If you want your business to grow and attract new clients, you’ll have to start creating meaningful proposals. The goal of a proposal is obviously to be awarded new work. It accomplishes this goal by providing answers to questions of who, what, where, why, how and when. But many small or home-based business owners have neither time, knowledge or resources necessary to create proposals that properly relay pertinent information about company and its ability to provide requested services.
If mere thought of having to create a proposal is keeping you from bidding on jobs you know your business can handle, stop worrying! There are several proposal-building software products available that will help with this task.
Many are template-driven. All you have to do is select templates that are appropriate to include in proposal, use your word processor to add text that is specific to your type of business, then sit back and watch a professional-looking proposal emerge from your printer.
Read following tips for an idea of components that will help your proposals get attention they need.
Tip #1 – Identify Problem
A proposal must show that person or company submitting it clearly understands problem that prospective client is attempting to remedy. If proposal cannot show right away, in Executive Summary section, that you have a clear understanding of problem, those reviewing it won’t feel confident that your company will be capable of properly and effectively dealing with it. They’ll see no reason to read beyond Executive Summary section.
Tip #2 – Identify Proposed Solution
The proposal must also clearly outline manner in which bidder will address this problem. Include here personnel you will assign to project and their resumes. Mention here estimated timeline for completing work outlined in bid. Also show anticipated costs and how they will be allocated. Don’t provide too much information about proposed solution. You don’t want to give proposed solution away for free!