Learn how to write a business project proposal that closes deals. Find out what to include in a client proposal, best format, and design best practices.
Amotz Harari, Head of MarketingShort answer
A business project proposal is a formal document outlining a proposed project for a client as a solution to a business problem. It is used in the sales process to finalize a deal. It includes a problem statement, project scope, success criteria, deliverables, timeline, cost, and project approval.
Read on to get a practical guide for writing a winning proposal ⤵
Client project proposals are traditionally in PDF format. They tend to be dull and uninviting documents.
But in the past few years leading solution providers, agencies, and consultancies are moving away from static and boring PDFs and using interactive project proposals instead.
Interactive proposals stand out, effectively communicate value, increase client engagement, and help close more deals.
I’m sure you’re itching to see some project proposal examples, so here’s what an interactive project proposal looks like -
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A prospecting project proposal is a presentation used in sales prospecting by agencies and other service providers to communicate their value offers to potential clients. It is commonly added as part of a cold outreach email with the purpose of securing a sales call.
A business project proposal is a document that covers the essential details of a project provided as a service. It is used at the end of the sales process to finalize a deal between a provider undertaking a project and the client paying for it.
This guide will cover this type of proposal.
An internal project proposal is a document promoting a project inside an organization. Its purpose is to get backing for the project from a sponsor or stakeholder within the organization. It is used to show the project’s viability, impact, risks, and costs.
This blog post will NOT deal with this type of project proposal. To learn about this, read our post about how to write an internal project proposal.
A client business proposal covers the services, deliverables, and impact supplied by a provider to a client within a project scope, namely within a set period and budget constraints.
A solicited project proposal refers to a proposal sent in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP). Solicited proposals often have very specific requirements and a strict application format. RFP responses often compete on price rather than unique value.
An unsolicited project proposal is sent to potential clients as part of a sales effort to persuade them to procure a solution. This type of project proposal is also called a prospecting proposal, prospecting deck, or sales pitch deck.
Your proposal is never the only offer on the table. So knowing how to write a project proposal that stands out and communicates higher value than the competition is what separates winners from losers.
There’s an art and a science to writing a project proposal. The art is hard to teach, but you can learn the science.
Let me show you step by step how to make highly effective project proposals so you can beat your competition, engage your prospects, and win more business.
That said, there is no "best" way to write a project proposal. That depends on the project. And so you can find below the links to our writing guides for specific project types.