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How to Write a Business Proposal – 28 Examples | Visme

Olujinmi Oluwatoni
Written by Olujinmi Oluwatoni
Published at Feb 04, 2024
How to Write a Business Proposal – 28 Examples | Visme

Writing a business proposal that wins clients over is tough work. It gets even tougher when you're competing against multiple vendors for the same contract. According to a recent report by Loopio, teams on average win only 44% of their Request for Proposals (RFPs)

Here’s the silver lining: You can increase your win rate with a standout business proposal that grabs the client's attention and properly articulates your value proposition, unique strengths, and capabilities.

However, creating a professional business proposal from scratch can be challenging, especially if you lack the necessary skills and tools.

To assist you, we’ve put together 28 business proposal templates to help you write one and increase your chances of success.

Here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit business proposal templates you can edit, share, and download with Visme. View more templates below:

 

Table of Contents

Quick Read

  • A business proposal is a document crafted to convince potential clients, investors, or partners to take a particular action, such as purchasing a product or service, investing in a project or forming a partnership.
  • Visme's template library offers a diverse selection of templates covering service, product, investment, partnership, consulting, project and bid proposals. These proposal templates are easily customizable with Visme’s user-friendly drag-and-drop editor.
  • Visme also offers an array of features for creating impressive and unique business proposals, including team collaboration, online sharing, AI-powered image and text tools, custom branding, analytics, data visualizations, animation and interactivity.
  • With Visme’s intuitive editor, you can seamlessly customize these templates. Tap into built-in features like hundreds of free fonts, millions of free images, vector icons, data tools, animations and more to whip up the perfect proposal design in minutes.

 

What Is a Business Proposal?

A business proposal is a document designed to persuade a prospective client, investor, or partner to take a specific action—whether it is buying a product or service, investing in a project, or entering into a partnership.

To craft a compelling proposal, you need to grasp the client's needs, present your solution, outline your strategy and demonstrate why you or your team are the best choice to address the problem.

A GIF of adding data widgets, chart or graphs to the figures

Business Proposal vs. Business Plan

The common myth is that business proposals and business plans are interchangeable. The thing is, both tools are important for growing your business. Yet, they play different roles.

Business proposals help you pitch your product and service to prospective customers. On the flip side, business plans lay a roadmap for your business and help attract investors and partners. They differ from each other by purpose, content and structure.

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28 Business Proposal Templates to Impress Clients

With Visme's wide range of proposal templates and easy-to-use editor, creating a professional business proposal is a breeze.

Hear what one of our customers has to say about Visme:

“Visme is something that I would highly recommend. It made us look a lot better in our clients’ eyes because it's something that's visually effective as a marketing tool.”

"With Visme, instead of days, a page would take us anywhere from 4-8 hours on a duplicate or templated process and even up to 72 hours for projects with unique needs and with immense input and back and forth on the design process.”

Brad Wills, Sourcing Executive at IBM's Recruitment Processing Outsourcing (RPO)! Read the full case study.

Check out these 28 business proposal examples professionally designed for almost every kind of business.

Jump to:

 

Service Proposal Templates

1. IT Service One-Pager Proposal Template

IT Service One Pager Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Looking for a quick and concise way to communicate the value and specifics of your IT service offering to potential clients or stakeholders? This service proposal template is your sure bet.

The minimalist design gives the plan a modern look and creates a powerful visual impact. Leverage the space to detail your executive summary, description of services, scope of work and lots more.

And if you’re tight on time, you can rely on Visme's AI document generator for instant proposal creation. Simply input your prompt, provide context, choose your preferred design and witness the tool swiftly generate your initial draft within seconds.

Check out how the AI document generator tool works here.

 

2. Marketing Agency Proposal Template

Marketing Agency Proposal
Marketing Agency Proposal
Marketing Agency Proposal
Marketing Agency Proposal
Marketing Agency Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

This comprehensive template is your ultimate tool to pitch your marketing agency's services and secure deals effortlessly.

Its sleek design, captivating visuals and icons ensure an attractive presentation. You can easily spotlight the problems you’ll address, solutions, project roadmap, services, the team, client testimonials and more.

Your brand identity conveys professionalism and makes your proposal more memorable to potential clients. To showcase your brand identity, ensure your proposal is branded using Visme's brand wizard. Simply input your web URL to automatically incorporate design elements from your website and access personalized, branded templates.

3. Clinical Laboratory Services

Clinical Laboratory Services Proposal Modern
Clinical Laboratory Services Proposal Modern
Clinical Laboratory Services Proposal Modern
Clinical Laboratory Services Proposal Modern
Clinical Laboratory Services Proposal Modern
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

This template offers a framework to showcase your clinical services expertise and present your unique value proposition with clarity. The template offers dedicated sections for services, product breakdowns, certifications, locations and more.

Against a white backdrop, various shades of blue harmoniously blend to symbolize the beauty of healthcare and increase your proposal’s aesthetic appeal. The template also features captivating visuals, icons and an engaging layout.

Convert your product proposal into an engaging page-turner using Visme's flipbook effect. This allows your audience to virtually flip through pages, mimicking a real document experience.

4. Online Grocery Delivery Proposal Template

Online Grocery Delivery Proposal
Online Grocery Delivery Proposal
Online Grocery Delivery Proposal
Online Grocery Delivery Proposal
Online Grocery Delivery Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Seeking investment or partnerships for your groundbreaking online grocery delivery service? This online delivery service proposal template is your silver bullet.

The striking blend of lemon, blue and white gives it a great visual appeal. Each page also boasts engaging culinary visuals, icons and a refined layout that complements the content.

With detailed market analysis, innovative strategies and detailed financial projections, this template helps you present a compelling case. The best part is that the template design is fully customizable to suit any product or brand.

With our interactive features like hover effects or clickable pop-ups, you can provide more information, such as technical details or testimonials, without overwhelming the reader.

 

Product Proposal Templates

5. Consumer Product One Pager Proposal

Consumer Product One Pager Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Utilize this concise yet impactful one pager proposal to secure funding for your consumer product venture. This template allows you to distill your product's essence, market potential and competitive edge into a compelling one-page format.

It features captivating visuals, icons and harmonious color combinations, delivering a compelling presentation.

Personalize the template with your text, images, brand elements and more. You can streamline editing using Visme's dynamic fields, which eliminate the need to manually enter key information when customizing it for other clients.

Just create custom fields like company name, address, contact details and other information and automatically fill in the relevant fields with a single click.

6. Mobile Game Development Proposal Template

Mobile Video Game Development Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Looking for a way to capture potential clients' attention and secure software development projects? Start with this mobile game development proposal template. Its vibrant purple, orange and white scheme, complemented by compelling visuals and bold icons ensures your proposal stands out.

The template features sections to emphasize critical elements like introductions, overviews, goals, why to choose your services, action plans and more.

You can add more pages and customize the visuals, icons and layout to suit your brand’s needs.

7. 3D Modeling Software Proposal Template

3D Product Visualization Platform Proposal
3D Product Visualization Platform Proposal
3D Product Visualization Platform Proposal
3D Product Visualization Platform Proposal
3D Product Visualization Platform Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Make a bold impression on your prospective software clients with this innovative proposal template.

The proposal boasts a captivating cover page, vibrant colors and stunning 3D visuals. It's structured with sections covering company overview, problem analysis, proposed solutions, delivery timelines and more.

Struggling with what to write in different sections? Leverage Visme’s AI writer for your initial draft. Simply provide instructions and the tool will generate well-written content matching your desired style and tone. Additionally, you can use this AI to refine, summarize, or edit your content effortlessly.

8. Jet Skis Proposal Template

Wave Glider Jet Skis Proposal
Wave Glider Jet Skis Proposal
Wave Glider Jet Skis Proposal
Wave Glider Jet Skis Proposal
Wave Glider Jet Skis Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Present your physical products to potential clients or investors effortlessly with this stylish proposal template.

This template comes with high-resolution stock photos, appealing vector icons and data widgets. It includes sections highlighting the advantages of your service, an overview of available models, pricing options and testimonials from satisfied customers.

Although this template was designed for water sports products, it can be customized for any brand or product.

If you want to change the visuals, explore Visme's extensive library of premium stock photos to find what suits your needs.

Learn more about how to create a product proposal in this complete guide.

 

Partnership Proposal Templates

9. Finance Consultancy Partnership Proposal Template

Finance Consultancy Partnership Proposal
Finance Consultancy Partnership Proposal
Finance Consultancy Partnership Proposal
Finance Consultancy Partnership Proposal
Finance Consultancy Partnership Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

If you’re in search of a finance consultancy partnership proposal template that's straightforward and professional, then this proposal fits the bill. It features a clean, authoritative design using a white and green color palette.

All sections are neatly organized to present your firm's background, partnership model, client benefits, partner responsibilities and more. Leverage Visme analytics to track how your proposal is performing. You can easily monitor engagement metrics such as unique visits, average viewing time, duration, IP addresses and other analytics.

10. Lifestyle Brand Collaboration Proposal

Lifestyle Brand Collaboration Proposal
Lifestyle Brand Collaboration Proposal
Lifestyle Brand Collaboration Proposal
Lifestyle Brand Collaboration Proposal
Lifestyle Brand Collaboration Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Create impactful collaborations to elevate your lifestyle brand with this exquisite proposal. Its vibrant colors, dynamic layout and striking visuals make it iconic. The template provides a clear structure to showcase your brand's mission, project scope, responsibilities, terms and more.

Utilize Visme's intuitive editor to effortlessly customize colors, fonts and other elements of this template to fit your brand identity.

11. Payment App Brand Collaboration

Payment App Brand Collaboration Proposal
Payment App Brand Collaboration Proposal
Payment App Brand Collaboration Proposal
Payment App Brand Collaboration Proposal
Payment App Brand Collaboration Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Attract potential partners to your software brand using this well-structured collaboration proposal template. Each page employs a logical hierarchy in typefaces, fonts and elements to ensure an engaging reading experience.

You can highlight crucial aspects such as project objectives, payment app features, statistics and more with meticulous detail.

Visme’s data visualization tool will provide a clear and detailed presentation of statistics and figures in this proposal. You can access an extensive array of charts, graphs, maps, widgets and more from Visme’s library.

A GIF of adding data widgets, chart or graphs to the figures

12. Non-profit Brand Collaboration

Non-profit Brand Collaboration Proposal
Non-profit Brand Collaboration Proposal
Non-profit Brand Collaboration Proposal
Non-profit Brand Collaboration Proposal
Non-profit Brand Collaboration Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

If you’re eager to team up with impactful organizations and expand your brand's reach while making a difference, this template is your blueprint.

With a sleek and modern design, a soothing color palette and exciting visuals, it’s sure to attract the reader's attention.

This template encompasses all essential sections to showcase your offerings, including a summary, project overview, plan, co-branding prospects, benefits, terms and beyond.

To get feedback about your proposal from coworkers quickly, you can invite them to your Visme project using Visme’s collaborative features. The workflow management tool also allows you to assign roles, establish deadlines and streamline approval processes effortlessly—all in one place.

A GIF of the workflow feature.

Read this guide to learn more about how to create an effective partnership proposal.

 

Investment Proposal Templates

13. Restaurant Investment Proposal

Restaurant Investment Proposal
Restaurant Investment Proposal
Restaurant Investment Proposal
Restaurant Investment Proposal
Restaurant Investment Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Attract prospective investors and secure funding for your culinary venture using this sophisticated investment proposal template.

Its combination of vibrant color schemes, icons and captivating images creates an impression of a refined restaurant.

Utilize its various sections to highlight your executive summary, target audience, competitive edge, business model, financial projections, SWOT analysis and other crucial details.

The template also incorporates charts to depict your target audience and financial projections. Visme enables you to seamlessly link real-time data from 3rd-party apps like Excel or Google Sheets and import tables, charts and graphs into your projects.

14. Project Investment Proposal

Project Investment Proposal
Project Investment Proposal
Project Investment Proposal
Project Investment Proposal
Project Investment Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Showcase your project's potential to investors with this sleek investment template. Its elegant design incorporates a striking blend of black and yellow, exuding professionalism.

The template includes sections such as executive summary, project goal, target community, use of funds, assessments and more.

Customize this template by using images or videos to showcase your prior projects. This visual showcase will offer investors a glimpse of your work, significantly increasing your chances of winning.

15. Prime Real Estate Investment Proposal

Prime Real Estate Investment Proposal
Prime Real Estate Investment Proposal
Prime Real Estate Investment Proposal
Prime Real Estate Investment Proposal
Prime Real Estate Investment Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Position your company as a trusted business for real estate investments with this stunning template. The layout, colors and captivating real estate imagery create a compelling visual narrative.

The template captures everything you need to show investors that you’ve done your homework. It includes an executive summary, overview, gallery, risk assessment, investment rationale and more. You can also include video testimonials of prior clients to gain potential investors’ confidence.

Each page of this document can be easily customized using Visme's user-friendly drag-and-drop editor.

16. Startup Investment Proposal

Startup Investment Proposal
Startup Investment Proposal
Startup Investment Proposal
Startup Investment Proposal
Startup Investment Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Starting a business? Utilize this startup investment proposal to highlight your idea's potential and leave a lasting impact on investors. The distinctive color scheme of yellow, white and navy blue blends to evoke a sense of innovation.

It includes clear sections to highlight your executive summary, market analysis, competitive advantage, business model and more.

In addition to your proposal, you can use Visme’s presenter studio to record your elevator pitch and share it with potential investors. This adds a personal touch and helps you engage busy executives.

Check out this guide to learn more about creating an investment proposal.

 

Consulting Proposal Templates

17. Business Consulting Proposal

Business Consulting Proposal
Business Consulting Proposal
Business Consulting Proposal
Business Consulting Proposal
Business Consulting Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Win client's trust to hire your consulting services with this cutting-edge template proposal.

This design boasts a sleek color scheme of grays and blacks contrasted with a pristine white background, ensuring an attention-grabbing visual. It encompasses all crucial aspects, from an executive summary to project timelines, pricing models and compelling testimonials, to effectively showcase your expertise to potential clients.

You can link the icons, objects or text to a website or document for seamless navigation and engagement using interactive links.

18. IT Consulting Proposal

IT Consulting Proposal
IT Consulting Proposal
IT Consulting Proposal
IT Consulting Proposal
IT Consulting Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Craft a compelling pitch for your IT consulting service with this detailed consulting proposal template. It provides a structured framework to articulate your goals, expertise, services, recommendations and project details effectively.

Packed with captivating visuals, refined fonts, modern design elements and versatile layouts, this template ensures your proposal shines among competitors.

Personalize it to match your company's processes by incorporating text, applying your branding and expanding or adapting sections as needed.

19. Social Media Consulting Proposal

Whether you're an established social media agency or a freelancer looking to land your next big client, use this template to confidently pitch your social media consulting services.

With its sophisticated mix of blue and white hues, complemented by well-organized layouts and interactive icons, this template adds a touch of elegance to your presentation.

It covers crucial areas such as market analysis, personalized strategies, content planning and measurable objectives to craft a persuasive argument.

Make this template yours by swapping out the placeholder text and adjusting the visual elements until you're satisfied with the look and feel.

20. Marketing Consulting Proposal

Marketing Consulting Proposal
Marketing Consulting Proposal
Marketing Consulting Proposal
Marketing Consulting Proposal
Marketing Consulting Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Secure lucrative marketing projects confidently with this modern consultant proposal template. Its contemporary layout, crisp imagery and fusion of vibrant color themes project a high level of professionalism.

This template provides comprehensive coverage for essential aspects like the executive summary, "why choose us" section, project scope, deliverables, timeline, budget and more.

Lacking visuals for your projects? Utilize Visme's AI image generator to create relevant, high-quality, original images that breathe life into your design. Simply type in your prompts to generate professional-grade photos, paintings, pencil drawings, 3D graphics, icons, abstract art and more in seconds.

 

Project Proposal Templates

21. Web Development Proposal Template

Web Development Project Proposal
Web Development Project Proposal
Web Development Project Proposal
Web Development Project Proposal
Web Development Project Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

You’ll require a standout proposal to win clients in a highly competitive web development industry. This sleek proposal can be your game-changer.

With an exquisite design layout, vector icons and a vibrant color scheme blending yellow, blue and white, this proposal immediately captures attention. The sections within cover the project overview, portfolio, website structure, timeline, budget breakdowns and more.

If you need to enhance your existing images and give them a professional look, you can utilize our AI Image Edit Tools within the Visme editor. The wizard allows you to remove backgrounds, unblur, or enlarge small images for optimal presentation.

22. Roofing Proposal

Roofing Proposal
Roofing Proposal
Roofing Proposal
Roofing Proposal
Roofing Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Whether you're a seasoned roofing contractor or a startup, this template will equip you to stand out and secure your roofing projects effectively.

The template utilizes a minimalist design with well-organized sections, ensuring your proposal looks both professional and visually appealing. Key sections such as project scope, materials, timelines, safety protocols and cost breakdowns lets you showcase your expertise and reliability.

Personalize the template by substituting the placeholder text and fine-tuning the visual elements until it suits your needs.

23. Construction Proposal

Construction Proposal
Construction Proposal
Construction Proposal
Construction Proposal
Construction Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Utilize this refined template to leave a lasting impact and win your upcoming construction or renovation projects. Its blue, yellow and white color scheme radiates professionalism, while its captivating visuals and elegant layout effortlessly highlight your content.

The template features sections such as project scope, timeline, materials, costs and service specifics which underscore your expertise and dedication to top-notch work.

Share and download this proposal in various formats—PDF, PNG, JPG and GIF—or generate a link to share it with the client.

24. Architectural Proposal

Architectural Proposal
Architectural Proposal
Architectural Proposal
Architectural Proposal
Architectural Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Seal prestigious architectural deals confidently with this sleek architectural proposal template.

The template boasts high-resolution graphics, smart design elements, and engaging fonts. It includes sections for project goals, milestones, budgets and ample architectural images that add visual appeal.

Customize this template using Visme's built-in design assets or upload your own. You can use the shortcut feature for quick access to design elements on Visme. Simply type '/' to search and locate what you need in seconds.

 

Bid Proposal Templates

25. Bid Proposal

Bid Proposal
Bid Proposal
Bid Proposal
Bid Proposal
Bid Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

If you would like to craft a winning bid proposal and enhance your business opportunities, this professional proposal template is perfect.

This template stands out with its captivating design layout, refined color scheme, and an impressive selection of fonts, icons, and images. It features a formal letter, budget breakdown and project commencement and completion terms.

What sets this template apart is its adaptability to suit any industry. Every aspect of this template is also customizable, allowing you to modify content, colors, fonts, shapes and logos to align perfectly with your brand identity.

26. Lawn Care Proposal

Lawn Care Bid Proposal
Lawn Care Bid Proposal
Lawn Care Bid Proposal
Lawn Care Bid Proposal
Lawn Care Bid Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Communicate your expertise and dedication to impeccable lawn care with this stunning lawn care bid proposal.

This expertly crafted template boasts a captivating cover page and is filled with captivating fonts, high-definition images of lush greenery and dynamic vector icons.

You can customize every aspect of this template effortlessly. If you want to switch up the images, Visme offers an extensive array of top-notch images and design elements, from 3D icons and shapes to animated graphics, ensuring your proposal stands out vibrantly.

27. Fintech Agency Bid Proposal

Fintech Agency Bid Proposal
Fintech Agency Bid Proposal
Fintech Agency Bid Proposal
Fintech Agency Bid Proposal
Fintech Agency Bid Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Whether your agency specializes in digital banking, blockchain, payments, or other fintech solutions, this template equips you to stand out in competitive bids.

With a striking color palette of black, lemon and white, this template achieves a great balance—bold enough to captivate attention yet professional enough to exude credibility.

You can leverage the sections to highlight your firm's background, methodologies, budget and delivery aspects. The project timeline page is also particularly beneficial to provide clients with a clear glimpse of the project's completion date.

You can seamlessly integrate videos of client testimonials, your services, or a compelling brand narrative, enhancing your proposal's impact.

28. Marketing Campaign Bid Proposal Template

Marketing Campaign Bid Proposal
Marketing Campaign Bid Proposal
Marketing Campaign Bid Proposal
Marketing Campaign Bid Proposal
Marketing Campaign Bid Proposal
Create your Business Proposal with this easy-to-edit template. Edit and Download

Looking to create a captivating bid proposal for marketing services? This template fits the bill.

The template boasts a lively color palette blending violet and white, setting the stage for a professional presentation.

It includes a succinct summary of your response to the RFP, featuring the challenge and proposed solutions, a compelling "why choose us" section and the estimated budget.

To further elevate engagement, Visme’s interactive features allow for linking specific sections to pricing pages, product page or terms and conditions. You can also employ hover effects or popups to reveal supplementary company information, enhancing the viewer's experience.

Read this article to discover professional bid proposal templates to win new clients.

 

Business Proposal FAQs

A business proposal is a document crafted to persuade a prospective client to choose a company for a particular task or project. It outlines the specific project or service, pricing, deliverables and the value the company can provide.

On the other hand, a business plan is a comprehensive document that serves as a roadmap for an organization’s future, guiding decision-making and operations.

It outlines the company’s objectives, strategies, market analysis, financial projections and operational details.

Unlike a business plan, which is internally focused, a business proposal is tailored externally to win a specific opportunity or contract.

Generally, a business proposal can range from 1 to 20 pages. However, there’s no strict rule on length. The length of a business proposal can vary based on the specific requirements of the project or the expectations of the recipient.

Shorter proposals (one to five pages) are suitable for simpler projects or when the recipient specifies a brief document. More complex projects might require longer proposals with detailed sections on various aspects like methodology, timelines, pricing and terms.

A typical business proposal usually follows this basic format:

  • Cover Page: This page includes your proposal title, company name, submission date and contact information.
  • Executive Summary: Your executive summary section gives a brief overview of the proposal, highlighting the key points, objectives and why the proposal should be considered.
  • Introduction: This section introduces the company and its background.
  • Problem Statement or Needs Assessment: This section describes the client’s issue or need that the proposal aims to address. This section clarifies the problem and its significance.
  • Proposed Solution or Methodology: Utilize this section to highlight the company’s approach to solving the client’s problem. You can detail the services, products, or methodologies offered.
  • Timeline or Work Plan: Your timeline section should present a schedule or timeline of how the proposed solution will be implemented, including milestones and deadlines.
  • Budget or Cost Proposal: Provide a breakdown of the costs associated with the proposed solution, including fees, expenses and payment terms in this section.
  • Company Expertise, Experience and Accolades: Give a compelling overview of the company’s expertise, experience, relevant projects and qualifications that make it suitable for the project in this section.
  • Conclusion/Next Steps: Summarize the key points and reinforce the benefits of choosing your company. Then end with a clear call to action.

The 3 C’s of a business proposal are clarity, compelling and competitiveness. Let’s take a brief look at each component:

Clarity

Your business proposal should be clear and easy to understand. It should articulate the problem, proposed solution, methodology and terms in a straightforward manner.

You should also avoid buzzwords and stick to languages and examples that resonate with the client.

Compelling

Your proposal should be engaging, well-structured and crafted in a way that maintains interest throughout.

It should incorporate visuals like images, icons, graphs or charts to complement the text and make the proposal visually appealing.

You can also use storytelling techniques to illustrate the problem, the solution and the positive impact your proposal will have.

Competitive

Your proposal needs to be persuasive. It should convince the recipient that your company’s solution is the best fit for their needs.

This involves showcasing expertise, providing evidence of past successes and demonstrating the unique value your company brings

Here are some steps to help you write an effective business proposal:

  • Understand who your audience is and what their needs are
  • Design a compelling cover page, title page and table of contents
  • Write your executive summary
  • Clearly define the client’s problem or needs.
  • Propose a solution (product, features and benefits)
  • Showcase your company’s background, team expertise, experience and qualifications.
  • List deliverables, milestones, and timelines
  • Provide a detailed budget and payment structure
  • Include quotes from satisfied clients or references and evidence of your track record
  • Write a conclusion and appendix

Visme’s proposal templates come with pre-made sections to make the proposal creation process easier and more efficient. With our intuitive editor, you can customize these sections, add or remove sections as needed to fit your specific needs.

The five key elements every proposal should include are:

  • Project background and objectives
  • Problem statement
  • Project scope and plan
  • Timeline and budget
  • Conclusion and next steps

When it comes to proposal writing, there are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind to ensure that your proposal stands out and increases your chances of success.

Do’s: 

  • Understand the client’s needs and tailor your proposal accordingly. Start with a catchy and attention-grabbing introduction.
  • Clearly articulate your value proposition, unique strengths and capabilities.
  • Use visuals and graphics to make your proposal more engaging and memorable.
  • Include testimonials or case studies to demonstrate your track record.
  • Provide a detailed and realistic project plan, timeline, and budget.
  • Proofread and edit your proposal thoroughly before submitting it.

Don’ts:

  • Don’t use a generic proposal template without customizing it to the client’s needs.
  • Don’t overpromise or exaggerate your capabilities.
  • Don’t use jargon or technical terms that may confuse the client.
  • Don’t submit a proposal that is too long or too short.
  • Don’t forget to follow up with the client after submitting the proposal.

  • “I think,” “I’m not sure,” “I believe,” and similar phrases can seem hesitant and unconfident. Instead, state your ideas and arguments with conviction.
  • “The best,” “the greatest,” or “the top-ranked” empty “superlatives like this can come across as exaggerated and lacking credibility.
  • “This might be a stupid question, but…” never apologize for asking a question or suggesting an idea. It’s important to demonstrate confidence in your abilities and ideas.
  • Jargon or technical language that the client may not understand; keep in mind that the proposal may be read by individuals who are not familiar with your industry or field. Use plain language and avoid technical terms that may be confusing.
  • “Trust me”—this phrase can sound condescending and unprofessional. Instead, provide evidence and data to support your arguments and proposals.
  • “Our competitors are terrible.” Avoid speaking negatively about your competitors. Rather, focus on highlighting your own strengths and unique selling points.

 

Create Professionally Engaging Proposals & More with Visme

An engaging and professionally crafted proposal increases your likelihood of closing deals or securing business partnerships.

With Visme’s proposal maker, creating an impactful proposal can be a walk in the park. It offers professional templates and robust editing tools designed for various proposal needs.

Moreover, Visme provides features like real-time collaboration, interactive data visualizations, online sharing, AI tools, analytics and graphics, elevating your proposal to new heights.

Sign up for Visme today to start creating winning proposals.

Olujinmi Oluwatoni
Written by Olujinmi Oluwatoni

Olujinmi is passionate about helping B2B and SaaS brands with great products tell their stories. She creates data-driven content that’s helpful, inspires brand trust and drives engagement. When she’s not writing, she enjoys composing songs or trying out new recipes. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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