Use our business proposal templates to secure potential clients, outline value proposition, and convince a company to enter a business relationship with you.
Updated April 12, 2024
Written by Sara Hostelley | Reviewed by Brooke Davis
A business proposal is a formal document designed to offer a specific product or service to a prospective buyer or client. Unlike a business plan, which is created to run a company or raise capital, a business proposal is a bid to obtain business from another party and can be either solicited or unsolicited.
Business proposals are critical for securing new contracts, initiating projects, and fostering business growth, and it’s usually a formal step before creating a business agreement.
You should use a business proposal template to grow your business and solicit new customers. You are contacting potential clients to see if you could work together to further your mutual goals.
Whether the proposal was solicited or unsolicited, you want to create a compelling proposition laying out your business’s essential details.
A solicited proposal is one that the potential customer or client seeks via a request for proposal (RFP). Your company then provides the business proposal it asked for.
You may also provide a business proposal upon receiving a request for information (RFI) or a request for a quote (RFQ) to provide the customer with additional information about your offerings.
Clients may come to you to see if you’d be an appropriate vendor for their situation. A business proposal template can help you answer their request and win business.
You send unsolicited business proposals to customers when they have not explicitly asked for them. Your company is reaching out to attempt to gain new business with your submission.
If you target an unsolicited business proposal appropriately and clearly state the benefits of working with your business, you can experience success with an unsolicited offer.
Continuing or renewing a business proposal lets you continue working with an existing client to update or extend an agreement’s terms.
If you’re looking for a business proposal example, explore some below:
A grant proposal helps a business gain funding to keep its operations going. Non-profit organizations usually implement this proposal, but it can also benefit some for-profit organizations.
This document lets you highlight how you’ll put on an event for a business, such as a conference, convention, or important meeting.
A traditional or social media marketing proposal can help you explain how you’ll advertise for a client, whether for a specific event or an ongoing relationship.
Sales professionals use sales proposals to present a compelling offer of the product or service to another business. Your sales process may be different for various clients, so be sure to tailor each proposal accordingly.
A construction project proposal helps you communicate the construction services you can offer clients.
The title page should introduce your company’s basic information. Include the following elements on your title page:
The project overview provides a quick summary of your company’s activities. It will address why the company is well-suited to engage in business and deliver the client’s desired goods or services.
Talk about the service/product details. Present any challenges the client may face while conducting their operations and how your offerings can help address them.
The executive summary outlines why you are sending this proposal and why your solution is best for your prospective client.
Be specific in this section. Address the needs of the individual client. Outline the benefits of your company’s services and products and how they will solve the client’s problems.
You want to show that you bring something unique to the table. Explain why this business should choose your proposal instead of the others it has received.
A client may not know your business before receiving your proposal. Attach social proof to convince them to work with you. Consider including industry awards, relevant case studies, and client testimonials to make a strong case for your company.
A business proposal should include the necessary details of your proposed project. This description helps the client see how you will address their scope of work and meet their unique goals and objectives.
Include the steps you plan to take if the client decides to work with your company. This way, they’ll know what to expect and understand your readiness.
Pricing projects is essential to a successful business proposal. You must explore your pricing strategy and understand what you will charge for goods or services.
Propose a price that’s attractive to prospective clients but is appropriate for your bottom line.
This section is adaptable to your business’s needs. Selling goods or services requires different pricing terms. A customizable business proposal template allows you to create a document that fits your needs.
Lay out any additional terms and conditions you want both parties to follow.
Finish this document by signing it yourself and obtaining the receivers’ signatures. With the client’s approval, you can offer your products or services.
Here are some writing and design tips to maintain professionalism in your proposal:
Ensure your messaging remains consistent. Offer only what your company typically provides, and avoid making extravagant promises you can’t fulfill.
Keep your proposal professional and reserved. This way, you can center the focus on what you have to offer without distracting visual elements interfering with your message.
An effective business proposal provides comprehensive information succinctly. It’s not overly wordy, and you don’t need to share every information about your business.
Research your proposal’s recipient to understand their unique challenges. Personalize your proposal to clarify why you’re the best business to work with, ensuring you distinguish your offerings from your competitors’ products or services.
Before you send your proposal, you can check that it:
If you send unsolicited proposals, follow up professionally and be prepared for rejection.
Incorporate a call-to-action so the recipient knows what steps to take if they want to work with your business.
If your business proposal is long, consider adding a table of contents so readers can easily find different sections.
Download a free business proposal template in PDF or Word format below:
