writing business reports and proposals

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How to Write a Business Proposal (Examples & Templates)

By Aditya Sheth , Nov 21, 2022

The great Mark Cuban once said, “Sales cure all.” If a business doesn’t sell, it doesn’t make money and by extension the business fails. That’s why you need to write business proposals.

A well-written business proposal can often mean the difference between winning or losing a prospective client.

In this in-depth guide to creating business proposals, we show you how to close more deals, make more sales and crush your business goals — all by using easy-to-edit professional business proposal templates.

Here’s what this guide will cover (click to jump ahead):

What is a business proposal, what should you include in a business proposal, business proposal format, what are the types of business proposals.

How do you write a business proposal? Business proposal templates

More business proposal examples + writing and design tips

FAQs about business proposals

Looking for a shortcut? Watch this quick video for an overview of everything to include in your business proposal:

An effective business proposal is a document used by a B2B or business-facing company (this may not always be the case) where a seller aims to persuade a prospective buyer into buying their goods or services.

A business proposal outlines what your business does and what you can do for your client. It can be general like this business proposal example:

Or it can be more specific, like this business proposal template which focuses on proposing a project for the Newton Center Rail:

simple business proposal project proposal template

Or this business proposal sample, which presents a plan for a social media strategy and campaign:

social media marketing business proposal template

To design a business proposal that holds the client’s attention, identify their pain points . Then provide your buyer with the right solution to alleviate those frustrations.

Return to Table of Contents

A business proposal usually aims to answer the following questions:

You can see how this sample business proposal template covers the above points.

Notice how this proposal template addresses the same project like in one of the previous templates, but uses a completely different design style (more retro, while the previous business proposal template is more modern and minimalistic).

You can remove or add more sections depending on the goal of your business proposal. Essential, your business proposal can follow this format:

Executive summary, the problem statement, the proposed solution, qualifications, the timeline, pricing, billing and legal, terms and conditions, the acceptance.

We go into detail on how you can write a business proposal (plus different business proposal templates you can apply the tips to) in the next section . But you can also click on the format items above to learn how you can best write them!

If you aim to create a holistic business proposal, feel free to just edit from the two templates right above. You can also add your brand colors and logo to your design, using My Brand Kit :

Here’s another example of a business proposal template that you can edit:

simple b2c business growth proposal template

Generally, there are three types of business proposals:

1. Formally solicited

A formally solicited business proposal is made when you respond to an official request to write a business proposal.

In this scenario, you know all the requirements and have more (if not all) information about a prospective buyer. You simply need to write the business proposal for your buyer to evaluate so you can begin the sales process.

2. Informally solicited

Informally solicited business proposals are written when there isn’t an official request for a proposal. A prospective buyer is interested in your services and asks for a proposal so they can evaluate it.

An informally solicited proposal requires a lot more research from your end. These types of proposals are usually created out of informal conversations. They are not based on official requests which often contain more detail.

3. Unsolicited

Think of this as a marketing brochure or a cold email . Unsolicited business proposals will often take a generic, one-size-fits-all approach to business proposals. Unsolicited proposals lack any understanding of the buyer or their requirements.

But with additional market research , personalization and identifying customer pain points , you can propose a customized solution based on your buyer’s needs. This can be a very persuasive approach, such as in this business proposal example:

How do you write a business proposal? Business proposal templates

Before you start creating your business proposal template, you need to know what it comprises. At a high level your effective business proposal should include the following:

Below, you can see business proposal examples that demonstrate how to include these 10 sections.

Business proposal title

A compelling title could mean the difference between someone reading your proposal or ignoring it in favor of a competitor’s.

What makes a good title page? Here are the essential elements to include:

Gray Business Consulting Proposal Template Cover Page_Venngage

The gray business consulting proposal template above contains all the details a prospect would want to know. The title also offers a strong tangible benefit to the prospective buyer. Honestly, “Who doesn’t want to grow their business?”

Return to business proposal content sections

The table of contents is a fundamental part of every winning business proposal template. It makes your proposal scannable and easy to read.

The people you will be pitching to are usually C-level executives. These are busy people who don’t have time to read your entire proposal in one go.

That’s why most of the business proposal examples in this list include a table of contents.

Adding a table of contents to your document makes it easy for them to go through it at their own pace. They can also skim through parts of the proposal that they deem more important. You can see how this abstract business proposal template uses the table of contents:

Creative Social Media Business Proposal Template Table of Contents

You can also make your business proposal template easier to navigate by adding hyperlinks to the document, particularly in the table of contents. This way your clients can jump to specific sections without having to scroll through the entire document.

It’s easy to add hyperlinks in the Venngage editor. Select the text you’d like to turn into a link, then click the link icon in the top bar. From there, select the page you want to link to! Then download your completed design as an Interactive PDF .

The executive summary is a staple in all kinds of annual reports , project plans and even marketing plans . It is a concise summary of the entire contents of your document. In other words, write a business proposal outline that is easy to glance over and that highlights your value proposition.

The goals of your executive summary are:

This gray business proposal example has a detailed yet short executive summary including some social proof in the form of clients they’ve worked with:

Gray Business Consulting Proposal Template About Us

Take note of how precise this business proposal example is. You want to keep your executive summary concise and clear from the get-go. This sets the right tone for the rest of your proposal. It also gives your buyer a reason to continue reading your proposal.

Pro Tip: Try to write an executive summary such that, even if your prospective client doesn’t read the entire proposal (with a good executive summary, they most likely will), they should have a clear idea about what your company does and how you can help them.

The point of writing a business proposal is to solve a buyer’s problem. Your goal is to outline the problem statement as clearly as possible. This develops a sense of urgency in your prospect. They will want to find a solution to the problem. And you have that solution.

A well-defined problem statement does two things:

This bold business proposal template above clearly outlines the problem at hand and also offers a ray of hope i.e. how you can solve your prospect’s problem. This brings me to…

The good stuff. In the proposed solution section, you show how you can alleviate your prospective buyer’s pain points. This can fit onto the problem statement section but if you have a comprehensive solution or prefer to elaborate on the details, a separate section is a good idea.

Spare no details regarding the solution you will provide. When you write a business proposal, explain how you plan to deliver the solution. Include an estimated timeline of when they can expect your solution and other relevant details.

For inspiration, look at how this business proposal template quickly and succinctly outlines the project plan, deliverables and metrics :

Sales Plan Proposal Table Template_Venngage

At this point, the prospect you’re pitching your solution to likes what they’re reading. But they may not trust you to deliver on your promises. Why is this?

It’s because they don’t know you. Your job is to convince them that you can fix their problem. This section is important because it acts as social proof. You can highlight what your company does best and how qualified your team is when you write a business proposal for a potential client.

business proposal qualifications section

This free business proposal template showcases the company’s accolades, client testimonials, relevant case studies, and industry awards. You can also include other forms of social proof to establish yourself as a credible business. This makes it that much more likely that they will say yes!

Pro Tip: Attaching in-depth case studies of your work is a great way to build trust with a potential client by showcasing how you’ve solved similar problems for other clients in the past. Our case study examples post can show you how to do just that.

To further demonstrate just how prepared you are, it’s important to outline the next steps you will take should your buyer decide to work with you.

Provide a timeline of how and when you will complete all your deliverables. You can do this by designing a flow chart . Or add a roadmap with deadlines. Pitching a long-term project? A timeline infographic would be a better fit.

If you look at this abstract business proposal template below, even something as simple as a table can do the trick.

Abstract Business Consulting Proposal Template Timeline_Venngage

The timeline is not always set in stone, rather it’s an estimation. The goal is to clarify any questions your potential client might have about how you will deliver for the underlying B2B sales process.

On this page, you can outline your fees, payment schedule, invoice payment terms , as well as legal aspects involved in this deal.

The key to good pricing is to provide your buyer with options. A pricing comparison table can help with this. You want to give your client some room to work with. Make sure you’re not scaring off your client with a high price, nor undervaluing yourself.

Breaking up your pricing in stages is another great way to make sure your potential client knows what he’s paying for. Look at how this simple business proposal template does this:

Bold Business Proposal Template Pricing Page_Venngage

The legal aspects can slot right into the terms and conditions section. Alternatively, you can add them in the signature section of the proposal to keep things simple.

Summarize everything you have promised to deliver so far. Include what you expect from your prospective buyer in return. Add the overall project timeline from start to end, as well as payment methods and payment schedule. This way, both of you will be clear on what is being agreed on.

This step is very important as it outlines all the legal aspects of the deal. That is why the terms and conditions section of your proposal needs to be as clear as possible.

I recommend consulting a lawyer or your legal team when working on this section of the business proposal. If you’re a business veteran and understand the legalities of your business, you can use the same terms and conditions across all your proposals.

The final step of this whole process. Your client has read your business proposal and they want to buy what you have to offer.

Add a small section at the end of your proposal to get the necessary signatures. This way, you and your client can sign the proposal and the partnership becomes official.

Be sure to also include your contact information in your business proposal template. It acts as a gentle prompt to your client to contact you in case they have any questions.

Now that you know how to write a business proposal, let’s look at how you can optimize your proposal to deliver results!

Below you’ll find some winning business proposal templates and examples to get you started. I’ve also included some design tips to keep in mind when you’re creating your next business proposal:

1. Know your audience

If you have some clarity on who your ideal buyer is — their pain points, their budget, deadlines, among other things — you’ve already won half the battle.

If you are a business that helps clients with everything from running giveaways or helping grow their blog , identify which customers to pitch. This is a sure-shot way to close the deal.

Mapping user personas for your ideal buyer can help bring some clarity. It will also help you position your business proposal correctly. This improves the chance of your buyer moving your business proposal to the “Yes!” pile.

2. Put your brand front and center

If your company follows certain brand guidelines, incorporate them in your business proposal templates. Consider how business proposal examples like the one below highlight brand identity:

content marketing plan business proposal example

From the color palettes to the company logos , everything follows their brand guidelines. The result: a business proposal that’s consistent across the board.

Pro Tip: Switching this template to match your brand assets is actually pretty easy. Venngage’s My Brand Kit feature allows you to import your color palettes, logos as well as font choices. Any Venngage template can now be your template.

You can also consider this sample business proposal template:

Design companies sure do know their design. They did a phenomenal job keeping their brand colors consistent while opting for a black design. This unique color scheme also makes their white logo prominent throughout the proposal.

3. Try less text, more visuals

Have you ever read a proposal and thought to yourself, “Wow, this is all text and has no images, I love it!”? Yeah, me neither.

The free business proposal template below is a perfect example of the “less is more” principle. It does a phenomenal job of communicating what it needs to. By substituting some of the text with icons and visuals, you get a clean business proposal that’s much more scannable.

Want to keep things strictly professional? Instead of icons, you can always add your team’s headshots. This shows your buyer exactly who they’ll be working with.

Check out this formal business proposal format for some inspiration:

Red Human Resources Consulting Proposal Template Team

4. Switch up your business proposal designs

It doesn’t hurt to go above and beyond once in a while. Jazz up your business proposal template with some extra colors. This helps make your business proposal more engaging. It also helps your buyers retain information faster.

The business proposal example alternates between black, white and grey backgrounds. It still manages to maintain consistency in its branding . Just switching up your backgrounds once in a while can also bring in some variety to an otherwise standard business proposal.

This SEO business proposal sample proves that it’s possible to switch up the colors in every other page. But it still maintains the same color scheme across the entire proposal just like a professionally designed website :

Pro Tip: Not a color expert? Our guide on picking colors can help you pick the right color scheme for your proposals.

FAQ about business proposals

What is the purpose of a business proposal.

Essentially, a business proposal aims to streamline the B2B sales process (which is often complex) between you as a seller and a buyer.

It does this by serving the dual purpose of acting as a source of information. The proposal also acts as a sales pitch aimed at convincing your buyer why they should buy what you have to offer.

What are the best practices for business proposal design?

How long should your business proposal be?

The length depends on the scope of the work as well as the complexity of the project. Here is a one-page business proposal template:

Can your business proposal template really be one page? Yes, as long as you understand who your buyer is and their pain points. You should also have the ability to communicate everything your ideal buyer needs to know about your business in a succinct manner.

Or if you’re feeling adventurous how about just two pages? Often, clients prefer if you go straight to the point and avoid all the fluff.

For example, this green modern marketing proposal template wastes no time in getting down to brass tacks:

There is no one size fits all approach when it comes to deciding how many pages you should include in your business proposal template. And at the end of the day, “the only rules are the ones you set for yourself”.

At the end of the day, writing winning business proposals that sell is all about you understanding your buyer, their potential pain points and positioning yourself as someone who can alleviate those pain points.

Now that you know how to write compelling business proposals, what are you waiting for?

Take action and start creating your own business proposals to close more deals and grow your business today!

More business communications templates + writing tips you might be interested in…

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College of Continuing & Professional Studies

Writing Business Reports and Proposals

Course Number: CERT X216

Next start dates.

Applicable Certificates

Report and proposal writing plays an essential role in your career.

This course will help you to plan, draft, and edit these crucial documents so they’re reader-friendly. You will learn to select the appropriate level of detail and present unbiased facts and data clearly and concisely.

In addition, you’ll learn how to distinguish between different types of proposals and reports, such as progress reports, feasibility reports, recommendation reports, and executive summaries.

Whether you are responding to a request for proposal (RFP) or creating one from scratch, you’ll pick up essential tips that will make your proposal or report stand out.

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

Enrollment Advisor

Shanta Bhoelai

I can help you choose which professional development programs are the best fit to meet your career goals. I am here to answer your questions regarding specific programs, courses, or other career topics you have on your mind.

Don’t hesitate to send me an email or schedule an online appointment. I'm here for YOU!

Business report vs. business proposal.

Learn the difference between a business report and a business proposal and when to use each.

One is designed to analyze situations and suggest improvement. The other is for generating business. Discover more about the difference between business reports and business proposals and the best use for each.

What’s a business report?

A business report is for analyzing business situations — either hypothetical or real — and then providing suggestions for improvement. They can be formal or informal depending on the recipient, but a formal business report should include at least the following:

Informal business reports can be much shorter. If you include the problem and a few suggestions, an informal report can be just one or two pages. Ask the recipient which format they prefer before you begin.

What’s a business proposal?

A business proposal is a document that asks another company to do business with you. Most business proposals are sent by suppliers to win contracts or projects and should include at least the following information:

When you write a job-specific business proposal, be sure to include information like target market reports. The more detailed your proposal, the better. If the client approves your bid, they’ll accept the terms and sign your business proposal.

Make it easy for clients to move forward with bids by offering an e-signature option . With Acrobat Sign, they can add signatures online — no scanning, printing or mailing required.

Explore what more you can do with Acrobat Sign to simplify the project bidding process.

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Writing Reports and Proposals

Related Papers

Vịt Quay Bắc Kinh

Adrienne Jones Daly

Writing guide developed for MBA and undergraduate students at the College of Business, Loyola University New Orleans

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Reports and proposals are documents written for a specific purpose and audience. A report, generally, consists of an analysis of a situation or problem at hand and recommends solution for it. Proposals, in the similar manner, explain a need that is identified and offers a course of action in response to it.

Reports and proposals may have varying lengths, structures, and writing styles. However, in essence, both are a means of written communication and the ability to do it effectively is known as one’s skills of writing reports and proposals.

Why are the skills of writing reports and proposals important

Although verbal communication is the fastest of all methods, organizations generally have a preference for written communication due to the permanency of record that it allows as well as their availability for reference whenever required.

The skills of writing reports and proposals, therefore, are extremely important to ensure that the information conveyed to the reader is exactly how you intended it to. After all, these written documents are what ultimately lead to action and make things really happen.

Now that we have begun to understand its importance, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that poor report or proposal writing skills can cause you to miss opportunities, lose sales, or lose even your credibility because the reader might fail to understand or misinterpret the document.

How to improve your skills of writing reports and proposals

Despite the fact that there is no rigid rule as to how your report or proposal should be structured, there are numerous useful guides available on the web that can provide help, if you need any. Following are some suggestions that will help you improve your overall skills of writing reports and proposals:

Job profiles that require this skill

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How to Write Reports and Proposals

In a business organization, reports and sample proposals are abundant pieces of documents produced on a timely basis. These two play a big role in the flow of small business . However, there is a thin line between the two. Reports sum up the achievements of a task while proposals are written to persuade businessmen to invest in a product or service.

How to write a report

1. beginning.

How to write a proposal

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Writing and Completing Business Reports and Proposals

Writing and Completing Business Reports and Proposals. A good proposal reflects whether the writer has a clear idea of the project being proposed; why it is needed, why it is important, and how it will benefit the community. Sidney Sawyer, Manager

Presentation Transcript

Writing and Completing Business Reports and Proposals Business Communication Essentials

A good proposal reflects whether the writer has a clear idea of the project being proposed; why it is needed, why it is important, and how it will benefit the community. Sidney Sawyer, Manager Community Programs VanCity Community Foundation From The Real World Business Communication Essentials

Three-Step Writing Process Planning Writing Completing Analyze the Situation Investigate the Topic Adapt to the Audience Organize the Message Compose the Message Revise the Message Produce the Message Proofread the Message Business Communication Essentials

Organizing Reports and Proposals Format Length Collected Material Business Document Order Structure Business Communication Essentials

SelectingFormat and Length • Pre-printed Form • Letter • Memorandum • Manuscript Business Communication Essentials

Choosing an Approach Direct Approach Indirect Approach Receptive Hostile Open-Minded Skeptical Audience Business Communication Essentials

Structuring Informational Reports Importance Sequence Chronology Spatial Orientation Geography Category Business Communication Essentials

Audience Receptive Unreceptive Focusing on Conclusions Focusing on Logical Arguments Focusing on Recommendations Direct Indirect Structuring Analytical Reports Business Communication Essentials

Structuring Proposals Solicited Unsolicited • Receptive Audience • Recognized Problem • Identified Solution • Skeptical Audience • Unrecognized Problem • Proposed Solution Business Communication Essentials

Selecting Visual Aids Tables Line and Surface Charts Bar Charts Pie Charts Flowcharts Organization Charts Business Communication Essentials

Multicolumn Head* The Parts of a Table Single Column Head Single Column Head Stub head Subhead Subhead Row head Row head Subhead Subhead Total XXX XX XX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX Source: (In the same format as a text footnote). *Footnote (for explanation of elements in the table). Business Communication Essentials

Preparing Tables • Use common, clearly identified units • Use the same units for all items in a column • Label column headings • Separate rows and columns • Document data sources Business Communication Essentials

Line Chart: Net Operating Income/Loss of CanMedia Studios Business Communication Essentials

Surface Chart: Average Monthly Sales at Computer Land Business Communication Essentials

Bar Chart: Total Internet Sales 1997-2003 Business Communication Essentials

Usage of Business Communication Channels Business Communication Essentials

Keyboard Input First Hard Copy Next Hard Copy Edit Edit OK? Yes Yes Submit Report No Add? Keyboard Input/Edit Keyboard Input/Edit No Style and Spelling Style and Spelling Flow Chart: The Report Writing Process Business Communication Essentials

Chief Executive Officer Executive Vice President Executive Vice President President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Region 5 District A District B District C District D District E District F District G Organization Chart Business Communication Essentials

Using Computersto Create Visuals Advantages Challenges Speed Image Accuracy Message Ease of Use Audience Business Communication Essentials

Text and Content Degree of Formality Time Perspective Navigational Clues Composing Reportsand Proposals Business Communication Essentials

Accurate Complete Balanced Structured Documented Successful Reports Business Communication Essentials

Demonstrate your knowledge Provide concrete examples Research the competition Prove that your proposal is workable Adopt a “you” attitude Package your proposal attractively Successful Proposals Business Communication Essentials

The Introduction Context or Problem Subject or Purpose Main Ideas Overall Tone Business Communication Essentials

Present Analyze Interpret Support The Body Chapters Business Communication Essentials

The Closing Section Emphasizes the Main Points Summarizes the Benefits Reinforces the Structure Brings Action Items Together Business Communication Essentials

Formality Time Frame Overall Structure Additional Report-Writing Tasks Business Communication Essentials

Revising Producing Proofreading Completing Reports and Proposals Business Communication Essentials

Prefatory Parts Text of the Report Supplementary Parts Components of Formal Reports Type of Report Audience Needs Report Length Type of Company Business Communication Essentials

Prefatory Parts Cover Letter of Authorization List of Illustrations Title Fly or Title Page Letter of Transmittal Synopsis or Abstract Letter of Authorization Table of Contents Executive Summary Business Communication Essentials

Introduction Body Closing Text of the Report Business Communication Essentials

Appendixes Bibliography Index Supplementary Parts Business Communication Essentials

Proposal Cover Title Fly Title Page Table of Contents List of Illustrations Request for Proposal Executive Summary Letter of Transmittal Components of Formal Proposals Business Communication Essentials

Introduction Body Closing Text of the Proposal Solicited Formal Informal Unsolicited Business Communication Essentials

Real World Applications Should a report always explain the writer’s method of gathering evidence or solving a problem? Why or why not? Let’s discuss! Business Communication Essentials

Real World Applications You’re writing a report to the director of HR in your company. You want to emphasize the new team approach, implemented 6 months ago, has reduced absenteeism and turnovers in all but two departments. How would you visually present your date in the most favorable light? Let’s Discuss! Business Communication Essentials

Real World Applications How would you report on a confidential survey in which employees rated their manager’s capabilities? Both employees and managers expect to see the results. Would you give the same report to employees and mangers? What components would you include or exclude for each audience? Let’s Discuss! Business Communication Essentials

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How to Write a Business Proposal [Examples + Template]

Published: December 12, 2022

It's finally happened. You've started a new business, and your customer base is starting to expand. But even though you're making progress, you still feel like you could be doing better.

Sales rep begins writing down business proposal

There's a whole world of untapped potential around you — prospects you know would benefit from your product or service. And the issues you're running into are less about your solution's soundness and more about how you can reach your potential base.

→ Download Now: Free Business Proposal Template

That's where business proposals come in. They can bridge the gap between you and potential clients. A solid proposal can outline your value proposition and persuade a company or organization to do business with you.

Here, we'll take a look at the various kinds of business proposals and go over how to write one. We’ll also see some ideas and examples to help guide yours.

Know exactly what you need? Jump to one of the following sections:

What is a business proposal?

Types of business proposals, how to write a business proposal, business proposal ideas, business proposal templates, business proposal example.

A business proposal is a formal document that’s created by a company and provided to a prospect to secure a business agreement.

It's a common misconception that business proposals and business plans are the same. The proposal aims to sell your product or service rather than your business itself. Instead of assisting your search for investors to fund your business, a proposal helps you seek new customers.

Follow Along With HubSpot's Business Proposal Template

Download the Template for Free

There are two types of business proposals: unsolicited and solicited.

In a solicited business proposal, the other organization asks for a request for proposal (RFP). When a company needs a problem solved, they invite other businesses to submit a proposal that details how they'd solve it.

Whether the proposal is solicited or unsolicited, the steps to create your proposal are similar. Ensure it includes three main points: a statement of the organization's problem, proposed solution, and pricing information.

Before writing your business proposal, it's crucial you understand the company. If they've sent you an RFP, make sure you read it carefully, so you know exactly what they want. It can also be helpful to have an initial call or meeting with the new client to ensure you fully understand the problem they're trying to solve and their objectives.

Once you've done your research, it's time to begin writing your business proposal. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a business proposal, but let's take a look at some elements proposals often include. (I designed this example business proposal using Canva .)

Free Business Proposal Template

Fill out the form to get your template., 1. begin with a title page..

You have to convey some basic information here. Introduce yourself and your business. Be sure to include your name, your company's name, the date you submitted the proposal, and the name of the client or individual you're submitting the proposal to.

Your title page should reconcile engagement with professionalism. It's a tone-setter, so you need to make sure yours is sleek, aesthetically appealing, and not too "out there."

Here's an example of what a business proposal template looks like when done right:

How to Write a Business Proposal: Business Proposal Example Title Page

The executive summary details exactly why you're sending the proposal and why your solution is the best for the prospective client. Specificity is key here. Why are you the best option for them?

Similar to a value proposition, your executive summary outlines the benefits of your company's products or services and how they can solve your potential client's problem. After reading your executive summary, the prospect should have a clear idea of how you can help them, even if they don't read the entire proposal. Here's what one should look like:

How to Write a Business Proposal: Sample Executive Summary

4. State the problem or need.

This is where you provide a summary of the issue impacting the potential client. It provides you with the opportunity to show them you clearly understand their needs and the problem they need help solving.

Research, critical thinking, and extra thought are key here. You have to do your homework. Take a holistic look at the specific issues your client faces that you can help solve. Then, compellingly frame them in a way that sets you up for the next step.

How to Write a Business Proposal: Example Event Overview

7. Include pricing options.

Pricing is where things can get a bit tricky, as you don't want to under or over-price your product. If you'd like to provide the prospect with a few pricing options for their budget, include an optional fee table . Some proposal software offer responsive pricing tables which allow clients to check the products or services they're interested in, and the price will automatically adjust.

How to write a business proposal: Include Pricing Options

8. Summarize with a conclusion.

After providing the above information, it’s necessary to simplify it into one final section. Briefly summarize the proposal. Touch on your qualifications and why you’d serve as the best choice. To prompt further conversation, confirm your availability. At the end of the proposal, the goal is to have the client ready to work with you. Provide your contact information to allow them to follow up easily.

9. Clarify your terms and conditions.

This is where you go into detail about the project timeline, pricing, and payment schedules. It's essentially a summary of what you and the client agree to if they accept your proposal. Make sure you clear the terms and conditions with your own legal team before sending the proposal to the client.

How to write a business proposal: Example Terms and Conditions

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We know how crucial a great business proposal is to your and your clients' success. That's why we've compiled 2 Free Business Proposal Templates for you to use and customize for any of your projects. You'll gain access to a concise, one-page template (pictured above), as well as a longer template for you to embellish on your plan and proposal. Download the templates now to get started on building your proposal.

2. Web Design Proposal

Companies, big and small, dedicate resources to establishing a noticeable social media presence. With advertising on social networks projected to reach $56.85 billion dollars in 2022 , it's in your business's best interest to have a plan for growing your client's social media presence.

To help you in that effort, the information in this social media marketing proposal includes an executive summary to help introduce your high-level ideas, an assessment of the client’s company to demonstrate your diligence, and a breakdown of billing to show how your company charges for posting, content creation, and analytics.

8. Content Marketing Proposal

Business Proposal Templates: Content Marketing

When pitching your content marketing services to clients, this template can help you organize your ideas. While it walks you through initial objectives and how to communicate your prospected results, one of the most helpful parts of this template is the pricing ideas it gives you when charging for your services.

Business proposal templates are helpful places to get started, but what should your business proposal look like when it's complete? Below, we share an example of a business proposal template that will inspire you.

In the business template example above, Social Portal Consulting (SPC) pitches a marketing proposal to Graphic Bean. At first sight, this proposal appeals to the creative. A nice touch would include designing the layout in your or your client’s brand colors. In addition to the design, the use of social media icons quickly tells the prospect what platforms Social Portal is pitching. Because we see Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest icons, the client instantly knows that this proposal does not include LinkedIn, YouTube, or other platforms.

While maintaining its design, this example outlines Social Portal Consulting’s plans efficiently. It begins by providing insight into Graphic Bean and its goals before elaborating on how SPC can leverage its expertise to help them achieve it. This business proposal template includes an easy-to-follow timeframe for goals and objectives while keeping the client abreast of how payment will happen across the project.

Overall, this is an excellent example of how to combine the elements of social media marketing into a creative and concise business proposal. Finally, we'll leave you with some business proposal ideas to get you started on your own.

Start with an outline.
Include data and visuals.
Add social proof.
Incorporate video into your proposal.
Use a call-to-action.
Include up-sell and add-on opportunities.
Create a sense of urgency.
Keep it simple.
Make the decision for them.
Stay on brand.
Quality control.

There's a lot to keep in mind when writing a business proposal. Here are a few tips to help you out:

1. Start with an outline.

If you want to produce a thoughtful, effective business proposal, you need to have some idea of what you're hoping to achieve with it. So before you dive into writing, outline the major sections of your business proposal and the pertinent information you want to include. This will ensure you stay focused and your message stays intact as you write.

2. Include data and visuals.

You want your business proposal to capture your prospect's attention and help set you apart from any other ones they might have received. One of the best ways to do that is to include hard, quantitative data that helps stress the value of your business.

If you can find some relevant, compelling figures that highlight what you have to offer, you can establish authority and make yourself that much more convincing. It also helps to include visuals such as charts and graphs to enhance your proposal.

3. Add social proof.

Like the previous point, adding social proof lends your proposal another degree of credibility. You can only be so convincing when you're personally talking up how great your business is.

Prospects are skeptical. In many — if not most — cases, they probably won't take you at your word. They'll likely trust peers and fellow customers more than someone trying to win their business. That's why including elements like customer quotes and testimonials can go a long way.

4. Incorporate video into your proposal.

If you're creating an online proposal using document file formats like PDF, you can include multimedia elements to enhance the proposal experience. They can make your document richer and more engaging.

Whether you add video at the beginning as an intro to your proposal or in the project breakdown to verbally discuss some of the more confusing parts, extras like this can make an impression. This works especially on prospects who are visual or auditory communicators.

5. Use a call-to-action.

Prospects need direction. The best proposal in the world can only take you so far if you don't clearly define the next steps. That's why you have to make sure the reader knows what to do next after reading your proposal.

A clear-cut call-to-action is the best way to get there. Define and highlight exactly what they should do to act on the interest your proposal has generated. Without that guidance, you might leave your reader in limbo.

6. Include up-sell and add-on opportunities.

They say you won't receive unless you ask. Readers won't explore the upper tiers of your solutions if you don't give them the opportunity. If you want to use your business proposal as a chance to get the most out of a reader's interest, you need to include some additional information about your business for them to act on. They need to know what else you have to offer.

7. Create a sense of urgency.

No one wants to feel as if they missed out on a great opportunity. A lack of urgency tends to cause people to drag their feet and take time when making a decision. As you create your business proposal, your goal should be to create a sense of urgency.

Prospective clients should read your business proposal and feel that now is the best time to sign up for your service. A way you can accomplish this is by stating your short and long-term goals for their business. While they will have to wait for the long-term goals, make the short-term goals so enticing that they are instantly ready to begin a collaboration.

8. Keep it simple.

There's no definitive blueprint for how long a business proposal has to be. Yours should be however long it takes to convey the information you want to get across.

That said, you're best off focusing on quality over quantity. Keep your sentences short and simple, and avoid including too much business jargon. You want your proposal to be straightforward enough for anyone who picks it up to make sense of it. So don't get carried away with being too fancy.

9. Make the decision for them.

Craft your copy in a way that seems like saying "no" to the proposal would be stepping over dollars to pick up pennies. Your offer should go above and beyond their expectations, and you should do everything in your power to eliminate friction and objections along the way.

10. Stay on brand.

Don't be afraid to let your company's personality shine through in your proposal. Stay true to your brand and show the client what sets you apart from your competitors.

11. Quality control.

Your proposal needs to be clean and airtight. You don't want to undermine your messaging by coming off as sloppy and unprofessional. Before you send the proposal out, make sure to read and reread it for any typos or grammatical errors.

Let your business proposal do the talking.

Depending on the type of business you're in, your business proposal elements will vary based on the prospect's needs. After reading through your plan, prospective clients should have very few questions about your company and what it can do for them. With the tips and examples in this article, you have all the tools to guide you through the process. With a professional, customized business proposal, you're sure to delight your client and potentially gain their business.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Propose your business as the ideal solution using this free template.

How do I write a professional business report?

Writing an effective business report is an important part of communicating well as a business professional. A few key steps for writing business reports include:

1. Determine the purpose of the report - What are the important messages you are trying to convey?

2. Define and understand the audience for the report

3. Determine and follow a structure for your report

4. While writing the report, you typically should:

utilize headings and subheadings
use plain language (avoid professional jargon)
write clearly and professionally
use negative/white space wisely
use appropriate fonts
number your pages for ease of use
use tables and figures only when it adds to the report and properly place these items into your report (does your instructor want you to follow APA guidelines?)

Please review the following resources for more information about writing professional business reports.

Cover art for The AMA Handbook of Business Writing

How to Write it: Business Plans and Reports (scroll down to the section on “The Formal Report”)

Business and Accounting
Reading and Writing
Research Papers
Last Updated Jan 07, 2022
Views 23497
Answered By Kate Anderson, Librarian

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Writing Reports and Proposals

Build a solid base of confident writing skills to present information in formal, informal, and proposal styles.

Description
Additional Information

It is essential to understand how to write reports and proposals that get read. We write reports in a range of formats and a variety of purposes. Whether you need to report on a product analysis, inventory, feasibility studies, or something else, report writing is a skill you will use again and again.

Having a method to prepare these documents will help you be as efficient as possible with the task. This course will build on a solid base of writing skills to present information in formal, informal, and proposal styles.

Course Content

Module One: Getting Started
Module Two: Understanding Proposals
Module Three: Beginning the Proposal Writing Process
Module Four: Preparing An Outline
Module Five: Finding Facts
Module Six: Writing Skills (I)
Module Seven: Writing Skills (II)
Module Eight: Writing the Proposal
Module Nine: Checking for Readability
Module Ten: Proofreading and Editing
Module Eleven: Adding the Final Touches
Module Twelve: Wrapping Up

Estimated Course Duration

Certificate.

A participation certificate will be issued upon completion of the course.

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10 Tips to Write an Effective Business Report [Templates Included]

Malvika Varma

A business report is an essential business communication tool that we must have come across during our careers. A regular office day is overwhelmed with emails, conferences, webinars, client meetings, team follow-ups, letters, advertisements, and so much more. Amid all these documents, we cannot miss the pressing issues like financial operations, marketing campaigns progress, business strategy, product development, and return of investment. Let us know more about the business reports along with few tips to write an effective one!

Business reports are vital to sharing information with the concerned authorities and stakeholders in a well organized and structured manner. They help in explaining the development forecasts, identifying trends, guiding budget planning, and investigating irregularities. Business reports encourage transparency and help keep every concerned person on the same page and improve the organization’s decision-making.

There are different business reports for every functional area, like financial reports, operational analysis reports, inventory stock reports, trend analysis reports, performance reports, and market analysis reports. Based on facts, research, and analysis, an effective business report conveys the purpose in a clear and concise writing manner. An effective business report helps create strategies and recommendations for improving business by a persuasive formal writing style. Let us walk you through 10 Tips to Write an Effective Business Report for Entrepreneurs.

10 Tips to Write an Effective Business Report

Understand the audience

Ensure that the audience develops interest by answering the question- “What’s in it for me?” The inclusion of the trigger points of the audience’s interest helps in better engagement. The business report should be straight to the point and satisfy the reader.

Define the purpose of a business report

Identifying and defining purpose saves a lot of time. Time is money, especially in corporate ambiance, and so the business report should be concise. A business report should focus on specific points and information so, refrain from adding vague information. An effective business report aims to include answers to Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of the business issue.

Keep a neutral tone

As you might be addressing the business report to a higher authority, keep the business report neutral and formal. Use passive voice to emphasize the action and not the person. Active voice sentences are usually shorter and give clarity to the reader.

Develop a clear framework for the business report

While writing, the chain of continuity of business events or activities must be maintained throughout the business report. A structured framework ensures that no vital information is left unattended.

Gather and organize data

Extensive topic research and gathering data is the key to the subject matter of the business report. Gather information from various sources like business journals and online articles to get the topic’s grasp.

Analyze the data

A thorough and comprehensive data analysis helps in driving to the conclusion and improves decision making.

Use illustrations to support the data

A quantitative and statistical business report must contain tables, charts, and graphs to back up the claims and conclude.

Ensure good readability

The business report should split the content into sections, use headings, sub-headings, and bullet points for good readability.

Stick to only one topic per page or slide

This avoids overwhelming data and gives the spotlight to each topic. Addressing a single subject per page or slide clarifies the issues and its proposed solutions.

Proofread and edit the business report to avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes.

Writing a business report using the tips shared above can serve the purpose impactfully. Entrepreneurs are swamped up with tons of work and find the task of writing business reports time-consuming and exhausting. SlideTeam professionals are here at your service with contemporary designs for convincing your audience. We have designed some of the most sought after business report templates, which are a must for entrepreneurs. Download our Top 10 Business Report Templates and present your business information impressively.

Without any further ado, let’s scroll down!

Top 10 Business Report Templates to Download

Give an executive summary to your stakeholders by introducing this pre-built business report template. With this stunning complete deck’s help, you can discuss the key performance indicators, team goals, and operational challenges. This business report comprises a business report which is comprehensively researched for the entrepreneurs to present their findings.

Download Yearly Business Plan Report Template

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Elaborate on the marketing and sales activity by downloading this amazingly designed business report template. Illustrate the key deliverables and timelines with the help of this striking complete deck.

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Company Marketing Analysis Business Report

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Semi Standard Structured Business Report

Illustrate the balanced scorecard implementation across departments with the help of this professionally designed business report template. You can also showcase the performance dashboard by downloading this complete deck.

Give details of the investment plan by downloading this comprehensively researched business report template. Using this complete deck, you can illustrate the competitive analysis and overview of equity research to the clients.

Give the market overview, target audience, and market size insights to the colleagues with this content-ready business report template. Present the market trends impressively by utilizing this special business report.

Elaborate on the digital marketing activities by downloading this comprehensively researched business report. As this complete deck is entirely editable, you can modify the content as per the business requirement.

Template 10

Discuss the merits of audit reports for stakeholders by downloading this content-ready business report template. The color palette used here instantly grabs the attention of the viewer and hence serves the purpose.

By following the tips to Write an Effective Business Report and taking advantage of our pre-designed Top Business Report Templates, you can establish a good impression on your audience and convey the business information effectively across the board.

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