How to Write a Software Business Proposal That Gets Results
Many projects fail to receive the green light because they lack clarity and persuasiveness. This guide will teach you how to write a software business proposal that gets results.
Explain how your software solution will solve the prospect’s problem and why you are qualified to complete the project. Include case studies and testimonials to increase your credibility. Provide a pricing table to give the client options that fit their budget.
1. Executive Summary
A good executive summary can make or break a proposal. It’s a short, persuasive document that captures the client’s interest and makes them want to read the rest of the proposal or share it with other decision-makers.
It’s important to understand your client before you begin writing the executive summary. This could be as simple as a client discovery call or demo, or as in-depth as a series of meetings and conversations with different stakeholders.
Use your executive summary to explain the problem your clients are trying to solve, how they do it now, and how your proposed system will change that. Avoid using jargon or technical language unless your audience is very familiar with the problem domain. Your goal is to get them excited about your project, not confused and overwhelmed.
2. Project Summary
The project summary is a brief overview of the project that provides a high-level look at the client’s current situation, goals, and how you will address those with your software. This is also an opportunity to highlight any unique or differentiating factors that set you apart from competitors.
Describe the key functions that the software will perform and how it will directly impact business goals. This section can be a great place to use case study results graphs to make your point even more clear.
Include a project team breakdown if necessary. Be sure to include their names, responsibilities, and contact information. This will help ease any uncertainty for the client and will make it easier to determine which team member is responsible for which functional features.
3. Scope of Work
A scope of work, or statement of work (SOW), is one of the most detailed and important documents in a project. It outlines the tasks you’ll perform as agreed upon with your client and includes clear and precise definitions of the project’s deliverables and objectives.
A well-written scope of work will also help to prevent scope creep, which is when a project begins to take on more tasks than originally planned. Keeping your scope of work updated and in the forefront will allow you to quickly refer back to it and ensure all parties are on the same page. Once you’ve drafted your document, it’s usually a good idea to let it sit and read over a day or two before delivering it to your client.
4. Requirements
The software business proposal software should describe the client’s operational needs and what type of new software will help them resolve those issues. For example, if the client needs to increase efficiency, highlight how new software can reduce paperwork and data entry.
A brief explanation of the software’s functionality should be included in this section as well. This can help the client understand how your software will work for them, so they can make a decision quickly.
Finally, include a brief pricing table in your software business proposal. This will help clients understand how much they should expect to pay for your services. You should also consider adding a customizable quote feature to your proposal template so that you can automatically calculate pricing based on the client’s input.
5. Schedule
A schedule will detail the project milestones and components. It will also show your client how long it will take to get results from working together. This is especially important for projects that require a higher-up’s approval.
The timeline is an opportunity to showcase your ability to work quickly and efficiently. It’s also a great way to set your company apart from competitors.
It is helpful to track viewing metrics in your proposal writing software to ensure you are delivering the most impactful content. For example, if you find that your hands-off software access option closes at a lower rate than your custom implementation offer, you can use this insight to change your offering. This will improve your overall closing rate.
6. Pricing
Pricing is often one of the most challenging parts of a software business proposal. Setting your prices too low will attract clients, but won’t necessarily be profitable or help you scale.
It’s essential to have a clear, simple, and transparent pricing strategy that fits the needs of your software product. Pricing should include logical meters and be consistent with your services and client expectations.
Whether you’re offering a monthly retainer or an hourly rate, the final price section should be crystal clear. This helps clients understand what the project will cost and gives them a chance to ask any last questions before agreeing. To save time, you can also use a template or plugin for displaying pricing options. For example, Proposify makes it easy to add interactive fee tables for different options.
7. Contract
The contract section of your software business proposal outlines the terms and conditions that both parties agree to. The content in this section should be written carefully to ensure that both parties understand the scope of work and what’s required from each other.
Client discovery is the process of identifying the goals and needs of a potential customer. It involves multiple conversations, demos, and presentations with different stakeholders.
This example of a software proposal template does an excellent job of capturing the key information that leads to a sale in an easy-to-read and visually appealing format. It also features a well-designed table of contents to help the client navigate through the document quickly.