Small business owners, solopreneurs and freelancers in any industry must be able to make the perfect proposal. Good business proposal ideas can mean the difference between bringing in new business and falling behind.
To succeed your business needs a regular stable of clients. But sometimes, old clients may not throw you as much business as usual. Submitting high-quality and persuasive proposals to prospects is the key to keeping your doors open as a small business. That's what makes the best business proposals successful.
Business proposals are absolutely essential to your success. They've got the power to land you new clients and projects that'll take your brand and income to new heights.
The strength of a solid proposal also rests on how your proposal looks and how you present it. A professional business proposal template will help you land a new client project and close the deal.
In this article, you'll see top business proposal ideas from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver to help you craft the story of your next venture. There's plenty of creative business proposal ideas to check out.
The Best Business Proposal Templates on Envato Elements (With Unlimited Use)
You can find thousands of the best Business Proposal templates on Envato Elements, with a great offer: download as many as you want for one low price.
Each of the many proposal templates from Envato Elements has hundreds of creative proposal options. While feature-rich, they're also quick and easy to work with.
Customize your inspiring business proposal ideas. Present your business proposal format with style and clarity to potential clients. Each page tells your story—helping you change minds, influence key decisions makers, and make deals. Choose the best proposal templates for your project's direction—visually, narratively, and for your audience.
These ready-to-use, creative multi-page proposal templates have unique page designs and great visuals. Create a professional and polished first impression with pre-built proposal template pages to showcase your:
- important business concepts
- key data with charts and graphs
- professional brand images
- creative business ideas
- products and services
Working with a business proposal template can also save you time. Saving time can, in turn, prove to be cost effective. Browse a gallery of innovative business proposal ideas, then customize your favorite to meet your goals.
Add your inspirational business proposal ideas, creative graphics, and key data to these already impactful Photoshop, Illustrator, Word, or InDesign templates. Quickly prep your proposal layouts with your custom info. And you're ready to print that crucial proposal that'll move your new client.
5+ Business Proposal Template Inspiration (New From Envato Elements 2021)
Here are a handful of the best business project proposal templates (with professional proposal page designs for presenting your inspiring proposal ideas) that are trending on Envato Elements. Download one today or enjoy this collection of creative business proposal ideas:
1. Business Proposal Format - With Creative Layout Designs
Clean creative minimalism and sharpness dominate the impression one gets when reading through this amazing project proposal template. It's good for professional-looking business proposals that'll help get you more new clients. It features well-organized content presentation for easy readability.
A multipurpose portrait format creative business proposal or brochure. It's got 30 proposal template pages A4 and US letter sizes with strong typography. It's got creative proposal layouts that you can customize quickly. Just drop in your own images and texts, and it’s ready. Free fonts called Roboto and icons were used.
2. Minimal - Professional Business Project Proposal Design
This minimal and simple business proposal format template is suitable for all business types and professional proposal needs. It's created in Adobe InDesign and comes with 20 pages, two paper sizes including US Letter and International A4. It uses elegant and free fonts, Raleway and Sora Regular were used. Extra invoice and contract template are also used to give a very nice, standardized look to your business.
3. CorpoBiz - Business and Corporate Company Profile
CorpoBiz is a great creative business proposal template. It's perfectly designed for annual reports, company profiles, project proposals, offers, presentations. It's made for architectural studios, creative agency, technology presentations and many other types of creative business proposals.
This is a fully editable template. It lets you to use different fonts, colors, and backgrounds to design great business proposal cover pages and interior pages fast. Put your photos in this set of proposal layout designs and promote your business. It’s that quick and easy!
4. Project Proposal - Creative Business Proposal Template
An ideal 40-page complete project proposal template. Even change the background color according to your needs, with its easy customization and editable creative proposal layout features. Paragraph style and character styles included. This is one of the best InDesign proposal templates. It comes in both A4 and Letter size.
5. Legowo - Modern InDesign Business Proposal Template
Legowo Business Proposal is a simple and clean 18 pages template that looks great in black and white. Its creative proposal design is organized with layers and text that are fully editable. From proposal cover page design to portfolio page styles, and many inner page layouts, this proposal has you covered. Perfect if you're looking for a multipurpose proposal template that's modern and professional.
6. Proposal - Booklet-Style Creative Proposal Design
Go landscape and stand out from the rest by leaving a lasting first impression. This is a 28 paged professional editable InDesign proposal template file with well-organized layers. Use this creative proposal design template to get your next project proposal created quickly with a beautiful booklet style layout.
Envato Elements (Design Without Limits)
Envato Elements has a single compelling (all inclusive) offer:
Sign up for Envato Elements. You'll get access to thousands of creative graphics and templates (with unlimited use), from web themes to project proposal templates, and more—all for one low price.
That’s right! Download as many creative templates and graphics as you want, then customize them to fit any of your project needs. Download all the best proposal templates for your project, with no added fees.
Envato Elements is a powerful option. But if you prefer to buy new Business Proposal templates one at a time (instead of getting unlimited access to hundreds of creative proposal designs), check out the selection from our GraphicRiver marketplace below.
30+ Best Business Project Proposal Templates (From Envato Market 2021)
The right project proposal can make the difference between getting the client project you want and missing out on great business opportunities. The best business proposals are in tune with the target audience.
We've got many professionally designed business proposal templates on Envato Market as well, such as these trending best-sellers below:
Discover the best business proposal template examples that are trending on Envato Market in 2021. They've got multi-page designs covering all the components needed to make a polished project proposal. There are so many creative business proposals to choose from.
Browse through these proposal designs for lots of creative business proposal ideas. Or quickly use of one from this set to make a great impression on new clients, which leads to landing better projects and generating more sales.
1. Clean Business Proposal Template
Use this clean business proposal template for any type of proposal and in any industry. The template uses image placeholders so you can easily share prototypes, portfolio pieces, and photos of your company or a team. The template has 29 pages in total, is print-ready, and was designed in A4 format.
2. Project Proposal Template
If you’re looking for a clean and professional project proposal, this template will come in handy. The template has a simple design with 40 unique pages to present all the important information about the project. On top of that, this template comes with matching invoice and resume. Edit this template in InDesign and Word.
3. Simple Creative Business Proposal Design Template
Here’s a modern project proposal template with a bold and colorful design. This template is a great choice if you want to make sure your proposal stands out from others. The template has plenty of space to include all the important details about a project as well as image placeholders. Edit this template in InDesign.
4. Win Business Proposal Template
Win Business Proposal template has a colorful and professional proposal cover. Easily add any image you want by dragging and dropping the photo into the image placeholder. This template is great for anyone looking for a colorful business proposal template. There's also a black and white version of this template if you don't want a colorful business proposal. This template is print ready and designed for A4 paper.
5. Business Proposal Design Template
This creative proposal template is an excellent choice for a wide variety of professional areas. It's easy to open this template up, add your content, and have a completed, professional business proposal design. Or use this creative proposal template to jump start your design process.
The template is fully editable. So, make all the changes and adjustments you'd like. Work with the included design or push it in a new direction. The choice is yours.
6. Creative Proposal Template
If you're looking for a company proposal design with stylish flare, look no further. The angular look brings a creative, interesting aesthetic that could work with a wide variety of photos and graphics.
While the colors here are a trendy match, you can also easily edit them. Just jump into Adobe InDesign and change the colors in the established swatches. It makes customizing this template a breeze. Not sure how? Check out the included help documentation.
7. Priority Business Proposal Template
Priority Business Proposal Template is easily customizable and has 18 pages. This template is great for any clients who are visual. Every page has a placeholder where you can drag and drop the image of your choice into place. This template also comes with icons to help you get your point across or make information stand out.
8. Minimal Business Proposal Template
Minimal business proposal template has a minimalistic proposal design. This template has 20 pages and comes in two different sizes US letter and A4 paper size. Use this template in Adobe InDesign. Easily add or delete pages to customize the template.
This template includes:
- testimonials
- an offer letter
- a project timeline
- a project breakdown
- a project schedule invoice
- a contract
- and more.
Easily customize the color to whatever color suits your needs.
9. Lucid Business Proposal Template
Lucid Business Proposal template is an Adobe InDesign template. This business proposal template design comes with 26 pages. This gives you room to write all the information needed into the template. The template also comes in four premade color schemes. Easily add any image you'd like by dragging and dropping the image of your choice into the placeholder. This template is print ready and come in US letter size.
10. Company Proposal Design
This business proposal template includes 18 versatile pages that you can mix and match. It includes both INDD and IDML files. This means it's a great fit for the latest version of Adobe InDesign. But it'll also work with older versions of InDesign (CS4+) as well as some versions of Affinity Designer.
Use the included swatches to easily experiment with the color scheme. Whether you're confident of the design direction you're looking for or you're open to experimenting, this business proposal design has a lot to offer.
11. Red Project Creative Proposal Template
A multi-page document is a perfect deliverable when you're giving a business proposal. It gives visitors and potential investors a "take home" document that they can review and read long after your big day is over.
With 30 different layouts, there's no shortage of creative proposal design concepts that you can draw from in one convenient package. This InDesign template has well-defined columns and structure that makes it easy to add your content. With this package, you'll build out your company proposal in less time than you ever thought possible.
12. Clean Company Proposal Design
An annual report is one of those critical documents that companies issue year after year. It helps recap the year that was just completed and chart the course for the year ahead.
But as you can see in this template, an annual is more than just data tables and statistics. It's a narrative about the company because it leaves plenty of room for storytelling. This template is the perfect way to blend your results and data with a well-articulated narrative about where your company is going.
13. Creative Project Proposal Template
There's 24 pages in this beautifully crafted business proposal design. It's easy to edit and add your content.
Love the design, but you're not too sold on the color? Jump into Adobe InDesign and change the color scheme with minimal clicks. There's even help documentation included to help walk you through the process.
This one could be a time saving solution. Not only that—keep in mind that those included 24 pages can be used and applied in many ways.
14. Professional InDesign Business Proposal Template
This creative business proposal design template is just what you need when you’re trying to land new client projects. It's a top-selling template that'll come in handy for the ambitious entrepreneur who is trying to land their dream client or big project.
It's full of neat organization and an easy-to-read column layout. This template ensures that your proposal’s selling points jump right out at your clients. It features:
- 12 proposal template pages
- is print-ready
- comes with InDesign INDD graphic files
- six predefined color themes
- and free fonts
15. Suisse Style - Business Proposal Layout Design
Proposal templates like this smart choice can increase your chances of working with that dream client that you always wanted. It's a professional-looking and sleek presentation. It'll command your prospects’ attention and give your proposal the time and respect that it deserves.
This 16-page template features four unique color variations along with Microsoft Word, Photoshop and InDesign files. With its generous use of white space and minimalist approach to text formatting layouts, the Suisse Style Microsoft Word proposal template is sure to make your business proposal come across favorably.
16. Creative Project Proposal Design Template
Good for creative businesses like solopreneurs and freelancers, this awesome proposal template was created in Apple Pages, Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign. Available in both Letter and A4 sizes, this Microsoft Word proposal template features customizable fonts and colors. So, you can improve it to exactly match your brand’s personality and style language.
It's a fully layered template, that contains multi-grid columns for easy reading and a clean design. There are plenty of page styles to work with, form engaging proposal cover page designs to a diverse mix of internal layouts. Copy is arranged in legible paragraph styles for maximum reading retention.
17. Persuasive Project (Word + InDesign) Proposal Template
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An ideal graphic design business proposal template for small business owners and creative entrepreneurs always looking to expand their client base. It's sharp, well-designed, and is packed with many components that'll help your proposal persuade professionally.
Featuring 36 pages and 8.5 by 11-inch print dimensions, this Microsoft Word proposal template will grab the attention of leads, prospects and future business collaborators with its stylish and vibrant content layout and presentation. This is a must for any serious entrepreneur. It comes with InDesign INDD graphic files and was designed for Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign.
18. The Business Plan InDesign Proposal Template
The Business Plan Proposal InDesign template gives any proposal you present to new clients the immediate credibility of professionalism. A modern, clean and creative business proposal template, it comes in both A4 and US Letter sizes. It features 24 custom proposal template pages in all (with great interior and proposal cover page designs) and shows readers a six-column grid layout that makes for easy reading and retention.
Rest assured that you’re always going to be in control of your brand identity, as this template is completely customizable in both text and colors. Freely use this template for any industry proposal.
19. 40 Pages Project Proposal Format Template Set
As far as Microsoft Word proposal templates go, a multi-page proposal set is one that makes any attempt to secure a lead more efficient than ever. With its clean and smartly designed layout, it helps your clients to focus their eyes on the important details of your proposal. This puts your most salient points to be in the front of their minds.
Featuring vibrant splashes of color for effective contrast, this Microsoft Word proposal template is a winner no matter what the emphasis of your proposal. It's fully editable in Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, and Illustrator.
20. Business Brief - Creative Proposal Template Design
This stellar business proposal template example is very refreshing. It puts the concise focus on presenting to your leads and prospective clients. Other templates rely on lots of proposal template pages to help you showcase your idea’s strengths and creativity to clients. But the Business Brief Proposal Template goes in completely the opposite direction.
Featuring just four pages, this creative proposal design lets you focus on the most important initiatives. Get right to your point quickly. Available in both A4 and US Letter sizes, this document is ideal for creative proposals related to web design, marketing, SEO and graphic design, among others.
21. Professional Business Proposal Design
If you need a standout business proposal cover page, with a variety of creative interior proposal page designs, then it’s time to use a professional template. With 24 proposal template pages bursting full of grids, columns, charts and table layouts, this full proposal package packs a lot of value into one template for the price.
This makes it ideal for presenting longer and more detailed projects to your prospective clients. They'll surely appreciate the extra information that you can pack into one proposal. Perfect for small business owners, entrepreneurs and freelancers alike, this business template includes InDesign INDD graphic files.
22. Overlay - Creative Proposal Format Template Designs
This 28-page document is perfect for bringing exciting proposals to your clients for approval or collaboration. Its simple-yet-effective business proposal design means that you've got full control over the final proposal, thanks to the editable text and color swatches in the template.
Its appearance is very well-organized with a 12-column grid and a six-point baseline grid. This product comes with vector infographics, master pages, character and paragraph styles. It's compatible with Adobe InDesign CS4 through CS6.
Make a proposal cover page design that stands out quickly and fill your business proposal with engaging page layouts.
23. Multipurpose Design - Business Proposal Template
This useful, 24-page business document is just what small business owners need to present persuasive proposals to new clients. Its layered and grid-based layout ensures that your presentation’s most vital takeaways are easily seen and retained by your readers.
It features a color scheme based on contrast to highlight the most important content. This multipurpose graphic design Business Proposal example is also compatible with Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign. It's print-ready and allows you to customize colors with only one click.
24. Divided Proposal Template - With Creative Design
This lovely and creative business proposal allows you to let your brand’s colors shine, thanks to its customization options. The swatch palette lets you adjust the color values to your brand’s own. This gives your business proposal format template a level of personalization that lets new clients know you’re a serious player. Quickly customize your business proposal cover page and interior pages with unique designs.
With four distinct cover color versions, this business template features InDesign INDD graphic files that drastically increase your chances of winning the job you want. It comes with a 12-column grid, US Letter, and A4 sizes, and uses free fonts.
25. The Proposal - Flexible Business Template Set
This 20-page custom document features completely editable text, objects, and colors. This makes it a very versatile template to use to land the job that you want. Impress your future clients with a well-written and well-presented business proposal example that highlights your small business’ unique selling proposition.
Thanks to its grid layout, your clients can efficiently scan the relevant information with ease. Its well-organized presentation lets you chunk content to allow readers to pick out the most important info.
26. Best Business Proposal Template Bundle
The strength of any persuasive and memorable business proposal lies as much in its presentation as it does in its writing. This spectacular business proposal template features a clean, minimalistic and well-organized layout. It empowers your readers to see and absorb the most relevant stats, facts, and information in your presentation.
Entrepreneurs will love the flexibility and customizability of this creative proposal design. You'll want to use it to design for all their new-client proposals. Make your business proposal cover page and interior pages stand out distinctly. It comes with more than one design in this stylish bundle.
27. Creative Project Proposal Template
Check out this business proposal template. This is just a sample of the classy layouts included in this download. There's 16 to choose from, and you can mix, match, and customize them any way you like. This means, there's endless possibilities, especially if you know you need a longer company proposal design.
The best proposal templates are often the most versatile ones. Think about the many ways you could remix this, especially if you know you'll need a different multi-page document in the future. This design could serve many of your design needs.
28. Creative Proposal Template Design
If you like a stylish pop of color, check out this creative proposal template. It's easy to change the color scheme to match your branding. This download also includes help files, to help you jump right in and get started.
Edit the 12 included pages in Adobe InDesign today. It's a great fit for so many projects. Or use it to jump start your design process. Edit this one today to push it in your own direction.
29. Business Proposal Template III
Business Proposal Template III has 24 Unique pages to add your business proposal ideas in. This template is easily customizable with an unlimited number of color schemes and you can easily add or remove pages from the template. Edit this template in Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Word. This template design is great for anyone looking for a template that's simple and easily customizable.
30. Creative Business Proposals Template
This is just a sample of 16 beautifully designed pages in this business proposal template. It's such a versatile design too. Add your images, change the colors, and customize this design to make it work for you. It uses free fonts and includes a file for Adobe InDesign. If you're looking for an InDesign proposal template, this one is worth a look.
31. Creative Proposal Design
Creative Proposal Template has an easy to use proposal layout. This business proposal template has 36 pages. Customize this proposal to any color that would suit your business needs.
This template comes with many layouts that you can customize to suit your needs. It's simple and great for anyone looking for a simple design for their business proposal template.
32. Creative Proposal Designs Template
Choose from 20 professionally designed pages in this business proposal design. The angled aesthetic is trendy while still remaining versatile. Try to imagine this one in the colors that match your professional brand.
That's one of the best things about working with a business proposal template. You get a head start on the design process, but you also have the power and flexibility of making the design your own.
33. Business Proposal Design Template
This stylish creative project proposal template is a versatile choice. It comes with files for both Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Word. This makes it a convenient choice, especially if you aren't sure which software you'd like to work with yet. It also has defined color swatches. This makes it easier than ever to edit this template. Just jump in and change the color theme within the swatches, rather than doing so manually.
How to Use a Proposal Design Template to Create a Professional Business Proposal
A project proposal templates for Envato Elements and GraphicRiver can be easily customized. Use the steps below to customize the proposal templates for your own needs:
1. How to Replace the Logo
For this project, I'll be using the Project Proposal template from Envato Elements. Here's what this project proposal cover page looks like without any changes. I'll be making the changes in Microsoft Word.
Remove the logo that comes with the template and add your own company's logo. Start by selecting the logo. You'll know that the logo is selected by the handles that surround the unwanted logo.
Once you're sure that the logo that you don't want is selected hit Delete on your keyboard next you want to go into the tool bar and select Insert. Next select Pictures. Depending on where your picture is saved select either Photo Browser or Picture From File. Then select the image that you want to use as your logo.
2. How to Change the Text
This is what this Table of Contents and opening pages look like without any changes.
To change the default text, highlight it. After the default text is highlighted, press Delete on your keyboard. Then type what you want to say.
3. How to Move an Object
I'll be using the same pages that I used for the step above. To select an object, click on it. Handles will appear surrounding the object. Once you've selected the object, drag it to where you want it.
lmportant Pages for Designing Great Proposals
Once you've found the perfect proposal template, customize it to match your business brand. Make sure that it's got the most important pages in place, so your proposal looks polished and professional. Let’s go over the most important pages that your proposal should include. For the purposes of this tutorial, I’ll be using the Proposal template from Envato Elements:
The Business Proposal Template features an elegant and classic design. It includes 20 proposal template pages along with the invoice template.
1. Cover Page
The first page your proposal should have is the cover page. This is the perfect opportunity to set the tone for your proposal and introduce potential partners and investors to your brand. It’s your chance to present your business in the best possible light with professional typography and imagery that reflects your brand.
2. About Page
Your proposal should include the about page that shares information about your company history. This allows potential partners to get to know you. Take it a step further and include your values or your mission statement.
3. Project Proposal and Timeline
The main part of your proposal should be the details of the project along with a proposed timeline. Use this section to show potential clients or partners that you understand their problem and then outline the solution.
4. Terms
Don’t forget to include the terms to ensure both you and your potential client, partner or investor are protected. You'll want to include details that explain legal responsibilities as well as payment terms.
5. Contact or Next Steps
Finally, finish off your business proposal with a business proposal page that outlines what the next steps are. You can also share your contact information with a headline that tells them to contact you to move forward with the project.
5 Creative Business Proposal Ideas (To Make Better Proposals Quickly)
Although presentation counts, as you saw with these proposal templates, that’s not the only thing that matters. Even with these stellar business proposal templates, the content is still critical to success, and that’s up to you to create. The best business proposal template still needs top notch content.
Here are a few handy creative business proposal ideas to write and design the perfect project proposals:
1. Relate to Your New Client by Describing Their Situation
Describe the current situation or problem that your prospective client is facing. If, for example, your new client is a company looking for a better-designed website to raise conversion rates, start your proposal by identifying what challenges they’re facing.
2. Explain How You’re Going to Solve Their Problem
Be a problem solver. Outline your objective and method for addressing your prospective client’s problem and how you’re going to solve it for them. In the above example, maybe there hasn’t been enough A/B testing to determine what page design iterations works and which don’t. You could potentially offer this as part of your strategy to tackle their poorly converting site.
3. Detail the Cost and Time Involved
No client enjoys coming in over-budget for any job or project. But all clients appreciate knowing exactly how much time and money they can expect for this specific project. Spell out the timeline of when and how you’ll do what with the best estimate.
- Are you going to interview your clients at the start of next month to figure out where their site is losing money?
- Will you begin wireframing your redesign iteration shortly thereafter?
4. Finish Confidently to Make the Sale
Here’s your chance to persuade your prospective client by convincing them that they should choose your proposal over others. Highlight successful projects you’ve completed for other clients in the past and don’t be shy about pointing out your strengths.
5. Use Professional Proposal Layout Designs
Use proposal template designs that feature what your business does best. You want each page crafted to tell your business story with a clear narrative, creative elements that highlight key pieces of information, and page design formats that complement your points.
5 Quick Business Proposal Design Tips for Better Results in 2021
Coming up with proposal design ideas? Or maybe you've found the perfect company proposal design, and now you're looking to make it your own. Check out these design tips to help you craft the best business proposals for your project goals:
1. Observe Proposal Layout Ideas
There can be a lot of value in taking the time to observe existing proposal designs. Visual research is often an essential part of the design process. This isn't simply about checking out the best business proposal ideas in an attempt to mimic them. Instead, it's about understanding why they're so successful. Take some time to check out proposal design ideas. What's on trend? What works really well?
Is it an interesting use of color or shape? Think about what makes the design memorable or engaging to you. Then, also consider why it might appeal to the target audience in question. Remember, the best business proposal template is the one that appeals best to the target audience and project objectives. This doesn't mean it's just "pretty." The design choices are relevant to the project.
Looking for more proposal template ideas? Check out these design collections for some of the best proposal layout ideas and other design concepts:
Proposals20 Creative Business Proposal Ideas for Better Sales in 2021
Proposals35+ Best Business Proposal Templates Ideas For New Client Projects in 2020
2. Consistency Makes for a Professional Look
A business proposal design should look related, from page to page. This means, as we browse through the proposal, it feels like a continuous, cohesive presentation.
Imagine flipping through a proposal and each page looked wildly different. It would feel visually jarring, almost like a different proposal or brand. Instead, use key elements to establish that this is one continuous presentation. That consistency can make for a very professional look and feel.
Check out the premium design example below. What consistent elements do you see? There's the color yellow, repeated square elements, and consistent use of the same fonts across many pages. The footer remains consistent too.
3. But Professional Doesn't Mean "Boring"
There's such a thing as too consistent. We don't want to bore our readers. A business proposal design should engage and excite readers. If every page looked exactly the same, things might be so repetitive that interest is lost. The best proposal designs meet in the middle on this.
So, how do we find a balance between mixing things up and keeping things consistent? One great example is color. For example, if we use consistent colors across pages, it can act as a unifying element. Fonts are another excellent example. Stick with the same font combinations throughout your proposal designs. Then, this opens the opportunity to explore and create variations in other areas—like the layout design itself.
4. Less Is Often Much More
Design can be really fun. It's easy to get carried away. But keep in mind that too much "stuff" is often just that: too much. This applies to all parts of your creative proposal template. For example, if the writing is long winded and confusing, it may not be comfortable or engaging to read. If the design is cluttered and overwhelming, it may be hard on the eyes or difficult to navigate.
Don't be afraid of "breathing room" in your design (often referred to as "negative space" in design theory). If some parts of your design are "empty" this can be a great thing. Think about margins, for example. That space helps keep content visually comfortable on the page.
5. Complement Your Branding
It's easy to get wrapped up in bells and whistles when checking out creative business proposals. Remember, just because a design looks great doesn't mean it's the perfect fit for your business or project. Keep your branding in mind. What colors, aesthetic, and tone work with your established brand identity?
When searching for or customizing a business proposal template, keep in mind how it'll work with your brand. That'll play a large role in its visual success.
Best Business Proposal Ideas and Trends for 2021
When you're brainstorming proposal template ideas, it's a great idea to do some visual research. Maybe the best proposal templates for your project are minimalist and clean. Or maybe you prefer creative business proposals that take an unconventional approach. What would be best for your company proposal design?
Check out these creative business proposal ideas that are trendy in 2021. Enjoy the proposal design ideas and consider downloading one today.
1. Minimalism Is a Stylish Choice With Solid Principles
The best proposal layout ideas have generous white space. If your layout is too cramped, then it becomes cluttered and harder to read. This can vary, especially in some of the more unconventional, creative business proposals. But regardless of the aesthetic, the best proposal templates make sure not to clutter up the space.
When it comes to trendy proposal layout ideas that really push this concept, check out a minimalist look. Clean, classy design can be very stylish and sophisticated. Check out this inspiring design. It's a great example, as each page has a different layout, but they all generously apply "empty" space.
2. Choose Your Delivery Methods Wisely
It's easy to get so caught up in aesthetics and visual proposal layout ideas that you may not have thought much about your delivery methods. Is print the best way for your brand? It's not the only way to deliver your proposal.
Nowadays, most of us spend a significant amount of time on a device of some kind. Will you make a digital version of your proposal available? Will this totally replace a printed one for you or complement it? It's more and more popular with each passing year to make your content digital and mobile friendly. Consider the platform that's best for your audience.
3. Your Brand Is Unique and Your Style Should Be Too
Look for creative business proposal ideas relative to your niche. So, for example, if you're in the restaurant industry, take some time to not only look at your competition, but your entire industry as a whole. What design trends are most prevalent? This might really vary within different industries, like technology's design trends.
You don't have to cling to a general corporate look. Look at magazines, brochures, websites, and other media, but remember to be true to your brand's guidelines as well.
4. Try Using Contrast and Eye Catching Typography
Contrast is an awesome way to command attention. The more contrast a design element hands, the more it stands out. For example, in the layout below, notice how the white part is really eye catching. This is because this background is a stark contrast against the darker parts of the composition.
You can also use type to create interest. Larger type, like titles and headlines, is a great fit for display type (or larger, more decorative fonts). Choose fonts that work with your branding and are legible, too.
5. Try Mixing up the Shapes in Your Layout Design
When coming up with proposal layout ideas, it can be easy for things to start looking "blocky". Try mixing things up by adding fun diagonals, overlapping shapes, or even cut outs. Check out the example creative proposal template below. There are some slanted corners added here to add some visual interest to the composition.
You can push this idea in many ways, like overlapping shapes, rounded corners, and more. Remember not to go overboard, but a little bit of variety can help make your layout more interesting.
Where to Find the Best Proposal Templates in 2021 (Envato Elements vs GraphicRiver)
Whether you go to Envato Elements or GraphicRiver, one thing is clear. Both marketplaces have stunning proposal templates. So how do you know if you should use Envato Elements or GrapicRiver? And what makes each marketplace special?
1. Key Benefits of Envato Elements
Envato Elements is a subscription-based marketplace with a compelling offer. For a low monthly fee, download unlimited modern proposal templates and other design assets.
Download as many proposal templates as you need, edit them to fit the needs of your project, and use them as many times as you want. Besides proposal templates, Envato Elements also has plenty of other design assets, such as fonts, add-ons, icons, stock photos, and more.
2. Key Benefits of GraphicRiver (& Envato Market)
If you’d rather buy individual business proposal templates, then check out GraphicRiver. It's part of Envato Market suite of online marketplaces that'll cover all your digital asset needs.
Whenever you need to find a proposal template quickly, head on over to GraphicRiver and buy an attractive and modern proposal template.
Your Choice (What’s Right for You?)
If you’re a small business owner or an entrepreneur who needs digital assets on an ongoing basis, Envato Elements is the best choice, hands down. Sign up for Envato Elements now.
But, if you need a single proposal template or another file type to download right now, then head over to GraphicRiver (or another Envato Market site) to download proposals and other design assets one-at-a-time.
Common Business Proposal Questions Answered (FAQ)
Maybe you're brainstorming the best business proposal ideas for your project, or you've got some introductory questions. No matter how familiar you think you are when it comes to business proposals, there’s always more to learn. Here are a few common questions about business proposals:
1. What Should a Business Proposal Include?
How you write a business proposal will depend on the type of proposal you’re writing. Generally speaking, your proposal should include:
- a title page
- acknowledgement of the problem
- your proposed solution
- deliverables
- timeline
- pricing
- information about your company
- any relevant case studies
- and next steps
2. What Are Different Types of Proposals?
There are several different types of proposals including:
- formally solicited
- informally solicited
- unsolicited
- renewal
- and supplemental proposal
While it's a great idea to consider creative business proposal ideas, think about what type of proposal you need and what that includes. Even the very best proposal designs clearly design what they are and their purpose.
3. What Software Can I Use to Create a Proposal?
You can use InDesign, Microsoft Word, Illustrator, and Photoshop to design your proposal. Both Envato Elements and GraphicRiver have plenty of proposal templates that can be edited with one of these programs. Here's a tutorial to help you create proposals in Word:
4. How Do I Show Various Data in a Proposal?
Use charts, infographic elements, bars, and graphs to help your clients visualize the data. Here's a tutorial with proposal design tips to get you started:
5. How Can I Customize a Proposal Template?
Customize a proposal by changing colors, fonts, images, adding your logo, and through using your brand assets.
Keep in mind that you can push this much further. Innovative business proposal ideas need experimentation. Take the best business proposal template you can find and turn it into your personal masterpiece. Think of it like a design head start. Use a creative proposal template to jump start your process or create something new.
6. Where Can I Find Business Proposal Ideas?
There are so many places to find proposal template ideas. Whether you're looking to create proposal designs from scratch or you're looking to customize one, try creating a collection of assets. This means saving the best business proposal ideas so you can observe them and narrow down what works best for your project.
Here's some resources, to help you start your search for the business proposal ideas. There are even freebies you can download today!
Proposals18+ Free Marketing Business Proposal Template Examples to Download 2020
Marketing15+ Best Free Simple Business Project Proposals Templates (2021 Format)
More Business Proposal Resources
Looking for more proposal design ideas? Or maybe you're looking for help more on the technical side of business proposal ideas. Here are three super resources to help you write and design a successful business proposal:
ProposalsHow to Write & Design a Winning Business Proposal in 2019
ProposalsHow to Customize a Simple Business Proposal Template in MS Word-
Proposals20 Creative Business Proposal Ideas for Better Sales in 2021
Make a Winning Business Proposal Fast!
When you write a proposal, you’re taking control of the future of your small business and brand. So, put a good deal of thought and preparation into the final presentation.
A beautifully created and well-written proposal can land you new clients, jobs, and projects that you might never have dreamt of before. All that leads to your solopreneur brand only getting bigger and more well-known, which is the ultimate goal.
To give yourself an edge when submitting business project proposals to new clients, use one of our top business proposal templates from Envato Elements or Envato Market.
Grab a great creative business proposal template design today. Customize it quickly and use it to craft a professional proposal design. Illustrate your unique business proposal ideas and land that new project with great confidence.
Making creative proposal designs, submitting winning bids, and tracking client payments are an important part of running a successful business.
Editorial Note: This post has been updated with contributions from Brenda Barron and Daisy Ein. Brenda and Daisy are freelance instructors for Envato Tuts+.
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