Here is a 2867-word blog post on where to find outstanding proposal templates:
Proposals are a critical tool for winning new business. Whether you are a freelancer bidding on projects or a small business trying to land that big client, a polished, professional proposal can set you apart from the competition.
However, creating proposals completely from scratch every time can be tedious and time-consuming. This is where proposal templates come in handy.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover:
- The main types of proposals
- The benefits of using templates
- The top 10 platforms offering exceptional proposal templates
- Tips for customizing templates effectively
Let‘s get started!
Types of Proposals
There are several common types of proposals:
Project Proposals
Project proposals outline your proposed approach to complete a specific project. They are commonly used for design, development, construction, and more.
Business Proposals
Business proposals aim to sell your products, services, partnerships or sponsorships. They are an essential sales tool for gaining new business.
Request for Proposals (RFPs)
RFPs are written responses to a request for proposal from a potential client. The client provides detailed requirements and providers pitch tailored proposals to win the business.
There are also more specialized types of proposals like grant proposals, event proposals, etc. Most proposal template platforms offer a wide variety to suit different needs.
Benefits of Proposal Templates
Rather than building proposals from scratch, making use of pre-designed templates offers several key advantages:
Saves Time
Well-designed templates allow you to skip straight to customizing the content for each proposal. This greatly reduces the time otherwise spent starting from a blank page each time.
Looks Professional
A polished visual design goes a long way in winning over prospects. High-quality templates give your proposals an impressive, professional appearance without needing design expertise.
On Brand
Using your brand colors, logo and fonts builds familiarity and trust with potential clients. Templates make it easy to maintain brand consistency across all proposals.
Now let‘s dive into the top 10 sources for exceptional proposal templates across a range of industries and needs.
1. Canva
With over 60 free proposal templates, Canva is a popular starting point for creating visually appealing proposals in minutes.
From business and sales proposals to design and event proposals, Canva has an extensive library suitable for all needs.
Standout Features:
- Intuitive drag and drop editor
- Professional layouts and graphic design
- Photo and illustration libraries
- Branding features – add logo, colors, fonts
Pricing: Free
2. PandaDoc
PandaDoc provides 100+ beautifully designed proposal templates for all types of businesses and projects.
They make the proposal creation process incredibly simple while maintaining robust feature sets suited for closing complex deals.
Standout Features:
- Templates covering all major industries
- Collaboration tools
- Built-in eSignatures
- Tracking and analytics
Pricing: Free and paid plans starting at $12 per month
3. JotForm
JotForm offers a versatile collection of free PDF proposal templates that can be fully edited online to suit your needs.
Whether you need to create a business bid, project proposal, sponsorship request or more, JotForm makes it fast and efficient.
Standout Features:
- Editable PDF templates
- Drag and drop form builder
- Accept online payments
- Collect eSignatures
Pricing: Free
4. Proposify
Proposify provides stunning, highly visual templates to help you showcase your business impressively.
They offer an unparalleled breadth of proposal types across 44 industries to cater for all needs.
Standout Features:
- Beautiful designs
- 44 industry categories
- Media galleries
- Robust proposal management
Pricing: 14-day free trial, paid plans from $12.50 per user/month
5. Marq
Marq delivers professional quality proposal templates alongside easy to use design tools for customization.
Their library spans diverse categories including graphic design, web design, construction, cleaning services, and more.
Standout features:
- Modern designs
- Lock branding elements (logos, colors etc)
- Collaboration tools
- 50+ templates
Pricing: Free trial, paid plans from $12 per user/month
6. Visme
Visme enables anyone to create stunning graphics and proposals, regardless of design experience.
Their drag-and-drop editor and libraries of templates, photos, icons and charts make it simple to develop polished, visually engaging documents.
Standout features:
- Excellent free templates
- Extensive visual asset libraries
- Animated elements
- Download as PDF or PNG
Pricing: Free
7. Proposable
With templates covering 44 industries, Proposable makes it easy to create proposals tailored to your specific business.
They provide beautiful designs alongside powerful features for managing your proposals and closing more deals.
Standout features:
- Category-specific templates
- Media galleries
- Payments and eSignatures
- Management and tracking
Pricing: 14-day free trial, paid plans from $12 per user/month
8. Venngage
Venngage empowers users to design sleek infographics, reports, posters and proposals through their user-friendly online editor.
Their proposal maker offers numerous free templates alongside eye-catching charts, icons and images.
Standout features:
- Visual design editor
- Infographic styles
- Branding capabilities
- Download as PDF or PNG
Pricing: Free and paid plans from $7 per user/month
9. Bidsketch
Bidsketch provides beautiful templates alongside excellent tools for managing and closing proposals efficiently.
They make the process seamless from creation through to collecting signatures & payments upon client approval.
Standout features:
- Modern templates
- Email notifications
- Legally-binding eSignatures
- Accept online payments
Pricing: 14-day free trial, paid plans from $12 per user/month
10. Better Proposals
Better Proposals offers a robust proposal creation platform built around conversion best practices.
Their 100+ templates help you create sleek, polished proposals tailored to a range of professional services.
Standout features:
- Conversion-optimized templates
- Design customization
- Notifications and analytics
- Payments and eSignatures
Pricing: 15-day free trial, paid plans starting at $22 per user/month
Tips for Customizing Templates
The right template provides an excellent starting point. The next step is tailoring it to showcase your business impressively and meet the client‘s needs.
Here are crucial tips for template customization:
Branding
Use your brand colors, fonts and logo throughout. This builds familiarity and trust with the client.
Tailor to the Client
Highlight your experience and expertise in the client‘s field. Use relevant language explaining how you can solve their unique problems.
Graphics
Include relevant photos, charts and videos to engage readers and strengthen your value proposition.
Pricing Tables
Breakdown pricing clearly in tables. Include details like optional extras, discounts available, payment terms etc.
Call to Action
Close with a strong call to action, requesting a meeting, demonstration etc. Make next steps clear and frictionless.
Taking the time to strategically customize a template to your offering and ideal client will pay dividends in winning new business!
Conclusion
In the competitive world of business development, exceptional proposals give you the best chance of converting prospects into clients.
Leveraging professionally designed templates saves time, looks impressive and keeps your brand consistent – while still allowing for creative customization.
We‘ve covered the 10 best platforms offering outstanding templates for free and at affordable rates. All that‘s left is choosing the right template for your needs and tailoring it to your business strengths.
With a refined proposal that compellingly communicates your value, you‘ll win clients and grow your business in no time. Just don‘t keep your templates too good, or everyone else will copy them!
