How to write a business proposal + examples

“How to write a business proposal?” – this is a question that anyone related to a B2B startup asked themselves at least once during their journey.

A solid business proposal can bridge the gap between you and your prospective client and persuade other businesses or organizations to collaborate with you.

Sounds great, right? 

Read on to discover how you can reach your potential base and start new collaborations with the help of a professionally crafted business proposal. But first, let’s find out what is a business proposal and why it needs to be an inseparable part of your business strategy!

What is a business proposal?

A business proposal is a professionally crafted document prepared by a company and presented to a potential client or prospect with the aim of establishing a formal business agreement. 

This proposal outlines the company’s products, services, or solutions, detailing how they can address the client’s specific needs or requirements. By presenting a comprehensive and persuasive proposal, the company aims to win the trust and confidence of the prospect, leading to a successful collaboration or business partnership.

It is often misinterpreted that business proposals and business plans hold identical purposes. In fact, a proposal serves to showcase and promote your specific product or service, rather than focusing on the business as a whole.

While a business plan aims to support your quest for investors to finance your enterprise, a proposal takes a different approach, aiding you in attracting potential customers to your offerings.

Main types of business proposals 

Now that you have a general idea of what is a business proposal, let’s find out its main types.

There are 2 main types of business proposals:

🔸 Unsolicited business proposals

In this approach, you proactively present a proposal to a potential customer without them having requested one. The goal is to capture their interest and secure their business, even though they did not initiate the request.

🔸 Solicited business proposals

Solicited business proposals are specifically requested by potential clients. They seek your proposal to assess whether to engage in business with your company. In this scenario, the client initiates the process, asking you to provide a comprehensive proposal tailored to their needs and requirements.

In their turn, solicited business proposals can be formal and informal.

Informally solicited proposal

During an informal conversation between two companies, one of them may express their curiosity and requests a document to gain further insights into essential details such as product quality, shipping terms, pricing options, and more.

Formally solicited proposal

A company is your regular client and knows what they need from you. They are willing to place an order but ask you to send a business proposal in order to double-check the terms before paying.

How to write a business proposal

Regardless of the proposal type, the latter has a specific structure that you need to follow in order to create a professional business proposal. Below we have presented the details on how to write a business proposal that serves its purpose. Incorporate them into your proposal and the results will not let you wait!

1. Create a title page

Here you should present your company name, client’s name, and proposal date. You should include the basic information that will introduce you and your business:

[Your Name]

[Your Company Name]

[Date of Proposal Submission]

[Client’s Name]

Here is the title page example of a business proposal for inspiration:

2. Provide a table of contents

If your proposal has more than 1 page, you should include a general overview of your sections in your proposal. Moreover, adding hyperlinks to the document will make it easier for the clients to navigate. They’ll appreciate this section a lot!

3. State the problem or the need

The initial phase of crafting a business proposal involves understanding and summarizing the issue affecting the potential client. This is a crucial opportunity to demonstrate empathy and a deep understanding of their needs, showcasing how your solution can address their specific problem.

To achieve this, follow these essential steps:

• 🔸 Conduct thorough research to gain a comprehensive view of the specific challenges faced by the client.
• 🔸 Identify the problems your proposed solution can effectively resolve.
• 🔸 Articulate these problems in a manner that highlights your solution as the optimal choice for their unique requirements.

4. Propose a solution

Moving forward, it’s time to propose your solution with precision and personalization. Customize your strategy to align perfectly with the client’s needs, reinforcing the idea that this proposal is tailored explicitly for them.

5. Share qualifications

When it comes to instilling trust in the prospect, showcasing your qualifications is crucial. While you may know you are the perfect fit to solve their problem, it is essential to demonstrate why they should put their faith in you.

To make a lasting impression, ensure to incorporate the following elements:

• 🔸 Case studies that illustrate your successful track record.
• 🔸 Client testimonials that validate the value of your services.
• 🔸 Relevant awards that substantiate your accomplishments.
• 🔸 Industry accreditations that reinforce your credibility.

6. Include pricing

Within the pricing section of your proposal, consider incorporating the following elements:

• 🔸 A comprehensive pricing breakdown, showcasing various packages, tiers, and optional add-ons or services.
• 🔸 Explanation of how product features and benefits are closely aligned with each pricing choice.
• 🔸 Flexible pricing options catering to diverse needs and budgets.
• 🔸 A comparative analysis illustrating how your pricing stands in relation to competitors.
• 🔸 An informative FAQ section addressing anticipated objections and providing insights into your pricing strategy.

By incorporating these components, you can present a transparent and persuasive pricing section that addresses the prospect’s concerns while highlighting the value and competitiveness of your proposal.

7. Summarize the proposal

Your final section is the overall conclusion of the business proposal. In this section, make sure to include your qualifications and why you are the best choice for the company. 

Then, confirm your availability to proceed to the next step. 

At the end of the proposal, include your contact information to make it easier for the potential client to contact you.

And here is one more precious tip for you! If you want to automate the process of sending business proposals, you can use email outreach tools such as Hexospark. The latter will allow you to collect all the important contact information of your potential clients in one place and reach out to them with a personalized email. Once you get a response, you can answer it without having to leave the platform!

This tool is great especially if you need to send unsolicited business proposals with a personalized email as it includes email templates for various purposes:

---