Sample Business Proposal Key Terms

Understand key terms when reviewing business proposal samples

A sample business proposal is either a business proposal that has already been written or a business proposal template that allows you to "fill in the blanks" in order to properly structure your own business proposal. Whichever you choose to use, reviewing sample business proposals is a great way to generate ideas for your own proposal. It is important to understand key terms used in sample proposals in order to understand what you are reviewing and to be able to craft a well-written version of your own.

 

MS-Word template

An MS-Word template is the format in which many "fill-in-the-blank" sample proposals are generated. MS-Word is Microsoft's word processing program, and will provide you with a draft business proposal that can be saved in Microsoft Word.
Try: The Writing Help Tools Center describes in its second paragraph how its downloadable MS-Word template design makes writing proposals an easy process.

Business proposal software

There are several sample business proposal software programs available to help you write your business proposal. These software programs provide a complete package allowing you to review samples, complete templated pages and create visual elements as you deem necessary.
Try: SpringCM, maker of the Privia proposal software system, lists some benefits of their proposal management software systems.

Visual elements

Visual elements are the parts of your business proposal that are not purely text. This includes logos, images, graphs and charts. Breaking up a page of text with visual elements makes reading the page easier and often provides the reader with summary information in an easy-to-comprehend fashion. Be sure to take note of the strategic use of visual elements in a sample business proposal to generate ideas for your own.
Try: 4hb provides tips on writing a business proposal, and discusses the importance of visual elements.

Document auto-fill

Document auto-fill is the name for the technology that allows you to "fill in the blanks." The user of a software package that has document auto fill only needs to type in the requested information and the rest of the formatting is taken care of by the software program.
Try: Envision SBS sells a business proposal software package complete with an auto-fill feature. Auto-fill is included in its "powerful features" listing.

Business proposal type

When looking for a sample business proposal to help guide you in creating your own, it is important to know which type of business proposal you need to write. The points to be included in a sales proposal, for instance, are likely different from what would be included in a non-profit grant business proposal.
Try: Proposal Kit sells many sample business proposals, including those for sales proposals.

SBA-Approved

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal organization that supports the creation and growth of small businesses. Several business software proposals list their wares as SBA-Approved.
Try: BusinessPlan Pro by Palo Alto Software lists itself as a product approved by the Small Business Administration.

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