The Components Of A Business Proposal

Construction of your Business Proposal

A business proposal, unlike a government solicitation response, is more flexible, allowing you to present your company, its key qualifications, benefits, and expected outcome in a manner that creates a persuasive case for selecting you over the competition.
Although there are components that are always included in creating a foundation, the key strategy will be specific to the industry, client, and services for which you are bidding.

Like every other proposal, the format of business proposals requires your initial strategy to begin by capturing the client’s information and background and gaining an understanding of the problems to be solved by the services provided. The key components that establish the foundation of your proposal will include:

Company Information: Background, qualifications, key benefits that enable your company to stand out from the competition.
Experience and knowledge of the services required: Describe your understanding of the problem being solved, what the client needs, and your solution.
Technical Approach: Description of how you will render the required services, i.e., using what resources and strategies, and who does what, when, and why.
Project Cost: If necessary, break down the costs for an understanding of the pricing components and/or include a narrative.

Cover Page
Include the basic components identifying the client (name, address, and contact person), a title for the proposal that identifies the proposed services, your company information (name, address, and contact person, email, and phone), and the date.
If applicable, include an image that captures the essence of the project and projects a professional appearance for your business.
What is not helpful, are graphics throughout the proposal that are too fancy where your document looks more like a magazine than a professional proposal, so do not overdo the graphics throughout the document unless it clarifies a component of the narrative. And, do not put your content in two columns.

Transmittal Letter/Cover Letter
Provide a brief introduction to your company (years in business, specialization, etc.). Identify the experience your company has that is directly related to the contract and why you are proposing to provide the required services to the client.
Highlight the key benefits that your company brings that set you apart from the competition and will provide confidence in your ability to successfully execute all requirements on time and within budget.
Briefly identify the information provided in the proposal itself. Offer to provide any additional information or answer questions the client may have and have it signed by a senior officer along with their contact information.

Table of Contents
Include a table of contents that mirrors the proposal content with sections or tabs and sub-sections to three levels which each link to the related page. Microsoft Word will automatically create a table of contents based on your headers and sub-headers.

Executive Summary
By providing a high-level overview of the proposal, you can set the stage for what to expect in the proposal content. You can expand on some of the briefs identified in your cover letter and go into more detail.
The goal is to provide brief summaries of each section within the proposal itself under sub-headers identifying those sections and enticing the reader with the solutions covered in each of those sections.
Often, you can create the executive summary after completing the proposal or use the executive summary as your initial outline prior to developing all of the content. This second way will allow you to create an organized strategy prior to the detailed narratives.
You are not trying to explain the details in the summary, but rather highlight the key points in each of the sections of the proposal that identify the client’s problems and your solutions. Allow your executive summary to provide a high-level overview and then leave the rest of the proposal to explain the details.

Introduction
Provide your understanding of the project, its importance, and the benefits that will they will receive as a result of your services under the contract.

Description of the Project and your Technical Approach
If a specific format of the business proposal is requested, be sure to follow their format and organizational structure.
Describe in a detailed narrative how you will provide the required tasks/services, what resources you will use and who will do what, when, and how. Possibly provide a schedule of events or a Gantt chart showing over time when those tasks will be conducted.
Be specific and define clearly your aims and goals, as well as your methodology and approach. Describe the contract team containing your key personnel and their roles, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Experience/References
Provide profiles of past projects similar in scope and size with details that include the organization name, address, contact person, contract amount, period of performance, and a description of the services or tasks accomplished.

Pricing/Cost Proposal
Include your overall estimated cost for the project with descriptions of variables that could impact the cost or negotiated items with alternatives and how they will impact the overall contract amount.

10 Ways To Keep Your Project Manager Happy

Project managers: the most powerful, and yet under-appreciated, person in a creative agency. Here’s how to say thank you, show some appreciation, and stay on your PM’s good side while they’re herding all those “cats”.

The most powerful person in a creative agency is the often under-appreciated project manager. Project managers are assigning creative teams, managing schedules, and basically calling the shots when it comes to who’s doing what and when it’s due. If you want to impress one person in your office, start with the project manager
Get on her good side and you’ll be laughing: she’ll assign you to the fun projects, she’ll build extra time into the schedule for you, and she may even allocate you extra hours for “creative development” in her budget (i.e. beers at lunch).

Pissing off your project manager is the last thing you want to do unless you enjoy working on only your agency’s notorious worst clients, slaving away on weekends for “last minute deadlines”, and being harrassed about your timesheets every five minutes. Your project manager can make every day a living hell or a carnival fantasyland. It’s all up to you.

Here are 10 tips for staying on your project manager’s nice list.

10. Do not start off every meeting she schedules by asking “Is this going to be a long meeting?” 

As much as it may seem like project managers enjoy sitting in meetings all day for fun, they do not. They, like you, have a lot of other shit to do. Making her feel bad about the meeting she’s scheduled is not helping your case.

9. Be on time. 

Project managers are prompt by nature and they appreciate it when you are as well. If an appointment starts at 10:00, be there at 9:50. If your deadline is 4:00, have your work submitted a little bit earlier to make sure there’s room to go wrong. If a project manager sees you as someone who is on time and reliable, he will respect that.

8. Ask for her opinion. 

Project managers are often seen as uncreative time-management Nazis, but they are so much more than walking, talking, Excel files. Project managers are involved with so many projects and clients, they often have valuable creative insights or ideas and will jump at the chance to get involved beyond creating estimates and timelines. Making her part of the creative process will earn you a gazillion PM brownie points.

7. Hang out outside the office. 

Yes, project managers also eat lunch, drink alcohol, play basketball…if you’re doing extracurriculars with your team, invite the PM. Getting to know him as someone beyond the person who bitches at you to do your timesheets every Friday will help your relationship in a huge way.

6. Give her credit. 

Let’s say your team just landed a big client or killed it at a creative presentation. If you’re recognizing the contributions of everyone on the team, for God’s sake, mention your project manager. They are the most likely to be forgotten, in spite of most likely playing a huge behind-the-scenes role in the work, and they’re also the most likely to be bitter and make you work next weekend.

5. Don’t make him hunt you down. 

Let your PM know where you’re at with your assignments. If something is going to be delayed, give him lots of heads up. Make sure he knows the status of what you’re working on. Keeping him in the loop rather than forcing him to go all Mantracker on your ass makes his job easier, which in turn makes your life happier.

4. Read your @#$@ing emails. 

Once again, she’s not sending you these emails for her own good health. Many horrendous communication disasters can be averted by people actually reading their emails. Nothing makes the project manager prickle faster than hearing “yeah, I saw your email but I didn’t open it yet.”

3. Respond to calendar invites – but NOT with maybe. 

Honestly, I don’t know why ‘maybe’ is even an option when responding to a meeting request. Just commit one way or another.

2. Don’t leave her hanging. 

Project managers are typically a little type-A by nature. They like to know details and they like to be prepared for anything. The more information you can provide her about any project, the better. If you’re worried that you may be overcommunicating, chances are you’re doing a good job.

1. Say thank you. 

Project managers know they’re annoying at times and all that management can make him feel like a nagging mother-in-law. Just a simple ‘’thank you’ or a note of appreciation can make him feel like he doesn’t exist solely to rain on your parade. Thank him for setting up a presentation, sending around a meeting recap, or sourcing a new screen printer… say a genuine thank you from time to time. Then sit back and watch all the fun projects roll your way.

 

Crush Your Sales Goals with These 6 Best Web Services Proposal Templates

In contrast to other industries, those involved in digital design are well aware of the importance of a compelling and expertly-designed business proposal. A proposal, other than personal presentations, is the best way for business owners to convey the appropriate solution to a client’s demands or pain areas. Proposals demonstrate your understanding of the client’s requirements and your suitability for the job. In fact, most customers normally ask for this document before asking to review the project portfolio.

Your web design proposals, as a website designer or developer, must have eye-catching designs and layouts. However, due to scheduling restrictions, it might not be possible. For that reason, we’ve prepared this list, so you can choose your preferred web design proposal template and start winning more business!

But before you proceed, there are a few things to keep in mind when using templates for web design proposals. First, make sure that the template you choose is appropriate for the project you’re working on. Second, customize the template to fit your own needs and style. Third, don’t be afraid to add your own flare to make the proposal stand out.

Now let’s get into the list.

6 Best Web Services Proposal Templates

Website Design Proposal Template

Proposal for Website redesign 01

 

Are you searching for a responsive template to highlight your web design services that are visually appealing but clutter-free?

Look no further, you can’t go wrong with this slick, stunning website design proposal template from RFPLY. The proposal template not only delivers a simple aesthetic experience, but it also has seven organized sections that can be used to show potential customers how you can best satisfy their demands. The sections include a case study page, a page about our processes, a page about timelines, a page about investments,  and a page about terms and conditions

This gorgeous website proposal template does the job and much more. The powerful, self-assured design,  uses dark primary colors, which will give your business a contemporary, appealing, and expert appearance.

eCommerce Website Proposal Template

An e-commerce website proposal template offered by RFPLY.COM can be a great way to streamline the process of creating a proposal for an online store. By using this template, you can ensure that your proposal is well-organized and has every component needed to construct a strong web design proposal for an online store that will convince potential customers to always sign your proposal.

The template will help you save time by providing a structure for your proposal and pre-populating some of the content. This will be particularly helpful if you are not experienced in writing proposals or if you are creating a proposal for the first time. In addition, it is one of the most comprehensive and well-organized proposals that will need minimal editing.

UI UX Design Proposal Template

This UI UX design proposal template focuses on your specific approach to managing UX design projects to their successful completion and has a brief and thorough format that is easy to scan and understand. The free template outlines pages for a cover letter, description of the job, project schedule, estimate, and terms and conditions. It also gives room for highlighting the background and expertise of the organization.

In short, this UI UX design proposal template will be a great way to streamline your workflow and ensure that your proposals are consistent and professional.

Graphic Design Proposal Template

This graphic design proposal template can help you save a lot of time and hassle when creating proposals for your graphic design clients. Instead of starting from scratch each time, you can simply fill in the blanks with your client’s information and project details.

Below are three reasons why you should think of using this graphic design proposal template.

  • The template will ensure that all necessary information is included.
  • When you use this template, you can be sure that you haven’t forgotten to include any important details in your proposal. All the key points that should be covered are likely already listed in the template, which takes the guesswork out of preparing your proposal.
  • The template will make it easy to compare proposals from different designers.

Google Adwords Proposal Template

As the internet becomes more competitive, it is important for website owners to utilize all available tools to increase their visibility. Google AdWords is one of the tools that can be used to create ads that appear on Google’s search engine results pages. AdWords can be an effective way to drive traffic to a website and generate leads. Therefore, if your website agency provides Adwords services in addition to other web design services, you will find this Google Adwords proposal template very useful when preparing an estimate.

By using this pre-made template, you can quickly create an effective ad campaign that targets your specific audience. It is definitely pricey to hire someone to design your advertising plan. With the help of this template, you can complete it yourself at a much lower cost.

SEO Proposal Template

SEO Audit Services Proposal Template

 

This SEO proposal template from RFPLY.COM can be used by web services agencies when soliciting new clients. The template can help to ensure that the firm provides potential clients with the necessary information about its services and fees. Additionally, the template can help the firm to stand out from its competitors.

By using this template, you can avoid having to create a custom proposal for each new client. This can save significant time and resources. Additionally, the client will appreciate receiving a well-organized and professional proposal.

So in case you are wondering what makes a good SEO proposal, there’s no need to start from scratch. RFPLY has done all the nitty-gritty tasks for you. All you need to do is simply add your company-specific details under each section provided in the proposal template and you are on the go for sealing deals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you’re looking to up your web services proposal game, these six templates are a great place to start. They’re designed to help you close more deals and reach your sales goals, so what are you waiting for? Get started today!

3 Essential Photography Proposal Templates for Building a Six Figure Photography Business

When running a photography business, every business owner or independent contractor should always have some business documents readily available. Building a library of document templates is an incredibly worthwhile investment for any photography business owner. Not only will it save you time and hassle, but it will also give your business a more polished and professional look.

Think about all of the different types of documents you regularly need to create: invoices, estimates, contracts, proposals, etc. Now imagine having a professional-looking template for each one that you could easily customize to fit your specific needs.

So take a deep breath and relax – we’ve got you covered. We have put together a round-up of 2 proposal templates and 2 contracts. With these samples on hand, creating essential business documents will be a breeze. So save yourself some time and hassle.

 

Proposal Templates

Photography Proposal Template

Photography Proposal Template

With our proposal template, you can quickly compose and respond to an RFP or proposal for a project so you can easily focus on important chapters like the scope of work (SOW), methodology, timeline, and pricing structure.

The proposal template has the finest written paragraphs that allow you to introduce your company, experience, services, team profile, and references in a professional manner. What the user will customize, will be their organization addressing the scope of work, the timeline of the project, and pricing if needed.

Audio Visual Production Services Proposal Template

Individuals and companies that provide professional corporate photography will find this photography proposal sample helpful when writing business proposals that explain their services and showcase their expertise.

This photography project proposal allows you to highlight your background, introduce your team, and demonstrate your abilities by including your portfolio. Provide your clients with a clear description of the types of photography services you offer, the packages available, and the fees for each. Ensure client confidence by supplying customer testimonials, along with helpful tips for a successful photo session.

Video Production Services Proposal

This template was used for a commercial video production services proposal. This proposal outlines paragraphs such as cover letter, services, the artist’s style, and resources needed including models, project deliverables, audio, setup, and delivery dates along with showing the artist’s portfolio and references, copyright ownership, and policies.

2 1

 

 

Finally…

These photography templates are easy to use and customizable, so you can make them work for your specific needs. With a little effort, you can have a successful and profitable photography business up and running in no time.

Customizable Proposal Templates For Every HR Staffing agency

It requires a high level of perception skills to be able to recognize people, figure out how to best use their abilities, and identify if they are even any good. Human resources have to deal with that every day.

The importance of human resources cannot be understated. A strong human resources department can make or break a company. As the backbone of any company, human resources is responsible for a variety of things, right from ensuring that employees are productive and happy, which in turn boosts morale and helps to create a positive work environment to help the company protect itself from legal trouble by staying up-to-date on employment law and handling any issues that may arise.

In short, human resource is an essential part of any business. Without a strong human resources department, a company would be lost.

Working in the human resource department you are required to develop proposals, contracts, letters, and other kinds of documents on a day-to-day basis. And when it comes to managing such documents, templates can be a lifesaver. From tracking employee performance to creating a system for onboarding new hires, templates provide a framework that can save time and help ensure consistency.

So here, in this blog, we have made put together a complete list of important HR document templates. With these templates, all you have to do is customize them based on your needs, and you’re ready to roll.

Staffing Agency Proposal Template That Wins Clients

This proven proposal template won over $9,000,000 of business for our staffing and recruitment customers in 2022 alone. The text, images, colors, your logo – it’s all 100% editable.

  1. IT Staff Augmentation Services Proposal Template

 

Proposal for upskilling employees

Training your employees with the latest work skills has become a necessity in today’s fast-paced environment. With regular innovations in various fields, it is important that your workers are kept abreast of the latest policies and systems for their jobs. Ease of doing business is a key factor for most of these new pieces of training. Propose your company’s expert guidance for upskilling your client firm’s employees with our specially developed Microsoft Word proposal template. Introduce your training campaign with an impressive cover letter slide to build a good first impression on your audiences. With a dedicated table of contents included with this recruit training proposal, keeping track of all sections of your pitch becomes simple.

Our Proposal For Upskilling Employees has been designed to put forth your employee training business in the best light. With smartly planned bullet points, describe in detail your project context and project objectives in this training proposal. Exhibit your proposed plan of action with aesthetically developed info-graphic charts that have been organized to portray each stage of your planning agenda with specific icons. Ensure that your prospective customers understand the scope of the training process well with this proposal.

  1. Upskilling Training Digital Skills Services Proposal Template

 

Medical Staffing Services Proposal Template

If you are a staffing agency or provide other recruitment, hiring, and HR services, our medical staffing proposal template provides a sample outline for preparing a winning bid proposal.

Pitch your comprehensive recruitment system, rigorous screening process, and full onboarding services that attract the right candidates needed for your client’s business growth.

Whether you provide temporary or permanent employment services where you place expert nurses and specialty clinicians in short-staffed healthcare facilities, this proposal template can help you streamline your sales process.

  1. https://rfply.com/medical-staffing-services-proposal-template/

 

 

Cover Letter: What is it & How to Write it?

It’s not easy to effectively present your company to someone, you need to have an effective communication plan if you want to convince someone to sell your product or service.

Set your product or service apart from others and convince people that your proposal is the best one… and that’s when a proposal cover letter or executive summary enters the picture!

A proposal letter can give you the edge you need to grow your company. To write an ideal proposal letter, there are a few things you must understand.

In order for you to succeed, we will provide you with all the knowledge you need about a proposal letter in this blog article.

Definition of a Proposal Cover Letter?

A proposal letter is a type of business letter that you use to introduce someone to your product or services. It could be a new product, service, or project that you want to bring to their attention. The key to a proposal letter is to be clear and concise about what it is that you’re proposing, and why you think it’s a good idea.

There are different types of proposal letters, but they all have the same goal: to sell a service or product. Whether you’re trying to get a client on board with your new product line or convincing your boss to invest in your latest project, the principles are the same. The best way to write a winning proposal letter is to keep it short and sweet and make sure that your argument is airtight.

The letter should contain a detailed description of the products or services provided by your company, along with how they would benefit the client.

Why you should Create a Proposal Letter?

When you’re trying to land a new client or project, the first step is always to create a proposal letter. This document is your chance to make a great first impression and sell your potential client why they should work with you.

In addition to increasing your chances of landing a client, creating a proposal letter has other advantages for your company:

Provides a roadmap

First, it forces you to think through your idea and what you hope to achieve with it. This process can help you clarify your goals and objectives, which is essential for any successful project. It forces you to think through all aspects of your project before you even begin. This includes identifying your target audience, developing clear goals and objectives, and outlining a strategy for how you will achieve them.

Additionally, a well-written proposal letter can make a strong impression on potential investors or partners, helping you secure the support you need to move forward.

Addresses risks

A proposal letter is a tool that can be used to address potential risks in a project. By outlining the risks and their possible impact on the project, a proposal letter can help to mitigate these risks. Doing so can help to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.

A well-written proposal letter can also help to build trust between the parties involved in the project. By clearly outlining the risks and their potential impact, it shows that the team is aware of the risks and is taking steps to address them. This can help to build confidence in the team and its ability to deliver on the project.

It demonstrates professionalism and commitment

When you are ready to begin work on a new project, it is important to show your professionalism and commitment to the project. One way to do this is by writing a proposal letter. A proposal letter demonstrates that you have thought through the details of the project and have a plan in place. It also shows that you are committed to seeing the project through to completion.  This can go a long way in convincing a potential client or funder to invest in what you are doing.

A proposal letter can be a helpful tool in securing funding for your project. It can also help to build support for your project from potential collaborators or investors. Writing a well-crafted proposal letter is an important step in ensuring the success of your project.

 

How to Create a Proposal Letter? (Step by Step)

If you’re not sure how to get started, don’t worry. We’ve put together a few tips to help you create a winning proposal letter.

Step 1: Introduction and background information

The first step is to introduce yourself and your organization (if applicable). Be sure to explain who you are and what your qualifications are for making this proposal. If you are representing a company, you should also provide some basic information about the company.

The introduction should include a concise summary of the entire project and some background information about your firm.

If you have planned to schedule a meeting or have had any previous interactions, mention these in your opening statement.

In order to make it look like you’re contributing to the discussion on something they were previously considering, you should also address the client’s or partner’s business needs.

Step 2. State your purpose for the proposal

A proposal letter is a document that outlines a plan of action, request, or offer. It is important to state your purpose for the proposal letter in the beginning. This will help the reader understand the context of the letter and what you are proposing. The following tips will help you state your purpose for the proposal letter:

  • Be clear and concise in your statement of purpose.
  • Explain why you are writing the proposal letter.
  • Describe what you hope to achieve with the proposal.
  • Be specific about what you are offering or requesting in the proposal.
  • State any deadlines or timeframes associated with the proposal.
  • Indicate whether the proposal is confidential or not.

Step 3. Defining your goals and objectives

When creating a proposal letter, it’s important to first define your goals and objectives. What are you hoping to accomplish with your proposal? Once you have a clear understanding of your goals, you can begin crafting your letter.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when defining your goals and objectives:

  • Be specific. Your objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. In other words, they should be SMART goals.
  • Keep it simple. Don’t try to accomplish too many things with your proposal letter; focus on one or two key objectives.
  • Make them relevant: Make sure that your goals and objectives are relevant to the needs of your potential client.

Step 4. Discuss the utilization of budget and funds

When you’re writing a proposal letter, it’s important to make sure that your differentiators are clear. By highlighting what makes you and your company unique, you’ll be more likely to win over the client.

Here are a few tips on how to make your differentiators stand out:

  • Make a list of all the ways you’re different from your competitors.
  • Highlight the most important points in your proposal letter.
  • Use strong language to emphasize why you’re the best choice for the job.
  • Back up your claims with evidence, such as customer testimonials or case studies.
  • Explain how your differentiators will benefit the client specifically.
  • Use simple language that everyone can understand – avoid jargon or industry-specific terms.

Step 5. Highlight your differentiators

The client or business partner should be given a general estimate of the overall expenses associated with the deal. This does not imply that you must provide a complete budget and financial breakdown. Instead, a detailed explanation of the costs should be provided. This part is crucial since the ultimate decision-making process heavily considers a project’s cost.

Step 6. Call to action

The most important part of your proposal letter is the call to action. This is where you tell your potential client what you want them to do, and how you can help them. Here are some tips for creating an effective call to action:

  • Be clear and concise. Your call to action should be easy to understand and follow.
  • Be specific. Tell your potential client exactly what you want them to do, and how you can help them.
  • Be persuasive. Use strong language to convince your potential client that they need your services.
  • Use a strong close. End your letter with a powerful statement that will leave a lasting impression on your reader.

Step 7. Close the letter and provide contact details

The final step in creating a proposal letter is to close the letter and provide contact details. This allows the reader to know how to get in touch with you if they have any questions or want to discuss the proposal further.

To close the letter, thank the reader for their time and let them know that you look forward to hearing from them soon. Include your name, title, and contact information below the signature so they can easily get in touch with you.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a proposal letter is a document that states a problem and proposes a solution to that problem. It is important to remember the basic structure of a proposal letter when writing one, which includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. Following these tips will help you write a successful proposal letter.

Craft A Winning Proposal To Pitch Your IT Support Services With This Proposal Template  

Craft A Winning Proposal To Pitch Your IT Support Services With This Proposal Template

If you are an IT support firm, offering IT support services this winning premium IT Support Services proposal template saves you the hard work of writing a proposal from scratch every time for a new prospect. This professionally designed proposal template will surely create a unique impression in front of your prospective client.

We have put together all the elements that you will need in the template you just have to fill in the blanks and customize it as per the client’s requirements.

There are many types of templates in Microsoft Word format that you can choose from:

  1. Managed Services Proposal Template
  2. ICT & Support Services Proposal Template

  3. Managed Services Proposal Template with comprehensive work plan chapter

  4. Cyber Security Consulting & penetration testing services proposal template

  5. IT Staff Augmentation Services Proposal Template

IT Support Proposal Template Format

Having a good IT Support Services proposal gives you another level of confidence. With this proposal template, you can highlight your client’s pain points, goals, and desires and gain their trust.

Advantages of Proposal Templates

Ready to Use Templates: Save Time

Get your proposal in front of your prospects quickly so that you don’t lose the next business. Pick this ready-to-use polished proposal template and outrank your competitors. No more struggling with proposal pieces.

Make The Best First Impression: Hook Them Up

When your client receives your proposal, they would want to open it right away. Use this proposal template to get the reactions like, “professional”, “neat”, and “These guys are professionals”

100% Customizable: Make It Your Thing

These templates are 100% editable and customizable. Pick your proposal template and customize it to suit your brand. The sections, text, color, images everything can be changed.

Clean Structure: Easy Navigation

With the clean structure in your proposal, you can make it super easy for your clients to uncover, and understand your proposal better. A clear structure helps your clients to set their expectations, right from the beginning.

Microsoft Word doc is modifiable and can be saved as a PDF

Would you ever need proposals in Microsoft Word format? Of course. So you can rest assured that you can amend, and modify, whenever you want.

How to Write an Executive Summary: Step-By-Step

Picture this: You’re in a bookstore, and you come across a cool-looking book. Great title. Looks like somebody cared enough to make the cover look good, too. There’s just one thing, though. You don’t know who the author is.
Should you take a chance on him? Will the book be worth your time and money? To find out, you start reading the description. “Nah,” you tell yourself a minute later, “I’ll pass,” suddenly visualizing the piles of crime novels sitting on your bedroom floor still waiting to be read.
Now imagine that instead of a contract employee deciding whether to buy a book, you’re an investor looking for a project to finance. You pick up the first file in a stack on your desk. Instead of the blurb on a hardback’s dust jacket, you go over the executive summary.

Will you want to know more about the project? Or toss the file where it will never be seen again?
The answer will largely depend on what the executive summary says.
An executive summary condenses a much longer document and conveys its findings, takeaways, and recommended action plans. It often appears as the introductory section of a research study, white paper, or business plan. In project management, it accompanies documents such as a project proposal, statement of work, or project charter.
Usually 1-4 pages long, depending on the size of the document it’s based on, it provides readers with an overview of the major points so they don’t have to read the entire material.

As is characteristic of summaries, the executive report summary is usually the last to be written and the first to be read. However, there is no rule saying it has to be written last. You can, of course, write it first and use it as a loose outline to be refined later when your project proposal or business plan is done.
Sometimes referred to as the management summary, it’s also the most frequently read section of a document and, in some cases, the only portion an executive or investor might read.

So if you’re looking to boost your business budget or secure funding for a project that’s tied to a major business development initiative, treat the executive summary report as your elevator pitch, the hook to lure your target audience into learning more about your project, business plan, or proposal.
What you include in an executive summary will vary depending on the content it covers. For example, a startup plan may contain a description of your product or service, financial projections, key business metrics such as revenue growth, and your funding request.
A project proposal executive summary may provide an overview of the project scope and constraints, a summary of the project resources, a high-level explanation of the change management plan, a description of the major deliverables, and so on.

So think about the type of information your target audience would be interested to know in the few minutes they’ll allot to your executive summary. Also, you may sometimes be required to follow certain formatting guidelines, so review any instructions relating to length and overall format.
The steps below will cover the key components to include when writing an executive summary for a proposal.
Open with a bang. Capture the client’s attention right out of the gate. You do that not by talking about yourself. Talk about them and the issue they’re trying to address.

Here’s an example executive summary format for your opening:

Firefly & Co. is a brand poised to reach great heights in the plus-sized women’s clothing industry. High-quality, reasonably priced basic wardrobe staples — you can’t go wrong with that! Especially with Firefly’s ethical and sustainable production practices.
Evidence of Firefly’s growing clout is its ever-increasing social media following. In just less than a year, it has gained over 1 million followers on Facebook and Instagram. While that is an accomplishment in and of itself, what Firefly fails to leverage are the benefits of an e-commerce store.

Tip: Be concise and direct. Build a solid case, and do so in a captivating way.
Clearly state the problem or goal your proposal aims to address. You want to assure the client or sponsor that you fully understand the situation.
Here’s an executive summary example defining the problem:
All purchases are currently done in physical stores. This limits sales potential and the possibility of gaining new customers. With the upcoming launch of Firefly’s summer bag collection, there’s no better time than now to step up its online presence.

Tip: Be very clear about the business need behind the project. The focus here is the client and their pain point, not you or your company — not yet, anyway.
Next, briefly explain the solution you’re proposing. Then, give them a mental picture of what their business would end up looking like once their problem is solved. You want to touch on the business benefits of the completed project, which will generally come in the form of:
Here’s an example of an executive summary describing the solution and expected outcome:
All this can be done with Shopify, a full-service e-commerce platform that provides retailers with an easy-to-use interface for creating professional-looking websites. It comes with all the features they need to manage product listings, inventory, sales, and customer information. It even offers customers different ways to pay — debit or credit cards, mobile wallets, and more!
These features can better translate Firefly & Co.’s social media success into profits. With a Shopify store, your customers won’t always have to travel to your store to get the Firefly essentials they need.

Tip: Keep things high level while still giving readers something to be excited about.
##promo-body-ecap##
This is where you briefly talk about your expertise and whether you’ve done any similar projects before — your qualifications, essentially. You want the client to know that you or your team can deliver on time and within budget. If you can, include relevant figures to highlight your ability to get things done.

Here’s an executive summary sample offering proof of your expertise:
We, at Wildling Creatives, have used Shopify in multiple projects, and most of our clients have seen growth in sales by up to 50% within six months of integrating their brick-and-mortar store with an e-commerce site.
We’re a team of handpicked professionals with a combined 30 years of experience in e-commerce marketing. We’re certified Shopify experts, and with our eyes for good design, web development skills, and expert knowledge in business and e-commerce, we’ve been helping brands like yours create and improve their online shopping presence for years.

Tip: Talk about your strengths, but never lie. Make sure the numbers you include are accurate. If you haven’t already, use project management software for easier tracking and retrieving of key project management metrics such as return on investment and profit margin.
Explain why they should work with you and what they can achieve by doing so. Your call to action can also include your contact information, in case the executive has a question.

Here’s an example:

E-commerce is the way forward. Done right, an unprecedented sales boom is just around the corner.
By partnering with Wildling Creatives, not only will Firefly & Co. significantly boost local sales and improve brand recognition, but it will also open its doors to international customers. We’ve done it for swimwear superstar Bonnie Smith Swim Co., and we’re confident we can also turn Firefly & Co. into the global success it’s meant to be.
If you’re ready to take the next step, this proposal outlines in more detail what you can expect and how we’ll do it. If you have any questions, I’d be happy to personally take your call at (55) 555-5555.

Tip: The goal of an executive summary is more to sell than describe, so this is where you try and close the deal.
To get a better sense of how different executive summaries look, here are templates you can download from rfply.com

Now that you’ve written your executive summary, you want to give it a run-through before you send it off to investors, clients, or potential partners. Be sure to check for the following:
An executive summary should be brief, usually just one or a few pages long. It cannot be comprehensive. If your reader has questions, they can read the details in the proposal or business plan. As a rule of thumb, the length of your executive summary should be between 5-10% of the full report or proposal.

Avoid jargon. Use language your target audience understands. Writing for medical experts will be vastly different from writing for people in finance.

Discuss the major points in the same order as they appear in the full document. Refrain from introducing information not found in the proposal. And, of course, edit and proofread. You don’t want any typos or errors in your executive summary.
Check if there are any formatting guidelines to follow. Otherwise, structure your executive summary in a way that’s easy to skim. Instead of long blocks of text, use bullet points to break down complex information, headings/subheadings to organize topics, and even images to enhance the reader’s understanding of the summary.
Also, it’s a good idea to get someone to critique your executive summary to see if there’s anything you’ve forgotten to include.

A project goes to the project planning stage because the client or a body of decision-makers believes it can solve a problem. But before that, the project manager or service provider writes a proposal, which generally takes time to write. Surely, you don’t want all your efforts to go to waste.

With a well-written executive summary, you get to highlight all the good points of your proposal and entice your target audience to take action.

 

8 Easy Steps to Writing a Winning Business Proposal

What is the hardest part about winning new clients? Some might say it’s lead generation, while others will say it’s prospecting. However, there is one part of the sales process that very few people like to do: write and send out sales proposals. Instead of being happy about having a new client that’s about to sign on, a lot of people stress for hours trying to write a compelling offer suited for a particular client.

Since we know how difficult writing a good business proposal can be, we have come up with tips on how to write proposals that will convert and turn prospects into customers. These insights are based on real facts we have gathered from researching how to write a business proposal, based on more than 189,000 signed proposals.

1. Don’t write from scratch every time

If it’s taking you hours to write a single business proposal because you approach it like you would be writing an essay, thinking each word and section through, you’ve made your first rookie mistake. While this may be a nice, thorough approach, it’s far from practical.

Instead, focus on creating a template that you can simply edit each time you pitch a new client. The template should contain all of the most important elements, along with a few sections (type of service, pricing, terms, etc.) that you would edit and personalize for each client. Instead of spending six hours on a proposal, you can spend half an hour editing a proposal template and sending it out. Easy work.

2. Get the most important details, then write an introduction

The reason why most proposals fail to get signed is not that they are poorly written (although that happens), it’s because the salesperson does not know the client well enough and their pain points. Before sitting down and writing your proposal, have a meeting or a call with the client. Find out what makes them tick and use that knowledge to write an introduction. Here you should state who you are, what you do, and how you will solve the client’s problem. The introduction is the first and most important part of the proposal, so make sure to spend enough time on it to make it compelling.

3. Get into the details

The second part of your proposal contains detailed specifications. This is where you get into the nuts and bolts of how you will solve the client’s problem. Presumably, the introduction got them hooked, and this is where you will show them you really know how to solve their pain point.

Next, your third section should contain timelines. Too many business owners get this part wrong and end up losing the deal or fighting deadlines they can’t manage, simply because they failed to include a timeline in the proposal. Be sure to clearly state what you will be able to do and by when. This also can be beneficial later in case there are disagreements.

4. Show them you can really get the job done

What’s the best way to demonstrate to a client you can create and design a great website for their restaurant? Show them examples of restaurant websites you’ve done before. And this should be your fourth section. In your template insert examples of work you’ve done before that are similar to what you’re proposing.

5. Ask for the money (and make an offer they can’t refuse)

Pricing is the fifth section of any good proposal, and it’s the part of the proposal that gets the second most attention. Pay attention to how you name this section. While calling it “price” is nice and straightforward, it will get your clients thinking of paying, instead of investing. To avoid this, call this section “investment” or “return on investment.”

While your price is dependent on the product or service you’re selling, according to our research, upselling and options aren’t good for conversions. To reduce friction and make it easier for clients to sign, your pricing and offers should be simple and straightforward. Offering just one option is enough, and the client will have an easier time making a decision.