A business proposal is designed to reflect the professionalism of your organisation and is there to persuade a buyer that your goods or services are valuable to them. Along with any other collateral it is the proposition that you are giving to the client and what will hopefully win more work for your business. Proposals usually have to be created fairly quickly, sometimes a few weeks, but sometimes only a day or two. And in the short amount of time available who wants to be spending all their time formatting fonts, correcting indents in bullet-points, fixing the order of the numbers and so much more that can take up so much of your time.It can lead to a lot of frustration and pressure to get your document ready in time. So why don't you spend an hour or two to create a proper proposal template before we begin. It's something that you can use over and over and will save you a lot of time in the long run.Here is the short version of how to make your own business proposal template. If you want the full instructions, I'll include a link to a free e-book and an example template at the bottom of this article. So let's start by creating a simple design for our front page and then we'll go onto the rest of the document. The front page needs to create a good impression. It needs to look professional and inviting - you want your proposal to be the one that everyone wants to pick out of the pile. We'll create a very simple design and include some key elements on the front that can be changed for each proposal.These elements include:
Proposal to [CLIENT name]
[Client logo]
[PROPOSAL TITLE]
Submitted by
[YOUR COMPANY name]
[Your company logo]
[Date of submission]
[Contact name in your organisation]
[Your address]
[Your phone number]
[Your fax number]
[Your email address]
[Your website address]
For ease of layout we are going to do this in a table, using borders and the Word drawing tools to create a simple, but clean design. You can get a graphics designer to create more sophisticated graphics if you wish. Our table of contents is going to be created automatically after we have set the heading styles, so for now, we'll just give the page a "Proposal Contents" title. We will however, use the same style formatting as we are going to use for Heading 1, without any numbering.We create the line using the "Format>Borders and Shading" option from the menu. We also put some space underneath using the "Format>Paragraph" option - use plenty of whitespace in your proposals, it makes them more attractive and easier to read.Next we select "Style and Formatting" from the "Format" menu our text and click "New Style" from the style and formatting bar. Call it "Contents Title" - then when you see "Contents Title" in the available formatting place your mouse over it and click on the arrow, then select "Update to match selection". Next we'll start adding the sections that we need for our proposal. These are the generic sections we are going to add, of course feel free to add/change depending on your circumstances and preferences:
Executive Summary
Our understanding of your requirement
Scope of required work
Our proposed solution
Table of compliance
Schedule
Project plan
Key dates
Costs
Table of costs
Budget assumptions
Invoicing schedule
Estimated expenses
Project team
Project team structure
Project team profiles
Our profile
Company overview
Previous experience
Project management
Quality assurance
Appendix A - Accounts
Appendix B - Product datasheets
Select "Executive Summary" and then click on "Heading 1" in your style menu. It updates to your heading one style. Now select that style from the menu and click "Modify" and base the style on Contents Title, or edit the font and paragraph settings to look like you want them to look. I recommend that in the Paragraph settings that you put a page break before your Heading 1 style.We are also going to apply numbering to all our headings, so modify "Numbering", click on the "Outline numbering" table and select the outline numbering style you prefer. Make sure in the heading styles that the "Style for the following paragraph" is Normal. We're going to make all our main sections heading one by selecting them and then selecting the Heading 1 style.Next it's on to Heading 2. Select the fist sub-heading and make it the Style "Heading 2". We are then going to alter the properties of that heading. First, the font. Next, the numbering - we are going to indent the heading paragraph. So we go and select the same outline numbering as Heading 1. If you like the indented heading, there's no need to alter it. I'm going to go an update the border and add a line again. Now we need to edit the Normal style. This time we are going to alter the font and the "spacing before" attribute in the paragraph option to 12. This is going to alter the front page look - so go and check if you need to make any more changes there.Now we create new style called "Normal H2". This is exactly the same as "Normal" (in fact we base it on that style) but we add a paragraph indent to match "Heading 2". Now go back to Heading 2, and modify "Style for following paragraph" to "Normal H2". Now go to the content page again and using the "insert>Reference>Index and tables>Table of Contents tab" option insert your choice. I like the formal one best. Now let's get the fonts as we want them. Select a heading 1 index entry, then in the Style and Formatting bar, modify the style - you may have to use the top box. Do the same for a Heading 2 index entry. I'm also going to remove the indent.Last thing...adding page numbers and footer entries...this is easily done from the "Insert>Page Numbers" and "View>Header and Footer" menu items I suggest the following text in your footer: Proposal for [CLIENT NAME] [PROPOSAL TITLE] Submitted by [YOUR COMPANY NAME].There a of course many things that you can add to your template, but this is a good start. You may also find certain elements need tweaking for your particular layouts and fonts etc. In my experience a lot of layout issues are caused by inconsistent indents and hanging indents in paragraphs, numbering and normal styles. If you want to get this template for free, with some sample proposal content then download it from the Learn to Write Proposals Website, where you'll find a free newsletter and a lifetime of great proposal resources for our members. [EXTRACT] A business proposal is designed to reflect the professionalism of your organization and is there to convince a buyer that its products or services are valuable to them. Along with any other type of warranty is the proposition that you are giving the customer what they expect to win more work for your business. Proposals usually have to be created fairly quickly, sometimes a couple of weeks, but sometimes only one or two days. And in the short time available that you spend all your time format fonts, script correction bullet points, setting the order of the numbers and much more that can take much of their time.It can be a lot of frustration and pressure to get your document ready on time. So why not spend an hour or two to create an appropriate proposal template before you start. It is something that can be used again and again and will save much time in the long term. Here's the short version of how to make your own template business proposal. For complete instructions, I'll include a link to a free ebook and a sample template at the bottom of this article. So let's start by creating a simple design for our home page and then go to the rest of the document. The main page has to create a good impression. You need to look professional and attractive - you want your proposal to be the one everyone wants to take the battery. Let's create a very simple design and includes some key elements in the front that can be changed for each proposal.These elements include: Proposal of [name of Employer] [Customer logo] [Title of proposal] Submitted by [NAME OF YOUR COMPANY] [Logo of your company] [Filing Date] [Name of contact in your organization] [Your address] [Your phone number] [Your fax number] [Your email] [Your website address] To facilitate the design we're going to do this in a table with borders and drawing tools in Word to create a simple, but clean. You can get a graphic designer to create more sophisticated graphics if desired. Our table of contents will be created automatically once we set the heading styles, so for now, we'll just give the page a "content of the proposal" in the title. However, we use the same style format that we use for heading 1, without any numbering.We create the line through the "Format> Borders and Shading" option in the menu. Also put a little space down through the "Format> Paragraph "option - use plenty of white space in their proposals, which makes them more attractive and easier to read.Next select" Styles and Formatting "menu" Format "our text and click on" new style " the style and format bar. They call it "Content Title" - then when you see "Content Title" in the available formatting place your mouse over it and click the arrow, then select "Update to Match with the team. "Then we will start adding the sections we need for our proposal. These are the generic sections to which we add, of course, feel free to add / change depending on your circumstances and preferences: Executive Summary Our understanding of their needs Scope of work necessary Our proposed solution Compliance Table Schedule Draft Plan of Key Dates Costs Cost table Budget assumptions Turnover time The estimated costs Project team Project team structure Profiles of the project team Our profile Company Description Previous experience Project Management Quality Assurance Appendix A - Audit Appendix B - Product data sheets Select "Executive Summary" and click "Heading 1" style menu. It updates your style of a degree. Then select the style from the menu and click "Modify" and the basis of style in the title of content, or edit the font and paragraph seem to want to be seen. I recommend that the paragraph settings you put a page break before Title 1 style. We are also going to apply the numbering of all our titles, so modify "Numbering", click the "Outline numbering" and select the table outline numbering style you prefer. Make sure the heading styles in the "Style for following paragraph" is normal. We will make all our main sections headed by a selection of them and then select the Title 1 style.Next is in section 2. Select the subtitle and make fist in the style "Heading 2". Then we will alter the properties of this game. First, the font. Then the numbers - we will bleed the heading paragraph. So go to select the same numbering scheme as Heading 1. If you like the title indented, no need to modify it. I'm going to update and add a line border again. Now we need to edit the Normal style. This time we will change the font and the "space before" attribute of the option in paragraph 12. This will alter the flat appearance - to go to see if any changes need to create more there.Now new style called "Normal H2". This is exactly the same as "normal" (in fact, we rely on the style), but it adds a paragraph indent to match "Heading 2". Now return to the Heading 2, and modify "style paragraph:" a "Normal H2". Now go to the new content page using the "Insert> Reference> Index and Tables> Table of Contents tab" insert your choice. I like the formal sector is the best. Now go to the sources to our liking. Select an index entry header, and then in the Styles and Formatting bar, modify the style - you may need to use the box above. Do the same with an index entry on Line 2. I'm going to remove it indent.Last ... add page numbers and footer entries ... This is easily done from the "Insert Page> Numbers" and "View> Header and Footer" menu items, suggest the following text in the footer: Proposal for [CLIENT NAME] [Title of proposal] Sent by [NAME OF YOUR COMPANY] There are of course many things you can add to the template, but this is a good start .. You can also find some items require adjustments to their particular designs and fonts, etc. In my experience a lot of design problems are caused by inconsistent indents and indents in paragraphs, numbering and styles normal. For this template for free, with some of the proposed content of the sample then download from the website to learn how to write proposals, which offers a free newsletter and a useful life of the proposed resource for our members.
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