By Melinda Hill Sineriz Updated December 27, 2018
Writing a winning business proposal can be a critical part of expanding your business. An informal meeting with a potential new client sets the stage, but a thoughtful, personalized business proposal can help you seal the deal. As you craft your business proposal, two important areas to consider are the manpower requirements of the project and the operational requirements of the project. These areas will help inform the project deliverables, milestones and overall budget.
Writing a Business Proposal
The purpose of a business proposal is to win new business, so it should be written with sales in mind. Some industries have a specific template that’s commonly used, so if you’re uncertain of the correct format, connect with peers in your network to find out proposal specifics. In particular, federal and state governments bids may have specific requirements that you need to meet.
In general, business proposals have five to six sections. These include an introduction, an executive summary, details about the project, deliverables and project milestones, a breakdown of the budget for the project and the conclusion. In the introduction, you can provide a brief overview of your business and why it’s well-suited for this particular project. In the executive summary, you can provide an overview of the project itself. Next, give more details about the project, including your operational and manpower planning.
Your deliverables and project milestones can be spelled out in the simple table. Your budget breakdown can also be delivered in a table and should include your manpower proposal for the project. Overall, business proposals tend to be relatively short and easy-to-read.
Manpower Proposal Considerations
Before you write your business proposal, consider the manpower you’ll need for this project. Your manpower requirements definition may include managers, front-line employees and employees with special skill sets required for this project. Define the roles of each member of your proposed team and how they will interact with each other. Estimate how long it will take for each team member to complete their portion of the project. Use that estimate to determine your manpower costs, keeping in mind their salary, their employee benefits, payroll taxes and other costs associated with their employment.
When you address manpower requirements in your business proposal, you may not need to include this level of detail. This level of planning can help you develop an accurate budget, though. Be sure to include a cushion for unexpected costs such as overtime.
Operations Proposal Considerations
Your operational plan will influence several areas of your business proposal. For example, it will play a large role in the section where you spell out the details of your project. You may want to include a brief description of how your product is made, as well as your supply chain. You should also describe the quality control measures you have in place to ensure a high-quality product or service.
As you develop your project budget, keep in mind operational requirements such as the type of physical space you’ll need, any special equipment you will need to purchase, any special materials you’ll need to obtain, storage costs and delivery costs. You may not need to go into this level of detail in your proposed budget, but using a high level of detail for planning ensures a higher level of accuracy, which can help prevent cost overruns.
