From prospect to profit: the best Sales proposal template toolkit

What is a sales proposal ?

Sales proposal: definition

If you’re a new salesperson and your prospect asked you for a sales proposal, first, congratulations ! You're on the brink of closing your first client! ! But now, as you’re here, either you’re trying to know what a sales proposal is or you're looking for an actual sales proposal ! In both cases, I’ve got you covered !

A sales proposal is a document in which a company outlines a proposed solution to a prospective client's problem or need. It presents different aspects such as the detailed procedure, the timeline, the pricing… Crafting a good sales proposal is essential to convince the prospect and close the deal ! 

What are the functions of a sales proposal ?

A sales proposal has different functions:

• Formalizing methodology: A sales proposal is used to formalize the approach that the company will take to address the client's problem. The process must be clearly explained to help the client understand the solution.

• Scope of Work: The scope of work is an important part of a sales proposal. This section outlines the specific tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities of both the company and the client to ensure alignment and clarity.

• Timeline: A sales proposal includes a timeline that outlines the expected schedule for delivering the proposed solution. 

• Pricing: One of the main utilities of a sales proposal is to clearly present the pricing of the solution. The detail of the price must be included, with the different conditions and potential discounts and promotions.

• Terms and Conditions: A sales proposal includes terms and conditions that are inherent to the execution of the proposed solution. This may include payment terms, warranties, service level agreements, intellectual property rights, and other contractual obligations.

• Client Benefits and ROI: A top sales proposal includes a section presenting the benefits that the client will receive from implementing the proposed solution and demonstrates the return on investment (ROI) that they can expect. It can be illustrated with other clients' testimonials for instance. It’s a very important section as it helps convince the prospect of the value of your solution ! 

How to build a strong sales proposal ?

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Make a strong first impression

For a top sales proposal, the first impression is crucial. That’s why you should start your proposal with an attention-grabbing title that will put the prospect in good dispositions. Follow this with a clear and succinct introduction that outlines the purpose of the proposal in 1 or 2 sentences. Personalize the proposal to the individual client, addressing them by name and referencing specific details about their business or industry.

Use storytelling

To make your sales proposal captivating, storytelling is key. For good storytelling, you can add a “Company Background” section to your sales proposal. In this section, you can briefly share your value proposition and introduce your key management. By doing that, you establish credibility and trust with the client. 

Storytelling is also a very good way to show your clients that your company is different from the competition. For that, you can highlight specific achievements, innovations, or awards that demonstrate your company's expertise. 

Present your solution as the best

Remember the objective of sending a sales proposal: convincing your client. For that, you need to present your solution as the best to solve your client’s needs. 

Incorporating client testimonials and case studies is a good way to do so. Client testimonials reassure the client by offering evidence of your solution's effectiveness, while case studies provide real-world examples of successful implementations. 

Give as many details as possible

When presenting your solution in a sales proposal, it's essential to provide as much detail as possible to give the client a clear understanding of what to expect and to demonstrate your professionalism.

A sales proposal must include a detailed description of your solution, including its features, functionality, and how it addresses the client's specific needs or challenges. A good practice is to break down the solution into different parts, with each part addressing one need (or a partial need) and bringing value to the client. The scope of work must be clear and outline the tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities of each party.

To be as specific as possible, your sales proposal should also contain a realistic timeline for the implementation of the solution. Here, you can describe the estimated timeframe of each step of your process and include key milestones and deliverables. 

Details about the impact of your solution are also crucial to convince your client. Here, using performance metrics is impactful as it shows your client how it will improve its performance. The idea is also to give an estimation of the potential evolution of these performance metrics, to highlight the value of the solution (cost savings, revenue growth…).

Be transparent

To make the best sales proposal, one of the most important things is to be transparent. 

The pricing section needs to be clear and include different plans to offer various options to the client and fit different needs and budgets. The final price must be broken down to explain clearly where it comes from (each service has a price)

The terms and conditions section must be clearly stated to fix the rules of the collaboration. By transparently mentioning factors such as payment schedules, project timelines, and responsibilities of both parties, you establish the foundations for a solid collaboration.

An actual sales proposal template, usable now !

Now that you know exactly what to include in your sales proposal, here is a template for you! Use it as a basis and modify it as needed using the previous section.

How Claap helps you increase sales

Claap helps you write sales proposal

Claap is an audio and video transcription tool. And it also records your meetings so it’s the perfect meeting companion !

It means that you don’t have to take notes anymore during your meetings ! And if you’re not sure of something, you can just check again by watching the meeting recording ! This is how it can help you with your sales proposal: an hesitation on something your client mentioned ? You can check the transcript of the meeting written by Claap. It takes 1 minute and it saves you from having to ask the client and potentially making a bad impression. You can even look at the summary generated by Claap to directly spot important elements to highlight in the sales proposal !

In short, Claap is a must-have for your sales proposals. But also because it changes your life as a salesperson. You can test Claap’s features for free for 14 days. Start now, and see the increased productivity it brings to your team. You'll realize its value far exceeds its cost ! (Free plan with no credit card required)

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