Business Proposal Writing: 15 Best Practices
Writing a Business Proposal for the first time can be difficult. To make this easier we’ve compiled this list of best practices for developing your next proposal. You can use this checklist to ensure that your next Proposal covers all the requirements and makes the right impression with the funding agency.
Business Proposal Writing Best Practices
Understanding of Requirements – confirm that you have addressed all the requirements as listed in the Request For Proposal and the supporting documents. Industry Knowledge - demonstrate awareness of the business sector and show this with relevant case studies and white papers that illustrate your knowledge. Reference Projects – give examples with the cost value, project length and core technologies used in for other projects. This gives the client more confidence that you have expertise in the areas they wanted addressed. Strategic Fit – Explain how the different methodologies align with the client’s procedures, strategy plan, and vision statement. Technical Requirements - show that you understand their technical requirements by addressing and responding to each requirement. Make sure to avoid clichés and answer each point so there is no ambiguity in your response. Confirmation – make sure that you agree to accept their procedures, practices and the conditions of the contract should you be awarded it. Proposed Solution – Show how the system you propose to develop will work by providing business scenarios and process maps. Screen Mockups – provide mockups of the main screens and other parts of the system with screenshots and wireframes. This helps the reader understand how the system will work by seeing a visual representation. Cross-reference – make sure you cross-reference all requirements against the RFP and to the site map if you use mockups. Warranty Period – one way to make the buyer feel more comfortable is to offer a warranty period so if any issues arise with the product/solution or services, you agree to fix them within this time period. Service Level Agreement – another way to reduce the buyer’s anxiety is to offer a Service Level Agreement (SLA) outlining how you will respond to these issues within agreed time periods. Project Management – State the expected project risks, High/Medium/Low impacts and the contingencies you will put in place. Change Control - Give an example of how you will deal with Change Control and the methods you will use to control documents, source code, and project materials. Percentage of Personnel - state the percentage of personnel allocated to the project, for example, 50% of your team for stage one, 75% of your team for stage two, 100% of your team for stage three. Client Resources – outline the human resources required from the client. Break it down by work-days. Don’t be ambiguous, for example, by saying there will be ‘an on-going need for access to staff’. Show the client when and where you will need access to their team members.
By: Ivan Walsh
About the Author:
Filed under Business by on Nov 18th, 2010. 