TEMPLATES

Project proposal template

A short, persuasive proposal that shows you understand the problem and closes the deal — copy it, fill in the brackets, send it.

Updated August 25, 2026

PROJECT PROPOSAL

Prepared for [CLIENT NAME] by [YOUR NAME / BUSINESS NAME] on [DATE]. Valid until [DATE — give it an expiry so it doesn’t linger].

1. The problem. [STATE THE CLIENT’S SITUATION IN THEIR OWN WORDS — two or three sentences. Show you listened. “Your booking page loses visitors on mobile and you’re getting fewer inquiries than the traffic suggests.”]

2. What I’ll do about it. [DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH IN PLAIN LANGUAGE — no jargon. Focus on the outcome, not the tools.]

3. Scope and deliverables.

  • [DELIVERABLE 1 — be specific]
  • [DELIVERABLE 2]
  • [DELIVERABLE 3]

Out of scope (quoted separately if needed): [LIST ANYTHING THEY MIGHT ASSUME IS INCLUDED BUT ISN’T].

4. Timeline.

  • Start: [DATE]
  • [MILESTONE 1]: [DATE]
  • [MILESTONE 2]: [DATE]
  • Final delivery: [DATE]

Timeline assumes materials and feedback arrive within [X] business days of each request.

5. Investment. [TOTAL PRICE], structured as: [DEPOSIT %] to start, remainder [on delivery / split by milestone].

Includes [NUMBER] rounds of revisions. Additional work is quoted as a written change order before it begins.

6. Why me. [TWO SENTENCES ON RELEVANT EXPERIENCE OR RESULTS. Link to portfolio or examples.]

7. Next step. To move forward, reply to this email or sign below. I’ll send an agreement and invoice for the deposit, and we’ll book a kickoff call.

Accepted by: ______________________ Date: __________

How to use this proposal

A proposal sells the outcome; the contract protects the work. Keep them separate — proposals that try to be contracts read as defensive, and contracts that try to be proposals are unenforceable in the parts that matter.

Draft one with the proposal generator and read write proposals that win for the structure that converts. Lead with the client’s problem in their words, not with your biography.

This template is a starting point, not legal advice.