How to Create a Proposal with 32 Free Examples
Creating a convincing proposal will present you with more business opportunities, but how can you make sure you remember to include all the necessary information? Fill-in professional proposal template gives you an outline to follow and make it easier to organize your information in the correct format. On this page, you can find 32 free proposal templates as well as tips on creating the perfect proposal.
Table of Content:
- How to Create a Proposal
- Types of proposals
- Proposal Examples
How to Create a Proposal
There are many things you will need to cover in your proposal letter. Each different part has a purpose, and altogether they should set out clearly the reason for the letter. Here are five sections that need to be included:
Introduction –
This should grab the attention of the reader. Take this part to establish your agreement about the issue and begin to set the tone for the next section.What is the problem?
Define the problem you are working on and what would happen if it is not resolved. This should be stated clearly and concisely to convince the reader that what you are proposing is necessary.How will you solve the problem?
What this section includes will vary depending on the type of proposal, but it will be the most important part of the document. When describing your proposed solution, any supplemental information can be added as annexes to the document.Cost/Schedule –
These portions may not apply to all proposal letters, but if applicable, they will need to be very descriptive so as not to mislead the reader in any way.Executive summary –
This is the conclusion. It needs to sum up the major points from your document and leave your reader with a good final impression.
Those five sections can serve you as proposal outline. Using them as a starting point, there are four important steps to follow to create a strong proposal.
Write the proposal –
At this stage, you should write out all your main points to get everything down on paper. Don’t spend too much time analyzing your wording now – that comes next.Edit –
Go through your document ruthlessly to make sure your content flows well and presents all of your ideas. You may also want to consider getting another person to read through it when you think it is ready, since a fresh pair of eyes may catch something you have missed.Proofread –
Once you have arranged and edited all your ideas, you will need to proofread your document thoroughly to make sure all the spelling and grammar is correct.Submit by the deadline –
If a deadline has been set, anything submitted after that date will usually not be considered. Also, make sure you are aware of what format the company wants the document in; either electronically or in hard copy.
Types of proposals
Proposals are produced for many different purposes, but they can be split into two categories: solicited and unsolicited.The solicited proposal usually begins with a request for a proposal (RFP). Many companies will use an RFP template to give potential suppliers details of what they are looking for in a bid. It will usually give a timeline of when items are due and what they are looking for in the document.The unsolicited proposal is initiated by the person who writes it. The writer usually submits it because they have an idea they want to pitch or they want to sell something.
Proposal Examples
When creating a proposal, you will need to identify which format is most suited to your audience, or, in other words, the purpose of your proposal. Whatever this might be, there is a Word template to fit. Here are some proposal letter templates to show how each format is tailored to the needs of the writer and recipient.
Business Plan Proposal
When starting up a company, a business plan is a necessary step. In it, you will need to include your basic plan for the business and how it will grow in the future.
Business Plan Proposal
This business plan proposal sample is for a start-up company that wants to make it easier to transfer small amount of money internationally. The proposal is aimed at possible investors or partners in the company. The proposal includes the basic plans for the business and will provide a good outline for a future business plan. Any investors interested can easily see the costs and possible returns in this venture. |
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Business Proposal
This is different from your business plan as it focuses on a project within the company instead of the organisation as a whole. According to Bidsketch, these need to contain the “3 Ps: problem statement, proposed solution, and pricing information.” Business proposal template could be used for the sale of an object or service, or in marketing, or as a construction proposal. As A Concord Carpenter explains, this particular type should include items like specific materials to be used, costs and payment schedules.
Music Business Proposal
VibeKing has written a proposal for a new band they have signed. The company helps new artists record and market their first albums. This music business proposal sample highlights information about this new band, who their audience is, and how VibeKing would market their initial album. The proposal is intended for investors, record labels, or venues to find out more. This is a basic proposal that would probably lead to more formalized discussions. |
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Business Case Proposal
This business case proposal sample is put forward by a scientist with a fruit drink company. His proposal is for a “greener” bottle to sell their product in. After discussing the idea with multiple departments, this proposal is being submitted to the executive committee of the company for their review. If they like the idea the scientist would use this proposal as an outline for a complete business case. |
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Business Development Proposal
This business development proposal sample will feature an independent contractor who specializes in business development, offering his services to a tech start-up that creates different mobile applications for small businesses. The start-up partners will review the job proposal and, if they like it, will move forward with a contract to outsource their development services to the contractor. |
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Marketing Business Proposal
For this marketing business proposal example, the start-up company DynamicFrame has written up this proposal for possible investors who want more information. DynamicFrame is a start-up that has focused on learning games for mobile devices. This sample shows how DynamicFrame plans to market their games and get revenue. These ideas should hopefully hook an investor or maybe even provoke them into giving the company feedback on different marketing approaches. |
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Business Partnership Proposal
The following business partnership proposal sample will focus on a specific partnership that has already been discussed between the two parties. The partnership in this example is for a collaborative web design project. The web design company wants to work with this design company for a specific client. In this sample the two companies have already discussed terms; the proposal is merely the final stage and will be signed as a contract if both parties are satisfied with its content. |
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Car Lease Proposal
This sample car lease proposal is written by a company that leases vehicles. Cars owned by the company can be leased to businesses that provide company cars for sales, delivery and management staff or the cars can be leased to individuals who prefer to lease rather than purchase a car: |
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Graphic Design Proposal
Simple Fish Marketing will be designing a logo and branding outline for Happy Cherry Brewing. This graphic design project proposal template reviews the overall objective, demonstrates an understanding of the company’s target audience, and then lays out its terms and timeline for the project. If Happy Cherry Brewing likes this proposal, it will be turned into a binding contract with firm delivery dates. |
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Engineering Design Proposal
This engineering design proposal is written for an assisted living facility that needs a new walkway and a wheelchair ramp outside their building. The construction company has put together this design proposal that outlines their construction plans, especially the safety features for disabled residents. |
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Construction Proposal Template
A construction company called Red Oak Building is applying in response to a development firm’s (Development Hedge) open bid request to construct a warehouse. After visiting the location and carefully reading the bid request, Red Oak Building drew up this document. This construction bid proposal sample would be sent back to the firm with the original building request documents, a common formality, and more detailed blueprints. If the developer likes this bid the best, they will contact the builder to create a more formalized contract. |
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Website Proposal Template
A musician contacted Malarkey Designs to create his website. After they had a discussion about the musician's ideas and wants from the website, the developer from Malarkey Designs sent this website design proposal. |
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Radio Advertising Proposal
This radio advertising proposal sample is from a local FM station called KRLM, soliciting a possible contract with a car dealership. The dealership has already expressed interest in a radio advertisement. This proposal will be more about having a written description of the advertising campaign than looking for interest. After selecting an option, the radio station and dealership can move into a formal contract. |
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Network Design Technical Proposal
This network design proposal sample shows a technical consulting firm providing an intranet plan for a call center opening a new location. The technician has previously met with the client to establish a basic understanding of the location and network needs, as shown in the proposal. After an agreement is made, the technician describes how he will personally implement the design described in the proposal. |
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Management Consulting Proposal
After multiple meetings, Ace Consulting and Management have put together this proposal to be reviewed by their potential client, BistroServer. BistroServer is looking for help in opening a secondary location. The terms of the proposal are already loosely agreed on; the management consulting proposal sample is merely formalizing these discussions. The next step will be to iron out final details and sign a contract. |
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IT Project Proposal
This IT project proposal sample was used when a company moved to a cloud-based network. The project included upgrading everyone's computers, moving the server, adding backup and software to the cloud, and training necessary employees on the new system. |
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IT Business Proposal
This IT business proposal example will look at what kind of proposal an independent IT company might put together. It shows the outline of a project that they know the customer needs taking care of. The proposal is used as a sales pitch for their services (a sale proposal). If the other company sees the benefit in using an outside company for their IT they can choose to turn the proposal into a contract between the 2 businesses. |
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Interior Design Proposal
An interior design company, Green Scarf Design, will be redesigning PixelPush’s office space. The document discusses the trendy concept. The background portion shows the interior designer understands the vision the business has for its office, and then it covers the services of designing, sourcing and supplying. Finally, a payment structure is laid out. This interior design proposal sample ends with a follow-up request and deadline. |
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Consulting Services Proposal
This proposal is in response to a RFP from a medical research company, BioFunction Developments, for technical expertise. In this consulting services proposal sample, the technology company, CyberFrame LLC, has responded the all of the issues from the RFP and made a point to list their experience with similar projects. The proposal will be submitted with a copy of the RFP for review by BioFunction Developments. |
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Business Consulting Proposal
The consultant in this business consulting proposal sample is offering to help the company TerrineSound with its high employee turnover. He already has an established relationship with the other party. After sending his suggestions to the company, they will most likely get back to him and go into more depth about implementing each strategy. This is mostly to outline the consultant’s plan and make the company aware of his hourly rates. |
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Bookkeeping Proposal
A small accounting firm sent this proposal to a Pilates Studio looking to hire someone to handle their finances. The Pilates Studio reviewed the proposal and agreed to the terms involved, and the two companies started a long partnership. |
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Audit Proposal
A non-profit wildlife organization needed to have their annual audit of their finances performed and had to find a new accounting firm to manage it for them. After receiving their request for proposal letter, an auditor at Madison Financial sent this audit proposal to secure their services. |
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Advertising Campaign Proposal
This advertising campaign proposal sample is from a marketing company offering a number of design services regarding a new beauty line. This proposal could be used as a basic starting offer or as a competitive bid against other advertisers. It is meant to be read by the intended client and, if acceptable, a signed agreement page can be easily added. |
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Shareholder Proposal
This is slightly different to a business proposal. Companies that have shareholders will need approval before making certain business decisions. In this document, you will suggest an action or decision the company should make and reasons for it so the shareholders can vote on it.
Shareholder Proposal
During the annual shareholder's meeting, one of the shareholders submitted this shareholder proposal to ask the company to implement a green policy. The proposal was submitted and passed with a majority vote of the other shareholders. |
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Investment Proposal
When writing an investment proposal, you are aiming to convince someone to finance your idea or business. You will have to give a full picture of what you are planning to do and how your projected financial gains will make it worth the investment.One example of this would be a book proposal, where you are asking someone to invest in your creative work. Writer’s Digest says the following eight items are needed in a book proposal:
- Hook
- Demand for the topic – what the market looks like for potential readers.
- Author information – your background and how you are qualified to write this book.
- Competitive analysis – what other books are available on this topic.
- Marketing plan – how you plan to promote this book.
- Outline
- Sample chapter
- Conclusion
Restaurant Business Proposal
In this restaurant business proposal sample, the owners lay out what will make their cafe unique. The numbers and research are important, but the proposal highlights the concept first and ties everything back to that idea. After reading this proposal, potential investors should have a very good feel for what it would feel like to walk into this coffee shop/bistro. |
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Sponsorship Proposal
Like the above, this document is asking for an investment, but not for the financial gain of the investor. For example, a local charity may be looking for a sponsor for their annual gala. The company that ends up sponsoring them won’t make their money back, but they can use it as a tax deduction and good publicity.
Business Event Sponsorship Proposal Template
This sample business event sponsorship proposal is for a relay race designed to raise funds for the cardiac wing of a local hospital. Local businesses are asked to encourage employees who enjoy running to form a relay team. Businesses pay a fee to participate in and advertise at the event: |
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Health Care Proposal
When a local hospital wanted to open a new cancer wing to better serve its patients, the administration wrote this health care proposal to send to various foundations and potential sponsors to raise the money needed. |
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Event Sponsorship Proposal
A long-running arts organization uses the following event sponsorship proposal for its annual gala and fundraising drive. It briefly describes the organization, explains the event, and details the different levels of sponsorship and perks available. |
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Event Proposal
The event proposal template should be used to list out the activities and budget for everything you hope to include at the event. You may also want to use a letter template to write a more descriptive summary of the proposal and include it as a cover letter.
Special Event Proposal
Artists for a Cause is a non-profit arts organization that sends artists into local hospitals to bring painting and other forms of art therapy to patients. It sends this standard special event proposal to people who want to organize a fundraiser on its behalf. |
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Event Planning Proposal
An event planner from Parties Galore submitted this event planning proposal to a couple looking for someone to plan their wedding. It demonstrates the planner's expertise for coordinating weddings and outlines the important aspects of the organization of the wedding. |
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Event Management Proposal
When a non-profit organization wanted to host a 5K to raise funds, they looked to hire out an event management firm to handle the details. This event management proposal was sent in by the eventual handler of the 5K event. It briefly outlines the services they will provide and demonstrates their expertise in handling this event. |
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Research Proposal
According to the University of Southern California, this is written to show that there is a need to study a particular subject. It should also include evidence on how the research would be carried out.
Education Research Proposal
This education research proposal sample was used by a student applying for a PhD program in Shakespeare studies at a reputable British university. The topic was on the modern appropriation of Shakespeare in American television. |
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Research Design Proposal
This research design proposal sample was submitted by a PhD candidate for her research into the correlation between runners and those who eat a vegetarian diet. She also wanted to demonstrate that those who choose one healthy lifestyle choice often choose to adopt others. |
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FAQs
Is there a proposal template on word? ›
Divided into sections, the business proposal template in Word outlines your company business, objective, approach, and expected deliverables and provides scheduling, pricing, and more. The Word proposal template contains placeholder content to help guide you as you write, with pre-formatted tables for specific details.
What is the basic format for a proposal? ›Here's the general structure of a proposal: As you can see, a proposal generally consists of: Introduction: A brief overview of the problem, solution, costs, and benefits. Issue: The main definition of the issue, including subject, purpose, main argument, background information and importance.
How do I create a proposal template? ›- Begin with a title page. You have to convey some basic information here. ...
- Create a table of contents. ...
- Explain your "why" with an executive summary. ...
- State the problem or need. ...
- Propose a solution. ...
- Share your qualifications. ...
- Include pricing options. ...
- Summarize with a conclusion.
You can download free, pre-built document templates with useful and creative themes from Office when you click File > New in your Office app. Templates can include calendars, business cards, letters, cards, brochures, newsletters, resumes, and much more.
What is the best font and size for a proposal? ›First and foremost, your proposal needs to be readable. Avoid using cursive or hard-to-read fonts, too much color, underlining of non-links, small spacing, or other distractions. While few donors have strict guidelines on formatting, 12 pt. font in Arial or Times New Roman with 1.5 spacing is fairly standard.
What are the 4 parts of a proposal? ›- Key Elements of a Complete Proposal. ...
- Cover. ...
- Table of Contents. ...
- Abstract (also called Project Summary) ...
- Project Description (also called Narrative or Research Plan) ...
- Budget Explanation (also called Budget Justification) ...
- Vita (also called Resume or Biographical Sketch) ...
- Other Support (also called Current and Pending Support)
Why it works: PowerPoint works well for proposals because it's designed for visuals, and not for text. There's not a lot of room on a PowerPoint slide, so it's impossible to cram in too much writing, forcing you to stick to the point.
What are the 3 main types of proposals? ›- Formally solicited.
- Informally solicited.
- Unsolicited.
According to the Indian Contract Act 1872, proposal is defined in Section 2 (a) as “when one person will signify to another person his willingness to do or not do something (abstain) with a view to obtain the assent of such person to such an act or abstinence, he is said to make a proposal or an offer.”
What are the five 5 steps in writing your proposal? ›- Step 1: Define the problem.
- Step 2: Present your solution.
- Step 3: Define your deliverables and success criteria.
- Step 4: State your plan or approach.
- Step 5: Outline your project schedule and budget.
- Step 6: Tie it all together.
- Step 7: Edit/proofread your proposal.
How many pages should a proposal be? ›
Most research proposals are between 4 and 15 pages, but some institutions or departments specify a word limit. It is rarely possible to write a comprehensive proposal in fewer than 1500 words. The proposal should have a proper layout (typeface and line spacing) as well as a table of contents and page numbers.
How many paragraphs is a proposal? ›The proposal should be made up of two paragraphs: one that provides some background ideas at the beginning to establish a brief context. You have to tell the readers what general topic you will consider and then guide them (and yourself) to the specific research question you will address.
How many pages is a written proposal? ›The proposal should be around 3 pages long. Every discipline has a different format for the research proposal. You should follow the format that is standard for your field and that your faculty mentor prefers. The program guidelines that follow are a general overview intended to help you get started with your proposal.
What are sample templates? ›The term template, when used in the context of word processing software, refers to a sample document that has already some details in place; those can (that is added/completed, removed or changed, differently from a fill-in-the-blank of the approach as in a form) either by hand or through an automated iterative process ...
Where can I get templates? ›...
- Template.net. ...
- StockLayouts. ...
- PSDgraphics. ...
- PNGtree. ...
- FreePSDfiles. ...
- BestBusinessCard.net. ...
- Pixeden. ...
- Canva.
Click the Trust center settings button. Go to Privacy options and click Privacy Settings. Enable “Allow Office to connect to the internet” if it's disabled or disable it if it's enabled. Restart the app and try downloading templates.
Where can I download templates for free? ›Canva. Choose from thousands of free, ready-to-use templates.
Should a proposal be double spaced? ›General Instructions for Preparing the Written Proposal
Line Spacing: The text of the written proposal is to be double-spaced except for indented quotations, footnotes, figures, legends and bibliography, which are to be single-spaced.
Recommended serif fonts include Cambria, Georgia, and Times New Roman. Sans serif fonts don't have small strokes attached to their letters, giving them a cleaner and more modern style. Some recommended sans serif fonts include Arial, Calibri, and Verdana.
What are the 8 steps to writing a proposal? ›- Introduction. It is also sometimes termed as 'need for study' or 'abstract'. ...
- Review of literature. It refers to all sources of scientific evidence pertaining to the topic in interest. ...
- Aims and objectives. ...
- Research design and method. ...
- Ethical considerations. ...
- Budget. ...
- Appendices. ...
- Citations.
What is the most important thing in a proposal? ›
Statement of Work, Scope of Work or Research Plan The Statement of Work is the most important part of any proposal. This section is sometimes referred to as the Scope of Work, the Research Plan, or the Protocol.
What makes a good proposal? ›The Big Three Questions. Your grant proposal should make crystal clear three main things: (1) What you are doing; (2) How you are doing it; (3) Why it is significant. It's even a good idea to open the proposal with a lively summary paragraph that answers all three of these questions directly.
What should be avoided when writing a proposal? ›- Not providing context to the research question(s).
- Not citing significant studies ("landmark studies") in the field that changed others' understanding of the topic.
- Not accurately presenting other research done on the topic.
- Not staying focused on the primary research question.
Now that you understand why the PDF is a bad format to use for sales proposals, quotes, and other sales documents, you're probably wondering what to do instead. The answer is to create your proposals and documents as web pages.
How many words should a good proposal have? ›A research proposal is usually around 2,500 words long although there is no upper or lower limit to this. In preparing a research proposal, the first thing that you have to do is to decide what it really is that you want to know more about.
What are the 9 steps of proposal writing? ›- Include a cover letter. ...
- Include an executive summary. ...
- Describe a statement of need. ...
- List objectives and goals. ...
- Describe methods and strategies. ...
- Detail a plan of evaluation. ...
- Include a budget. ...
- Detail organizational information.
- Solicited. Sent to respond to a Request for Proposal. ...
- Unsolicited. Sent without an RFP. ...
- Informal. Sent in response to an informal client request. ...
- Renewal. Sent to an existing client to encourage them to renew your services. ...
- Continuation. ...
- Supplemental.
- Cover Sheet/Face page.
- Table of Contents.
- Abstract or Project Summary.
- Project Description/Research Plan/Statement of Work.
- Biographical Sketch.
- Bibliography and References Cited.
- Budget and Budget Justification.
- Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources.
As explained above, the proposal is one of the last steps in the project planning stage. If an organization already has all the background information prepared, taking that information and turning it into a proposal may take only a few days.
Should a proposal be short or long? ›Is there an ideal proposal length? Your proposal should be long enough to describe all the relevant details of the project and fulfill the donor's application instructions. No more and no less. If a proposal is too short, it may be lacking information the donor needs to make a funding decision.
Does a proposal have chapters? ›
It should contain at most three chapters. Every chapter of the research proposal should begin with a brief introduction to guide the reader into the main contents of that chapter. Similarly, every chapter should end with a brief summary capturing the main points that have been discussed in that chapter.
How do you start an introduction for a proposal? ›- An effective introduction will clearly explain the purpose of the rest of the proposal—readers should never wonder why they are being provided certain information. ...
- .
- Current Situation: explain the problem or opportunity and why the proposal is needed.
- Not being compliant. It may sound obvious but you'd be surprised how many times we find this. ...
- Not using the specification. ...
- We-ing. ...
- Failing to add value. ...
- Using copy and paste. ...
- Not having someone else review the submission. ...
- Not requesting feedback.
Yes, being a proposal writer can be hard.
However, the difficulty level depends greatly on the individual and what experience or prior knowledge they bring to the table. In general, proposal writing does not allow much room for creativity or flexibility, making it very difficult for some people.
Open Word 365. Go to File > Options > Save. Go to the Default personal templates location, and enter the file path where your templates are stored.
What are 5 Things All proposals should include? ›- Key Elements of a Complete Proposal. ...
- Cover. ...
- Table of Contents. ...
- Abstract (also called Project Summary) ...
- Project Description (also called Narrative or Research Plan) ...
- Budget Explanation (also called Budget Justification) ...
- Vita (also called Resume or Biographical Sketch) ...
- Other Support (also called Current and Pending Support)
- Abstract/Summary. The abstract is the most important component of the proposal. ...
- Statement of Need. What is the issue that you are addressing and why does it matter? ...
- Project Activity, Methodology and Outcomes. ...
- Evaluation. ...
- Dissemination. ...
- Budget and Continuation Funding.
Click File > Open. Double-click Computer or This PC. Browse to the Custom Office Templates folder that's under My Documents. Click your template, and click Open.
Where do you get to the templates options in Office 365? ›Click to the gear icon in the upper right side of the menu bar. Click the small triangle at Themes to see the options.
What app can i use to write a proposal? ›Venngage. Creating professional, persuasive proposals is easy with Venngage. It offers high-quality and polished proposal templates that can be customized easily. Sales teams can have access to stock photos, icons, and graphics to create beautiful proposals.
What is the best proposal line? ›
I deeply in love and I want you forever in my life." "You are the reason behind my laughter and smile-you are my world. he one I wanted to find, to tell you that I need you all my life, from this day on till the rest of my life." "Every time I see you.