Should I show pricing upfront?

For project work, yes — at the bottom but explicit. Hiding pricing or asking the buyer to "request a quote" extends the sales cycle and signals you're not confident in your value.

Do I need both a proposal AND a contract?

Usually yes. The proposal sells; the contract (or Statement of Work) executes. The proposal is signed in spirit; the SOW is signed for legal commitment. Many small businesses combine them, which works if your projects are simple.

Business Proposal

Formal proposal to a prospective client — problem statement, approach, deliverables, pricing, terms.

Customise

Proposal date

Proposal number

Your company

Your contact info

Client name

Client contact

Project title

Background / problem statement

Proposed approach

Specific deliverables

Timeline

Pricing

Proposal validity (days)

Live preview

BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Proposal #PROP-2026-001 Date: May 4, 2026

PRESENTED BY: PRESENTED TO:
Acme Design LLC Client Corp.
Jane Doe, Principal
jane@acme.com
(555) 123-4567 John Smith, VP Marketing

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

PROJECT: Brand identity refresh and rollout

1. BACKGROUND
Client Corp. is approaching the 10-year anniversary of its founding and the current visual identity (developed in 2016) no longer reflects the company's expanded product range or modernised positioning. A refreshed identity is needed for the upcoming Q3 product launch.

2. PROPOSED APPROACH
1. Discovery: 2-week stakeholder interviews and competitive audit.
2. Concept: 3 distinct identity directions presented in week 4.
3. Refinement: chosen direction developed through 2 rounds of feedback.
4. Deliverables: final logo suite, color palette, typography system, 30-page brand guidelines.
5. Rollout support: 1 month of on-call support during initial implementation.

3. DELIVERABLES
Final logo (vector + raster, light and dark variants)
Color palette with print and digital values
Typography system (primary, secondary, fallbacks)
30-page brand guidelines PDF
Social media template kit (5 templates)
Email signature template

4. TIMELINE
8 weeks from kickoff to final delivery.

5. PRICING
Total project fee: $18,500
Payment schedule:
- 30% on contract signing ($5,550)
- 30% on concept approval ($5,550)
- 40% on final delivery ($7,400)

6. ASSUMPTIONS & EXCLUSIONS
The pricing assumes:
- Existing brand assets (logos, fonts) will be made available within 1 week of kickoff
- One designated client lead with authority to approve milestones
- Up to 2 rounds of revisions per phase; additional rounds billed at standard hourly rate
Scope exclusions: photography, videography, paid ad campaigns, ongoing maintenance after rollout — these can be quoted separately.

7. ACCEPTANCE
This proposal is valid for 30 days from the date above. To accept, please sign below and return to Acme Design LLC. Upon acceptance, we will issue a formal Statement of Work for signature, against which work will commence.

ACCEPTED BY:

_____________________________ _____________________________
Client Corp. Date
John Smith, VP Marketing

About this template

A business proposal is the document that turns a sales conversation into a signed deal. The format that converts best is "problem → approach → deliverables → price" — in that order. Most amateur proposals lead with the company's credentials and pricing; the buyer just wants to know "do you understand my problem and what will I get for my money." The "Assumptions & Exclusions" section is the single most-overlooked piece — listing what's NOT included prevents scope-creep arguments later. The validity clause (30 days standard) protects you from a client who shops around for 6 months then comes back expecting your old price. Proposals over $10K usually go through procurement; format with clear section headers so the legal/finance reviewer can find the parts they need.

When to use it

Pitching to a prospective client for project-based work over ~$5K.
Responding to an RFP (request for proposal).
When a sales conversation is mature enough to need written terms.

What to include

Problem statement that proves you understand their situation.
Approach broken into 3-5 phases.
Specific deliverables (the more concrete, the better).
Timeline with key milestones.
Pricing with payment schedule (NOT just a total).
Assumptions and exclusions — protects against scope creep.
Validity period — gives the deal urgency.

Frequently asked

For under $25K, 2-3 pages is plenty. Over $100K, 5-10 pages is standard. Beyond that, you're writing for a procurement department, not a buyer — different format, more boilerplate.

⚠ Legal disclaimer. This template is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified attorney. Always consult a licensed professional before using this document for any binding agreement.