Business proposals are still one of the most effective ways you can present your company to a new potential client. With a solid business proposal, you can have all your clients and potential signatures quite fast.
Your business proposal can be physical or digital—which might be even better as clients’ introduction to your company is just a click away. Regardless of the format though, for most businesses, it’s their top priority to write the best business proposal possible.
If you are looking to perfect your business proposal writing process, here are the 9 essential steps you need to write a captivating business proposal.
Be Friendly And Engaging
Before we get into the technical aspects of writing a business proposal, it’s important to find the best register and tone of voice for that specific client. Most business proposals can indeed sound dull with their formality, but maybe you can pique the interest of your client with your “unconventionally effective” solutions.
Expanding on the use of words, don’t go overboard with filler. Be straight to the point with unique words that will grab the attention of the reader and convey the message you are sending with your proposal.
Start WIth The Title Page
The title page should be straightforward. Start with a simple introduction of you and your business. There is no need to outline all your services just yet. Focus on minimalistic design and use a high-resolution version of your logo.
Remember that the title page is just a tone-setter. Don’t overwhelm the client with information from the very beginning. If you have no idea what a business proposal looks like, we recommend that you take a look at a solid business proposal sample that will help you create the perfect proposal for your business.
“About Us” Page
This page should include a summary of your company’s history, a list of your satisfied customers, and the nature of your services. This will also assure the client that you and your team will provide a unique experience for them.
Set Up A Table Of Contents
By setting up a table of contents, the readers can have a much more pleasant experience with your proposal. For example, if they see something that they like but forgot on which page it was, they can use the table of contents to navigate through your proposal without hurdles.
The Executive Summary
In this section, you should provide the client with valuable information on why your proposal should be considered. Include various topics and mainly focus on explaining to the client so they have a clear idea of what your services and products can offer to their business in terms of value.
The Proposal Itself
The most important part of your proposal should be clear and straight to the point. Here you can include all the solutions you can offer to your client’s problem. You can talk about how others solve those particular problems in the industry and share your unique way of solving them.
Express how the proposal, with the right strategy, can contribute to a better future for your client. Make sure that you personalize this part completely for the specific client because submitting a generic proposal will make your client think that you don’t value their time and funds.
Lastly, show your client why they believe you. If you have certificates or licenses in a particular field, make sure to display them as well.
Pricing
This is the part of the proposal where you can provide your client with all the necessary information regarding pricing, special offers, methods of payment, etc.
If you have different pricing options, make sure you thoroughly explain them and state what each pricing option brings to the table for your client.
Terms And Condition
Essentially, this is the summary of what you and your client are agreeing to—services, pricing, etc. This section should include all the information regarding your work timetable, the budget that you will use, and what will happen if the demands are not met.
To ensure that everything is fine, consult a legal team so that they can go over the proposal and fill any hole that you missed.
Wrap It Up With Call To Action
In this section, guide your reader on how they can seal the deal with you and start the work process right away. You can include a signature field for your client to sign or a payment page if your proposal is digital.
Final Thoughts
Writing a proposal doesn’t have to be hard. With the help of a good sample, you can write a captivating proposal in no time. When you finish writing the proposal, have someone go over it and ask for feedback on how you can improve it.