Step 1: Write a brief summary.
An executive summary is a brief explanation of a project. It is used to get approval or support for the project. The executive summary should include the reason for undertaking the project, the methods for success, and what success will look like.
Step 2: Add some context about your experience with the similar projects.
Tell your client about your experience with similar projects. If you have never done this kind of project before, explain why you are doing it now. Show the reader how you have used what you learned from previous projects to make this project successful.
Step 3: Outline your needs.
The goal of a project proposal is to get approval from your client. Explain what you need to be successful, which could include resources, money, materials, and personnel.
Step 4: Showcase the problem you’re solving.
If you want to convince the client that your business can find the best solution to a problem, you should start by explaining what problem you aim to solve and why it is important. You should frame the problem as an opportunity, emphasizing that it is a potential market rather than just a hurdle. Finally, you should highlight any project management techniques, skillsets, and resources your company is bringing to the table.
Step 5: Frame a budget and timeline.
How long do you think this project will take? What milestones can you identify that, once achieved, will let you know the project is on track? Include an estimate of how much the project will cost to undertake and explain how and why you plan to spend that money.
Step 6: Define the decision-makers.
Clarify who the internal and external stakeholders are for a project. This is important so that people know who to contact if they want to partner with the business or learn more about the project.
Step 7: Lay out a communication plan.
How do you plan to communicate the impact of your project to your audience? If you have a marketing team, collaborate with them on this section to include any documentation, press releases, emails, ads, and social media campaigns.
Step 8: Finish with an additional information.
An appendix can be used to include additional information that may be of interest to the reader, but would bog down the proposal itself if included. This may be technical documentation or statistics, for example.
