How to write a business proposal

What is a business proposal?

A business proposal is a formal document you send to a prospective client in the hopes of winning a project or making a sale. In your proposal, you outline the service you’ll offer and explain why they should choose you.

Types of business proposals

There are two types of business proposals:

• Solicited business proposal: This type of business proposal is usually requested by a potential customer. Some companies and government agencies issue an RFP (request for proposal) when looking for bids to complete projects. You’ll know the criteria and have most of the information about the potential customer for these types of project proposals.
• Unsolicited business proposal: This is similar to a cold pitch. You send a proposal to new clients without an RFP or an established business relationship to attract new business.

The difference between a business plan and a business proposal

A business plan is the roadmap for a business and shows the overall strategy, goals and vision for success. It shows how a business operates and how it will make money. You can create a business plan using our free template.

A business proposal is a pitch to sell a product or service to a prospective customer. The proposal aims to make the sale and shows the potential of the product or service to solve a problem.

How to write a business proposal

An effective business proposal should solve the three Ps:

• Problem statement: What is the biggest pain point of the customer?
• Proposed solution: How your business will solve the problem better than anyone else
• Pricing: How much the solution costs compared to other solutions

A business proposal has a clear format and should ideally include each of the following sections.

1. Title page

This sets the tone and must look professional. You should include your name, your business’s name, the name of the person you’ll submit your proposal to, the date submitted and the title of your proposal.

2. Table of contents

The table of contents allows your potential client to see what’s in your proposal and also lets them skim to find the information they consider important.

3. Executive summary

This is similar to the executive summary in your business plan. Explain why your business meets the client’s needs and why you are better than your competitors. It should:

• introduce your business and any important team members
• give an overview of your business goals and why you are a successful business
• outline the benefits of your products and services
• showcase milestones and previous clients

4. The problem statement

Outline the main problem your potential client is wanting to solve. This shows them that you understand their pain points. Use data to back up your argument and be specific.

5. Proposed solution

Here’s where you explain in detail your proposed solution and how it’ll solve the client’s problem. Your solution should be specific and personalised. You should include details of what you plan to provide and the benefits of your proposed solution. If you’re pitching for a specific project, share the proposed timeline, and explain how you’ll measure the success of the proposed solution. Visual charts and graphs can help illustrate your points.

6. Qualifications

Use this section to build trust. Explain why your business is the best one for the job and why they should choose you. You can include case studies of previous clients, client testimonials, social media endorsements or praise, relevant industry-specific qualifications, and certifications and years of experience.

7. The timeline

If you’re pitching for a specific project, outline a clear and realistic timeframe of how and when you’ll complete each part of it. Present this in a flowchart or a road map with deadlines and step-by-step actions. If your proposal isn’t for a specific project, give an idea of general timeframes your business works to, for example manufacturing or shipping times, or turn-around times for services.

8. Pricing, billing and legal

This is one of the most important sections. How you structure it will depend on the size of your project and the type of proposal.

For smaller projects and unsolicited proposals, a summary of the fees, or potential fees is sufficient. For a larger project, provide a breakdown of costs to show your potential clients what they’ll be paying for. You can also provide options to allow clients room to move. Check back on the client’s RFP terms if it's a solicited proposal to make sure you meet their requirements.

If there are any permits or licenses required for the project these should be added to this section.

9. Terms and conditions

Clarify the terms and conditions and summarise details for the project, including timeline, pricing and payment schedules. This is where you include items such as cancellation policies, deposits, warranties and shipping. Get your terms and conditions checked by a lawyer before you send them to prospective clients.

10. The acceptance

The final step is to leave a space for signatures. Include a signature box for your client to sign when they accept your proposal. Make sure you include contact information if your client needs to follow up with any unanswered questions.

Business proposal tips

There’s a lot to keep in mind when you’re writing your winning business proposal. The following features can help make your proposal stand out from your competitors.

Start with an outline

Before you begin writing your proposal, plan out everything in an outline. Ensure you have all of the key information you need and research any you don’t have.

Include real data

To impress your client and set you apart from competitors, use hard data that demonstrates the value of your proposal. Highlight your data in flowcharts, graphs or a table to enhance their presentation.

Use visuals

Include visual images to break up and enhance the text of longer proposals. Examples of visuals that are great for business proposals include infographics, flowcharts, timelines, photographs, organisational charts and comparison tables. Make sure they’re relevant and not just decorative. Include captions or explanatory notes with them if it’s not obvious what they’re about.

Incorporate video

If your proposal is online or a PDF, a short video can help to strengthen your proposal and increase engagement with the prospective client. Types of videos that work include:

• an introduction to your proposal
• testimonials
• a demo or brief explainer of your product or service

Add social proof

Use social proof to add credibility and trust to your proposal. It may help convince your client to accept your proposal if they can see positive reviews or case studies from previous clients. Types of social proof include case studies, testimonials, reviews and rankings, customer stories and previous clients you have worked with. Make sure you have approval to share this information though – you don’t want to breach the privacy of customers or previous clients.

Use a call to action

Include a call to action so that your audience knows what action they should take after reading your proposal. Ensure you include contact details so they can ask questions or clarify any issues they have.

Provide pricing options, upsell and add on opportunities

Consider your client’s budget, if you know it, and provide several pricing options (high, mid, low) with extra provided for the higher price. Use a pricing table to present your options.

Include other services or related products your business provides. It’s an opportunity to add on extras to the basic proposal, and gives the client additional information about your business.

Stay on brand

Allow your brand’s personality to stand out. Demonstrate how you are better and different from your competitors.

Keep it simple

Avoid using business jargon and keep your sentences short and simple. There’s no ideal length for a business proposal, but it is important to be succinct and clear. Your proposal should provide enough in-depth information to persuade the decision-maker without overwhelming them.

Accuracy

Be thorough and proofread your proposal. Check your spelling and grammar are accurate and there are no typos. Pay attention to the details and make sure your numbers and all information in your proposal are accurate.

Write a cover letter

Once completed, write a one-page cover letter to send with your proposal and convince the decision maker to read the entire proposal. Your cover letter should include:

• contact information
• a brief introduction to your business and the products or service you provide
• concise details about the client’s problem and the solution that you offer
• a strong conclusion mentioning the main benefit you will deliver
• the next steps you want the prospective customer to take