What is a professional proposal?

A professional services proposal, or consulting proposal, is a digital or printed document that details a project set out by a business to meet a challenge or need of a potential client. 

There are all kinds of proposals for professional services, and most fall under two categories: Solicited and unsolicited project proposals. 

Solicited proposals: A customer reaches out to your business and asks for a proposal to solve XYZ. This is also known as a request for proposal or RFP. They may be an existing client that has worked with your business before, or they may have found your business from a web search or through word of mouth. 

Unsolicited proposals: A proposal sent directly to prospective clients from your business, like a cold call or email. Unsolicited proposals are often more general than solicited proposals as the potential client’s needs are unknown. 

No matter the type of proposal you create, it should answer a handful of standard questions like: 

• Who you and your business are
• Why you’re creating a proposal
• What you aim to achieve with your proposal
• When you expect to complete the project
• How you expect to complete the project

A professional proposal strategy is essential whether you’re a large or small business, as it’s critical to have a game plan when you need to present to a prospective client. 

It may seem like a lot of work to drum up a consulting proposal template out of thin air, particularly when there are so many sample proposals for services out there, but with some planning, you can create a template that sees you through almost every new client proposal. 

Advantages of using a professional services proposal template

So, now you need a proposal for the services template. Where do you start? 

You could create one from scratch, but this would require a fair bit of work on your part. It’s also easy to miss elements of a proposal when you start from square one.

Your best bet, which will save you time and money, is to use a professional services proposal template, particular one included as part of professional services proposal software. 

Not convinced? Here are just a handful of the many benefits of using professional proposal software and templates: 

1. The templates are already created, so you can get started right away without having to create sections — not to mention design them. Simply find the best template for your business, like a marketing consulting proposal, and get started entering all your information. 
2. Any proposal software worth its salt will give you the option to customize any and every field. This is important when you’re creating proposals for different clients with different needs or if your business is creating business consulting proposals to suit different departments. 
3. Not everyone is a graphic design wizard; if you are, you still may not have the time to create a design out of thin air for your new proposal template. A huge benefit of professional services proposal templates is that there are dozens (if not more) of professionally designed templates to choose from, so finding one for your business is hassle-free. 
4. What is the number one reason to choose professional services proposal software? The time you’ll save! You won’t have to brainstorm, choose fonts, and design your templates. You can pick the proposal template for services you like, fill it in, and customize it to ensure the main selling points of your proposal pop. Simple! This will free up time to focus on other tasks in your workflow.