383+ Proposal Format Templates

What Is a Proposal Format?

A proposal format is a document that is aimed at getting the attention of your intended solution to a company problem. If well-constructed, it can be a very effective persuasion tool when it gives concise content in an engaging style of writing.  

How to Write a Proposal Format

When you want to write a good business proposal format, try to think about it like you're pitching an idea or marketing a product…but in a well-organized report; if your proposal is nothing more than walls of text, nobody will want to read it. So here are a few steps to make your proposal more appealing and enjoyable. 

1. Make Sure Your Introduction Hooks

A professional proposal starts with a good introduction. Whether it be amazing one-liners related to your product, promises of fellowship and harmony between two companies working together, or straight up addressing a problem in sales, a good introduction needs impact. A dull one will give your readers an assumption that the rest of the text is more boring writing, but an introduction that hooks will set the tone for the rest of the document. Make an impact from the get-go while giving a bit of a hint about what you're proposing about.

2. Present a Problem

Now that you've got the attention of the reader, regale them with stories of plummeting revenue, unsatisfied customers, bad bid proposal, or whatever the problem may be. Don't be too dramatic that you start steering away from the truth, but be dramatic enough to hammer down the idea that there is a problem and it needs to be fixed as soon as possible. 

3. "Save the Day" with Your Solution

You've hooked your audience, giving them a problem to fear, now why don't you save the day with a capital S plastered on your chest (and no, not talking about a particular person who can fly)—tell them about your proposed solution. Whether your solution is consulting sales experts, cutting down on expenditures, or simply a new product you want to introduce to the market, the idea is to show would-be readers of your text that even though the problem is "big" and "scary," your solution can overcome it.

4. Explain the Costs and Benefits

Sadly nothing is ever perfect, and no matter what your solution is, it will cost resources (be it money, or time, etc.). Here's the trick though; when you talk about costs and benefits, you simply explain 2 things: (1) how the cost of implementing your solution is worth it in exchange for the benefits it will bring, and (2) how all other solutions are either riskier, more expensive, or can't stand up to the benefits of your solution. 

5. Conclusion 

If you have an impactful introduction, you need a suggestive conclusion. Give a call to action, summarize your work, and reiterate the costs and benefits if you can. Give your ending an aura of "do consider our sample proposal, you won't regret it." 

6. Triple C It

As always, when you're done with the first draft, check your work, cut out any unnecessary or redundant text, and correct grammar and spelling errors. Do this as many times as you feel like you need to.