2. What is a Business
Proposal?
•“A proposal is a sales pitch for an idea”
•“Its purpose is to persuade someone go
along with your idea AND put it into action”
3. Business Proposal
A business proposal is perhaps one of the most
critical documents you need to learn how to
write.
It is what spells the difference between success
and failure, whether you’re a freelancer or you
have a company of your own.
4. • suggest an idea to your employer to change a company
procedure, hire a new employee, purchase new
equipment.
• recommend and idea or project to a committee or board.
• apply for a grant to fund a project.
• solicit financial backing from investors for a new
business.
• solicit a contract from a potential customer or client.
Business Proposal are required
in a variety of situations…
5. • Some PROPOSALS, like grant applications,
require the completion of extensive application
forms and MUST follow a format prescribed by
the organization offering the grant.
Information to include in BPs
will vary with the situation…
6. • Define your idea
• Be persuasive
• Anticipate objections
• Explain how to proceed
Criteria for writing a
Business Proposal
7. “The size of your idea will
determine the length of
your proposal”
8. • the purchase of new furniture for
your reception area?
OR
• a bank loan to start up a new
business?
What are you proposing?
9. ALL Proposals MUST have
• Title
• Headings
_____________________________________________
• Summary
• Appendices
• Cover
10. The Title
• The title should be terse but
clearly identify your idea.
11. The Headings
• Divide your persuasive argument into subtitled
sections to make your proposal easier to read
and your rationale easier to follow.
12. The Summary
• At the BEGINNING, you will provide the busy
executive with a synopsis of your idea and main
supporting points.
13. Appendices
• Supporting data can be attached AT THE END.
• APPENDICES may include:
• résumés of people involved in the project
• tables & charts of financial figures (statistics)
• any information that would interrupt the flow
of your PERSUASIVE argument but is
essential to the PROPOSAL.
14. The Cover
• A LONG PROPOSAL should be bound in a
plastic or cardboard cover.
15. BP Important considerations
• Consider the TONE of your proposal.
• Let the LOGIC of your idea predominate.
• Support your idea with FACTS and information.
• Convey your ENTHUSIASM for the idea.
• Communicate a sense of urgency if you want
your reader to ACT.
16. LAST HINT…
“WE began by saying a proposal
is a sales PITCH, and you WILL
NOT successfully PITCH and idea
you don’t BELIEVE in.”
