research proposal vs business proposal

How To Write An Effective Business Proposal

Published: Feb 28, 2024, 2:00pm

Table of Contents

What is a business proposal, business plan vs. business proposal, objectives of a business proposal, essential elements of a business proposal, 7 steps to write a business proposal, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Writing a business proposal is a crucial skill if you wish to run a successful and profitable business. Knowing how to write a business proposal is not necessary for presenting your product or services in the best possible manner. It’s about convincing others that your solutions are the best fit for their needs. Crafting an effective business proposal can open doors to immense opportunities.

In this article, you will learn the essential components of an effective business proposal as well as techniques that ensure your proposal captures and retains client interest. Let’s dive in and explore the art of creating compelling business proposals.

A business proposal is a document designed to persuade a potential client or customer to buy a specific product or service. It’s a tailored argument that outlines the benefits of your approach, solution or product, specifically addressing the requirements of the recipient. A business proposal must not only communicate your vision but also persuade the recipient of the proposal to take positive action.

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Types of Business Proposals

Understanding the different types of business proposals is key to selecting the right approach for your situation. Typically, proposals are categorized into two main types: solicited and unsolicited.

Solicited proposals are those that are requested by a potential client, often in response to a request for proposal (RFP). These tend to have a prescribed format and specific requirements, making it crucial to follow the guidelines provided. Unsolicited proposals are not requested by a client but are sent proactively. They require a more persuasive approach as you’re introducing a solution to a problem the client may not have actively considered.

Additionally, there are informal and formal proposals. Typically, informal proposals are shorter and used in a more relaxed business setting or with existing clients. In contrast, formal proposals are longer, more detailed and used in situations requiring thorough analysis and presentation, often for new clients or large projects.

A business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the overall vision, strategy and goals of your business. In contrast, a business proposal is a targeted pitch to a specific client or organization, offering a solution to a problem or a strategy for achieving a specific goal.

A business plan is primarily used for internal planning and, often, to secure funding from investors. A typical business plan includes an overview of your business model, market analysis, financial projections and long-term strategic plans. However, unlike the broad scope of a business plan, a proposal is your chance to showcase how your services or products can benefit the prospective client, tailored to their specific needs and challenges.

While a business plan lays out the path your business intends to take, a business proposal is a direct response to a potential client’s problem, demonstrating how you intend to solve it effectively.

A business proposal is a strategic tool that can be used in negotiations, aiming to convince a potential client or partner of the value as well as viability of your proposed solution to their problem or need. Here are some of the most important objectives of a business proposal.

To Persuade

The core objective of a business proposal is to persuade the recipient that your solution is the best fit for their problem or need. It’s about making a compelling case for your approach, services or products.

A well-written proposal also informs the reader. It should provide all necessary details about your solution, including how it works, its benefits and why it stands out from the competition.

To Establish Credibility

Through your proposal, you demonstrate your understanding of the client’s needs and your capability to meet them. This is your chance to showcase your expertise and past successes.

To Initiate a Dialogue

A good proposal also serves as a starting point for further discussions. It opens up a channel of communication with the potential client, inviting them to negotiate terms, ask questions and seek clarifications.

Understanding these objectives can guide the tone, content and structure of your proposal. Listing your products or services is not enough. You need to craft a narrative that aligns with the client’s needs and paints a clear picture of how you can fulfill those needs effectively and efficiently.

To create an effective business proposal that persuades the recipient to take action, include these key components:

• Title page and table of contents: Begin with a professional title page that includes the proposal’s title, your company’s name, the date and the recipient’s name. For easier navigation, especially in longer proposals, include a table of contents.
• Executive summary: This section provides a concise overview of the proposal, summarizing the key points. It should be engaging and highlight why they should read the proposal.
• Problem statement or needs assessment: Clearly define the issue or need your proposal is addressing. Demonstrating a deep understanding of the client’s challenges is essential here.
• Proposed solution: Elaborate on your proposed solution, detailing how it specifically tackles the client’s problem or need. This section should be clear, convincing and aligned with the client’s objectives.
• Pricing and terms: Offer a transparent breakdown of the pricing structure and any terms and conditions related to your services. Clarity in this section helps avoid future misunderstandings.
• Qualifications and experience: Showcase your credentials, expertise and any relevant experience or success stories. This is necessary to build trust and credibility.
• Call to action (CTA) and closing remarks: Conclude with a strong call to action that encourages the client to proceed or engage further. Briefly summarize the primary benefits of choosing your solution to reinforce your proposal’s value.

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Crafting a compelling business proposal requires the right blend of clarity, persuasion and attention to detail. The key to a successful business proposal is not just in what you include, but how you present it. Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure your proposal stands out:

• Start with the executive summary: Begin with a strong executive summary that captures the essence of your proposal. This should be persuasive and highlight the benefits of your solution. Remember, this might be the only part some decision-makers read.
• Address the problem clearly: In the problem statement, be specific about the client’s challenge. Use language that resonates with them, demonstrating that you truly understand their needs.
• Detail your proposed solution: Break down your solution into digestible sections. Be clear about how each part of your solution addresses the problem. Use bullet points or subheadings for readability.
• Outline pricing and terms: Present your pricing clearly. Include different packages or options if applicable. Be transparent about any conditions or terms to build trust.
• Showcase your credentials: Use the qualifications section to build credibility. Highlight past successes, relevant experience and any unique skills or resources that make your solution the best choice.
• Craft a persuasive conclusion: End with a persuasive conclusion that reiterates the benefits of your solution. A strong call to action should encourage the client to take the next step, whether it’s a meeting, a phone call or signing a contract.
• Proofread and edit: Ensure your proposal is free of errors. A well-edited proposal reflects professionalism and attention to detail.

After submitting the proposal, plan a follow-up strategy. This might include a phone call or an email to discuss any questions and reiterate your interest in working with the client.

Design and Presentation Tips

The visual appeal of your business proposal plays a crucial role in its effectiveness. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while writing a proposal:

• Keep the design professional and clean, using your brand colors and logo for consistency.
• Utilize white space effectively to enhance readability.
• For longer proposals, use charts, graphs and bullet points to break up text and illustrate points clearly.
• Ensure that the format is compatible with various devices, as clients may view your proposal on different screens.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In business proposal writing, common pitfalls can significantly reduce your chances of success. Here are a few for your reference:

• Avoid overcomplicating your language; clarity and conciseness are more important than demonstrating language skills.
• Do not make unrealistic promises or overestimate results as this can damage credibility.
• Tailor your proposal to the specific client or their industry. Do not have a standard proposal for everyone.
• Grammatical errors can detract from your professionalism, so edit and proofread the proposal before sharing.

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In this article we’ve explored the essentials of crafting effective business proposals, distinguishing them from business plans and highlighting key components as well as common pitfalls. Equipped with these insights, your next step should be to apply this knowledge in practice.

Creating a versatile business proposal template can be a great starting point. You can then customize the template to create business proposals that win you clients and drive business success.

What is the main point of a business proposal?

The main point of a business proposal is to present a tailored solution to a specific client or business problem. It aims to persuade the recipient that your approach or service is the best fit for their needs, outlining how it offers value and addresses their unique challenges. The proposal serves as a strategic tool for initiating business relationships and securing contracts.

How do you structure a business funding proposal?

A business funding proposal is structured to concisely present your business idea, market potential and financial needs. It typically includes an executive summary, a detailed description of the business, market analysis, specifics of the financial request and a plan for funds utilization. The proposal also highlights your business’s management team, projected financials and return on investment to assure potential investors of the viability and profitability of the venture.

What are the three main types of business proposals?

The three main types of business proposals are:

• Formally solicited proposals: These are written in response to an official request for a proposal (RFP), often with specific guidelines and format requirements outlined by the potential client.
• Informally solicited proposals: These proposals are created based on casual or less formal requests, often following verbal conversations or discussions with a potential client who has expressed interest but hasn’t issued a formal RFP.
• Unsolicited proposals: These are proposals initiated by the sender and presented to potential clients who have not requested them. They often require a more persuasive approach as they aim to create a need or solution the potential client may not have previously considered.
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Home » General » Formal Research vs Business Proposal

Formal Research vs Business Proposal

For beginning entrepreneurs, there is a lot of industry lingo and jargon that are tossed about that tend to get lumped together when they shouldn’t be. One of the most common instances of “lumping” is formal research and business proposals. Although the structure of these two business documents is similar, the outcomes being discussed are very different.

Here’s the difference: a formal research document is completed to determine if a proposed project as a chance of success. A business proposal, on the other hand, is essentially a sales pitch that shows the intention of beginning a new project. What you’ll often find is that these two documents work together to create one source of information, which is likely why they’re often considered one task.

Formal Research Is Usually the First Task Completed

When a formal research report is completed, it will provide a business with some basic facts about their market. It can be general or specific depending on the scope of the research that is being conducted. It is essential for every business in every industry to take the time to conduct this type of report. That’s because there are some specific bits of information that will be discovered that can help the future decision making process.

• It will help businesses discover what the general sales rate is for their market and industry.
• A list of competitors will be generated so that a business can become competitive without undercutting the existing market.
• Similar products or services in the market will be discovered so that value comparisons can be made.

The most important fact that a formal research report is going to discover is the level of market saturation. If there are too many similar products in the market at that moment, then there isn’t going to be a legitimate business opportunity. If there is not, then the market is ripe for the fresh ideas that can be brought to the table.

That’s when a business proposal becomes the next logical step.

Business Proposals Suggest Methods

Formal research might look at the generalities of a market, but business proposals deal only with the specifics. This document will not only suggest what new products or services should be put forth in the market, but suggest methods to make them viable as well. Proposals don’t always need to be associated with a new product or idea either. A proposal also makes sense if a new marketing approach is needed to breathe new life into existing services.

A business proposal typically has three distinct sections that are included within the body of the final report.

1. It will have a description of the task that is being considered, usually a brief overview of the journey being proposed. 2. There will be a comprehensive look at the general approach that should be taken in order for success to be achieved. 3. A schedule and budget for successful completion will also be included so that profits and loss and be examined before the implementation of the project.

It is not uncommon for several business proposals to be drawn up from the same formal research. This is because different people or different teams will look at research data in different ways. The multiple proposal approach offers a business the chance to find the biggest patch of common ground, plan for the best success, and then do their best to make it happen.

You cannot have a complete business proposal without performing any formal research.

It is possible to create a business proposal without formal research, but it will be an incomplete proposal. This is because without research, any information about market conditions will just be an educated guess. That might be fine enough for a small landscaping company who is thinking about adding a tree trimming service to their suite of services, but it isn’t good enough for a multimillion dollar product launch that is being taken to the mass market.

Business Proposals Can Also Be Business Propositions

One of the most common forms of a business proposal is a bid for services. If a business needs their parking lot paved, for example, they would solicit bids from local contractors for the job. Those contractors would research the job, figure out their budget to complete the work in a specific amount of time, and then establish a cost that is profitable for them, yet still competitive with the rest of the market in general.

Research, however, is still essential to this process. A bid will not be 100% accurate if 100% of the available information has not been considered during its creation.

What Are the Benefits of This Documentation?

The primary benefit of these two documents is that they can provide a business with a complete picture of the market conditions. The past, present, and future are all examined to create a comprehensive strategy that can help a business maximize the gains of a new product, service, or marketing effort. It lowers costs because all strategies can be evaluated and bring new products or services to the market more quickly.

There’s also the clear benefit of knowing whether or not a idea is going to potentially succeed before capital is invested into a new idea. If a new idea takes $1 million to bring to the market with an appropriate level of brand exposure, but the expected market sales per year is only going to be around $100k, then businesses can determine whether or not the value of the revenues coming in will eventually pay for themselves or just result in an overall loss.

The final benefit is that the formal research and business proposal combination can help a business know what their budget will need to be thanks to the schedules that are included in this documentation. By knowing where the funds will need to go, more accuracy over the finances can be achieved and this lowers the overall risks of fraud and embezzlement happening.

Knowing the difference between these two documents will help you create a better niche in your market and industry. Use it today to make sure you have both documents in order for your next project.

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What Is the Theory on a Business Proposal Vs. A Formal Research?

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The terms “business proposal” and “business research” are often intermingled in the business environment. Some people tend to use them interchangeably, although they refer to two types of professional documents. A formal research report is completed to see if a potential project will succeed, while a business proposal is written with the intention of starting a new product. Although different, the two documents can be used together.

Formal Research

A formal research report provides basic information and statistics in a given field or industry, depending on the focus decided by the company. A company may research the demand for a specific product by researching similar products on the market, the general sales rate, a list of companies that produce the product and how much it is selling for. A research report will reveal whether the market for the specific product is saturated or indeed a ripe business opportunity.

Business Proposal

A business proposal is a document that suggests a method for completing a task, whether it is launching a new product or implementing a new marketing campaign. A proposal includes a brief description of the task at hand, a section describing the general approach to the task, a schedule for the task in question and a budget that outlines all expenses associated with the task. Detailed proposals include an outlook section that predicts how the company will benefit from this particular approach. This is common for projects that have several proposal submissions.

Using Research for Proposals

Formal research reports and proposal documents are different in nature but can be used together for large corporate projects, such as preparing for a product launch. The first step is conducting research to ensure there is a need or demand for the product in question. Once the company establishes that there is a market for it, employees prepare several proposals about how to manufacturer a high-quality product for the lowest manufacturing costs. This may include renting equipment or outsourcing help.

Benefits of Research and Proposals

Writing research reports and project proposals has several benefits for a company. The company can determine whether a product is likely to sell before spending money on developing a product. Without knowing how the market looks for the product in question, a single company can lose money. In addition, a proposal presents a budget and a schedule so the company can adjust its master budget. Knowing how much money the project will cost ensures executives know where funds are going.

• FAO Corporate Document Repository: Chapter 3 – The Project Profile
• Entrepreneur; Market Research – The Basics; Lesley Spencer Pyle; September 2010

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How to Write a Business Proposal in 2024 (+ Templates)

Written by: Unenabasi Ekeruke

When it comes to landing new customers, securing partnerships and funding and closing more deals, a well-crafted business proposal can be your silver bullet.

It's no longer enough to offer quality products and services. You need a compelling business proposal that makes a solid case for your product, attracts clients' attention and sways purchase decisions in your favor.

But how do you write a proposal that wins the hearts and minds of your potential client? What information and tools do you need? What should be in a business proposal?

This article has everything you need to know about writing a business proposal. We’ve included valuable tips and ready-made templates to help you get started.

Here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit job proposal templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:

Let's get to it.

Table of Contents

What is a business proposal, business proposal vs. business plan, types of business proposals, how to create a business proposal that wins clients (step-by-step).

• Tips for Writing Winning Business Proposal

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Business proposal faqs, create winning business proposals that close more deals.

A business proposal is a document sent to prospects persuading them to buy your products or services.  It is mostly used by marketers, businesspeople and B2B and B2C companies to secure contracts and convince potential clients, investors, partners, or stakeholders to invest in or support a business idea.

You can send a business proposal in response to a client's request. Better yet, you can share it as a proposed solution to attract your client's attention.

Often, business proposals precede any business agreement and include details such as:

• What your business does (products, services) and the value you bring to the client
• When you can start and finish (timeframe and milestones)
• What the client stands to gain from the business relationship (expected results)
• Why you're the right person to do the job
• Or why the client should choose you to deliver that service (value proposition)

Take a look at these 20 proposal templates to get an idea of what yours can look like. Join Mike on this video from our YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe and get notified of new videos.

The common myth is that business proposals and business plans are interchangeable. The thing is, both tools are important for growing your business. Yet, they play different roles.

Business proposals help you pitch your product and service to prospective customers. On the flip side, business plans lay a roadmap for your business and help attract investors and partners. They differ from each other by purpose, content and structure.

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There are generally two main categories of business proposals: unsolicited and solicited.

Formally Solicited Business Proposal

Solicited business proposals are sent in response to a client's request for a proposal. It may be a request for proposal (RFP), request for information (RFI) or request for quotation (RFQ).

The request outlines the clients' needs and expectations and the evaluation criteria used to select the vendors or service providers.

A solicited business proposal is usually an easier sell for marketers. That’s because the client is already sold on making the purchase or using the service. At this point, the customer is evaluating potential vendors or service providers to get the best value or deal.

Informally Solicited Business Proposal

This type of business proposal emanates from informal meetings and verbal discussions with clients. Since there's no formal or official request for a proposal from the client, you may have little information to work with.

Nevertheless, you'd have to thoroughly research the organization's unique needs to win the client over.

Unsolicited Business Proposals

These are proposals sent to prospects who haven't requested one. It’s more about pitching your business when they haven’t requested a proposal.

An excellent example of this proposal type is a cold email , sales brochure or marketing flyer . This type of marketing content is often generic. And even though it introduces your solution, it may not align with the client's unique requirements.

Here’s how to make prospects pay attention to your unsolicited business proposal:

• Research your potential customers and the markets they operate in
• Identify their pain points
• Propose a customized solution tailored to your customer's needs
• Personalize your proposal's content and make it persuasive

A winning business proposal should include these key elements

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Your title page is the first thing your client will see when they open your proposal. Aim to make it appealing, professional and engaging as it sets the tone for further engagement.

The title page should contain the following information:

• The proposal title
• Your name, company name, logo and date
• The prospect's business name

The title page below gives prospective customers a sneak peek into what the proposal is about. Aim to make it aesthetically appealing, as it helps you leave a strong first impression.

Proposals typically contain a lot of information. So, adding a table of contents helps you achieve these three things:

• Gives your prospects an insight into what you'll cover in the proposal
• Lays out the page numbers where readers can find each page, section and subsection
• Makes it super easy for readers to navigate your document

If you're going to send your proposal online, make your table of contents clickable. This will enable your audience to jump to the different sections with a single click.

This business proposal example shows how to craft a table of contents with a beautiful and interactive layout.

Executive Summary

The executive summary is the ticket to getting a prospect interested in your proposal. Why's that? Clients receive lots of proposals and may not have time to read the entire content.,

Hence, writing a stellar executive summary can hook them in and nudge them to read on.

It's a summary of the entire business proposal. And you'll typically find it in sales enablement content and other business documents like reports , sales and marketing plans , surveys and more.

At a glance, your readers should get a bird's eye view of:

• Your company's goals, mission and vision
• Proposed solution and value proposition
• How your project impacts their organization
• Expected outcomes
• Cost implications and more

This business proposal template below has a brief executive summary. It highlights what the company does, the proposed services, costs and timeline.

Company Background

The company background is a key aspect of the business proposal introduction. This is where you provide detailed information about your company. You should discuss your company's history, vision, mission and key staff here.

Be sure to include pictures and profiles of the executives and key personnel with experience related to your proposal. Showcase milestones, awards and industry recognition to build credibility and boost prospects' confidence in your company.

Notice how the template below offers elaborate information about the company.

Problem Statement

This section should outline your prospect's needs, problems and pain points. To drive a client's interest or develop a sense of urgency, explain the issues your client is facing and how they impact their business.

Writing a compelling problem statement does these three things:

• It shows that you have a deeper understanding of their unique needs
• Highlights your technical knowledge, experience and ability to help address them
• It allows you to point out a problem your prospect may not have been aware of

But how do you identify your client's needs? The simple answer is, that you have to do your homework. Research your client's business and study other companies in their niche and industry trends.

Proposed Solution

Your business proposal aims to help the prospect solve their problems. Hence, this section should address how you intend to achieve that.

Let your clients know the strategy and methods you'll use, why you chose that approach, deliverables and expected outcome.

Avoid making your proposed solution sound generic. Instead, customize it to your client's needs. Above all, paint a mental picture of how their business will turn out after implementing your solution.

Scope of Work

At this point, you should translate your proposed solution into an action plan. Start by elaborating on the areas you'll cover during the project execution.

Check that the scope of work is relevant to the potential client's statement of needs or problems. You should also try to avoid or translate industry jargon that the reader may not understand.

Timeline and Milestones

This section should include an estimated timeline of when the project will start and finish and how long it will take. We recommend presenting the project schedule, milestones, timeline and deliverables in a visually appealing way.

Check out the business proposal template below to get creative inspiration.

Qualification

This page should convince prospects that you're the best person or company for the job. Talk about your capabilities, experience, expertise and your team's qualifications. Also, reiterate why they should trust you to deliver.

Your job is to dispel any iota of doubt and boost the client's trust in your brand. You can include social proof like testimonials , reviews, case studies and client success stories. Also, mention relevant credentials, recognition or awards to demonstrate your authority.

Feel free to include a portfolio of the work you've done before or a list of clients you've served.

Pricing, Estimates and Billing

This section should outline your pricing, payment schedule and payment terms. Be sure to display the line items, the incremental cost and the total fee. You can also include a price per unit rate or a fixed monthly or hourly rate.

We recommend providing clients with options or breaking your fee into project stages or milestones. That way, the client knows his options and what he's paying for.

Not sure how to achieve this? Use an interactive pricing comparison table that automatically adjusts when the client selects the preferred product, service or plan.

Use this section to indicate when you'll require payment upfront, before or after each milestone or after project completion. Also, specify whether any portion of the payment is refundable in the event of an unforeseen event.

Look at how the business proposal template below elaborates on the budget and pricing information.

Thank the reader for considering your business. Next, summarize your proposal in this section and get the client in the mood to hire your company or purchase your solution.

Highlight the key points of your business proposal. Plus, reiterate your value proposition and why the client should choose you.

Mention that you're available for further discussion on your proposal. Add phone numbers, email and office address to enable your prospects to reach you.

• Terms and Conditions

This is where you outline every legal aspect of the proposed business relationship. This part has to be as clear as possible to avoid disputes or legal issues.

If you're unsure what to include in your proposal, check with your lawyer or legal team. They'll highlight the legalities, confidentiality agreements and elements of a working contract.

The template below is an excellent example of how to outline your terms and conditions.

Include a small section at the end of your proposal where both parties (you and the client) can sign off if they agree to the terms of your proposal. You can include your contact details here and prompt the client to contact you if they have any questions or concerns.

The appendix section is perfect if you have visuals, tables or other content you've cited in your content. For instance, let's say you mentioned products, materials and other tangible items you plan to use during the project. In that case, you can include the product catalog in the appendix section.

Tips for Writing Winning Business Proposals

You now understand how to create a business proposal and what should be in a business proposal. Here are some design tips to make your business proposal attractive.

1. Know Your Audience and Recognize Their Needs

Don't make assumptions about your audience. Instead, do your best to understand their specific and unique needs and how you can assist them. Your potential customer wants to see how your solution will address their specific needs, not a generic solution to the problem.

Map your buyer persona to understand their pain points, budget, deadlines and more. This information will improve your chances of closing the deal.

2. Use Professionally Designed Template

When creating your business proposals, use professionally designed proposal templates . The upside is that you won't have to start from scratch, saving you a lot of time.

Using templates allows you to focus more on the copy and contents, ensuring you cover all the bases and include all the necessary information to warrant a positive response.

3. Pay Attention to Design

Every element of your business proposal should be crafted to catch your audience's eye.

Jazz up your cover page with a captivating image that depicts what the proposal is about. Give it a personal touch and build brand recognition by adding your logo on the cover and inner pages. Remember to use beautiful colors and fonts that align with your brand guidelines.

However, when using colors, maintain a contrast between the text and the background color. For example, using dark-colored text on a dark background will make your document impossible to read.

Likewise, avoid utilizing too similar hues or a lighter version of the same color background. Colors with a lot of contrast and color pairs that follow the basic idea of light and dark color combinations function well.

Adopt a minimalistic design to make your proposal look polished and help readers focus on the important information.

Make sure that each element in your proposal has enough white space around it, whether it's text, images, charts or anything else. Avoiding clutter will make your proposal look neat and easy to read.

4. Use More Visuals and Less Text

Visuals bring your presentation to life. And substituting text with more icons, images and visual aids makes your proposal readable. For example, you can use photos to:

• Introduce key stakeholders and team members
• Visualize key milestones, stakeholders and team members
• Demonstrate the look of the finished product
• Showcase customer reviews and testimonials

The proposal template below is an excellent example of how you can use visuals to make your proposal pop.

Charts and infographic elements effectively visualize statistical data, like KPIs and results. You can also use other visual aids like tables, diagrams, icons and tables to represent cost estimates and budgets.

Visme has tons of business proposal templates with different design layouts and structures. So all you need to do is customize the template with your preferred fonts, colors, images, videos and other visual aids. Your document will be ready for use.

Below are some captivating templates for making your business proposal.

Template #1: Software Development Proposal

Use this stunning template to convince prospects to hire your software development service. The template contains all the important sections you need to convey the right message, including mission and vision, budget and pricing, previous clients and more.

You can also use this template to create technology-related proposals. Go ahead and edit content and change images, fonts and color themes to suit your unique needs.

Template #2: Advertising Proposal Template

This template features a vibrant color that grabs viewers' attention from the get-go. That makes it the perfect choice for communicating the value of your advertising solution to your top executives or clients. You can also repurpose this as an advertising company proposal or a marketing proposal template.

Leverage Visme's vast collection of fonts, images, videos and colors to find the unique visual elements that match your brand. You can collaborate with your team and adjust the template until you get the perfect design.

Template #3: Real Estate Investment Proposal Template

Are you looking to attract new clients for your real estate business? This proposal template is a great fit. You can spread the word about your business and share details about:

• Your portfolio and wealth of experience
• Customer testimonials
• Properties available for investment

You can conveniently tweak this template to appeal to companies, investors, homeowners, contractors and more. Feel free to include additional sections or replace visuals and other design elements like fonts, colors, icons, images and more.

Template #4: Interior Design Proposal

If you're eager to create a visual impression of your audience, this sophisticated template is a great starting point. The templates feature a rich blend of visuals and text, showcasing key elements like:

• Rundown of services
• Clients you've served
• Proposed plan
• Pricing breakdowns and more

Not satisfied with the content or visuals? Visme has got you covered. We have a broad collection of high-quality stock photos , videos and animations to make your proposal stand out.

Template #5: Insurance Proposal Template

Whether you insure autos, homes, offices, life or everything, this eye-catching template can help you ramp up sales .

With Visme's detailed proposal template, you can give your clients an in-depth view of insurance plans. Incorporate our wide array of images, videos, vector icons and shapes into your work to give it your own unique spin.

Quickly download your proposal document as a PDF or share it with colleagues and prospects online using a shareable link.

Template #6: 3D Product Visualization Platform Proposal Template

Pitch your 3D product visualization platform to clients using this editable proposal template. The creative use of multiple colors and 3D shapes on each page makes the template unique and engaging.

Break down the entire project proposal and highlight critical sections like project overview, budget, roadmap, terms and conditions. Select and use your preferred visuals, typeface and color theme, all sourced from Visme's vast design library.

Template #7: Clinical Laboratory Services Proposal Template

There's no limit to what you can achieve with this customizable template. You can modify it for multiple use cases, including pharmaceutical, dental, nursing and other medical-related services.

Use this attractive template to showcase your products and services, experience, certifications and location of your facilities.

You can insert your preferred content, images, videos and animations to make your proposal captivating, engaging and interactive. Personalize this template with your color theme , font and logo to match your brand guidelines .

Template #8: Roofing Proposal Template

This business proposal template is a perfect pick for different types of construction and civil engineering projects. They provide stakeholders with an insight into the scope of work, proposed plan and pricing, testimonials and more.

It prominently includes visuals of past work and testimonials, adding a layer of social proof. With our expressive typefaces, colors and visuals, your content is sure to stand out from the crowd.

Choose one that suits your needs and apply it to your design.

Template #9: HVAC Proposal Template

Customize this modern company proposal template to demonstrate your expertise in HVAC. This proposal elaborates on all relevant details regarding the scope of work, project timeline and cost, client list and testimonials.

The best part is that you can use this template to assert your competence in other fields like electrical, plumbing, landscaping and more.

From your dashboard, Visme lets you customize your brand kit to save brand colors, logos and fonts to ensure design consistency. Any team member can create documents from your account and branding will automatically apply to their work.

Template #10: Simple Business Proposal

Here's a simple business proposal template that caters to multiple use cases. You can use it to showcase your products and services, customer reviews, prices and how your process is set up.

Beyond the compelling visuals, the template uses charts to visualize financial data, figures and results like:

• Average annual revenue
• Active customers
• Profitability and
• User retention

With our easy-to-use proposal maker, you can edit this template. Evoke emotion and express your thoughts better by using the right visual and design elements to beautify each page. You'll find high-resolution images and videos in Visme's extensive photo library.

Template #11: Campaign Proposal

Close the deal with your next client using this vibrant campaign proposal template. Ignite a connection with the viewer with beautifully designed pages that share your agency’s vital information. Take advantage of the timeline infographic page to share your process to success.

Make your proposal interactive and add popups or links with further information about important points. Share the campaign proposal via a live Visme link and track prospects that have seen it.

Template #12: Electrical Proposal Template

Bring in new electrical clients with this proposal template. Start by switching the images with yours. Choose photos that represent your company and solve problems. Then change colors and fonts and fill the text with yours.

For an even more exciting timeline page, add an infographic roadmap to visualize how amazing it is to work with you. Share information about your company that delivers a sense of trust and safety. Let your clients know that you’re there for them, big or small.

Use animated icons throughout the pages and share the proposal with prospects via a link. They’ll open the proposal and view it as a flipbook , further garnering interest in your offers.

Template #13: Conference Proposal

Propose your event planning services to clients with an interactive digital document that will grab their attention and make them want to get in touch immediately. Use this event proposal template to showcase how your conference will stand out against others. Include proposals in the sales cycle and offer sales reps a chance to personalize the document according to the client.

Create a Visme workspace for your sales team where they have access to a library of share-ready assets and customizable branded templates . Integrate your sales playbook with the Visme workspace, and your reps will always have what they need to close the deal.

Template #14: Retail Store Partnership

Use this partnership proposal template to connect with clients interested in your services. Take advantage of the comprehensive parts of a business proposal to drive interest in the partnership .

Check out the Table of Contents:

• What Makes Us Different
• How We Know Who You Are
• The Partnership
• What You Get
• What You Need To Do

Make the close easy on the client by sharing exactly what they get and what they need to do next to embark on a positive partnership. Use the visually inspiring shapes in this proposal to highlight your brand’s best assets and skills for reaching a client’s goals.

Template #15: Translation Services Proposal

If you’re wondering what to include in business proposal pages, this template is the perfect solution to your proposal creation needs. As a t ranslation agency , your main asset is language variety and the fact that you can offer many translation solutions to your clients. Use a visual, colored map to highlight the languages your agency provides and share an interesting fact to pique the client’s interest.

Include all contact information on the cover so the client doesn’t need to look for it. Share this project proposal template as a digital document and hyperlink your URL and contact information. Make it easy for the client to reach you and close that big translation project.

Template #16: Catering Proposal Template

Promote your catering services with a marketing campaign that includes a business proposal. This template is easy to personalize and send via email to leads and prospects. Interchange the images with ones of your food and replace the menu information with yours.

Add a photo of the founders on the "About Us" page to connect on a personal level with the viewer. Tell a story about the brand and why its value proposition is worth partnering with. Highlight contact information and offer personalized quotes.

Make this an even better proposal by adding a testimonials page with reviews from real clients and customers. Include video testimonials and share the proposal as a digital experience.

Template #17: Partnership Proposal

Merging two businesses is not an endeavor to take lightly. Create and share a professional proposal to seal the deal right. This template's minimalistic and positive design style is ideal for sharing a big idea and keeping the viewer's attention.

The colorful plus sign has a subconscious connection with the viewer throughout the pages. A plus sign signifies addition, adding on, or connection; everyone knows this almost instinctively. Harness the power and psychology of shapes by communicating through more senses than just reading.

Shake hands with your new partner, thanks to this template.

Template #18: Website Design Business Proposal

A strong brand needs a proposal to match its infinite creativity and vision. Get more web design clients with a proposal that embodies your brand's mission and values. Include a personalized letter from the team lead to create a connection from the start.

For an even better experience, customize the proposal for each client using dynamic fields . Do you know how you can send emails that automatically insert a client’s name in the greeting and throughout the content as long as you use a shortcode? Visme can do that too.

Create a proposal template with four dynamic field inputs: the client’s name on the cover, the letter, the timeline and the closer. Using the dynamic field controls in the editor, change all four inputs at once with the client’s name. Download as a pdf or share as a live link with your audience and then track activity using Visme analytics .

Template #19: Transcription Services Proposal

You know what the client needs and you have the solution. Transcription services are crucial timesavers for content creators and digital marketers. Share reviews from previous clients and a simple system for new ones to get in touch with you and order a service.

In the “How to place an order” page, include a link to your website page where clients can upload their files for transcription. Make it easy on the readers who don’t need to read anymore and just want to get things started.

Add a video explainer to one of the pages showcasing how your services work and how they help your clients reach their business goals. Use Visme as your video creator and keep all assets close and organized into brand folders.

Template #20: Business Consulting Proposal Template

Business proposals are an essential sales asset. Every bit of graphic design real estate is a possible point of interaction with the client.

Create a consulting proposal with just the right icons, timelines, and colorful design elements to close the deal. Customize this or any template in this list with the Visme editor, and you’ll have a share-ready proposal in minutes, not hours.

How many pages should a business proposal be?

There is no standard length for a business proposal. The number of pages is determined by your project scope, the client's requirements and the details you want to cover. Your proposal should be as long as it takes to convey key pieces of information and close the deal.

What is the best font for a business proposal?

We recommend using fonts that make your business proposal clear and readable. Basic fonts like Arial, Sans Serif, Courier New, Calibri, Cambria, Times New Roman, Tahoma and Verdana work well. Use a 10 to 12-point font size for the body and a 14–16 point font size for headings.

How do you start an introduction to a business proposal?

Your business proposal's introduction should start with a brief overview of what your company does. Also, it should include what sets your company apart from its competitors and why you should be the top choice for the job or project.

What to Include in a Business Proposal

A business proposal should include the problem statement, proposed solution, scope of work, qualifications, timeline, milestones, pricing and terms.

Writing business proposals is a lot of work. With the tips and templates shared in this article, you have everything you need to create a professional proposal that impresses your client and wins them over.

Start creating business proposals today to market your business and close more deals. Visme's proposal maker is perfect for creating professionally designed business proposals for any business, industry or use case.

Easily put together winning business proposals using Visme

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How to Write a Business Proposal [Examples + Template]

Published: June 10, 2024

Here’s what every new business owner needs: an extra eight hours in the day, an endless supply of coffee, and, most importantly, a really strong business proposal.

A business proposal can bridge the gap between you and potential clients. Done correctly, it will outline your value proposition and persuade a company or organization to do business with you.

Here, we’ll take a look at the various kinds of business proposals and go over how to write one. We’ll also see some ideas and examples to help guide yours.

Know exactly what you need? Jump to one of the following sections:

What is a business proposal?

How to write a business proposal, business proposal templates, business proposal examples, tips for writing a business proposal, business proposal ideas.

A business proposal is a formal document that’s created by a company and given to a prospect to secure a business agreement.

It’s a common misconception that business proposals and business plans are the same. However, a proposal helps you sell your product or service — not your business itself.

Think of it this way: Instead of assisting your search for investors to fund your business, a proposal helps you seek new customers.

Follow Along With HubSpot's Business Proposal Template

Free Business Proposal Template

Propose your business as the ideal solution using our Free Business Proposal Templates

• Problem summary
• Proposed solution
• Pricing information
• Project timeline

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• Begin with a title page.
• Explain your why with an executive summary.
• State the problem or need.
• Propose a solution.
• Share your qualifications.
• Include pricing options.
• Summarize with a conclusion.

Before writing your business proposal, it’s crucial you understand the company. If they’ve sent you an RFP, make sure you read it carefully, so you know exactly what they want.

I recommend having an initial call or meeting with any new clients to ensure you fully understand their objectives. Ask open-ended questions to understand not just what they want but why they want it.

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to begin writing your business proposal. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a business proposal, there are several elements most proposals include. (I designed this example business proposal using Canva .)

1. Begin with a title page.

You have to convey some basic information here. Introduce yourself and your business. Be sure to include:

• Your company’s name.
• The date you submitted the proposal.
• The name of the client or individual you’re submitting the proposal to.

Your title page should reconcile engagement with professionalism. I think of it as your first tone-setter, so you need to make sure yours is sleek, aesthetically appealing, and not too “out there.”

Here’s an example of what a business proposal template looks like when done right.

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Business Plan vs. Business Proposal

Back to Business Plans

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on February 27, 2023 Updated on December 11, 2023

A business plan and a business proposal are similar documents. In fact, in some cases the terms can be used interchangeably, such as when both aim to attract investment. 

But generally speaking, a business proposal tends to have broader scope, and this handy guide lays out precisely how these two common terms differ. 

• What is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a detailed document laying out how the business will function and develop in its first few years. The key is the “plan” part of the name, as it will specify how you will launch, gain customers, operate, make money, and, with any luck, expand. 

Yet what many first-time business owners seem to forget is that a business plan is not a static document. The initial version is based largely on assumptions, supported by research. But as you run your business you’ll learn what works and what does not and make endless tweaks to your plan.

Thus, creating a business plan is not a one-time action – it’s a dynamic and continuous process of crafting and adapting your vision and strategy. 

Components of a Business Plan

A business plan is generally much more detailed and broader than a business proposal, and has several elements :

• Executive Summary  
• Company Description/Overview
• Products or Services Offered 
• Market Analysis 
• Marketing and Sales Strategies
• Operations and Management  
• Financial Plan
• What is a Business Proposal?

A business proposal is created in connection to a specific business deal being offered by one party to another. As mentioned, when you take a business plan to an investor, you’re proposing a business relationship, so in this case a business plan and a business proposal are much the same.

But a business proposal could also be for others purposes, including:

• Bringing on a partner
• Proposing a management contract to a person you want to hire 
• Proposing a business relationship with a potential customer 
• Proposing a partnership with another company
• Suggesting a deal to a member of your board of directors

A business proposal may offer specific terms for the potential relationship, or it may be just about the benefits the relationship will bring, with terms to be negotiated later. Essentially, it’s a sales tool to get people or companies to do business with you in some way. 

Business proposals can be structured in various ways, but usually, they’ll include a summary of what your company can offer, a scope of the work to be done together, and sometimes, a price quote or a proposed structure of the business relationship.

Clearly, a business plan and a business proposal are similar – and can even be one and the same. At the same time, they can also serve very different purposes. Unlike a business plan, a business proposal can have a variety of aims and thus does not have a “one size fits all” structure. 

Whichever one you need, be sure to take your time with the research and writing so your business has the best chance for success. 

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Business Plan vs. Business Proposal

The terms “business plan” and “business proposal” are sometimes used interchangeably, however, they are very different. The main difference between a business plan and a business proposal is that a business plan documents your growth strategy while a business proposal is a specific ask for someone to take an action you desire (e.g., buy your product/service, invest in your company, partner with you, etc.).

In this article, we will define a business plan and a business proposal and give you examples of when each is appropriate for you to use.  

What is a Business Plan?

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here

Business Plan Structure

Typically, the business plan structure contains the following 10 components:

• Executive Summary
• Business Description & Overview
• Market Research & Analysis
• Customer Analysis
• Competitive Analysis
• Marketing Strategy & Plan
• Operations Plan
• Management Team
• Financial Projections & Plan

It is recommended that a business plan is updated annually to adjust for changes in the industry trends and the business itself.  

What is a Business Proposal?

In terms of what you are asking from them, it can be anything that involves funds and time on their end including cash investment, product development assistance, and even employees if they have applicable skill sets.  

Business Proposal Structure

An invited business proposal is written in response to an RFP. A request for proposal (RFP) is a document that invites potential suppliers to submit business proposals. How to write a business proposal depends on the format requested and the questions included in the RFP.

The following are the components that usually make up a business proposal:

• Brief description of your company’s services/products as the proposed solution to the goals of the RFP
• Reiteration of the scope of the particular project
• Responses to questions asked in the RFP
• Cost of the project, including drafting services, materials, tools, labor, delivery and other expenses

An unsolicited business proposal is essentially the same format, but it will solicit the client’s business while anticipating the clients’ concerns and issues. A business proposal is more of a marketing document than an offer because it attempts to persuade the potential client to do business by demonstrating your value proposition and a call to action.  

So, What’s the Difference Between a Business Proposal vs. a Business Plan?

In a business proposal, company representatives typically work with the customer to tailor a business proposition that is attractive to both parties. This usually comes in the form of a written document detailing the services and cost associated with fulfilling an offer or request but can also include electronic contracts.

In contrast, a business plan is a description of your company on the executive and operational levels aimed at investors for raising financial support or other stakeholders in order to facilitate long-term growth. For example, an investor will want to know about how different departments within your business interact with one another, while somebody who will be implementing your product probably only needs more limited information such as design specs because they are not going into production themselves.

A business proposal may provide you with more details of the project, but it does not include information about your company’s operations or future plans.  

Examples of Business Plans vs. Business Proposals

• When you give a potential investor your business plan which includes all sorts of information about how we will achieve your goals together as well as the amount of money it’s going to take. The business proposal is for them to write you a check in return for interest/principal payments or a percentage of your company.
• You might be getting partners involved in your business who will help with product development and distribution. You are offering them a business proposal to work together. However, they may request to see your business plan to better understand your goals, potential profitability, and how you plan to reach these goals before deciding to work with you.
• Your existing business has been so successful that you decide to outsource the social media marketing efforts to a freelancer to free up more of your time. The freelancer would provide a business proposal stating their terms and conditions along with the agreed-upon pay arrangement for their services. This change in organizational structure may be noted in your business plan to demonstrate expansion and financial stability to continue growth.
• In your business plan , one of your goals is to grow your client base by 5% each month. You identify potential clients in need of your services or products and send an unsolicited business proposal to demonstrate how your products or services can benefit them in order to develop a new prospective client list.

The business plan is a roadmap for your company’s present and future, while the business proposal has to do with what you are asking someone else for money.  Applying this difference into practice can be difficult at times because business plans are often marketed as business proposals. However, it is important to be able to identify the difference between a business plan and business proposal in order to maximize their effectiveness and importance with potential investors or partners.

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Formal Research vs. Business Proposal

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When you’re involved in the business industry, it is vital that you know whether you will need to conduct a formal research or a business proposal.

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You can begin by familiarizing yourself with formal research.

Research is basically a systematic investigation and study of sources or materials. This is necessary to establish the required facts and develop conclusions.

Things You Should Know

In most cases, formal research generates phobic reactions but when conducted properly, you will be able to benefit from the results. When writing a business proposal, there is a need to conduct a formal research on the market. This is very important so that you can gauge the viability of the business. There is no sense in entering any kind of business if your products or services are not needed by your targeted market.

Business proposal and formal research should go hand in hand. Without the latter, the proposal will be useless. The business proposal is intended for a vendor. This is also known as proposal writing. It identifies the target market and demonstrates how the custom solutions can be delivered to buyers in such market. This is different from a business plan . The intended audience and scale of the proposal can vary.

A proposal can be used to establish new business limes with larger companies. It can also be used as a response to a bid invitation given by the government or private company. When writing a business proposal, you should be aware that it can be solicited and unsolicited. A very good example of an unsolicited proposal is a brochure which can be distributed through direct mail or it can be made available to trade shows. The solicited proposal is more detailed and will entail formal research.

Formal research is indeed needed when writing a business proposal. Know the basics and write an effective document.

• Lorraine   said on October 17, 2012 Naperville, Illinois. I need help writing a proposal for a medical billing company.
• sambasiva   said on November 23, 2014 Dear Sir, This is sambasiva, kindly help me out to writing a proposal for a Food product and Fmcg Company
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How To Write A Research Proposal

A Straightforward How-To Guide (With Examples)

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewed By: Dr. Eunice Rautenbach | August 2019 (Updated April 2023)

Writing up a strong research proposal for a dissertation or thesis is much like a marriage proposal. It’s a task that calls on you to win somebody over and persuade them that what you’re planning is a great idea. An idea they’re happy to say ‘yes’ to. This means that your dissertation proposal needs to be   persuasive ,   attractive   and well-planned. In this post, I’ll show you how to write a winning dissertation proposal, from scratch.

Before you start:

– Understand exactly what a research proposal is – Ask yourself these 4 questions

The 5 essential ingredients:

• The title/topic
• The introduction chapter
• The scope/delimitations
• Preliminary literature review
• Design/ methodology
• Practical considerations and risks 

What Is A Research Proposal?

The research proposal is literally that: a written document that communicates what you propose to research, in a concise format. It’s where you put all that stuff that’s spinning around in your head down on to paper, in a logical, convincing fashion.

Convincing   is the keyword here, as your research proposal needs to convince the assessor that your research is   clearly articulated   (i.e., a clear research question) ,   worth doing   (i.e., is unique and valuable enough to justify the effort), and   doable   within the restrictions you’ll face (time limits, budget, skill limits, etc.). If your proposal does not address these three criteria, your research won’t be approved, no matter how “exciting” the research idea might be.

PS – if you’re completely new to proposal writing, we’ve got a detailed walkthrough video covering two successful research proposals here . 

How do I know I’m ready?

Before starting the writing process, you need to   ask yourself 4 important questions .  If you can’t answer them succinctly and confidently, you’re not ready – you need to go back and think more deeply about your dissertation topic .

You should be able to answer the following 4 questions before starting your dissertation or thesis research proposal:

• WHAT is my main research question? (the topic)
• WHO cares and why is this important? (the justification)
• WHAT data would I need to answer this question, and how will I analyse it? (the research design)
• HOW will I manage the completion of this research, within the given timelines? (project and risk management)

If you can’t answer these questions clearly and concisely,   you’re not yet ready   to write your research proposal – revisit our   post on choosing a topic .

If you can, that’s great – it’s time to start writing up your dissertation proposal. Next, I’ll discuss what needs to go into your research proposal, and how to structure it all into an intuitive, convincing document with a linear narrative.

The 5 Essential Ingredients

Research proposals can vary in style between institutions and disciplines, but here I’ll share with you a   handy 5-section structure   you can use. These 5 sections directly address the core questions we spoke about earlier, ensuring that you present a convincing proposal. If your institution already provides a proposal template, there will likely be substantial overlap with this, so you’ll still get value from reading on.

For each section discussed below, make sure you use headers and sub-headers (ideally, numbered headers) to help the reader navigate through your document, and to support them when they need to revisit a previous section. Don’t just present an endless wall of text, paragraph after paragraph after paragraph…

Top Tip:   Use MS Word Styles to format headings. This will allow you to be clear about whether a sub-heading is level 2, 3, or 4. Additionally, you can view your document in ‘outline view’ which will show you only your headings. This makes it much easier to check your structure, shift things around and make decisions about where a section needs to sit. You can also generate a 100% accurate table of contents using Word’s automatic functionality.

Ingredient #1 – Topic/Title Header

Your research proposal’s title should be your main research question in its simplest form, possibly with a sub-heading providing basic details on the specifics of the study. For example:

“Compliance with equality legislation in the charity sector: a study of the ‘reasonable adjustments’ made in three London care homes”

As you can see, this title provides a clear indication of what the research is about, in broad terms. It paints a high-level picture for the first-time reader, which gives them a taste of what to expect.   Always aim for a clear, concise title . Don’t feel the need to capture every detail of your research in your title – your proposal will fill in the gaps.

Need a helping hand?

Ingredient #2 – Introduction

In this section of your research proposal, you’ll expand on what you’ve communicated in the title, by providing a few paragraphs which offer more detail about your research topic. Importantly, the focus here is the   topic   – what will you research and why is that worth researching? This is not the place to discuss methodology, practicalities, etc. – you’ll do that later.

You should cover the following:

• An overview of the   broad area   you’ll be researching – introduce the reader to key concepts and language
• An explanation of the   specific (narrower) area   you’ll be focusing, and why you’ll be focusing there
• Your research   aims   and   objectives
• Your   research question (s) and sub-questions (if applicable)

Importantly, you should aim to use short sentences and plain language – don’t babble on with extensive jargon, acronyms and complex language. Assume that the reader is an intelligent layman – not a subject area specialist (even if they are). Remember that the   best writing is writing that can be easily understood   and digested. Keep it simple.

Note that some universities may want some extra bits and pieces in your introduction section. For example, personal development objectives, a structural outline, etc. Check your brief to see if there are any other details they expect in your proposal, and make sure you find a place for these.

Ingredient #3 – Scope

Next, you’ll need to specify what the scope of your research will be – this is also known as the delimitations . In other words, you need to make it clear what you will be covering and, more importantly, what you won’t be covering in your research. Simply put, this is about ring fencing your research topic so that you have a laser-sharp focus.

All too often, students feel the need to go broad and try to address as many issues as possible, in the interest of producing comprehensive research. Whilst this is admirable, it’s a mistake. By tightly refining your scope, you’ll enable yourself to   go deep   with your research, which is what you need to earn good marks. If your scope is too broad, you’re likely going to land up with superficial research (which won’t earn marks), so don’t be afraid to narrow things down.

Ingredient #4 – Literature Review

In this section of your research proposal, you need to provide a (relatively) brief discussion of the existing literature. Naturally, this will not be as comprehensive as the literature review in your actual dissertation, but it will lay the foundation for that. In fact, if you put in the effort at this stage, you’ll make your life a lot easier when it’s time to write your actual literature review chapter.

There are a few things you need to achieve in this section:

• Demonstrate that you’ve done your reading and are   familiar with the current state of the research   in your topic area.
• Show that   there’s a clear gap   for your specific research – i.e., show that your topic is sufficiently unique and will add value to the existing research.
• Show how the existing research has shaped your thinking regarding   research design . For example, you might use scales or questionnaires from previous studies.

When you write up your literature review, keep these three objectives front of mind, especially number two (revealing the gap in the literature), so that your literature review has a   clear purpose and direction . Everything you write should be contributing towards one (or more) of these objectives in some way. If it doesn’t, you need to ask yourself whether it’s truly needed.

Top Tip:  Don’t fall into the trap of just describing the main pieces of literature, for example, “A says this, B says that, C also says that…” and so on. Merely describing the literature provides no value. Instead, you need to   synthesise   it, and use it to address the three objectives above.

Ingredient #5 – Research Methodology

Now that you’ve clearly explained both your intended research topic (in the introduction) and the existing research it will draw on (in the literature review section), it’s time to get practical and explain exactly how you’ll be carrying out your own research. In other words, your research methodology.

In this section, you’ll need to   answer two critical questions :

• How   will you design your research? I.e., what research methodology will you adopt, what will your sample be, how will you collect data, etc.
• Why   have you chosen this design? I.e., why does this approach suit your specific research aims, objectives and questions?

In other words, this is not just about explaining WHAT you’ll be doing, it’s also about explaining WHY. In fact, the   justification is the most important part , because that justification is how you demonstrate a good understanding of research design (which is what assessors want to see).

Some essential design choices you need to cover in your research proposal include:

• Your intended research philosophy (e.g., positivism, interpretivism or pragmatism )
• What methodological approach you’ll be taking (e.g., qualitative , quantitative or mixed )
• The details of your sample (e.g., sample size, who they are, who they represent, etc.)
• What data you plan to collect (i.e. data about what, in what form?)
• How you plan to collect it (e.g., surveys , interviews , focus groups, etc.)
• How you plan to analyse it (e.g., regression analysis, thematic analysis , etc.)
• Ethical adherence (i.e., does this research satisfy all ethical requirements of your institution, or does it need further approval?)

This list is not exhaustive – these are just some core attributes of research design. Check with your institution what level of detail they expect. The “ research onion ” by Saunders et al (2009) provides a good summary of the various design choices you ultimately need to make – you can   read more about that here .

Don’t forget the practicalities…

In addition to the technical aspects, you will need to address the   practical   side of the project. In other words, you need to explain   what resources you’ll need   (e.g., time, money, access to equipment or software, etc.) and how you intend to secure these resources. You need to show that your project is feasible, so any “make or break” type resources need to already be secured. The success or failure of your project cannot depend on some resource which you’re not yet sure you have access to.

Another part of the practicalities discussion is   project and risk management . In other words, you need to show that you have a clear project plan to tackle your research with. Some key questions to address:

• What are the timelines for each phase of your project?
• Are the time allocations reasonable?
• What happens if something takes longer than anticipated (risk management)?
• What happens if you don’t get the response rate you expect?

A good way to demonstrate that you’ve thought this through is to include a Gantt chart and a risk register (in the appendix if word count is a problem). With these two tools, you can show that you’ve got a clear, feasible plan, and you’ve thought about and accounted for the potential risks.

Tip – Be honest about the potential difficulties – but show that you are anticipating solutions and workarounds. This is much more impressive to an assessor than an unrealistically optimistic proposal which does not anticipate any challenges whatsoever.

Final Touches: Read And Simplify

The final step is to edit and proofread your proposal – very carefully. It sounds obvious, but all too often poor editing and proofreading ruin a good proposal. Nothing is more off-putting for an assessor than a poorly edited, typo-strewn document. It sends the message that you either do not pay attention to detail, or just don’t care. Neither of these are good messages. Put the effort into editing and proofreading your proposal (or pay someone to do it for you) – it will pay dividends.

When you’re editing, watch out for ‘academese’. Many students can speak simply, passionately and clearly about their dissertation topic – but become incomprehensible the moment they turn the laptop on. You are not required to write in any kind of special, formal, complex language when you write academic work. Sure, there may be technical terms, jargon specific to your discipline, shorthand terms and so on. But, apart from those,   keep your written language very close to natural spoken language   – just as you would speak in the classroom. Imagine that you are explaining your project plans to your classmates or a family member. Remember, write for the intelligent layman, not the subject matter experts. Plain-language, concise writing is what wins hearts and minds – and marks!

Let’s Recap: Research Proposal 101

And there you have it – how to write your dissertation or thesis research proposal, from the title page to the final proof. Here’s a quick recap of the key takeaways:

• The purpose of the research proposal is to   convince   – therefore, you need to make a clear, concise argument of why your research is both worth doing and doable.
• Make sure you can ask the critical what, who, and how questions of your research   before   you put pen to paper.
• Title – provides the first taste of your research, in broad terms
• Introduction – explains what you’ll be researching in more detail
• Scope – explains the boundaries of your research
• Literature review – explains how your research fits into the existing research and why it’s unique and valuable
• Research methodology – explains and justifies how you will carry out your own research

Hopefully, this post has helped you better understand how to write up a winning research proposal. If you enjoyed it, be sure to check out the rest of the Grad Coach Blog . If your university doesn’t provide any template for your proposal, you might want to try out our free research proposal template .

Psst… there’s more!

This post is an extract from our bestselling short course, Research Proposal Bootcamp . If you want to work smart, you don't want to miss this .

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30 Comments

Thank you so much for the valuable insight that you have given, especially on the research proposal. That is what I have managed to cover. I still need to go back to the other parts as I got disturbed while still listening to Derek’s audio on you-tube. I am inspired. I will definitely continue with Grad-coach guidance on You-tube.

Thanks for the kind words :). All the best with your proposal.

First of all, thanks a lot for making such a wonderful presentation. The video was really useful and gave me a very clear insight of how a research proposal has to be written. I shall try implementing these ideas in my RP.

Once again, I thank you for this content.

I found reading your outline on writing research proposal very beneficial. I wish there was a way of submitting my draft proposal to you guys for critiquing before I submit to the institution.

Hi Bonginkosi

Thank you for the kind words. Yes, we do provide a review service. The best starting point is to have a chat with one of our coaches here: https://gradcoach.com/book/new/ .

Hello team GRADCOACH, may God bless you so much. I was totally green in research. Am so happy for your free superb tutorials and resources. Once again thank you so much Derek and his team.

You’re welcome, Erick. Good luck with your research proposal 🙂

thank you for the information. its precise and on point.

Really a remarkable piece of writing and great source of guidance for the researchers. GOD BLESS YOU for your guidance. Regards

Thanks so much for your guidance. It is easy and comprehensive the way you explain the steps for a winning research proposal.

Thank you guys so much for the rich post. I enjoyed and learn from every word in it. My problem now is how to get into your platform wherein I can always seek help on things related to my research work ? Secondly, I wish to find out if there is a way I can send my tentative proposal to you guys for examination before I take to my supervisor Once again thanks very much for the insights

Thanks for your kind words, Desire.

If you are based in a country where Grad Coach’s paid services are available, you can book a consultation by clicking the “Book” button in the top right.

Best of luck with your studies.

May God bless you team for the wonderful work you are doing,

If I have a topic, Can I submit it to you so that you can draft a proposal for me?? As I am expecting to go for masters degree in the near future.

Thanks for your comment. We definitely cannot draft a proposal for you, as that would constitute academic misconduct. The proposal needs to be your own work. We can coach you through the process, but it needs to be your own work and your own writing.

Best of luck with your research!

I found a lot of many essential concepts from your material. it is real a road map to write a research proposal. so thanks a lot. If there is any update material on your hand on MBA please forward to me.

GradCoach is a professional website that presents support and helps for MBA student like me through the useful online information on the page and with my 1-on-1 online coaching with the amazing and professional PhD Kerryen.

Thank you Kerryen so much for the support and help 🙂

I really recommend dealing with such a reliable services provider like Gradcoah and a coach like Kerryen.

Hi, Am happy for your service and effort to help students and researchers, Please, i have been given an assignment on research for strategic development, the task one is to formulate a research proposal to support the strategic development of a business area, my issue here is how to go about it, especially the topic or title and introduction. Please, i would like to know if you could help me and how much is the charge.

This content is practical, valuable, and just great!

Thank you very much!

Hi Derek, Thank you for the valuable presentation. It is very helpful especially for beginners like me. I am just starting my PhD.

This is quite instructive and research proposal made simple. Can I have a research proposal template?

Great! Thanks for rescuing me, because I had no former knowledge in this topic. But with this piece of information, I am now secured. Thank you once more.

I enjoyed listening to your video on how to write a proposal. I think I will be able to write a winning proposal with your advice. I wish you were to be my supervisor.

Dear Derek Jansen,

Thank you for your great content. I couldn’t learn these topics in MBA, but now I learned from GradCoach. Really appreciate your efforts….

From Afghanistan!

I have got very essential inputs for startup of my dissertation proposal. Well organized properly communicated with video presentation. Thank you for the presentation.

Wow, this is absolutely amazing guys. Thank you so much for the fruitful presentation, you’ve made my research much easier.

this helps me a lot. thank you all so much for impacting in us. may god richly bless you all

How I wish I’d learn about Grad Coach earlier. I’ve been stumbling around writing and rewriting! Now I have concise clear directions on how to put this thing together. Thank you!

Fantastic!! Thank You for this very concise yet comprehensive guidance.

Even if I am poor in English I would like to thank you very much.

Thank you very much, this is very insightful.

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Reference management. Clean and simple.

How to write a research proposal

What is a research proposal?

What is the purpose of a research proposal , how long should a research proposal be, what should be included in a research proposal, 1. the title page, 2. introduction, 3. literature review, 4. research design, 5. implications, 6. reference list, frequently asked questions about writing a research proposal, related articles.

If you’re in higher education, the term “research proposal” is something you’re likely to be familiar with. But what is it, exactly? You’ll normally come across the need to prepare a research proposal when you’re looking to secure Ph.D. funding.

When you’re trying to find someone to fund your Ph.D. research, a research proposal is essentially your “pitch.”

A research proposal is a concise and coherent summary of your proposed research.

You’ll need to set out the issues that are central to the topic area and how you intend to address them with your research. To do this, you’ll need to give the following:

• an outline of the general area of study within which your research falls
• an overview of how much is currently known about the topic
• a literature review that covers the recent scholarly debate or conversation around the topic

➡️  What is a literature review? Learn more in our guide.

Essentially, you are trying to persuade your institution that you and your project are worth investing their time and money into.

It is the opportunity for you to demonstrate that you have the aptitude for this level of research by showing that you can articulate complex ideas:

It also helps you to find the right supervisor to oversee your research. When you’re writing your research proposal, you should always have this in the back of your mind.

This is the document that potential supervisors will use in determining the legitimacy of your research and, consequently, whether they will invest in you or not. It is therefore incredibly important that you spend some time on getting it right.

Tip: While there may not always be length requirements for research proposals, you should strive to cover everything you need to in a concise way.

If your research proposal is for a bachelor’s or master’s degree, it may only be a few pages long. For a Ph.D., a proposal could be a pretty long document that spans a few dozen pages.

➡️ Research proposals are similar to grant proposals. Learn how to write a grant proposal in our guide.

When you’re writing your proposal, keep in mind its purpose and why you’re writing it. It, therefore, needs to clearly explain the relevance of your research and its context with other discussions on the topic. You need to then explain what approach you will take and why it is feasible.

Generally, your structure should look something like this:

• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Research Design
• Implications

If you follow this structure, you’ll have a comprehensive and coherent proposal that looks and feels professional, without missing out on anything important. We’ll take a deep dive into each of these areas one by one next.

The title page might vary slightly per your area of study but, as a general point, your title page should contain the following:

• The proposed title of your project
• Your supervisor’s name
• The name of your institution and your particular department

Tip: Keep in mind any departmental or institutional guidelines for a research proposal title page. Also, your supervisor may ask for specific details to be added to the page.

The introduction is crucial   to your research proposal as it is your first opportunity to hook the reader in. A good introduction section will introduce your project and its relevance to the field of study.

You’ll want to use this space to demonstrate that you have carefully thought about how to present your project as interesting, original, and important research. A good place to start is by introducing the context of your research problem.

Think about answering these questions:

• What is it you want to research and why?
• How does this research relate to the respective field?
• How much is already known about this area?
• Who might find this research interesting?
• What are the key questions you aim to answer with your research?
• What will the findings of this project add to the topic area?

Your introduction aims to set yourself off on a great footing and illustrate to the reader that you are an expert in your field and that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge and theory.

The literature review section answers the question who else is talking about your proposed research topic.

You want to demonstrate that your research will contribute to conversations around the topic and that it will sit happily amongst experts in the field.

➡️ Read more about how to write a literature review .

There are lots of ways you can find relevant information for your literature review, including:

• Research relevant academic sources such as books and journals to find similar conversations around the topic.
• Read through abstracts and bibliographies of your academic sources to look for relevance and further additional resources without delving too deep into articles that are possibly not relevant to you.
• Watch out for heavily-cited works . This should help you to identify authoritative work that you need to read and document.
• Look for any research gaps , trends and patterns, common themes, debates, and contradictions.
• Consider any seminal studies on the topic area as it is likely anticipated that you will address these in your research proposal.

This is where you get down to the real meat of your research proposal. It should be a discussion about the overall approach you plan on taking, and the practical steps you’ll follow in answering the research questions you’ve posed.

So what should you discuss here? Some of the key things you will need to discuss at this point are:

• What form will your research take? Is it qualitative/quantitative/mixed? Will your research be primary or secondary?
• What sources will you use? Who or what will you be studying as part of your research.
• Document your research method. How are you practically going to carry out your research? What tools will you need? What procedures will you use?
• Any practicality issues you foresee. Do you think there will be any obstacles to your anticipated timescale? What resources will you require in carrying out your research?

Your research design should also discuss the potential implications of your research. For example, are you looking to confirm an existing theory or develop a new one?

If you intend to create a basis for further research, you should describe this here.

It is important to explain fully what you want the outcome of your research to look like and what you want to achieve by it. This will help those reading your research proposal to decide if it’s something the field  needs  and  wants,  and ultimately whether they will support you with it.

When you reach the end of your research proposal, you’ll have to compile a list of references for everything you’ve cited above. Ideally, you should keep track of everything from the beginning. Otherwise, this could be a mammoth and pretty laborious task to do.

Consider using a reference manager like Paperpile to format and organize your citations. Paperpile allows you to organize and save your citations for later use and cite them in thousands of citation styles directly in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or LaTeX.

Your project may also require you to have a timeline, depending on the budget you are requesting. If you need one, you should include it here and explain both the timeline and the budget you need, documenting what should be done at each stage of the research and how much of the budget this will use.

This is the final step, but not one to be missed. You should make sure that you edit and proofread your document so that you can be sure there are no mistakes.

A good idea is to have another person proofread the document for you so that you get a fresh pair of eyes on it. You can even have a professional proofreader do this for you.

This is an important document and you don’t want spelling or grammatical mistakes to get in the way of you and your reader.

➡️ Working on a research proposal for a thesis? Take a look at our guide on how to come up with a topic for your thesis .

A research proposal is a concise and coherent summary of your proposed research. Generally, your research proposal will have a title page, introduction, literature review section, a section about research design and explaining the implications of your research, and a reference list.

A good research proposal is concise and coherent. It has a clear purpose, clearly explains the relevance of your research and its context with other discussions on the topic. A good research proposal explains what approach you will take and why it is feasible.

You need a research proposal to persuade your institution that you and your project are worth investing their time and money into. It is your opportunity to demonstrate your aptitude for this level or research by showing that you can articulate complex ideas clearly, concisely, and critically.

A research proposal is essentially your "pitch" when you're trying to find someone to fund your PhD. It is a clear and concise summary of your proposed research. It gives an outline of the general area of study within which your research falls, it elaborates how much is currently known about the topic, and it highlights any recent debate or conversation around the topic by other academics.

The general answer is: as long as it needs to be to cover everything. The length of your research proposal depends on the requirements from the institution that you are applying to. Make sure to carefully read all the instructions given, and if this specific information is not provided, you can always ask.

Business Plan and Proposal: Everything You Need to Know

A business plan and proposal are two different documents with two different purposes and functions. 3 min read updated on February 01, 2023

A business plan and proposal are two different documents with two different purposes and functions. A business plan is a document that clearly spells out how a business intends to realize its objectives and goals, while a business proposal is a sales document that a business entity uses to request a contract from a client.

Business Plan vs. Business Proposal

A business plan and a business proposal are different from each other by content, goals, writing style, and structure. The major difference between both is that a business plan is a document that presents facts, while a business proposal is a request for a deal and a quotation of prices.

A Business Plan

You can think of a business plan as the documentation of a company's grand vision. Business plans are naturally tactical. It's like stating where and when you want to start, when you want to get to the next point in view, and how you intend to accomplish that progress. A business plan includes descriptions of how the business is intended to run, the details of financial goals, possible business rivalry, marketing strategy, executive summary, and other factors that affect a company's planned business growth.

A business plan is particularly effective in making potential investors interested in a company (especially a startup company that's yet to make a name in its industry). Additionally, a business plan can provide an idea of what a company requires for professionals such as attorneys, accountants, and potential employees. A business plan distinctly describes the scope of the business, and in so doing, clears your thoughts as a business owner.

The business plan should be honestly made because it's the outline of the company's vision. It indicates whether or not the business goals of the company are realistically achievable. Experts say an effective business plan would take approximately six weeks of thorough research and groundwork to create. In other words, you typically can't create an effective business plan in one day, present it to potential investors the next day, and achieve desired results.

A Business Proposal

A business proposal goes to a prospective client directly from an established business. It's an attempt to sell a business entity's service or product to a client, and not an attempt to sell the business itself. Also, a business proposal isn't an estimate. Though costs and certain other details will be provided in the business proposal, an estimate is a lot more unofficial and simply a provision to skim over the costs. It doesn't present the entire picture.

Basically, business proposals show a particular idea, such as a new, profitable undertaking. The proposal is intended to get investors to support the particular business endeavor being suggested. For instance, a well-known eatery chain may wish to extend its business to a nearby state. Such an eatery would have to compose a business proposal in order to get the financial support of its target investors.

Though the business proposal provides an overview of what the company does (similar to a business plan), its major objective is to provide the details of the suggested business idea, including providing answers in advance for any concerns that could be raised by potential investors.

Components of a Business Plan

Basically, a business plan has three components: business model description, sales tactics, and financial goals. However, more elaborately, it has the following sections of information:

• Executive summary
• Description of products and services
• Industry analysis (analysis of possible business rivalry)
• Marketing strategy
• Operating plan
• Structure of leadership
• Internal analysis
• Built-out plan
• Introduction of management
• Financial goals (deliberations on monetary concerns, and how to address them and achieve expected results).

Solicited vs. Unsolicited Business Proposals

A solicited business proposal, when presented in response to a request for proposal (RFP), should be in the format requested by the client in their RFP. The same format may or may not be used for an unsolicited business proposal. Its purpose is to suggest and develop a business idea. Therefore, it's recommended to use the same format or some other format that's well-known in the field of endeavor.

An unsolicited business proposal offers a business entity the flexibility to choose what structure they deem appropriate. However, the proposal is expected to meet industry standards, no matter what format is used. For instance, it should emphasize major areas of interest, be thoroughly researched, offer a proposition of value, and feature a call to action.

If you need help with a business plan and proposal, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.

Hire the top business lawyers and save up to 60% on legal fees

Content Approved by UpCounsel

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Business Plan vs. Business Proposal

• May 15, 2024

When you start a new business or own a young company, you often hear terms like business plan or business proposal. But the question is: do you need a business plan? Or is it a proposal that you need? Or both?

Being new to the game, these terms can seem quite intimidating, and you probably don’t know where to start.

Don’t worry. We’ve created a simple business plan vs. business proposal comparison so you can determine which one to prioritize.

Let’s start by defining them!

What is a business plan?

A business plan documents a company, its business objectives, and how it plans to achieve them. It includes data regarding business goals, marketing strategies, products, services, market research, financial projections, and the dream team.

Pretty much everything a company will use to achieve its intentions.

Okay! And what about the business proposal?

What is a business proposal?

On the other hand, a business proposal is a document that describes your business’s offerings, like a product or service, to help you win potential clients and partners.

It also outlines your business, including its unique value proposition and how your company can help solve customers’ specific problems.

Now that we know the two business documents aren’t the same let’s see how they are different and in what ways.

Business plan vs. business proposal: How are they different?

Even though used interchangeably (and wrongly), a business plan and proposal are poles apart. Here’s how:

Before you ask why you need a business plan , it’s, first and foremost, to legitimize a business idea that you’ve been brewing in your head.

But it’s also to document company strategies, objectives, and operations that help you create a clear idea on how to achieve your company goals. All that data becomes one source of truth that works as a communication tool. That becomes your golden ticket to wooing investors and lenders.

On the other hand, a business proposal’s purpose is entirely about convincing a potential client and partner that your project is worth their time and money.

Unlike a business plan, it only focuses on a specific product, service, or opportunity instead of the entire business.

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2. Components and Structure

When you write your business plan , it will typically follow a specific structure containing the following components:

• Executive summary: This summary summarizes your entire business plan, highlighting the most important aspects, such as your company’s mission, financial projections, and vision statement.
• Company description: It reveals your company’s history, mission, value proposition, detailed description of products and services, achievements, and target market.
• Industry or market analysis: This is an analysis of the industry landscape to gain statistics about market needs, size, trends, competitors, and target demographics.
• Marketing plan: This includes different marketing strategies and approaches your company will take to market its products and services. It can be your pricing strategy, sales and distribution plan, and unique selling proposition.
• Operations plan: This component reveals how a company’s operations would look on a day-to-day basis.
• Organizational structure and management team: This section provides an overview of your company’s structure and how its management teams will execute the operations plan effectively.
• Financial projections and goals: This section contains a company’s financial performance, including income, sales goals, cash flow projections, and balance sheets.

Similarly, when you write a business proposal , you’ll typically encounter a structure as well. It goes like this:

• Cover or title page: To make a first impression. It can contain aesthetic visuals.
• Introduction: To introduce yourself and your company. Also, briefly explain how your product or service will solve a specific problem.
• Statement of the problem or project: To explain your understanding of the customer’s need, its importance in addressing it, and your right-fit, proposed solution.
• Table of contents: To make your data essay accessible.
• Project details: To communicate essential data, including objective, scope, timeline, key stakeholders, disclaimers, cost, and conclusion.
• Agreement with a signature box: To obtain the client’s signature.

3. Audience

A business plan’s target audience is internal stakeholders, investors, and lenders interested in your company’s long-term goals and path to success.

On the flip side, business proposals go to potential clients from established businesses. They target external or new clients, partners, or funding agencies with a specific focus on:

• Addressing customer needs
• Solving customer problems
• Or seizing opportunities

Do you know how many types of businesses exist today? Two words: Too many!

Now, that implies there are many different types of business plans. But here’s a quick list of the most common types:

• Startup business plan: This plan describes the foundation of a new business with room to adjust as the company grows. It’s given to potential investors to ask for startup funding.
• Internal business plan: In this plan, company leaders communicate business goals, strategy, and performance. The aim is to keep the board and the team in sync regarding business objectives.
• Strategic business plan: This plan documents the framework required to keep long-term goals and company vision intact.
• Growth business plan: Also known as an expansion plan, this plan describes how a company is trying to grow and hence requires greater resources like more employees, funds, materials, etc.

Business proposal types can be broadly divided into two categories:

• Solicited business proposals: In this case, a prospective client requests the informational document from you directly or expects to receive it—implicating their interest in your products or services.
• Unsolicited business proposals: Here, no client requests the documents. Instead, you take the cold email approach and send your unsolicited proposals to people you think are prospective clients or partners.

Business Proposal and Planning Best Practices

It’s already challenging to overcome market entry barriers in saturated markets and persuade potential investors. Creating a compelling business proposal and plan shouldn’t be too!

Here’s how to go about it:

• Clearly define your business goals and objectives.
• Make sure you get your audience right. (Business plans and proposals have different audiences, remember?)
• Conduct in depth research and analysis.
• Use pictures along with words, such as visuals and statistics, to support your claims and projections.
• Pay attention to the writing style, structure, and tone depending on your audience and purpose.
• Use software like an AI business plan generator or proposal templates to save time and effort.
• Review and revise regularly.

Start creating effective business plans and proposals using Upmetrics

It’s okay if you were confused about the difference between a business plan and a proposal before today. You now know the distinction between the two lies in their purpose, components, structure, audience, and type.

While a business plan provides a thorough overview of the entire business and targets internal stakeholders, investors, and lenders, a business proposal focuses on specific projects or opportunities and targets external clients, partners, or funding agencies.

When you understand these differences and employ the best practices in creating both documents, your business can effectively communicate its vision, strategy, and value proposition, securing a solid spot in this competitive world.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a business plan and a business idea.

A business idea is a concept’s initial spark for a product, service, or opportunity. However, a business plan is a detailed document outlining how a business idea will be executed and managed.

How many pages is a business proposal?

A good proposal is 10-20 pages long. However, it can be longer based on the industry, buyer requirements, product or service type, the scale of buyer needs, and other aspects unique to the business.

What comes first, a business plan or business proposal?

The business plan comes first since it legitimizes a business idea. Then comes a proposal because it’s specific to a particular project or opportunity and not the business as a whole.

Do I actually need a business plan?

A business plan is a detailed roadmap for your entire venture. It helps you gain investments, beat competition, make sound decisions, communicate with stakeholders, and identify risks. So, yes, you need a business plan.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Business Proposal and Business Plan: What’s the Difference?

Business proposal and business plan are relatively similar but distinctively different terms, making many use these two words interchangeably.

You’ll see distinguishing features in their content, structure, writing style, purpose, and goals. Even so, there are various similarities between a business proposal and a business plan.

The main distinguishing factor to note is that a business proposal documents the growth strategy and presentation of facts, while a business proposal is a specific ask for an individual to take action (buy your service/product, partner with you in business, and invest in a particular business) . 

Let’s look at the two terms in detail and highlight a few examples when it’s appropriate to use.

What is a Business Proposal?

A business proposal is a company’s documentation that goes directly to its prospective. It’s usually written in an attempt to sell a company’s product or service.

While a business proposal is not an estimate, it’ll have certain financial details. An estimate is unofficial and simply a way to skim over the real costs without presenting the real picture.

In a nutshell, a business proposal shows a particular business idea intended to get investors to support this particular endeavor being suggested.

Although a business proposal shows an overview of what the company does (just like a business plan), its main aim is to provide information about the suggested business idea. 

It answers any questions or concerns potential investors may have about the suggested business idea.

Prospero business proposal generator can help you easily draft a competitive and compelling proposal to beat other bids. With its user-friendly interface and various proposal templates , you don’t have to create everything from scratch.

Let’s now look at the importance of a business proposal and a business plan.

Reasons for a Business Proposal

The main reason a proposal is written can only be understood based on the type of proposal you want to draft. They’re two types of proposals; invited and non-invited proposals.

Invited proposal

An invited proposal is submitted in response to an advertisement from a potential client. A good example is government agencies inviting contractors to bid on a particular service.

Alternatively, businesses request a proposal from a group of suppliers they’re willing to consider as prospective clients.

Non-invited proposals

Non-invited proposals, on the other hand, are submitted to potential clients even when they haven’t requested one. In both instances, a company must develop a compelling proposal to convince buyers. 

Proposals are limited in the scope of a particular need or project and written to specific audiences.

The main reason why businesses write proposals is to solicit or grow company opportunities. You can think of a proposal as an external document to present or sell the company to external players.

It shows what the business is all about and how it intends to carry out a particular project or use that opportunity to generate revenue for both parties.

What is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a factual description of a company on the operational and executive levels. It’s a written presentation of a company’s grand vision.

The document is typically tactical; it states where and when you want to start a project. Moreover, it will highlight when you’ll want to move on to the next phase of the project and how to accomplish that project.

It makes potential investors interested in a company (especially small startups that haven’t made a name for themselves).

A business plan will also provide an idea of what the business requires from professionals, such as attorneys and potential employees. It indicates whether or not a company’s business goals are realistic, let alone achievable.

Reasons for a Business Plan

Business plans are visions for your company and how you intend to execute all these visions. They outline financial projections of what a business will cost to develop and operate, plus an estimate of the revenues the business will generate.

Its main purpose is to provide a reasonably detailed description of the company for use by potential investors, suppliers, accountants, and prospective employees, among other people. For instance, one of the prerequisites for an SBA loan is an extensive and organized business plan.

Moreover, it’ll provide a quick but comprehensive view of what your company does and its chances for success.

The main reason companies write business plans is to convey and record information.

Structure of a Business and Plan Proposal

Here, the two documents have various components featured on them. Here’s a detailed description of their structure below:

Structure of a Business Proposal

Overall, the structure of a proposal will depend on whether it’s solicited or unsolicited.

A solicited proposal responding to a request for proposal takes the format of an RFP. Here are the components of a business proposal:

• Usually, it takes a quick description of products and services relevant to the RFP goals.
• Outlining the company’s scope of work.
• Answers to questions posed in the RFP.
• Estimate detailing tools, materials, labor, delivery, and other elements that’ll affect the project’s cost.

An unsolicited proposal to create a business opportunity follows the same format. It, however, anticipates questions potential clients might have .

A proposal is a marketing document designed to convince prospects to do business by presenting a value disposition plus a call to action.

Try creating your business proposal here .

Structure of a Business Plan

A business plan has three components; sales tactics, business model description, and financial goals. More elaborately, it consists of the following section of information:

• A summary of the executive
• Product/service description
• Industry analysis
• Operating plan
• Marketing strategies  
• Internal analysis
• Built-out plan
• Structure of leadership 
• Introduction of management 
• Financial goals

The business plan is more like an information document displaying the company’s operation and potential.

Many companies fail to follow this format while writing their business plan or proposal, a reason why most don’t win bids or prospective clients. 

Using Prospero to write a professionally compelling business proposal and integrate your business plan can help you get investors interested in your company so that they want a sit at the table.

What’s the Difference Between a Business Plan and a Proposal?

Business proposals differ from business plans in content, writing style, purpose, goals, and structure.

The sole distinguishing factor between the two terms is that a business plan is a factual presentation of facts, whereas a business proposal is an external market document that highlights a quote and a call to action.

Let’s look at some distinguishing features between the two terms:

Business Proposal vs. Business Plan

A business plan provides a detailed description of how the business was set up, plus its project.

On the other hand, a business proposal is a purposeful sale document illustrating how a business will execute a particular project. Usually, it’s drawn and submitted to another enterprise or organization putting forward a business arrangement.

In addition, the structure of a business plan contains three elements, including a description of the business model , sales tactics, and financial projections.

On the other hand, the structure of a business proposal takes the format of an RFP if it’s solicited.

A business plan shows the scope of a business and, in turn, clarifies your thinking as a business owner and also gives you information that you hadn’t considered before.

Conversely, proposals show a limited scope of a specific project or need for a particular audience.

While trying to craft these two documents, you must seek proficient experts to help you write compelling proposals and plans to convince potential investors and other partners to invest in your business.

Types of Business Plans and Proposals

A business proposal can be divided into solicited and unsolicited proposals. How different are they? Let’s delve right in.

Solicited Proposals

This is presented in response to a request for proposal (RFP). It’s usually submitted responding to a work statement from sponsors.

These sponsors use the request for proposal to solicit a specific proposal for research, training, or to provide services or goods. The RFP includes standard terms, conditions, and assurance that the company is asked to accept. 

A good example is when an organization or government agency wanting to buy products or services from a particular sector invites contractors to place bids.

In other scenarios, some businesses will ask suppliers to provide RFP to those they’re considering a partnership with.

The business is competing against other businesses that want to secure the same contract. It’s, therefore, in their best interest to provide compelling and competitive business proposals.

Prospero can assist you in such instances; it has the experience and expertise to curate excellent proposals that win contracts. Call it today to generate a proposal with its Prospero business proposal generator .

Unsolicited Business Proposals

This proposal is submitted to potential clients, even when they haven’t asked for one.

In such circumstances, a business wanting to secure a contract will suggest a product or service to a potential organization in return for funds.

A good example is when an organization tends a proposal to develop an application or renders some training services to its staff.

Just like solicited business proposals, a company must curate a well-researched proposal that will convince prospective clients you’re the right candidate for the job.

Types of Business Plans

Business plans are also categorized into four types, including

• short plans,
• presentation plans,
• working plans,
• and what-if plans.

These types require different degrees of labor and are not always proportional to results.

Presentation Plan

Using PowerPoint to outlay information about a business changed the way companies created their business plan. Many businesses lose sleep trying to figure out how you’re going to present a business plan that can affect a company’s future.

Working Plan

This is a plan used to operate your business. The plan can be long in detail but shorter in presentation. There’s no room for informality or candor while preparing it.

If you’re considering presenting this plan to a loan committee, you’ll have to describe a competing rival primarily on a price basis.

A working plan used to create outlines for internal use may have some elements omitted; probably, you’ll not need to add an appendix with a resume of key executives.

Internal policy considerations may guide what to include or exclude in the working plan.

What-If Plan

A business must prepare for unforeseen circumstances. The company may want to have a contingency plan when seeking bank financing.

This plan is usually curated in the worst-case scenario that you can foresee your business surviving. It’s important to shelter yourself from things like loss of market share, the defection of a key member of management, and heavy price competition.

A contingency plan can help cover the fears of bankers and investors by demonstrating that your business has considered more than one rosy circumstance.

Moreover, your business can benefit from a what-if plan in situation acquisition. It can help you outline the worth of the acquisition and how it can affect the core business.

In summary, you can say that a business plan is more of an internal document, whereas a business proposal is an external one that is used to sell the product or service of a company to prospective clients.

In addition, a business plan guides the activities of a company internally in terms of revenue projections and marketing strategies that must be achieved in a particular time frame.

On the other hand, a business proposal will show external parties like a government agency and sponsors what the business is all about to convince them to invest in your business. The proposal should outline how you will carry out a particular project to generate revenue.

Whether trying to curate a business plan or proposal, it has to be compelling and competitive to beat other bidders. 

Why Not Give Prospero A Try?

Working with Prospero to generate professionally written proposals or plans is essentially wise. It has a variety of templates for different industries and comes with a lot of customization options. Some ready-made content are also available so you won’t need to write from scratch every now and then.

You can manage and track the performance of your proposals through its built-in analytics, so your sales team would be more productive and efficient.

It’ll increase your chances of securing contracts and proposals that can take the business to the next level.

Sign up for free today and get your free trial!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Abbey Claire Dela Cruz

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Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between a research plan and a research proposal.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

Frequently asked questions: Writing a research paper

A research project is an academic, scientific, or professional undertaking to answer a research question . Research projects can take many forms, such as qualitative or quantitative , descriptive , longitudinal , experimental , or correlational . What kind of research approach you choose will depend on your topic.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

Research questions anchor your whole project, so it’s important to spend some time refining them.

In general, they should be:

• Focused and researchable
• Answerable using credible sources
• Complex and arguable
• Feasible and specific
• Relevant and original

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.

Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.

Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .

Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.

I will compare …

Your research objectives indicate how you’ll try to address your research problem and should be specific:

Research objectives describe what you intend your research project to accomplish.

They summarize the approach and purpose of the project and help to focus your research.

Your objectives should appear in the introduction of your research paper , at the end of your problem statement .

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in Chicago style are to:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Use 1 inch margins or larger
• Apply double line spacing
• Indent every new paragraph ½ inch
• Include a title page
• Place page numbers in the top right or bottom center
• Cite your sources with author-date citations or Chicago footnotes
• Include a bibliography or reference list

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows:

• Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Set 1 inch page margins
• Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page
• Center the paper’s title
• Use title case capitalization for headings
• Cite your sources with MLA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a Works Cited page at the end

To format a paper in APA Style , follow these guidelines:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman or 11 pt Arial
• If submitting for publication, insert a running head on every page
• Apply APA heading styles
• Cite your sources with APA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a reference page at the end

No, it’s not appropriate to present new arguments or evidence in the conclusion . While you might be tempted to save a striking argument for last, research papers follow a more formal structure than this.

All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the results and discussion sections if you are following a scientific structure). The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.

The conclusion of a research paper has several key elements you should make sure to include:

• A restatement of the research problem
• A summary of your key arguments and/or findings
• A short discussion of the implications of your research

Don’t feel that you have to write the introduction first. The introduction is often one of the last parts of the research paper you’ll write, along with the conclusion.

This is because it can be easier to introduce your paper once you’ve already written the body ; you may not have the clearest idea of your arguments until you’ve written them, and things can change during the writing process .

The way you present your research problem in your introduction varies depending on the nature of your research paper . A research paper that presents a sustained argument will usually encapsulate this argument in a thesis statement .

A research paper designed to present the results of empirical research tends to present a research question that it seeks to answer. It may also include a hypothesis —a prediction that will be confirmed or disproved by your research.

The introduction of a research paper includes several key elements:

• A hook to catch the reader’s interest
• Relevant background on the topic
• Details of your research problem

and your problem statement

• A thesis statement or research question
• Sometimes an overview of the paper

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Scribbr specializes in editing study-related documents . We proofread:

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Scribbr’s Plagiarism Checker is powered by elements of Turnitin’s Similarity Checker , namely the plagiarism detection software and the Internet Archive and Premium Scholarly Publications content databases .

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The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.

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Tailored Business Proposals: 19 Examples for Different Industries

The cornerstone of winning any new business lies in the strength of your proposal. The aim? To not only outline your offer, but to paint a picture so vivid your prospects can see the brighter future your partnership could bring.

In this guide, we unpack everything you need to paint this picture. First, we’ll work through the theory: showing how to structure your proposal for maximum impact. Then, we’ll see how these look in practice with 19 industry-tailored, time-tested business proposal examples.

In short, everything you need to take your proposal game to the next level.

Key Takeaways

• A Strong Start is Half the Battle: Your proposal's introduction should grab attention like a headline does. Think of it as the trailer to the blockbuster that is your proposal.
• Clarity is King: Aim for a fluff-free zone. We'll show you how to be crystal clear about what you're offering and why it matters.
• Tailor Made to Fit: Like a bespoke suit, your proposal should be customized to fit your potential client's needs. Leave the cookie-cutting to the competition.
• Evidence, Please: Back up your claims with solid proof. Testimonials, case studies, and data are your best friends.
• A Call to Action That Calls Out: Don't leave your reader hanging. A compelling call to action prompts their next move - so it's imperative that you're crystal clear about what you want them to do next to move things forward.

How to structure your business proposal

Every element of a great business proposal should serve the overall objective. Clarity and concision are your priorities. In the spirit of being direct, here's a blueprint (as well as some tips) to get you there:

Executive Summary : After your title page, begin with an executive summary that captures the essence of your proposal. This section should be compelling, providing a clear snapshot of the client's problem and your proposed solution, setting the stage for the details that follow.

Define the Problem : Show your deep understanding of the challenges your potential client is facing, showing empathy and insight. This reassures the client that you grasp the nitty-gritty and the nuances of their situation.

Propose Your Solutions : In this section, outline your proposed solutions. Each solution should directly address a facet of the client's problem, clearly explaining how your services or products fit their needs. Focus on how you solve the problem, not just the features and benefits of your product or service.

Methodology and Timeline : Discuss your methodology and project timeline, providing a clear roadmap of how and when you plan to implement your solutions. This section should reassure the client of your project management skills, communication and planning abilities and that you have a realistic approach.

Pricing: Transparently outline your pricing structure while emphasizing the value provided. It’s crucial to balance cost with the benefits your client will gain, presenting your proposal as a strategic investment. Remember to include any add-on services or additional charges to avoid surprising your client later on in the process.

Proof of Success : Support your proposal with concrete evidence of your past successes. Include case studies, testimonials, and relevant data that validate your claims and demonstrate your capability and experience. If it's appropriate, you can provide some references your prospect can reach out to.

Conclusion and Call to Action : Conclude with a strong call to action. Clearly state what steps you want the reader to take next, whether it’s scheduling a meeting, signing a contract, or any other specific requirements.

This structured approach ensures that your proposal is a persuasive, coherent argument that effectively communicates why you are the best choice for the client.

19 Business proposal examples to use

When it comes to your unique needs, you're the expert. But, in order to get you started or inspire you to sell in new ways, we offer a robust library of business proposal templates . Each one is tailored to a different sector, showcasing how to apply the structure we've just outlined in real-world scenarios. Here are 19 different sample proposals, so you have plenty of choices to use or peruse!

1. SaaS Proposal

When writing a SaaS proposal , you must detail the office chaos your software will calm. Show them a future where productivity soars, thanks to your cloud-based wizardry. Be specific about features, but link each one to a benefit. "Our feature X means your team can do Y, leading to Z% more sales." Don't forget to sprinkle in client testimonials from other businesses that have achieved zen thanks to your help! Look at our SaaS Proposal Template to see exactly what I mean.

SaaS Proposal Template

Propel your business forward with our SaaS Proposal Template – present a persuasive case for adopting your solution to prospects.

2. Mobile App Development Proposal

Here, you're the architect of the next app everyone can't live without. Your mobile app proposal should start with the vision: the gap in the market your app fills beautifully. Describe how smooth and intuitive the user journey is. Outline the development timeline and the rigor of your testing and quality assurance strategy. Then, pull out the portfolio and social proof to show that you have the experience to match the vision. Our Mobile App development template will give you a better idea of how to tell your story in a way prospective clients won't be able to refuse an opportunity to work with you.

Mobile App Development Proposal Template

Secure projects with a compelling and persuasive Mobile App Development Proposal Template– craft a comprehensive, innovative, and tailored pitch swiftly.

3. Enterprise Sales Proposal

This is where you think big - there are so many proposal creation possibilities. You're addressing companies with complex needs and multiple stakeholders. Your sales proposa l should reflect that. Start with an executive summary that speaks their language—efficiency, scalability, ROI. Dive deep into how your solution aligns with their strategic goals. Use data to lead them to the inevitable conclusion that your solution isn't just the best option; it's the only one that makes sense. Our enterprise sales template belongs in your proposal kit and shows how this is done well.

Grab our Enterprise Sales Template

Get to 'yes' faster by captivating your buyer with web-based sales assets

4. Software Development Proposal

This one's all about transformation. Your opening should paint a picture for a prospective buyer of the digital makeover their business will undergo. Detail the technical wizardry you'll employ in your software development proposal, but take the time to demystify all of it. Break your process into clear, digestible phases, showing milestones and success at each turn. When discussing costs, emphasize the long-term value of custom software—like investing in a high-quality tool that pays for itself over time. Our software proposal template shows what this all looks like in practice.

Software Development Proposal Template

Win development projects with a thorough and persuasive software pitch – prepare a comprehensive, detailed, and tailored proposal quickly.

5. Investment Proposal

Here, you're wooing investors with a unique idea that's as solid as it is exciting: your business model, your market analysis, and your growth projections. These are particularly crucial for larger projects that require significant capital. So, you need to present a clear and concise outline of the opportunity, the potential ROI, and the associated risks. Look at how Qwilr’s investment proposal template establishes a clear understanding between the investor and the opportunity. It also leaves space for all of the important contractual language to ensure you're staying compliant while you pitch.

Grab our Investment Proposal Template

6. Marketing Proposal

Imagine you’re crafting a strategy to turn a brand from a wallflower into the life of the party. Your marketing proposal should delve into the current market position and paint a picture of the potential you can help them realize. Outline a multi-channel approach, weaving in success stories like proof points in your narrative. Include your proposed project scope and include the deliverables like brand guidelines, design assets, copy and strategy work. Show them how your unique blend of creativity and analytics will boost their visibility and engagement, leading to a measurable uptick in sales and brand loyalty. Our marketing proposal template shows you exactly how it's done.

Marketing Proposal Template

Win clients with a clear and convincing Marketing Proposal – craft an engaging, goal-driven, and results-focused proposal in no time.

7. SEO Proposal

Your SEO proposal acts as their map, guiding them through the winding terrain of search engine algorithms to the pinnacle of those Page 1 rankings. Start by laying out the stark reality of their current online presence and its untapped potential. Break down your strategy into tangible steps—keyword research, on-page optimization, content marketing. Use case studies to illustrate the climb from obscurity to prominence. Make it clear that investing in SEO is not a cost but a growth catalyst. How do you do it? Use our SEO proposal template. It's designed for engagement and interactive storytelling.

SEO Proposal Template

Gain clients with a captivating and persuasive SEO Proposal – design a strategic, data-driven, and results-focused proposal quickly.

8. Paid Search Proposal (PPC or Google Ads)

Think of this as plotting a direct route to sales growth. Your opening? It highlights the inefficiency of their current advertising efforts compared to the precision targeting Google Ads offers. Your PPC proposal should map out a campaign that targets their ideal customers with laser focus, promising better conversion rates at a lower cost. Include projections to illustrate the potential return on ad spend, turning skepticism into anticipation- as this Google Ads proposal template neatly demonstrates.

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9. Influencer Marketing Proposal

Begin your influencer marketing proposal by introducing yourself, your brand, and your audience. Then, demonstrate your understanding of the target brand's needs and how your content and audience can help service those needs. Drill down into the metrics that will define success for them here: people interacting with the content, website visitors, sales, new followers, etc. Showcase success stories as evidence that this approach isn't just trendy; it's transformative.

This influencer marketing proposal template helps you create a data-driven, results-orientated proposal in a fraction of the time.

Influencer Proposal Template

Showcase your expertise in influencer marketing with our dynamic Influencer Proposal Template. Designed for accuracy and impact, it enables you to create a data-driven, results-oriented proposal tailored to your potential partner's goals.

10. Branding Proposal

You're the artist envisioning a brand's rebirth. Start your branding proposal with a critique of the current brand identity and its market perception. Propose a rebranding strategy that promises to not just change looks but revitalize the brand's story, making it resonate with today’s audience. Include mood boards, success stories, and market research to back your vision. Paint a picture of the future where their brand isn’t just seen but felt deeply by its audience. Our brand identity proposal template helps highlight the unique approach to identity, positioning, and messaging that you bring to the table.

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11. Sponsorship Proposal

Position your sponsorship proposal as a win-win partnership that elevates both parties. Begin with an analysis of the potential partner’s audience and how it overlaps with your client’s target market. Propose a sponsorship deal that feels less like a transaction and more like a collaboration towards a shared goal. Highlight past sponsorship successes as proof of concept, ensuring the partner feels confident in the mutual benefits. Our sponsorship proposal template helps you create a detailed, goal-orientated and mutually beneficial pitch in minutes.

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12. Content Marketing Proposal

With your content marketing proposal , you're the storyteller proposing a saga that captures and holds the audience's attention. Start with the harsh reality of their current content's performance—or lack thereof. Lay out a content strategy that spans blog posts, videos, and social media, all designed to engage and convert. Use metrics from past campaigns to underscore the value of quality content, positioning it as the cornerstone of digital marketing success. Qwilr’s content marketing proposal template helps your team close impactful, high-value clients and expand your business.

Grab our Content Marketing Proposal Template

Drive content success with our Content Marketing Proposal Template – win high value clients by presenting a comprehensive content offering.

13. Email Marketing Proposal

With your email marketing proposal , you’re connecting your knowledge of email marketing to the potential client's needs. Showcase your content plan, focussing on segmentation and personalization methods aimed at deepening relationships and driving sales. Present data from successful email campaigns to illustrate the potential for increased open rates and conversions. Our email marketing proposal template can be the shortcut to your success.

Email Marketing Proposal Template

Win clients with an engaging and convincing Email Marketing Proposal – craft a targeted, data-driven, and results-oriented proposal in no time.

14. Website Design Proposal

Here, you're the digital renovator, promising a website that wows and works hard. With your website design proposal , it's no surprise that aesthetics are important. Use rich media, interactive elements, and high-quality images to heighten engagement. Show mockups or case studies to illustrate the transformative power of good design, framing the website not just as a cost but as an investment in the brand’s digital footprint. Our website proposal template will help you land clients while showcasing your expertise.

Grab our Website Design Proposal Template

15. “Spin Selling” Proposal

Adopt the role of a sales strategist, advocating for a method that spins ordinary conversations into sales opportunities. Highlight the inefficiencies in their current sales approach with empathy. Introduce SPIN Selling as a proven methodology focussing on Situation, Problem, Implication, and Need-payoff questions, promising to elevate your sales professionals to the trusted advisors the modern buyer prefers. Use success stories to cement the credibility of this approach and our SPIN selling template to help you do it all in a fraction of the time.

Grab our Spin Selling Proposal Template

16 & 17. “MeddPicc” and “Meddicc” Proposals

For these, position yourself as a sales transformation guru. Each proposal should dissect the current sales process, revealing gaps and missed opportunities. Present MEDDPICC/MEDDIC as comprehensive frameworks that ensure thorough qualification and a deeper understanding of customer needs, leading to more predictable and successful sales outcomes. Bolster your case with testimonials and metrics from businesses that have seen significant improvements after adopting these methodologies. Our MeddPicc and Meddicc proposal templates can prove invaluable allies here.

Grab our MEDDPICC Proposal Template

18. “Challenger Sales” Proposal

Here, you're advocating for a bold, assertive approach to sales that challenges prospects’ preconceptions. Begin by illustrating the limitations of their current sales strategy with real-world examples. Introduce the Challenger Sales model as the game-changer, emphasizing its focus on teaching, tailoring, and taking control of the sales conversation. Highlight the success stories of companies that have embraced this model, showcasing impressive results. Qwilr’s Challenger Sales Methodology template embraces this solution-focussed sales approach.

Grab our Challenger SaaS Proposal Template

19. “Mutual Action Plan” Proposal

Imagine guiding your client toward a collaborative sales strategy that maps out the path to a closed deal. Start with the pitfalls of traditional, one-sided sales plans. Present the Mutual Action Plan as a partnership between seller and buyer, creating a shared roadmap towards decision-making. Highlight its benefits—increased transparency, alignment, and a higher rate of successful closures—backed by case studies of successful implementations. Look how this Mutual Action Plan template fosters collaboration with its shared goals, milestones, and commitments.

Grab our Mutual Action Plan Template

Start Using Qwilr to Create Your Business Proposal Template

With Qwilr, gone are the days of one-size-fits-all PDF templates that blend into the background noise of your prospect's inbox. Here’s how Qwilr’s proposal software turbo-charges your efficiency and creativity:

• Tailor-Made Templates: Jumpstart your sales proposal process with business communications templates that are as flexible as they are beautiful. Customize to your heart's content, ensuring every proposal (and proposal template) reflects your unique brand and message. Our proposal samples showcase how you can create a robust and winning proposal efficiently each and every time.
• Interactive Quotes: Transform bland, static quotes into interactive, engaging elements that allow your prospects to customize their options.
• Seamless Integrations: Connect Qwilr with your CRM, accounting software, and more of your best sales tools to streamline your workflow. It’s like having a team of assistants at your beck and call, ensuring every part of the proposal process is in sync.
• Real-Time Notifications: Receive alerts the moment your proposal is viewed. It's like having ESP, giving you a decent gauge on buyer intent , plus the perfect timing to follow up, answer questions, or just give a gentle nudge.
• Data-Driven Insights: Learn what works and what doesn’t. Qwilr’s analytics give you a behind-the-scenes look at how your proposals perform, turning data into actionable insights.

The best proposal software should not just be a tool but a member of your team- one that works tirelessly to ensure your proposals stand out and deliver results. Qwilr isn't just a step toward more effective proposals; it's a leap into a future where your proposals do more than speak for you—they impress, they engage, and (most importantly) they close deals .

Final Thoughts

The path to creating proposals that not only capture attention but also win hearts (and deals) is intricate yet immensely rewarding. Explore Qwilr’s Proposal Software to create proposals that stand out and deliver real results. Let's make every proposal your stepping stone to success.

About the author

Marissa Taffer | Founder & President of M. Taffer Consulting

Marissa Taffer is the Founder & President of M. Taffer Consulting. She brings over 15 years of sales and marketing experience across various industries to a broad range of clients.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a business proposal be.

A proposal should be as long as necessary to convey your value proposition clearly and compellingly. That said, aim for brevity and relevance. If you can say it powerfully in five pages, don't stretch it to ten.

How can I make my proposal stand out?

In a world of black and white, be a burst of color. Use visuals, infographics, and even videos if your platform allows it. Tailor your proposal to speak directly to your prospect's needs and pain points. And don’t forget the power of a compelling story—people remember stories far longer than specs and numbers.

What's the biggest mistake to avoid in a business proposal?

Overlooking the 'why.' It's easy to get caught up in the what and the how (what you're offering and how you'll do it), but if you forget to explain why it matters to them, you've lost before you've begun. Always link your services or products back to their benefits.

Should pricing always be included in a proposal?

Yes, but with a twist. Pricing should be transparent but also flexible. Use interactive pricing tables that allow your prospects to adjust scope based on their budget.

How important are follow-ups after sending a proposal?

Imagine planting a seed and not watering it… Follow-ups with your prospective client are crucial. They show you're genuinely interested in their business and open the door for feedback or questions. Timing is key, though—wait a day or two, not an hour (and definitely not a week!)

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Home » Research Proposal – Types, Template and Example

Research Proposal – Types, Template and Example

Table of Contents

Research Proposal

Research proposal is a document that outlines a proposed research project . It is typically written by researchers, scholars, or students who intend to conduct research to address a specific research question or problem.

Types of Research Proposal

Research proposals can vary depending on the nature of the research project and the specific requirements of the funding agency, academic institution, or research program. Here are some common types of research proposals:

Academic Research Proposal

This is the most common type of research proposal, which is prepared by students, scholars, or researchers to seek approval and funding for an academic research project. It includes all the essential components mentioned earlier, such as the introduction, literature review , methodology , and expected outcomes.

Grant Proposal

A grant proposal is specifically designed to secure funding from external sources, such as government agencies, foundations, or private organizations. It typically includes additional sections, such as a detailed budget, project timeline, evaluation plan, and a description of the project’s alignment with the funding agency’s priorities and objectives.

Dissertation or Thesis Proposal

Students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree often need to submit a proposal outlining their intended research for their dissertation or thesis. These proposals are usually more extensive and comprehensive, including an in-depth literature review, theoretical framework, research questions or hypotheses, and a detailed methodology.

Research Project Proposal

This type of proposal is often prepared by researchers or research teams within an organization or institution. It outlines a specific research project that aims to address a particular problem, explore a specific area of interest, or provide insights for decision-making. Research project proposals may include sections on project management, collaboration, and dissemination of results.

Research Fellowship Proposal

Researchers or scholars applying for research fellowships may be required to submit a proposal outlining their proposed research project. These proposals often emphasize the novelty and significance of the research and its alignment with the goals and objectives of the fellowship program.

Collaborative Research Proposal

In cases where researchers from multiple institutions or disciplines collaborate on a research project, a collaborative research proposal is prepared. This proposal highlights the objectives, responsibilities, and contributions of each collaborator, as well as the overall research plan and coordination mechanisms.

Research Proposal Outline

A research proposal typically follows a standard outline that helps structure the document and ensure all essential components are included. While the specific headings and subheadings may vary slightly depending on the requirements of your institution or funding agency, the following outline provides a general structure for a research proposal:

• Title of the research proposal
• Name of the researcher(s) or principal investigator(s)
• Affiliation or institution
• Date of submission
• A concise summary of the research proposal, typically limited to 200-300 words.
• Briefly introduce the research problem or question, state the objectives, summarize the methodology, and highlight the expected outcomes or significance of the research.
• Provide an overview of the subject area and the specific research problem or question.
• Present relevant background information, theories, or concepts to establish the need for the research.
• Clearly state the research objectives or research questions that the study aims to address.
• Indicate the significance or potential contributions of the research.
• Summarize and analyze relevant studies, theories, or scholarly works.
• Identify research gaps or unresolved issues that your study intends to address.
• Highlight the novelty or uniqueness of your research.
• Describe the overall approach or research design that will be used (e.g., experimental, qualitative, quantitative).
• Justify the chosen approach based on the research objectives and question.
• Explain how data will be collected (e.g., surveys, interviews, experiments).
• Describe the sampling strategy and sample size, if applicable.
• Address any ethical considerations related to data collection.
• Outline the data analysis techniques or statistical methods that will be applied.
• Explain how the data will be interpreted and analyzed to answer the research question(s).
• Provide a detailed schedule or timeline that outlines the various stages of the research project.
• Specify the estimated duration for each stage, including data collection, analysis, and report writing.
• State the potential outcomes or results of the research.
• Discuss the potential significance or contributions of the study to the field.
• Address any potential limitations or challenges that may be encountered.
• Identify the resources required to conduct the research, such as funding, equipment, or access to data.
• Specify any collaborations or partnerships necessary for the successful completion of the study.
• Include a list of cited references in the appropriate citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

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Research Proposal Example Template

Here’s an example of a research proposal to give you an idea of how it can be structured:

Title: The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Well-being: A Mixed-Methods Study

This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of social media on the well-being of adolescents. The study will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to gather comprehensive data. The research objectives include examining the relationship between social media use and mental health, exploring the role of peer influence in shaping online behaviors, and identifying strategies for promoting healthy social media use among adolescents. The findings of this study will contribute to the understanding of the effects of social media on adolescent well-being and inform the development of targeted interventions.

1. Introduction

1.1 Background and Context:

Adolescents today are immersed in social media platforms, which have become integral to their daily lives. However, concerns have been raised about the potential negative impact of social media on their well-being, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, and body dissatisfaction. It is crucial to investigate this phenomenon further and understand the underlying mechanisms to develop effective strategies for promoting healthy social media use among adolescents.

1.2 Research Objectives:

The main objectives of this study are:

• To examine the association between social media use and mental health outcomes among adolescents.
• To explore the influence of peer relationships and social comparison on online behaviors.
• To identify strategies and interventions to foster positive social media use and enhance adolescent well-being.

2. Literature Review

Extensive research has been conducted on the impact of social media on adolescents. Existing literature suggests that excessive social media use can contribute to negative outcomes, such as low self-esteem, cyberbullying, and addictive behaviors. However, some studies have also highlighted the positive aspects of social media, such as providing opportunities for self-expression and social support. This study will build upon this literature by incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches to gain a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between social media and adolescent well-being.

3. Methodology

3.1 Research Design:

This study will adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. The quantitative phase will involve administering standardized questionnaires to a representative sample of adolescents to assess their social media use, mental health indicators, and perceived social support. The qualitative phase will include in-depth interviews with a subset of participants to explore their experiences, motivations, and perceptions related to social media use.

3.2 Data Collection Methods:

Quantitative data will be collected through an online survey distributed to schools in the target region. The survey will include validated scales to measure social media use, mental health outcomes, and perceived social support. Qualitative data will be collected through semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of participants. The interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis.

3.3 Data Analysis:

Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis to examine the relationships between variables. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically to identify common themes and patterns within participants’ narratives. Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings will provide a comprehensive understanding of the research questions.

4. Timeline

The research project will be conducted over a period of 12 months, divided into specific phases, including literature review, study design, data collection, analysis, and report writing. A detailed timeline outlining the key milestones and activities is provided in Appendix A.

5. Expected Outcomes and Significance

This study aims to contribute to the existing literature on the impact of social media on adolescent well-being by employing a mixed-methods approach. The findings will inform the development of evidence-based interventions and guidelines to promote healthy social media use among adolescents. This research has the potential to benefit adolescents, parents, educators, and policymakers by providing insights into the complex relationship between social media and well-being and offering strategies for fostering positive online experiences.

6. Resources

The resources required for this research include access to a representative sample of adolescents, research assistants for data collection, statistical software for data analysis, and funding to cover survey administration and participant incentives. Ethical considerations will be taken into account, ensuring participant confidentiality and obtaining informed consent.

7. References

Research Proposal Writing Guide

Writing a research proposal can be a complex task, but with proper guidance and organization, you can create a compelling and well-structured proposal. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

• Understand the requirements: Familiarize yourself with the guidelines and requirements provided by your institution, funding agency, or program. Pay attention to formatting, page limits, specific sections or headings, and any other instructions.
• Identify your research topic: Choose a research topic that aligns with your interests, expertise, and the goals of your program or funding opportunity. Ensure that your topic is specific, focused, and relevant to the field of study.
• Conduct a literature review : Review existing literature and research relevant to your topic. Identify key theories, concepts, methodologies, and findings related to your research question. This will help you establish the context, identify research gaps, and demonstrate the significance of your proposed study.
• Define your research objectives and research question(s): Clearly state the objectives you aim to achieve with your research. Formulate research questions that address the gaps identified in the literature review. Your research objectives and questions should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
• Develop a research methodology: Determine the most appropriate research design and methodology for your study. Consider whether quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods approaches will best address your research question(s). Describe the data collection methods, sampling strategy, data analysis techniques, and any ethical considerations associated with your research.
• Create a research plan and timeline: Outline the various stages of your research project, including tasks, milestones, and deadlines. Develop a realistic timeline that considers factors such as data collection, analysis, and report writing. This plan will help you stay organized and manage your time effectively throughout the research process.
• A. Introduction: Provide background information on the research problem, highlight its significance, and introduce your research objectives and questions.
• B. Literature review: Summarize relevant literature, identify gaps, and justify the need for your proposed research.
• C . Methodology: Describe your research design, data collection methods, sampling strategy, data analysis techniques, and any ethical considerations.
• D . Expected outcomes and significance: Explain the potential outcomes, contributions, and implications of your research.
• E. Resources: Identify the resources required to conduct your research, such as funding, equipment, or access to data.
• F . References: Include a list of cited references in the appropriate citation style.
• Revise and proofread: Review your proposal for clarity, coherence, and logical flow. Check for grammar and spelling errors. Seek feedback from mentors, colleagues, or advisors to refine and improve your proposal.
• Finalize and submit: Make any necessary revisions based on feedback and finalize your research proposal. Ensure that you have met all the requirements and formatting guidelines. Submit your proposal within the specified deadline.

Research Proposal Length

The length of a research proposal can vary depending on the specific guidelines provided by your institution or funding agency. However, research proposals typically range from 1,500 to 3,000 words, excluding references and any additional supporting documents.

Purpose of Research Proposal

The purpose of a research proposal is to outline and communicate your research project to others, such as academic institutions, funding agencies, or potential collaborators. It serves several important purposes:

• Demonstrate the significance of the research: A research proposal explains the importance and relevance of your research project. It outlines the research problem or question, highlights the gaps in existing knowledge, and explains how your study will contribute to the field. By clearly articulating the significance of your research, you can convince others of its value and potential impact.
• Provide a clear research plan: A research proposal outlines the methodology, design, and approach you will use to conduct your study. It describes the research objectives, data collection methods, data analysis techniques, and potential outcomes. By presenting a clear research plan, you demonstrate that your study is well-thought-out, feasible, and likely to produce meaningful results.
• Secure funding or support: For researchers seeking funding or support for their projects, a research proposal is essential. It allows you to make a persuasive case for why your research is deserving of financial resources or institutional backing. The proposal explains the budgetary requirements, resources needed, and potential benefits of the research, helping you secure the necessary funding or support.
• Seek feedback and guidance: Presenting a research proposal provides an opportunity to receive feedback and guidance from experts in your field. It allows you to engage in discussions and receive suggestions for refining your research plan, improving the methodology, or addressing any potential limitations. This feedback can enhance the quality of your study and increase its chances of success.
• Establish ethical considerations: A research proposal also addresses ethical considerations associated with your study. It outlines how you will ensure participant confidentiality, obtain informed consent, and adhere to ethical guidelines and regulations. By demonstrating your awareness and commitment to ethical research practices, you build trust and credibility in your proposed study.

Importance of Research Proposal

The research proposal holds significant importance in the research process. Here are some key reasons why research proposals are important:

• Planning and organization: A research proposal requires careful planning and organization of your research project. It forces you to think through the research objectives, research questions, methodology, and potential outcomes before embarking on the actual study. This planning phase helps you establish a clear direction and framework for your research, ensuring that your efforts are focused and purposeful.
• Demonstrating the significance of the research: A research proposal allows you to articulate the significance and relevance of your study. By providing a thorough literature review and clearly defining the research problem or question, you can showcase the gaps in existing knowledge that your research aims to address. This demonstrates to others, such as funding agencies or academic institutions, why your research is important and deserving of support.
• Obtaining funding and resources: Research proposals are often required to secure funding for your research project. Funding agencies and organizations need to evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of the proposed research before allocating resources. A well-crafted research proposal helps convince funders of the value of your research and increases the likelihood of securing financial support, grants, or scholarships.
• Receiving feedback and guidance: Presenting a research proposal provides an opportunity to seek feedback and guidance from experts in your field. By sharing your research plan and objectives with others, you can benefit from their insights and suggestions. This feedback can help refine your research design, strengthen your methodology, and ensure that your study is rigorous and well-informed.
• Ethical considerations: A research proposal addresses ethical considerations associated with your study. It outlines how you will protect the rights and welfare of participants, maintain confidentiality, obtain informed consent, and adhere to ethical guidelines and regulations. This emphasis on ethical practices ensures that your research is conducted responsibly and with integrity.
• Enhancing collaboration and partnerships: A research proposal can facilitate collaborations and partnerships with other researchers, institutions, or organizations. When presenting your research plan, you may attract the interest of potential collaborators who share similar research interests or possess complementary expertise. Collaborative partnerships can enrich your study, expand your resources, and foster knowledge exchange.
• Establishing a research trajectory: A research proposal serves as a foundation for your research project. Once approved, it becomes a roadmap that guides your study’s implementation, data collection, analysis, and reporting. It helps maintain focus and ensures that your research stays on track and aligned with the initial objectives.

When to Write Research Proposal

The timing of when to write a research proposal can vary depending on the specific requirements and circumstances. However, here are a few common situations when it is appropriate to write a research proposal:

• Academic research: If you are a student pursuing a research degree, such as a Ph.D. or Master’s by research, you will typically be required to write a research proposal as part of the application process. This is usually done before starting the research program to outline your proposed study and seek approval from the academic institution.
• Funding applications: When applying for research grants, scholarships, or funding from organizations or institutions, you will often need to submit a research proposal. Funding agencies require a detailed description of your research project, including its objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. Writing a research proposal in this context is necessary to secure financial support for your study.
• Research collaborations: When collaborating with other researchers, institutions, or organizations on a research project, it is common to prepare a research proposal. This helps outline the research objectives, roles and responsibilities, and expected contributions from each party. Writing a research proposal in this case allows all collaborators to align their efforts and ensure a shared understanding of the project.
• Research project within an organization: If you are conducting research within an organization, such as a company or government agency, you may be required to write a research proposal to gain approval and support for your study. This proposal outlines the research objectives, methodology, resources needed, and expected outcomes, ensuring that the project aligns with the organization’s goals and objectives.
• Independent research projects: Even if you are not required to write a research proposal, it can still be beneficial to develop one for your independent research projects. Writing a research proposal helps you plan and structure your study, clarify your research objectives, and anticipate potential challenges or limitations. It also allows you to communicate your research plans effectively to supervisors, mentors, or collaborators.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between a research plan and a research proposal.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

Frequently asked questions: Dissertation

When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

The results chapter or section simply and objectively reports what you found, without speculating on why you found these results. The discussion interprets the meaning of the results, puts them in context, and explains why they matter.

In qualitative research , results and discussion are sometimes combined. But in quantitative research , it’s considered important to separate the objective results from your interpretation of them.

Results are usually written in the past tense , because they are describing the outcome of completed actions.

The abstract appears on its own page, after the title page and acknowledgements but before the table of contents .

Avoid citing sources in your abstract . There are two reasons for this:

• The abstract should focus on your original research, not on the work of others.
• The abstract should be self-contained and fully understandable without reference to other sources.

There are some circumstances where you might need to mention other sources in an abstract: for example, if your research responds directly to another study or focuses on the work of a single theorist. In general, though, don’t include citations unless absolutely necessary.

The abstract is the very last thing you write. You should only write it after your research is complete, so that you can accurately summarize the entirety of your thesis or paper.

An abstract is a concise summary of an academic text (such as a journal article or dissertation ). It serves two main purposes:

• To help potential readers determine the relevance of your paper for their own research.
• To communicate your key findings to those who don’t have time to read the whole paper.

Abstracts are often indexed along with keywords on academic databases, so they make your work more easily findable. Since the abstract is the first thing any reader sees, it’s important that it clearly and accurately summarises the contents of your paper.

A theoretical framework can sometimes be integrated into a  literature review chapter , but it can also be included as its own chapter or section in your dissertation . As a rule of thumb, if your research involves dealing with a lot of complex theories, it’s a good idea to include a separate theoretical framework chapter.

A literature review and a theoretical framework are not the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work, a literature review critically evaluates existing research relating to your topic. You’ll likely need both in your dissertation .

While a theoretical framework describes the theoretical underpinnings of your work based on existing research, a conceptual framework allows you to draw your own conclusions, mapping out the variables you may use in your study and the interplay between them.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organise your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation, such as:

• Your anticipated title
• Your abstract
• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review, research methods, avenues for future research, etc.)

Your list of tables and figures should go directly after your table of contents in your thesis or dissertation.

Usually, no title page is needed in an MLA paper . A header is generally included at the top of the first page instead. The exceptions are when:

• Your instructor requires one, or
• Your paper is a group project

In those cases, you should use a title page instead of a header, listing the same information but on a separate page.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

The title page of your thesis or dissertation should include your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, dictionaries are more general collections of words.

Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one to your thesis or dissertation. Your educational institution may also require them, so be sure to check their specific guidelines.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, an index is a list of the contents of your work organised by page number.

Definitional terms often fall into the category of common knowledge , meaning that they don’t necessarily have to be cited. This guidance can apply to your thesis or dissertation glossary as well.

However, if you’d prefer to cite your sources , you can follow guidance for citing dictionary entries in MLA or APA style for your glossary.

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and is intended to enhance their understanding of your work.

APA doesn’t require you to include a list of tables or a list of figures . However, it is advisable to do so if your text is long enough to feature a table of contents and it includes a lot of tables and/or figures .

A list of tables and list of figures appear (in that order) after your table of contents, and are presented in a similar way.

A list of figures and tables compiles all of the figures and tables that you used in your thesis or dissertation and displays them with the page number where they can be found.

Copyright information can usually be found wherever the table or figure was published. For example, for a diagram in a journal article , look on the journal’s website or the database where you found the article. Images found on sites like Flickr are listed with clear copyright information.

If you find that permission is required to reproduce the material, be sure to contact the author or publisher and ask for it.

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How to Do a Business Proposal: A Step-by-step Guide

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A business proposal is a critical document. It outlines your plan, approach, and value to potential clients or partners. It is important because it can create new chances. It can also create partnerships and grow business. Have you ever wondered what sets a winning business proposal apart? Or how you can effectively convey your ideas to captivate your audience?

This article offers a step-by-step guide to creating compelling business proposals. It ensures you cover essential elements for a strong case. Also, we emphasize using Wondershare PDFelement. It makes the proposal process faster and more professional. Imagine having a tool that makes formatting, collaboration, and presentation easier. Wondershare PDFelement can be that game-changer.

In this article

How wondershare pdfelement can facilitate the writing of the business proposal, tips for writing a business proposal.

Creating a business proposal requires close attention to detail. It also needs structured organization and a professional presentation. Wondershare PDFelement - PDF Editor has a suite of features. They can greatly simplify this process. They make it easier to craft compelling and polished proposals. Here, we explore PDFelement's features. They can help make business proposals. They include PDF merge and AI enhancements.

One key feature of Wondershare PDFelement is its ability to combine PDF files into one document. This is especially useful when combining parts of a business proposal, including the executive summary, project details, financials, and appendices. Instead of multiple files, PDFelement lets you combine them seamlessly, ensuring your proposal is cohesive and easy to navigate.

File Conversion

When creating a business proposal, you may need to include documents in different formats, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. PDFelement can convert files to and from PDF format. It has strong file conversion capabilities, ensuring all your content has a uniform format, which is crucial for a professional proposal. Additionally, this feature allows for easy sharing and printing without losing formatting.

E-Signature

Securing signatures for your business proposals can often be a time-consuming task. PDFelement's e-signature feature allows you to sign documents electronically. You can also request signatures from others. This can speed up approvals. It makes them more efficient and less reliant on in-person meetings. E-signatures let you quickly get the needed approvals. Then, you can move forward with your project.

File Compression

Big proposals have high-resolution images and graphics, which can result in bulky files that are hard to share by email or upload to websites. PDFelement offers file compression tools. These tools reduce the size of your PDF files without hurting quality. This makes it easier to send your proposal to stakeholders and ensures that it reaches them without technical issues.

Organization Tools

PDFelement provides many organization tools. They can help you manage your proposal’s structure and content. Bookmarks, page numbers, headers, and footers are features. They help you make a well-organized document. These tools make it easier for the reader. They help the reader to navigate the proposal, find sections, and follow the flow of information.

AI-Powered Enhancements

The AI-powered features in PDFelement can greatly improve your business proposals. These include automated spell check, grammar suggestions, and intelligent data extraction. These tools help ensure that your proposal is error-free. They also ensure it is written in clear, brief language. Also, AI can help extract data from scanned documents. This lets you quickly add useful info to your proposal.

Access to Pre-Designed Templates

For those with little proposal design experience, PDFelement offers many pre-designed templates. These templates provide a pro layout. They ensure your proposal looks polished and meets industry standards. By using these templates, you can save time on formatting and focus more on the content of your proposal.

Crafting a strong business proposal is key. It helps secure new opportunities and build partnerships. To create a winning proposal, follow these practical tips:

Define Objectives

Before you start writing, clearly define the objectives of your proposal. What are you hoping to achieve? Your goals will guide your proposal. They matter for winning a new contract, getting funding, or forming a partnership. After reading your proposal, be specific about what you want the recipient to do.

Research the Target Audience

You must understand your target audience. This understanding is crucial for tailoring your proposal to their needs and expectations. Research the company or person you are addressing. Look into their industry, the challenges they face, and their goals. This knowledge allows you to align your proposal with their interests, making it more relevant and persuasive.

Present a Compelling Value Proposition

Your value proposition is the heart of your business proposal. Clearly articulate what sets your solution apart and how it will benefit the recipient. Highlight your product's unique features. Explain how it addresses the needs of the target audience. Focus on the outcomes and value they will receive from partnering with you.

Provide Detailed Information

A well-crafted business proposal should include detailed information to support your value proposition. This may involve outlining your approach, methodology, and processes. Include technical details. Also, include financial projections and case studies. They should show your abilities and past successes. Ensure that all information is accurate and well-documented.

Include Testimonials and References

Testimonials and references add credibility to your proposal. Include quotes from satisfied clients or partners. They can vouch for your expertise and reliability. If possible, provide contact information for references who can offer further insights into your work. Real-world examples and endorsements can significantly enhance your proposal’s trustworthiness.

Outline Timelines and Deliverables

Clearly outline the timelines and deliverables associated with your proposal. Provide a detailed project plan that includes key milestones, deadlines, and responsibilities. This helps the recipient understand the project's scope and sets clear expectations for both parties. A well-defined timeline demonstrates your organizational skills and commitment to timely delivery.

Proofread for Clarity and Professionalism

Proofreading is a critical step in the proposal writing process. Ensure your proposal is free from grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies. Use clear and concise language to convey your message effectively. A professional-looking proposal reflects your attention to detail and enhances your credibility. Consider having a colleague review your proposal to catch any errors you might have missed.c

Additional Tips

• Structure Your Proposal Logically: Organize your proposal well and use a clear structure. Include sections such as an executive summary, introduction, body, and conclusion. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make it easy to navigate.
• Use Visuals: Add charts, graphs, and images to support your points. They will make your proposal look better. Visual aids can help clarify complex information and make your proposal more engaging.
• Tailor Each Proposal: Avoid using generic templates without customization. Tailor each proposal to the specific needs and preferences of the recipient. Personalization shows you have invested time and effort. You have done so in understanding their unique situation.

Writing a good business proposal is crucial. It is a key step in getting new opportunities and partnerships. You can streamline writing by following a structure. You can use tools like Wondershare PDFelement. They will enhance how you present your ideas. And, they will help you create compelling proposals that stand out. A professional proposal increases your chances of success and drives business growth. It's worth investing time and effort into creating one.

The European Green Deal

• Find out what progress the von der Leyen Commission has made so far with the European Green Deal towards becoming climate-neutral by 2050.

Striving to be the first climate-neutral continent

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Green Deal will transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, ensuring:

• no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050
• economic growth decoupled from resource use
• no person and no place left behind

The European Green Deal is also our lifeline out of the COVID-19 pandemic. One third of the €1.8 trillion  investments from the NextGenerationEU Recovery Plan, and the EU’s seven-year budget will finance the European Green Deal.

The European Commission has adopted a set of proposals to make the EU's climate, energy, transport and taxation  policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 , compared to 1990 levels. More information on  Delivering the European Green Deal .

Discover the European Green Deal visual story

12 March 2024 - The Commission has published a Communication on managing climate risks in Europe that sets out how the EU and its countries can implement policies that save lives, cut costs, and protect prosperity. It comes as a direct response to the first-ever European Climate Risk Assessment by the European Environment Agency. It also addresses the concerns that many Europeans have following last’s year record temperatures and extreme weather events. The Commission is calling for action from all levels of government, the private sector and civil society to improve governance and tools for climate risk owners, manage risks across sectors and set the right preconditions to finance climate resilience.

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