or challenge that your proposal aims to address. It establishes the context and importance of your proposed solution. The easiest way to write the problem statement is to list the issues that the client provided and develop around them in the following way:
The proposed solution section outlines your approach and strategies for solving the identified problem. It highlights the value and benefits that your solution will bring to the client. As a recommendation for your business proposal, we do recommend tackling the following checkboxes:
Provide a detailed breakdown of costs associated with your solution. This should be clear and transparent.
Specify your costs, fees, billing, payment terms, and contract length. Be transparent and break out all expenses.
Some extra details that could be added within the pricing, estimates, and billing section include:
Within this essential section of the business proposal, it's recommended that you highlight the following aspects:
The timeline section outlines the proposed schedule or timeline for the project's completion, indicating key milestones and deliverables.
In this section, you should focus on the following elements:
This section outlines the legal and contractual terms under which the proposed project will be executed.
When speaking about terms, they are important, especially regarding legal aspects. This is why we recommend addressing the following aspects:
The acceptance section indicates how the client can accept the proposal, solidifying the commitment to move forward.
The acceptance is usually a page where contractual aspects get validated as follows:
The appendix section serves as a supplementary section where additional supporting documents or information can be included. As a good practice, you can organize the appendix with clear headings or tabs for easy reference.
Within the appendix, the proposers usually add:
The goal is to convince the client you understand their needs and have an effective, profitable solution. Write in an honest, professional tone rather than an overly salesy pitch. Prioritize clear communication tailored to the client.
You might have seen some sample proposals with fancy images with colors that look good. They are great; however, consider that you're not selling your graphic design skills but your ability to execute the client's problem. The key is to make the format easy to follow, with the correct set of insights and the right price, so that your client feels confident that it is making the right decision by working with you.
If you would like to download a ready-to-use template covering your business proposal's essential details, we have prepared the following template. It is in Word, is free of charge, and can be customized according to your needs. If you need to add additional sections, do so.
Remember that it is important to personalize each section with your details so that it is specific to the customers you plan to sell your services. The first time it might be a bit more complicated, and you may have some difficulties writing the executive summary or the problem statement; however, with time, experience comes, and a new proposal will become easier. You will be able to reuse previous proposals; however, just by changing, let's say, the pricing information or customizing the proposed solution, things will advance faster. More significant businesses operate in this way.
Download The Business Proposal Template
The example provided follow the template format covering the main headings: Title page, Table of contents, Executive summary, Problem statement, Pricing details, Company overview, and a Summary. This busines proposal example is from an advertising agency towards an energy company to help drive more leads and generate more visibility. The basic example covers the essentials. Use it a draft version one for your proposal to give you an idea where you should aim at.
John Marconi
CEO
ABC Advertising
700 3rd Ave, New York,
NY 10017, USA
john.marconi@abc.com
321-444-7777
December 10, 20XX
Fabio Castruci
VP Marketing
DEC Energy
555 Fulton St, Brooklyn,
NY 11238, USA
Tailored Advertising Solutions to Power Your Business Forward
ABC Advertising proposes an integrated marketing campaign for DEC Energy to increase brand awareness and customer acquisitions in the northeast region. By leveraging our industry expertise and proven marketing methodologies, we aim to position your company as a leader in the energy sector and help you achieve your business goals. Our data-driven approach will deliver an estimated 15% increase in leads and a 10% increase in sales within the first year.
ABC Advertising is an award-winning agency with 15 years of experience designing results-driven marketing campaigns for energy companies, including GHI Power and JKL Solar. Our team of 50 marketing experts has the skills and expertise to execute this campaign.
DEC Energy needs to expand its market share in the competitive northeast region. Research shows brand awareness is low compared to competitors at just 30%. Current lead generation efforts produce only 100 leads per month with a 15% conversion rate. DEC needs an effective strategy and expert execution to strengthen branding, generate more leads, and increase conversions.
ABC will design an integrated marketing campaign focused on digital marketing, social media marketing, and traditional media in the northeast region. Tactics will include:
Scope of work
The 12-month campaign will kick off on January 1, 20XX, with research and planning. Execution of digital, print, and radio tactics will ramp up in Q2 and analyze results through the end of Q4 20XX. ABC will provide strategic guidance and the creation of all assets. DEC is responsible for campaign approvals.
ABC proposes a fixed budget of $450,000 to cover all campaign execution, production, and labor costs. Monthly installments of $37,500 will be billed to DEC. Media buying fees will be billed at a pre-approved rate.
Expected Outcomes
We estimate this integrated campaign can deliver:
This campaign will strengthen DEC Energy's brand and lead generation in key northeast markets. We look forward to the opportunity to drive results. Please contact me with any questions.
Measurement and Reporting
Our agency believes in transparency and accountability. We will track the performance of each marketing initiative meticulously and provide you with regular progress reports. These reports will offer valuable insights into campaign effectiveness, audience engagement, and lead conversion rates.
We understand the importance of timely execution in meeting DEF Energy's marketing objectives. The proposed timeline for the marketing campaign is as follows:
Milestones will be established for each phase to ensure progress and alignment with the overall campaign timeline. Detailed timelines and specific milestones are provided in the attached Timeline document.
To establish a clear understanding between ABC Advertising and DEF Energy, the following terms and conditions govern our partnership:
To proceed with this marketing campaign, DEF Energy is kindly requested to provide written acceptance of this proposal. Upon acceptance, we will initiate the onboarding process and ensure a seamless transition to begin the campaign.
Please sign and return a copy of this proposal by [date] to confirm your acceptance of our terms and intentions to proceed.
The appendix section includes supporting documents that provide additional information regarding ABC Advertising's capabilities and relevant materials, including:
We believe that this comprehensive proposal addresses DEF Energy's marketing requirements effectively and demonstrates our commitment to delivering exceptional results. Should you require any further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.
When it comes to sending a proposal to a potential client, it's important to do it in a professional and personalized manner. One way to do this is by sending an email that introduces your company and includes a customized proposal that speaks to the specific needs and goals of the client.
If you're looking for a proposal template that you can easily personalize and send, we have one available for you. Simply copy and paste the content into your email platform, personalize it with your own company and client information, and send it along to your potential client. This will save you time and ensure that your proposal looks professional and polished.
Subject: Marketing Proposal for DEF Energy
Dear [Recipient's Name],
We analyzed DEF Energy's marketing needs and developed a customized marketing strategy to address your specific goals and challenges. Our proposed marketing campaign encompasses a comprehensive approach that includes strategic planning, content creation, digital advertising, social media management, and campaign analysis and optimization.
ABC Advertising is a leading marketing agency with over a decade of experience in the energy sector. Our skilled professionals specialize in digital marketing, content creation, SEO, social media management, and campaign analysis.
Please review the attached proposal, including a cost breakdown, a comprehensive timeline, and terms and conditions. We have also included a portfolio showcasing our successful campaigns and references from satisfied clients in the energy sector.
Thank you for considering ABC Advertising as your marketing partner. We are excited about the opportunity to work with DEF Energy and contribute to your marketing success.
Sincerely,
John Marconi, CEO
ABC Advertising
In this section, we expand a bit on key tips and best practices that will win more deals and get your offer faster to the decision-makers. The elements listed below might sound easy. However, they add great value to any proposal:
Ok, it happens that you sent a good proposal and had a call with your partner, and the initial engagement was positive. However, two weeks have passed, and you didn't get any feedback whatsoever.
What is the Goal of a Business Proposal?
A business proposal aims to convince potential clients or partners to do business with you. It outlines your capabilities, approach, and how you can add value to their operation.
What Should You Include in a Business Proposal?
The key parts of a business proposal structure include:
How Long Should a Business Proposal Be?
Here are some general guidelines for the length of a business proposal:
The length will depend on the complexity of the project, the relationship with the client, and the amount of detail required. A good rule of thumb is to be as concise as possible while still including all relevant information the client needs to make a decision.
It's often better to be shorter and avoid unnecessary content that dilutes your main points. Focus on the value you will provide, the problems you will solve, and relevant facts that back up your recommendation. Quality over quantity.
Automate your employee management and tracking with the easy to use cloud-based HR management software.
Easy set-up ● No contracts required ● No credit cards