If you have started a new company then you know that in order for it to be successful, you must find a way to increase your customer base. But how can you persuade potential customers to pick you over your competition? The answer is: with a well-written business proposal.
Writing a proposal that fully describes your company, what it does, and how it addresses a particular pain point will help you convince prospective clients that your business is the best choice for the job.
If you need some inspiration before you start writing, you can download a few customizable business proposal templates. A good template combined with the tips from this article will help you create a well-written company proposal that effectively explains your business and win more customers. Let’s begin.
1.Begin With the Title Page and Table of Contents
The title page is where you communicate basic information about your company and yourself. Include your name, the name of your business, the proposal’s submission date, and the client’s name.
Next, include a table of contents in order to make everything clear and understandable for the people who will be reading your proposal. A table of contents will inform your prospective client in detail about the topics addressed in your proposal. If you are sending your business proposal in an electronic form, be sure that the table of contents you include is a clickable one that jumps to the various sections of your business proposal to make reading and navigating through the document easier.
2.Write an Executive Summary
The executive summary explains why the proposal is being sent and why the solution you are proposing is the best one for the potential client.
The executive summary sums up the advantages of your services or products and how they can help solve your prospect’s problem. Even if the potential client doesn’t read the whole business proposal, the executive summary should provide them with a clear understanding of how your company can help them.
3.Identify the Problem
Here is where you should summarize how the problem affects the prospect and demonstrate that you understand their needs, as well as the issue they are trying to solve.
For instance, if the proposal is for creating a new website, ensure that you understand what they hope to achieve with the website, such as higher sales or increased customer engagement. Be sure to do enough research. Look at your client’s particular problems from all angles and consider how you may help.
4.Offer a Solution to the Problem
This section of your business proposal is where you present a plan of action for resolving the prospect’s problem. Specificity and individuality are crucial in this stage. Ensure that the course of action you’re suggesting is tailored to the client’s requirements so they are aware that you have written this proposal for them.
Inform them of the deliverables you’ll offer, the techniques you’ll employ, and the deadline by which they should anticipate them.
5.Explain Your Qualifications
This section should let the potential client know that you are qualified and capable to solve their problem. Use it to communicate effectively why you are the best person for the job.
You can highlight any relevant degrees, training related to your industry, certificates, prior accomplishments in projects of the same sort, years of experience, etc. In addition, be sure to include customer success stories in case studies and make notice of any pertinent honors or credentials to further establish your credibility.
6.Include Price Options
Pricing can be a bit tricky since you need to be careful not to over- or under-price your services. Consider including an optional fee table if you want to give the prospect several pricing options to fit their budget. Some business proposal templates include this kind of table, allowing clients to select the goods or services they are interested in, and the price will update itself.
Refer back to the client’s request for proposal (RFP) to ensure you’re giving the client all the information they need to make an informed decision.
7.State Your Terms and Conditions
In this section, you should include the whole list of terms and conditions the client accepts upon signing the business proposal, along with what you expect in exchange. Ensure that everything is stated clearly and that your legal staff has authorized it.
This part of your proposal should succinctly outline all the project’s deliverables in chronological order, as well as the costs, methods, and payment options.
Final Thoughts
A business proposal can make or break your chances of winning a new client. Follow the above business proposal format as a reference, and you will be well on your way to writing a successful business proposal, landing new clients, and eventually growing your business.
