How to Write a One-Page Proposal: Simple & Effective Guide

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By Tyra DR

What is a one-page proposal? 

A one-page proposal is a concise document that outlines the essential elements of a project, idea, or request in a single page. 

Unlike standard business proposals, which can span multiple pages, a one-page proposal is all about showing instead of telling. 

Take a look at this example from Jotform. Majority of the proposal is really just filling out the details of the project: 

Source: Jotform

Or this example from Visme:

Source: Visme

As you can see, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to one-page proposals. You’re free to play with the design and format, as long as you flesh out the sections that matter the most to your readers. 

One-page proposals VS standard business proposals 

Aside from the length, there aren’t really major differences between a one-page proposal and a normal business proposal. 

Standard business proposals are usually 9-20 pages long, and can have more pages on the complexity of the proposal or the scope of the project. 

Despite its length, the goal of a one-page proposal is similar to a standard business proposal: 

  • Secure funding or investment
  • Obtain project approval
  • Establish partnerships or collaborations
  • Gain stakeholder buy-in
  • Define project scope and objectives
  • Present a comprehensive business case
  • Demonstrate feasibility and risk management
  • Outline detailed financial projections
  • Highlight potential return on investment (ROI)
  • Provide a roadmap for implementation

When do you send a one-page proposal? 

Longer isn’t always better. Sometimes a one-page proposal is the perfect fit, especially in the following scenarios: 

You’re sending an unsolicited proposal instead of responding to an RFQ. If you’re a freelancer sending a cold pitch to a client, or a team member pitching a new initiative to an executive, a one-page proposal is the way to go. Instead of overwhelming them with a lengthy document, a concise proposal helps you quickly capture their interest and secure initial support. This way, you can gauge their reaction before diving into detailed planning.

You’re sending it as a follow-up to a verbal agreement. If you’ve already discussed a plan and want more clarity on the specifics, a one-page proposal can iron out the details. This concise document allows stakeholders to decide whether they want to fully commit to the project or not.

The service, product, or project is straightforward, simple, or self-explanatory. The main goal of a business proposal is to present your case and get buy-in from stakeholders. If everyone already understands what’s involved, a one-page proposal can dive right into deliverables, timeline, scope, and budget. 

How to write a one-page proposal 

Now that you have a better understanding of when to use a one-page proposal, let’s look into how to write one from scratch:

Title page

Start with a clear, concise title that gets straight to the point of your proposal. Your title should be specific and highlight the main focus or benefit.

For instance, instead of a vague title like “Marketing Strategy,” try something more specific like “Boosting Online Engagement with a Targeted Social Media Campaign.” A specific title helps the reader quickly grasp what your proposal is about and why it’s important.

Don’t forget to include the following details:

  • Proposal title
  • Your name and title
  • Company name
  • Date
  • Recipient’s name and title
  • Contact Information
  • Brief subtitle or tagline, if applicable 

Executive summary 

Because you’re writing a one-page proposal, aim to keep the executive summary to 1-2 paragraphs. 

The executive summary should provide a brief overview of your proposal, highlighting the main points and objectives.

You can think of answering these questions:

  • What is the reason for this proposal?: “Our company is currently facing challenges in reaching and engaging our target audience on social media, resulting in stagnant online sales and low brand visibility.”
  • How are we going to address the problem?: “To address this issue, we propose launching a targeted social media campaign designed to boost online engagement and increase sales by 20% over the next six months.”
  • What does the solution entail?: “This campaign will utilize data-driven strategies to tailor content to our audience’s preferences, leveraging platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.”
  • What are the expected results of this project?: “By implementing this focused approach, we anticipate not only increased sales but also enhanced brand recognition and customer loyalty.”
  • How are we going to measure success?: “The campaign’s success will be measured through key performance indicators (KPIs) such as engagement rates, conversion rates, and overall sales growth.”
  • How is this relevant?: ”This initiative aligns with our broader business goals of expanding our digital footprint and fostering a stronger connection with our customers.”

Deliverables

Deliverables are the specific, tangible results your proposal promises. Be clear about what you’ll deliver; avoid vague descriptions and make sure each deliverable is well-defined.

For better organization, use a table to outline your deliverables. This makes it easier to see and understand the project details at a glance.

Source: Venngage

Timeline

A timeline gives everyone a clear view of the project’s progression and makes sure all stakeholders are on the same page about key milestones and deadlines.

Source: Qwilr

Make sure to include:

  • Start and end dates 
  • Key milestones
  • Specific tasks and jobs-to-be-done
  • Deadlines for each task 
  • Task dependencies
  • Responsible parties and team roles 

When writing the timeline, be realistic and break the project down into trackable milestones. This makes it easier to evaluate the progress of bigger projects like construction projects or lengthy research initiatives. 

Cost or budget

The cost or budget section of a proposal outlines the financial requirements of your project. 

If your one-page proposal is asking for financial support, your budget section should have: 

  • Itemized list of expenses categorized by type (e.g., personnel, materials, marketing)
  • Explanation of why each expense is necessary
  • Basis for the cost estimates, including market rates or vendor quotes
  • How each expense supports the project goals

If you’re pitching a service or project to a client and outlining the cost, make sure to include:

  • Pricing breakdown showing the inclusions of the product or service 
  • List of what isn’t included
  • Cost justification for clients 
  • Payment terms and milestones for service-based agreements 

Next steps 

Depending on where your stakeholders are in the approval process, you can end the proposal by asking them to schedule a meeting with you or your team to clarify the details of the project. Make sure to include your contact information, or better yet, include a link to online scheduling tools like Calendly or Google Drive to eliminate unnecessary back and forth. 

If your one-page proposal is pretty self-explanatory and the next step is approval, consider ending with an acceptance and signature section. Proposal lets users add eSignature sections so that prospects can sign on the spot and keep negotiations moving. 

3 questions to ask when writing a one-page proposal

Question 1: Why should stakeholders approve this proposal? 

Let’s face it: spending money on something isn’t the most fun thing to do. That’s why it’s crucial to clearly highlight the benefits of your project right from the start. 

Articulate both the tangible and intangible benefits your project brings. What are the long-term benefits of the project? What’s the cost of not doing the project in the first place? What unique opportunities can push them to urgency? 

Question 2: How can I show readers which sections matter most? 

A well-designed proposal isn’t just about content; it’s also about presentation. Use headings, bullet points, and white space effectively to make your proposal easy to read and navigate. 

Avoid dense paragraphs and overly technical jargon that might confuse or disengage your reader. 

Here’s a sample one-pager that is the picture of great, readable design: 

Question 3: How is this proposal relevant to the client’s pain points and objectives?

You only have so much space to make your case, so every word needs to count. Throughout your proposal, consistently mention their pain points, obstacles, and even their desired outcomes.

By tying everything back to what your reader wants to solve or achieve, you present your solutions in a way that’s much more relevant.

It shows that you’re not just offering a generic solution but one that’s specifically designed to meet their unique needs. This makes your proposal far more persuasive and boosts your chances of getting approved.

One-page proposal examples and templates 

Sample 1: One-page proposal sample for securing funding 

Source: Slide Team

This sample NGO funding proposal might be brief, but it contains all the essential information to secure financial aid. The project activities are clearly outlined in bullet points, and the teams and their responsibilities are specified by role. Using tables is a fantastic way to delve into details without exceeding the page limit.

Sample 2: One-page proposal for a deliverables-intensive project

Source: Slide Team

Writing the perfect proposal is all about focusing on the details your readers want to see. For a construction bid, this example highlights the tasks and activities involved in the project, along with the start and end dates. 

It also includes a section detailing the responsibilities of both the vendor and the client. Adding photos of your team can help build trust, and including small details like years of experience and experience in previous companies can boost your team’s credibility. 

Sample 3: One-page proposal for an investment strategy 

Source: Template.net

Here’s an example of how to formalize a verbal agreement with a one-page proposal. This one-page investment proposal focuses primarily on financial projections, exit strategy, and investment terms. 

If you’re writing a proposal as a continuation of an earlier conversation or agreement, feel free to only include sections that add value to the conversation, such as a breakdown of deliverables, more clarity on the timeline, or relevant terms and conditions. 

The power of the one-pager 

Still not sure if one-pagers have a place in your sales process? Consider this: the average time for completing RFPs (request for proposals) is 32 hours. That number is manageable if you have a dedicated sales team working on bids and proposals, but not so much if you’re a smaller team or a solopreneur looking to scale. 

So what’s the case for doing one-pagers instead? 

It can get projects approved quicker

A one-pager streamlines the approval process by presenting essential information in a concise format. 

If you’re proposing a website redesign or a content strategy in a one-page format, chances are the client has everything they need to either approve or reject the proposal. 

If you don’t hear back, it’s easier to say that there wasn’t a good product/service-client fit. Which means you can immediately move on to the next prospect. 

One-page proposals are more readable and user-friendly

No one loves long documents, especially if you’re pitching an idea cold. A one-pager forces you to be clear and to the point. Instead of going on and on about context information your reader may not care about, you’ll be forced to think of what matters most to your reader. 

Do they need a comprehensive pricing table to say yes? Does knowing more about your process matter more to them? What information do they actually need in order to convert? 

You get to A/B test faster

One-pagers are a great way to quickly determine if you’re offering the right solution. This is especially useful for solopreneurs or agencies testing the waters. The clarity and specificity of a one-page proposal mean your prospect will either resonate with it or not. 

If they reject it, you’ll get actionable feedback faster. Was it the pricing? The approach? The methodology? This way, you get into quicker feedback loops and iterate based on the feedback you receive. 

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