Business Proposal Template
Business Proposal Template
Design and share professional and effective business proposals using Dock’s dynamic automated templates.
Who this template is for
Sales teams, account executives, and business owners who need to create professional, persuasive business proposals to generate new business without spending hours formatting documents.
What this template is for
This template helps you build structured, compelling business proposals that make it easier for buyers to say yes. Instead of juggling PDFs, emails, and attachments, you’ll create a single online proposal that keeps all the key details—pricing, timelines, case studies, and next steps—in one place. This makes it easier for your buyers to share and advocate for your proposal internally.
How to use this template
- Sign up for a free Dock account.
- Create a new workspace and select the Business Proposal template.
- Customize the template with your company details, pricing, case studies, and proposal terms.
- Save your version as a reusable template for future proposals.
- For each new deal, create a personalized proposal workspace based on your saved template.
- Share the workspace with your prospect after your initial discovery call, so they can review and share it with internal stakeholders.
- Keep the proposal updated with any changes and use Dock’s engagement insights to track buyer interest and follow up at the right time.
What’s in this template?
Summary
Consider this your title page. Provide an executive summary, introducing your sales contacts, your business, and what you’re offering. This is where you can give the highlights of your proposal: Your problem statement and how you plan to solve it, plus your outline for the project management side, like timeline and milestones. This is also where you can include a table of contents for the rest of the proposal.
Solution Overview
Summarize the problem that your client is facing and explain how your product or service can help to solve it with demos, embedded slideshows, call recordings, and more. Be specific and provide examples of how your product has successfully addressed similar issues for other clients. You should also outline your approach to solving the problem, including any key features or benefits that your product offers.
Price Proposal
This next section is for presenting an overview of your project proposal along with a pricing breakdown. You should include information on different pricing options, such as package deals or customized pricing plans. Be sure to clearly outline the scope of work for each pricing option and any additional fees or expenses that may be involved. It can be helpful to include a comparison chart or table to make it easier for your prospects to compare the different options and choose the one that best meets their needs and budget.
Case Studies
This section should highlight well-known partners and relevant case studies to provide social proof of the value of your product. By providing examples of how your product has been used successfully by other customers, you can build credibility and trust with your prospects and stakeholders. This can help them feel more confident in your product's ability to solve their specific needs and challenges and create peace of mind.
Why use Dock’s Business Proposal Template?
A well-crafted business proposal can be the difference between winning a new client or partner and losing out to the competition.
Instead of cobbling together PDFs and scattered emails, Dock gives you a single online workspace where you can organize your proposal, pricing, case studies, and next steps—all in one place. Having a business proposal template at the ready can help to streamline the proposal-writing process and ensure that all of the necessary information is included in a clear and organized manner.
With Dock’s free business proposal templates, you can quickly and easily create and customize business proposals. Dock’s flexible editor lets you customize every proposal to match your prospect’s needs. You can embed videos, move sections around, add forms, and even track engagement to see which parts of your proposal your buyers are focusing on. And once you’ve refined your ideal proposal, you can save it as a template and reuse it to close the next deal…and the next.
Here’s what else Dock’s business proposal template can do for you:
Provide the necessary information so your value proposition lands
- Clearly and concisely present the unique benefits and value that your product or service offers.
- Use engaging presentations and information to back up your claims and demonstrate the effectiveness of your product or service.
- Use customer testimonials and case studies to show real-world examples of how your product or service has been successful for other clients
- Highlight any competitive advantages, know-how, or differentiators that set your product or service apart from similar offerings in the market.
Speed up the sales process
- Make proposals look professional and consistent.
- Provide a clear and organized structure for presenting your business sales pitch.
- Ensure that all necessary information is included, reducing the need for clarification.
- Save time and resources that would otherwise be spent creating a proposal from scratch, allowing you to focus on other aspects of the sales process.
Improve implementation and delivery after the deal is closed
- Clear and detailed terms and conditions help to avoid misunderstandings or conflicts.
- Provide a roadmap for implementing the proposed venture or partnership, including timelines, deliverables, and key milestones.
- Define the roles and responsibilities of each party, making it easier to coordinate and collaborate during the implementation process.
- Establish a clear and agreed-upon plan of action, reducing the need for last-minute changes or unexpected setbacks.
Related Templates
.jpg)
How do I use this template?
Sign up for Dock for free, create a new workspace, and select the Business Proposal template. Customize it with your company details, pricing, and case studies. Save it as your own template to reuse for future proposals, and create a personalized version for each client.
Is this template free?
Yes! Dock is free to try for up to 50 workspaces. Every paid Dock plan includes unlimited template and workspace usage.
Can I modify this template?
Yes, you can make a copy of the template and customize it however you need. You can also adjust each proposal to match specific client requirements.
Can I personalize this template for every client?
Absolutely. Dock allows you to tweak each proposal with client-specific branding, pricing, and supporting materials so every potential client, partner, and investor feels seen and heard. Whether you’re creating a digital marketing proposal for a new social media channel or a construction proposal for a new interior design project, this template can work for you.
Can I share this template with my team?
Yes, you can keep your template private or share it across your team. Dock gives you control over who can access and edit templates.
What is a business proposal?
A business proposal is a formal document that outlines a company’s offer to a prospective client. When you receive an RFP, or request for proposal, pulling together all of the details matters. It typically includes an overview of the client’s problem, the proposed solution, pricing details, and key terms. A well-structured business proposal helps businesses communicate value, differentiate from competitors, and close deals faster.
What is a sales proposal?
A sales proposal is a specific type of business proposal focused on persuading a potential customer to purchase a product or service. It usually includes a problem statement, solution overview, pricing, case studies, and next steps. A strong sales proposal makes it easier for buyers to justify the purchase internally.
What should you include in a business proposal?
An in-depth business proposal should include:
- An executive summary that highlights your offer and why it matters.
- A problem statement that outlines the client’s challenge.
- A solution overview explaining how your product or service solves the problem.
- Pricing details with a clear breakdown of costs.
- Case studies or testimonials to build credibility.
- Next steps to guide the prospect toward a decision.
When should you use a business proposal?
Use a business proposal whenever you need to formalize an offer for a potential client. It’s most effective when a buyer has shown interest and needs to present the offer to other stakeholders.
Business proposal best practices and tips
- Keep it concise: Buyers don’t want to read a novel.
- Make it visually appealing: Use Dock’s editor to add videos, images, and clean formatting.
- Personalize it: Customize proposals for each client so you’re including information that matters to them as they make a decision.
- Don’t forget the details: Include a project timeline, your proposed workflow or how you do business, your contact information for key stakeholders, and a cover letter stating why you’re the best company to handle this job.
- Make it easy to share: A Dock proposal is an online workspace, so buyers don’t have to download attachments or forward emails.
Business proposal mistakes to avoid
- Overloading with information: Stick to the essentials. Buyers don’t need every detail upfront.
- Ignoring the decision-making process: Your buyer likely needs to share the proposal internally. Make it easy to understand and advocate for.
- Using static PDFs: A Dock workspace allows you to update proposals in real time and track engagement.
How to share a business proposal internally
If you’re working with a team, use Dock’s template-sharing features to keep everyone aligned. You can store company-wide proposal templates and ensure everyone is using the latest version.
How to share a business proposal with clients
- Send a single link: With Dock, you can send one link that contains all proposal details.
- Introduce it early: Share the proposal workspace after a discovery call to keep momentum.
- Track engagement: Use Dock’s analytics to see when prospects view or interact with the proposal, so you can follow up at the right time.
How long should a business proposal be?
There’s no perfect length, but shorter is usually better. Most business proposals are 2-5 pages or sections. Focus on delivering clear, essential information without overwhelming the reader.
Every type of proposal is different, though—a bid proposal for a real estate project is going to have architectural plans, blueprints, and permitting information on top of a traditional proposal, while a startup looking for investors is going to have more financial and product information.
What’s the difference between a business proposal and a business plan?
A business proposal is a sales document meant to win a client. A business plan is an internal document that outlines how a company will operate and grow.
How formal should a business proposal be?
Your industry and client should determine how formal your business proposal will be. Some proposals are highly structured, while others are more conversational. It depends on whether or not you’re creating solicited proposals—which come after an RFP from a potential client actively looking for companies like yours—or unsolicited proposals. Dock’s template allows for flexibility, so you can match the tone to your audience.
How do I write a strong executive summary for my proposal?
Your executive summary should be short, clear, and compelling. This should appear on your title page. Answer these three questions:
- What’s the client’s main problem?
- How does your product or service solve it?
- What’s the next step?
Then, you can drill down into the details. For example, a web design proposal template should include graphic design notes, a writing proposal for the copy, examples of past website design projects, and other branding notes like fonts, colors, or UX.
Can I use this business proposal template for multiple industries?
Yes! Dock’s template is fully customizable, so you can adjust it for any industry—whether you’re in SaaS, consulting, marketing, or another field.
What are some business proposal examples?
A business proposal example could be a sales proposal for a SaaS company, a marketing services pitch for an ecommerce brand, a research proposal for an academic, or a marketing proposal for a small business.
Each business proposal template example typically includes an executive summary, problem statement, proposed solution, pricing, and case studies. Dock provides a structured business proposal format that can be customized for different industries, ensuring a professional and persuasive presentation.
What’s the best way to present pricing in a business proposal?
Make pricing clear and transparent. If you offer multiple options, use a simple pricing table. Dock allows you to present interactive pricing breakdowns and even attach detailed proposals or contracts.
How do I handle revisions in a business proposal?
With Dock, you can update your proposal in real time—no need to send new versions or attachments. Just edit your workspace, and your prospect will always see the latest version.
All rights reserved.
