Elements of the business proposal

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1. Guest1203
   

   Business proposals are sometimes lumped in the same category as competitive bids. But other analysts point out that proposals and especially unsolicited proposals, whether aimed at convincing a publisher to publish your new book idea or convincing an investor to take a look at a potential new business site are essentially designed to pique the interest of the prospective client. For this reason, such proposals often do not get into the nuts and bolts of compensation, time frame, and other matters. Competitive bids, on the other hand, provide detailed information on all aspects of the proposed business arrangement.
   Standard elements of basic business proposals include the following (although, depending on the degree of formality of the proposal, not all parts are always necessary):
   Cover Letter This should provide an over-view of your proposal as well as an introduction, if necessary, in which you include a brief synopsis of your company's background and qualifications.
   Title Page This part typically includes your name and the name of your company, the name of the person or company to whom the proposal is submitted, and the date of submission. "Some titles are one line long, occasionally two," commented Herta A. Murphy and Herbert W. Hildebrandt in Effective Business Communications. "Some even include a colon followed by words to clarify the thought. Clarity and comprehensiveness are dual criteria for a good proposal title."
   Table of Contents While usually not necessary for shorter proposals, these are sometimes used for big, formal proposals (such as request for proposals).
   Executive Summary This is the portion of the proposal where you make your case for a business arrangement. "This is the most important part of your proposal," said Sant. "It's the section that will be read by every decision maker. Make sure it's easy to read. Avoid technical jargon and technical details. Focus on organizational issues and benefits, and keep it short."
   Body/Procedures Section This is the section in which you place technical details and explanations, as well as information on price, implementation schedules, logistical and support issues, documentation, and training. Legal experts note that if the proposal is accepted, it can become a legally binding document. For this reason, and because of the length of time that is usually necessary to produce this section, writers of unsolicited proposals may wish to hold off on preparing this section unless the targeted person or company expresses interest in the basic proposal.

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