The project proposal phase is instrumental in capturing the essential details. Without a solid framework, team leads don’t know who is responsible for what, or individual contributors are clueless about what’s expected.
ResearchGate data shows almost 40% of projects fail because of insufficient planning. And if there’s a communication breakdown—the rise in project failure jumps to nearly 60%.
Teams know this risk, which is why you see more leads using project proposal templates before hitting the launch button. If you manage a team, a project proposal template should work as a detailed checklist for all of your stakeholders.
Project proposal templates do more than just provide the nitty-gritty details. A solid plan encourages stakeholder buy-in. It also helps you secure budget approvals while highlighting the impact of success.
To help you get your ducks in a row, we’ve collected 10 of the best project proposal templates you can use—absolutely free. But before we dig in, let’s take a look at what a project proposal is in the first place.
10 Project Proposal Templates
What is a Project Proposal?
A project proposal is a documented process outlining and defining all necessary project requirements stakeholders need to accomplish in a specific timeframe. A well-planned proposal provides stakeholders with essential information like budgets, timelines, goals, and the overall purpose.
The goal is to get everyone all in and more importantly, in agreement with a set project framework.
Getting buy-in from your stakeholders and team leads is critical to the success of your project, so why not outline the most important details to get this to work? Think of a project proposal as your one chance to show everyone involved:
- Why this is—truly—a stellar idea
- How stakeholders can use their magic to help you win
- Why your stakeholders are lucky enough to work on this great project
OK—maybe lucky is the wrong word. But a solid project proposal grabs the attention of your stakeholders and gets them stoked to be involved. It should also highlight the potential success stakeholders would see working with you—because who doesn’t like another project achievement in their pocket come review time?
10 Free Project Proposal Templates to Impress Stakeholders
If we haven’t convinced you yet, we’ll say it again—project proposals are essential to the outcome of your project’s success and the collaborative efforts of your team. Unfortunately, not all project proposal templates are the same.
A great template not only checks all your boxes, but it makes it easier to plan, collaborate, and structure your proposed framework. Check out these 10 most useful project proposal templates to win over your stakeholders:
1. Project Proposal Template
Ideal proposal types: Solicited, Unsolicited, Informal, Renewal, Continuation, and Supplemental
Documenting your project proposal doesn’t always mean you only need to work with written text. In fact, visual proposals can help portray your ideas and framework more clearly.
That’s why the Project Proposal Template is one of the best options to visually showcase your plan. This template uses Docs to vividly promote your proposal in a completely editable format.
Customization is king when it comes to project management, which is why ’s template is perfect for project leads wanting to tailor proposals to their specific stakeholders’ needs.
offers collaborative features to quickly assign stakeholders to comments with clear instructions and placeholders, designed to help agencies present solutions, manage expectations, and secure stakeholder buy-in efficiently and professionally.
Bonus: Proposal Management Tools
2. Creative Agency Proposal Template
Ideal proposal types: Solicited, Unsolicited, Informal, Renewal, and Continuation
If you manage clients for a creative agency, you’re always selling your firm to your current and potential customers. Creative agencies have to highlight what sets them apart from the rest and ultimately show clients how they can do this and within what timeframe.
Did you know a Sprout Social marketing agency survey found more than 4 in 5 agencies actually customize their proposals for each individual client?
If you want to truly highlight and customize your proposal to a specific client, using the Creative Agency Proposal Template is a great place to start. This template streamlines the pitch to your clients with customizable tags, custom fields, and a visible progress bar.
Easily create a detailed to-do list where you can assign tasks, create important subtasks, assign comments to stakeholders, and provide priority statuses to show everyone the most essential steps.
3. Request for Proposal Template
Ideal proposal types: Solicited, Renewal, Continuation, and Supplemental
The RFP Template is ideal for those working in a non—or at least—less competitive field when needing to highlight your expertise on a project proposal. This solicited type of proposal needs a template that can go above and beyond with its details so every aspect of the project is covered.
RFPs need to be meticulous and informative so that everyone involved knows their responsibilities. The RFP template gives you the ability to work from a large checklist that was customized by expert project managers!
Not all RFPs are the same, but there are a ton of similarities and common requests that this template includes. Kick it off to begin your project proposal process or use it to add more specific details to your framework.
Check out these request for quote templates!
4. Web Development Request For Proposal Template
Ideal proposal types: Solicited, Unsolicited, Informal, Renewal, Continuation, and Supplemental
Dev teams are notorious for needing project information quickly and the solution or project expectations even faster.
Working in a high project delivery environment makes web developers succinct with their project timelines because they’re typically working from project sprints.
Use this template to help search for bidders for your web development project. In fact, the Request for Proposal Template was specifically designed for web development projects and for creating a clear project proposal.
The template includes a Getting Started guide with Docs presets to ensure you add your mission statement, project overview, vision, timeline, and so much more.
5. Commercial Proposal Template
Ideal proposal types: Solicited, Unsolicited, Continuation, and Supplemental
Sure—there are a ton of project proposal templates and business proposal docs out there. But for businesses that specifically need a commercial proposal to give to investors, land owners, or construction firms, you must have everything thoroughly documented.
The Commercial Proposal Template is perfect for those wanting to present their business proposals to current or potential partners and all the potential project scope issues. Additionally, having a tailored project proposal for your business gives off a much better impression.
This is especially true for commercial businesses that use simple Google Doc project proposal templates that might not include anything beyond a company logo and mission statement. It’s time to upgrade to .
6. Project Narrative Template
Ideal proposal types: Solicited, Unsolicited, Informal, and Renewal
Project narratives can be lengthy documents that include all of your thoughts, ideas, and proposals—together in one place. They help by organizing the overall project timeline and asking the essential who, what, where, when, why, and how questions.
The Project Narrative Template works as a primary component of your project while overviewing the summary, goals, objectives, project timeline, stakeholders, and more.
Having the ability to customize your project narrative is critical to creating a solid business proposal. This project proposal template keeps you from getting too technical in your language to describe the project without short-selling the information or project scope.
7. Microsoft Word Service Proposal Template
Ideal proposal types: Unsolicited, Informal, Renewal, Continuation, and Supplemental
If you’re looking for a free and very simple Microsoft Word project proposal template to plug and play for your next proposed project, this is it. The Microsoft Service Proposal Template helps you break out your business proposal pitch into separate sections.
Additionally, this one page proposal template allows you to showcase the business objectives, project deliverables, and overall approach to your project’s pricing and schedule. Its preformatted tables allow you to provide exact and relevant details to your project—all in one Word document.
You can use this template as a short-gap solution for contract negotiations or renewing an old project.
8. Microsoft Word Proposal Template by Template.net
Ideal proposal types: Unsolicited, Informal, and Continuation
Microsoft Word isn’t known to be the premium platform for well-designed project templates, but the Template.net Project Proposal Template takes it up a notch. This free project proposal template allows you to present your project to stakeholders without having them look at a bland Word Doc.
However, its customization, beyond text editing, is pretty limited. The template provides a set breakdown of an executive summary, problem, solution, and objects. At the same time, the template doesn’t leave a lot of room for creativity.
You can add different sections and program them on most devices, which makes it a very simple solution to planning for your proposed project.
9. Microsoft Word Final Project Proposal Template by Template.net
Ideal proposal types: Solicited, Unsolicited, and Supplemental
For scholars, teachers, and students, this academic project proposal is helpful to propose upcoming research projects with a simplistic, but professional breakdown. The detailed Template.net University Final Project Proposal Template includes a section to provide institutions with more information about you or your team.
It also has sections to help you provide a timeline for the project details, pricing for the research, and the terms and conditions of the project. If you’re wanting a tailored template for your academic project proposal, this is it.
10. Microsoft Word Website Project Proposal Template by Template.net
Ideal proposal types: Informal, Renewal, Continuation, and Supplemental
Wanting to propose your website project to a business or provide details about your process via a requested proposal? The Template.net Website Project Proposal Template might be a good fit for you.
In this project proposal template, you get a simplistic breakdown to highlight:
- Who you are and what you do
- The timeline of the project and important dates
- Your proposed pricing structure to build the website
- The terms and conditions of the proposed website project
Web devs can certainly agree on one thing—projects can easily go off course in a hurry. That’s why it’s helpful to include all of your project details and potential project scope issues directly in your project proposal.
The 6 Types of Project Proposals
Project managers and leads typically work with six different types of project proposals, which document their own unique project goals. Before adopting a new project proposal outline, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the six types of proposals first:
1. Solicited project proposal
Much like it sounds, this type of project proposal occurs when someone solicits or requests a proposal from you. The goal is to get your expert advice or guidance on a specific project framework. This often comes through an RFP or Request for Proposal and does not compete with other proposals (i.e. contending businesses or agencies).
2. Unsolicited project proposal
On the other hand, unsolicited proposals are typically sent without receiving a specific request or RFP. This format’s goal is to highlight why your framework is superior, which is why unsolicited proposals are frequently used in bids from contractors.
3. Informal project proposal
Informal proposals are requested from clients or businesses that aren’t necessarily looking for an RFP, but a more conversational approach to pitch a project. The goal of this format is more flexible because it requires less specificity.
4. Renewal project proposal
Renewal project proposals are sent to current clients in an attempt to continue, extend, or level up services with your proposed framework. Typically, the goal of this proposal is to highlight previous results or production to influence more buy-in.
5. Continuation project proposal
Instead of convincing clients or businesses of your plan, a continuation project proposal communicates or reminds stakeholders about the start or current progress of the project. The goal is to keep stakeholders informed and up-to-date—rather than persuading them to accept the proposal.
6. Supplemental project proposal
A supplemental project proposal works like a continuation proposal. However, this type of proposal doesn’t just provide an update, it asks for additional resources—whether it’s labor or monetary funding. The goal is to convince stakeholders there is more needed to complete the original plan.
Who Benefits From Using a Project Proposal?
Businesses: Project proposals are important for businesses to understand the scope of a project and make sure that it is completed on time. This document helps them track progress and ensure that all stakeholders are aware of any changes or updates necessary for the project.
Project Managers: Project proposals are essential for project managers to set expectations and make sure the project is completed on time. This document outlines the timeline, budget, scope, objectives, deliverables & any other necessary information related to a project.
What to Include in a Proposed Project Document?
- Project Summary: Briefly describe what the project is about, its focus, and the expected outcome. This serves as an introduction to your plan and helps stakeholders understand its relevance.
- Project Goals/Objectives: Clearly illustrate the desired goal or end results of the project. This part emphasizes what your project intends to accomplish.
- Project Timeline: Provide an estimated timeline for the project’s completion including major milestones. This helps stakeholders gauge the feasibility of your project.
- Budget Estimates: Outline a detailed budget plan that encompasses resource allocation, labor costs, and other project expenses, giving your stakeholders the foresight of potential investment needs.
- Risk Assessment: Highlight potential risks and challenges that might come up during the project’s lifespan, showing that you are prepared for unforeseen circumstances.
- Methodology: Explain the approach or methods that will be used to achieve the project’s objectives. This section reveals how you plan to tackle the project.
- Resource requirement: Detail the manpower, materials, and other resources required for the project. This information will provide clarity on project necessities.
- Stakeholders’ Roles & Responsibilities: Detail each participant’s role, emphasizing their contribution towards achieving the project’s goals. This fosters accountability and clarity for the team.
- Project Evaluation: This particular section outlines how the success of the project will be measured and evaluated. Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which will be used to gauge the project’s effectiveness and success.
- Project Conclusion/Closure: A thoughtful conclusion summarizing everything from your project goals, tasks, timeline, and expected results. This neatly ties together all the crucial aspects of the proposal.
- Additional Appendices: Include any extra materials, resources, or documentation that would provide further clarity or support to your project proposal. This could be data charts, mockups, existing research, etc.
Win Over Businesses With Project Proposal Templates From
Project proposals don’t have to be boring—or for that matter—in a dull Word doc. Luckily, has hundreds of premade templates to help you kickstart your next project plan, proposal, or incoming requests.
Whether you need to include stakeholders, assign teammates work, or just provide a more visually stunning project proposal, is the answer for you.
The best part?
All of our templates are completely free. Create your own Workspace, implement a premade template, and get started today!
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
