how to end a business proposal presentation

30 Examples: How to Conclude a Presentation (Effective Closing Techniques)

By Status.net Editorial Team on March 4, 2024 — 9 minutes to read

Ending a presentation on a high note is a skill that can set you apart from the rest. It’s the final chance to leave an impact on your audience, ensuring they walk away with the key messages embedded in their minds. This moment is about driving your points home and making sure they resonate. Crafting a memorable closing isn’t just about summarizing key points, though that’s part of it, but also about providing value that sticks with your listeners long after they’ve left the room.

Crafting Your Core Message

To leave a lasting impression, your presentation’s conclusion should clearly reflect your core message. This is your chance to reinforce the takeaways and leave the audience thinking about your presentation long after it ends.

Identifying Key Points

Start by recognizing what you want your audience to remember. Think about the main ideas that shaped your talk. Make a list like this:

• The problem your presentation addresses.
• The evidence that supports your argument.
• The solution you propose or the action you want the audience to take.

These key points become the pillars of your core message.

Contextualizing the Presentation

Provide context by briefly relating back to the content of the whole presentation. For example:

• Reference a statistic you shared in the opening, and how it ties into the conclusion.
• Mention a case study that underlines the importance of your message.

Connecting these elements gives your message cohesion and makes your conclusion resonate with the framework of your presentation.

30 Example Phrases: How to Conclude a Presentation

• 1. “In summary, let’s revisit the key takeaways from today’s presentation.”
• 2. “Thank you for your attention. Let’s move forward together.”
• 3. “That brings us to the end. I’m open to any questions you may have.”
• 4. “I’ll leave you with this final thought to ponder as we conclude.”
• 5. “Let’s recap the main points before we wrap up.”
• 6. “I appreciate your engagement. Now, let’s turn these ideas into action.”
• 7. “We’ve covered a lot today. To conclude, remember these crucial points.”
• 8. “As we reach the end, I’d like to emphasize our call to action.”
• 9. “Before we close, let’s quickly review what we’ve learned.”
• 10. “Thank you for joining me on this journey. I look forward to our next steps.”
• 11. “In closing, I’d like to thank everyone for their participation.”
• 12. “Let’s conclude with a reminder of the impact we can make together.”
• 13. “To wrap up our session, here’s a brief summary of our discussion.”
• 14. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to present to you. Any final thoughts?”
• 15. “And that’s a wrap. I welcome any final questions or comments.”
• 16. “As we conclude, let’s remember the objectives we’ve set today.”
• 17. “Thank you for your time. Let’s apply these insights to achieve success.”
• 18. “In conclusion, your feedback is valuable, and I’m here to listen.”
• 19. “Before we part, let’s take a moment to reflect on our key messages.”
• 20. “I’ll end with an invitation for all of us to take the next step.”
• 21. “As we close, let’s commit to the goals we’ve outlined today.”
• 22. “Thank you for your attention. Let’s keep the conversation going.”
• 23. “In conclusion, let’s make a difference, starting now.”
• 24. “I’ll leave you with these final words to consider as we end our time together.”
• 25. “Before we conclude, remember that change starts with our actions today.”
• 26. “Thank you for the lively discussion. Let’s continue to build on these ideas.”
• 27. “As we wrap up, I encourage you to reach out with any further questions.”
• 28. “In closing, I’d like to express my gratitude for your valuable input.”
• 29. “Let’s conclude on a high note and take these learnings forward.”
• 30. “Thank you for your time today. Let’s end with a commitment to progress.”

Summarizing the Main Points

When you reach the end of your presentation, summarizing the main points helps your audience retain the important information you’ve shared. Crafting a memorable summary enables your listeners to walk away with a clear understanding of your message.

Effective Methods of Summarization

To effectively summarize your presentation, you need to distill complex information into concise, digestible pieces. Start by revisiting the overarching theme of your talk and then narrow down to the core messages. Use plain language and imagery to make the enduring ideas stick. Here are some examples of how to do this:

• Use analogies that relate to common experiences to recap complex concepts.
• Incorporate visuals or gestures that reinforce your main arguments.

The Rule of Three

The Rule of Three is a classic writing and communication principle. It means presenting ideas in a trio, which is a pattern that’s easy for people to understand and remember. For instance, you might say, “Our plan will save time, cut costs, and improve quality.” This structure has a pleasing rhythm and makes the content more memorable. Some examples include:

• “This software is fast, user-friendly, and secure.”
• Pointing out a product’s “durability, affordability, and eco-friendliness.”

Reiterating the Main Points

Finally, you want to circle back to the key takeaways of your presentation. Rephrase your main points without introducing new information. This reinforcement supports your audience’s memory and understanding of the material. You might summarize key takeaways like this:

• Mention the problem you addressed, the solution you propose, and the benefits of this solution.
• Highlighting the outcomes of adopting your strategy: higher efficiency, greater satisfaction, and increased revenue.

Creating a Strong Conclusion

The final moments of your presentation are your chance to leave your audience with a powerful lasting impression. A strong conclusion is more than just summarizing—it’s your opportunity to invoke thought, inspire action, and make your message memorable.

Incorporating a Call to Action

A call to action is your parting request to your audience. You want to inspire them to take a specific action or think differently as a result of what they’ve heard. To do this effectively:

• Be clear about what you’re asking.
• Explain why their action is needed.
• Make it as simple as possible for them to take the next steps.

Example Phrases:

• “Start making a difference today by…”
• “Join us in this effort by…”
• “Take the leap and commit to…”

Leaving a Lasting Impression

End your presentation with something memorable. This can be a powerful quote, an inspirational statement, or a compelling story that underscores your main points. The goal here is to resonate with your audience on an emotional level so that your message sticks with them long after they leave.

• “In the words of [Influential Person], ‘…'”
• “Imagine a world where…”
• “This is more than just [Topic]; it’s about…”

Enhancing Audience Engagement

To hold your audience’s attention and ensure they leave with a lasting impression of your presentation, fostering interaction is key.

Q&A Sessions

It’s important to integrate a Q&A session because it allows for direct communication between you and your audience. This interactive segment helps clarify any uncertainties and encourages active participation. Plan for this by designating a time slot towards the end of your presentation and invite questions that promote discussion.

• “I’d love to hear your thoughts; what questions do you have?”
• “Let’s dive into any questions you might have. Who would like to start?”
• “Feel free to ask any questions, whether they’re clarifications or deeper inquiries about the topic.”

Encouraging Audience Participation

Getting your audience involved can transform a good presentation into a great one. Use open-ended questions that provoke thought and allow audience members to reflect on how your content relates to them. Additionally, inviting volunteers to participate in a demonstration or share their experiences keeps everyone engaged and adds a personal touch to your talk.

• “Could someone give me an example of how you’ve encountered this in your work?”
• “I’d appreciate a volunteer to help demonstrate this concept. Who’s interested?”
• “How do you see this information impacting your daily tasks? Let’s discuss!”

Delivering a Persuasive Ending

At the end of your presentation, you have the power to leave a lasting impact on your audience. A persuasive ending can drive home your key message and encourage action.

Sales and Persuasion Tactics

When you’re concluding a presentation with the goal of selling a product or idea, employ carefully chosen sales and persuasion tactics. One method is to summarize the key benefits of your offering, reminding your audience why it’s important to act. For example, if you’ve just presented a new software tool, recap how it will save time and increase productivity. Another tactic is the ‘call to action’, which should be clear and direct, such as “Start your free trial today to experience the benefits first-hand!” Furthermore, using a touch of urgency, like “Offer expires soon!”, can nudge your audience to act promptly.

Final Impressions and Professionalism

Your closing statement is a chance to solidify your professional image and leave a positive impression. It’s important to display confidence and poise. Consider thanking your audience for their time and offering to answer any questions. Make sure to end on a high note by summarizing your message in a concise and memorable way. If your topic was on renewable energy, you might conclude by saying, “Let’s take a leap towards a greener future by adopting these solutions today.” This reinforces your main points and encourages your listeners to think or act differently when they leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some creative strategies for ending a presentation memorably.

To end your presentation in a memorable way, consider incorporating a call to action that engages your audience to take the next step. Another strategy is to finish with a thought-provoking question or a surprising fact that resonates with your listeners.

Can you suggest some powerful quotes suitable for concluding a presentation?

Yes, using a quote can be very effective. For example, Maya Angelou’s “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” can reinforce the emotional impact of your presentation.

What is an effective way to write a conclusion that summarizes a presentation?

An effective conclusion should recap the main points succinctly, highlighting what you want your audience to remember. A good way to conclude is by restating your thesis and then briefly summarizing the supporting points you made.

As a student, how can I leave a strong impression with my presentation’s closing remarks?

To leave a strong impression, consider sharing a personal anecdote related to your topic that demonstrates passion and conviction. This helps humanize your content and makes the message more relatable to your audience.

How can I appropriately thank my audience at the close of my presentation?

A simple and sincere expression of gratitude is always appropriate. You might say, “Thank you for your attention and engagement today,” to convey appreciation while also acknowledging their participation.

What are some examples of a compelling closing sentence in a presentation?

A compelling closing sentence could be something like, “Together, let’s take the leap towards a greener future,” if you’re presenting on sustainability. This sentence is impactful, calls for united action, and leaves your audience with a clear message.

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Make a Winning Business Proposal Presentation in 11 Steps

Learn how to create business proposal presentations that stand out and win deals. Apply battle-tested best practices and actionable tips from sales pros.

9 minute read

helped business professionals at:

Short answer

What makes a good business proposal presentation?

An outstanding business proposal presentation combines clarity, conciseness, and compelling storytelling.

It should be visually engaging, tailored to the audience's interests, and demonstrate a deep understanding of their needs, setting the stage for successful collaboration.

Your business proposal is your last chance to impress

Making a business proposal presentation is your money time at the end of a long, exhausting sales process with a prospective client. Losing your sale at this stage would be most painful.

It can be overwhelming when you realize how much is riding on this one proposal.

Sending out an ill-made business proposal puts you at risk of losing your client’s buy-in at the very last moment.

This situation is stressful for most people, but it doesn’t have to be. To make this process as stress-free as can be, I put together a guide on how to make a proposal presentation that will give you a leg up over your competitors.

Let's get started!

What does a business proposal presentation look like?

A business proposal presentation today goes beyond traditional slides filled with bullet points. It's a deck that blends text, compelling visuals, and even interactive elements like charts, graphs, and short videos.

This modern approach reflects how we engage with content in our digital age – visually and interactively.

Here's what a modern business proposal presentation looks like:

11 steps for making a winning business proposal presentation

Whether you’re selling products or services to prospective clients or pitching new ventures, business presentations are an everyday part of modern business.

Still, most business professionals don’t know how to do it right.

The reason why so many business proposal presentations fail is that not all elements of a successful business proposal presentation are in place. You can ensure your presentation impresses prospects every time by following the following best practices.

1) Do your research about the prospect

Before you set out to craft your business proposal presentation, you must conduct thorough research about the company you’re going to be pitching to.

Often, the difference between a knockout business presentation and a poor one is the level of confidence during the delivery. Carrying out a great deal of detailed research beforehand will give you the confidence needed to ace the presentation. Here's an example of how you can present your findings in a concise way:

The key pieces of information you need to get are:

What is the company size and sector?

What do their internal processes look like?

Who are the main decision-makers in the company?

Who are they selling their products and services to? Is it a B2B or B2C company?

What is your prospect’s most pressing problem?

What are they hoping to achieve?

What is your role in helping them reach these goals?

What is their allocated budget?

Have they ever used other industry solutions?

Finding the answers to these questions will ensure that your lead is qualified and allow you to bring up relevant insights during your presentation.

It will also make your prospect feel understood , which will capture their attention and boost your closing rate.

How to get information about your prospect

Making a discovery call

Visiting their website

Observing their social media accounts

Analyzing their competitors

B2B databases, such as G2 or Capterra

Data prospecting tools like ZoomInfo or Lusha

2) Personalize your proposal presentation

If you do your homework right and know who your potential client is, you will be able to deliver a tailor-made business proposal presentation.

Our research shows that by personalizing your proposal, you’re increasing the number of people who will read your deck in full by 68% as compared to generic presentations.

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Every single email that starts with “Dear Owner” or “Dear User” immediately goes to live in my Bin folder.

By including a personal note tailored to your recipient, you’re skyrocketing the chances of it living rent-free in their head instead.

4 main ways to personalize your business proposal presentation:

I) Add company-specific insights

This can be anything you learned while doing your research on the prospect or something they mentioned during a discovery call.

II) Include your client’s name and logo in every business proposal presentation

If you’re using a PowerPoint this means going in and manually adding the identifying info into the deck.

If you’re using Storydoc, then this can easily be streamlined for scale using dynamic variables that change specific info for specific recipients.

This feature swaps out your client’s details while the rest of your deck stays intact, and with a 10-second setup, you’re good to go.

Here's how it works:

III) Include your prospect’s branding

If you’re using PowerPoint, then you’ll have to go in and change the design and visuals in your deck to fit your prospect’s branding. Alternatively, you can use a DIY tool like Snappa’s SVG editor or Logo.com’s logo generator .

With Storydoc, you can automatically apply branding pulled from any given website just by providing the website address—including the brand’s colors and fonts.

This will make an impact on your prospect while requiring minimal effort on your part, let alone involving a designer.

IV) Keep your proposal relevant at all times

When choosing client stories to share in your business proposal, stick to companies from a similar field.

Show a deep understanding of your prospect’s industry, key pain points, and competitors. This will make it easier for them to visualize what your solution can do for them.

3) Use a battle-tested presentation structure

It doesn’t matter if you’re in the last stage of your sales pipeline or still moving prospects down the funnel.

There are some common elements each business proposal presentation needs to have in order to perform exceptionally.

In our usage data we see presentations with similar business proposal structures outperform the rest time and time again.

What to include in a business proposal presentation

8 essential slides of a business proposal presentation:

1. Title page: This should include essential information such as your company's name, the client's name, and logo, along with the submission date.

2. Assessment or project overview: Here, clearly define the client's problem or need and outline your proposed solution. This section establishes the context and purpose of your proposal.

3. Executive summary: Offer a concise summary of your proposal, highlighting your unique value proposition. For tips on how to write one, read our 101 guide .

4. Methodology: The how to your what and why . In this part, you should explain the methods you’ll use to deliver on your promises and include a list of deliverables with a projected timetable.

5. Pricing: Provide a clear, transparent breakdown of costs for your services or products. Offering multiple pricing options can cater to different client needs or budgets.

6. Proof of qualifications: Showcase your credibility with evidence of past successes. Include case studies, testimonials, relevant certifications, and any industry awards you've received.

7. Team: Introduce the key team members who will be involved in the project. Highlight their skills and roles to build trust and confidence in your team's capabilities.

8. Next step: Conclude with a call-to-action detailing the next step a prospect is supposed to take after viewing your business proposal presentation.

4) Maximize your impact with a compact presentation

You may feel that the more information you include in your business proposal presentation, the higher your chances of sealing the deal are. But it’s the exact opposite.

The busier people get the narrower their attention spans. I can assure you that when faced with a bulky document, your prospects will either skim through it or not bother reading at all.

It’s more constructive to keep your presentation short and concise by including only the information most relevant to your prospect and with the biggest needed to finalize their decision to buy.

5) Avoid complex information and jargon

Complexity adds to cognitive load and any additional bit of information makes it harder to decide.

The best strategy for your business proposal would be to bring up only the most important aspects of your product or service that came up during the sales process.

You don’t have the time or attention to tell them everything. So tell them what really makes a difference.

Don’t get too technical

No matter how great the technology behind your solution is, I can assure you that most of your clients don’t care about the details. They care about the outcome your solution brings them, and what it’s going to cost them in time and money.

Sounds harsh? Sorry, but that’s the reality.

We don’t buy the latest iPhone because it has a pro 12MP camera system or a lens with a ƒ/1.8 aperture and 120° field of view. We buy it because we can take holiday photos for Instagram that will make Debra from HR green with envy.

Your customers are no different. They don’t need to have the same level of knowledge about your solution that you do. You will only confuse them by bombarding them with technical details.

Write in simple words and sentences

The extent of the attention your proposal will likely get is similar to that of an 8th grader. If you know your solution inside and out, you should be able to explain it simply.

Practice answering these questions as if asked by an 8th grader:

What does your company do and what makes you best qualified for the job?

What are your customers’ main pain points?

What is your proposed solution and how are you going to tackle the prospect’s problems?

What is the project timeline?

How much will it cost the prospect?

What are the gains for a prospect by choosing to work with you?

Who are the main team members that are going to work on this project?

What relevant experience do you have?

Refine your unique value proposition

Always remember that your ability to stand out is limited to your ability to deliver a simple and crisp value proposition. Simple is easy to understand and most importantly makes it easier to choose.

But there’s more! No matter what your business does, your biggest competitor is the status quo , where buyers choose to do nothing at all.

Seth Godin said in his seminal book This is Marketing that sales or marketing professionals are agents of change. But change takes time and effort. It’s easy for buyers to stick to what they have, even if it no longer serves them.

When talking about your product or service, don't just explain the benefits. Also show your clients what they might lose if they don't choose you, and explain the opportunity cost of doing nothing.

Here's a great video explaining how to write a UVP statement:

6) Provide social proof

At this point in the buyer’s journey, your lead should already trust you. If they didn’t, they would not proceed beyond the demo or even book a demo.

So why add social proof again at this late stage?

Well, big expenses make most people’s knees shake. Even if the money is not their own, they will be judged by their procurement (your solution) and the business impact it generates.

You need to have past clients vouch for you, to prove that it’s not your first rodeo and that your buyers can count on you to deliver.

Here are different types of social proof our clients used in their decks.

First up, a classic client testimonial:

Then, client logos with the Capterra rating:

And a mention in a reputable industry publication:

7) Include case studies

Case studies are the dark horse of the business race. They’re the least used asset in B2B because of how work-intensive their production is. But, at the same time, case studies are the most effective type of marketing asset .

By not including a case study in your business proposal, you’re running the risk of potential clients finding out about your solution from other sources. Worst case scenario, those other sources are your competitors. If you feature a case study, you’re in control of the narrative. You can basically have your clients sell for you by covering the main value propositions in their own words.

Here's a case study example from our client:

8) Position yourself as a consultant rather than a seller

It’s mostly true that people hate being sold to, but they love to buy.

Most buyers prefer to avoid meeting with salespeople and follow the self-serve route because they fear that salespeople will pressure or manipulate them into buying the wrong thing.

Sales are already losing big to self-service. A McKinsey survey from 2020 suggests that 70% of B2B buyers now look kindly on making self-serve buying decisions, even when considering solutions costing $500K and more.

But there is a way sales can always stay one step ahead of self-serve, and 10 steps ahead of the competition—shifting from being salesy to being consultative.

This means knowing the concerns and needs of your buyer and delivering the information they need to make an informed decision, even if it means (hope you're sitting down) not buying your product or solution because it’s not a good fit.

This approach was pioneered by Anthony Iannarino , and you can read more about How to be truly consultative on his website The Sales Blog.

9) Add videos to your business proposal

In this day and age, purely static content just won’t cut it anymore . If your slide contains walls of text, most people will skip it and move straight to the next part, or the next proposal.

Out of all visual aid types, videos are the most compelling. People get distracted very easily, so having a video that conveys the same message really helps keep them engaged.

Presentation statistics based on our extensive user data support the claim that video brings a positive impact —if you include a video in your cover slide, 32% more people will interact with your presentation.

The findings are even greater for other presentation sections.

By embedding *any* video in your presentation, you can increase the average reading time by 37% and increase the CTA click-through rate by 17% .

This proposal is a great example of effective video use:

10) Make the next step clear to your buyer

Including a clear call to action at the end of your business proposal presentation is crucial. As obvious as this must sound to some, many businesses fail to do this effectively.

If a prospective client reads the entire business proposal, they’re clearly interested in your value proposition. They may be ready to seal the deal.

The worst thing that can happen at this stage is if they don’t know how to proceed. It’s like building a supermarket without a checkout counter.

Here's an example of a smart CTA:

What's not an effective call to action?

A text that tells your buyer to give you a call

An email link for requesting the documents needed for signing

Or a phone number they need to dial.

An effective call to action can be:

Embedding a calendar to let prospects book the next meeting

The option to download key documents (e.g. an NDA or a contract)

Sending prospects to explore more details about your solution (e.g. try out your tool or look at examples from your portfolio)

Embedding a digital signature for buyers to sign directly in your deck

An embedded payment module for buyers to pay directly from your deck

Here's another great example of a deck with an effective CTA:

11) Move from legacy design to modern design

Most guides teach you how to make a business proposal using PowerPoint presentations. But, b y sending your business proposal presentation in PPT format, you’re giving leads something they’ve seen 1000 times over.

With sales closing rates declining for the past 5 years in a row, it’s a major risk to cling to the old ways.

When we analyzed over 100,000 sales and marketing presentations , we discovered that giving prospects presentations that can only be read majorly kills engagement.

If you want to succeed and grow your win rate you’ll have to move up to dynamic interactive proposal decks.

By giving readers interactive elements to “play around” with, you’re increasing the chances of your deck being read in full by 41% and the average reading time by 146% .

This is what static vs interactive looks like:

How to create a business proposal presentation faster than ever with AI

Tell the AI assistant what kind of proposal you'd like to create.

Provide an overview of your company and your product or service.

Choose your preferred template .

Adjust the design to reflect your or your prospect’s branding in just a few clicks.

Add videos and dynamic storytelling content.

Personalize your business proposals for the specific buyer.

Integrate your sales tools into the deck, like Calendly or DocuSign .

Send the deck and see the data stream in.

Analyze your usage data to get deep insights into your sales process.

Optimize your decks based on what works and what doesn’t work for your prospects.

Interactive business proposal templates

We all know that putting together a proposal can be tough. It's like the final lap in a race where you've got to give it your all.

Interactive business proposal templates are like a roadmap, guiding you on how to structure your proposal so it looks professional and hits all the right notes.

The best part is that they're built to engage. Instead of sending over a standard document, you're bringing your proposal to life with dynamic animations, informative videos, and interactive elements.

Grab a template and see how it can transform your deck.

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

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How to Create an Effective Business Proposal Presentation: Top Tips for Success

Creating an engaging business proposal and presenting it in front of your potential clients might sound like a difficult task. Knowing what to focus on, how to organize the meeting and shape your approach shouldn’t stress you out.

With our comprehensive guide, you’ll see how easy it can be to create a winning proposal. We’ll also give you tips on how to build confidence in your presenting skills and nail every public speaking event, be it around your proposal or not. 

In this article, we’ll cover the proposal presentation creation process, how to best automate it and give you other tips on how to engage your audience. 

Create a great business proposal

Whatever your topic may be, the starting process is the same - research. You need to conduct thorough research into your topic, and your audience as well. 

The questions you need answered are:

• What problem are your clients facing?
• What are your client’s goals?
• How would they like you to go about helping them achieve those goals?
• Have your clients ever worked with any of your competitors before?
• How much budget can they allocate for this project?
• When do they expect to see results?

Once you conduct your research, you can start creating a proposal presentation. In order to speed up your proposal creation process, you’ll want to look into automation software. 

Better Proposals offers a variety of prewritten proposal templates that you can easily customize to your needs. This means that you won’t have to create your presentation from scratch. 

With our beautifully designed templates, you’ll have no problem showing your solution and the benefits you’ll bring to your clients in a way that’s easy to understand for everyone. 

How to structure your presentation

Start with a short introduction. The point of your presentation introduction is to ease your clients in by explaining to them that you’ve listened and understood their issues. They will want to hear about your process and how you’ll help them achieve their goals so make sure you’re not talking too much about yourself and your company. 

Once you’ve created your introduction, it’s time to focus on your process and timescales . This is the time to go into further detail and explain exactly which steps you’re going to take in order to help your client. However, make sure that you’re keeping it easy to understand. 

Your clients won’t have the same technical knowledge as you do, so make sure to explain everything in simple terms. As important as it is to talk about your process, it’s even more important to showcase the benefits. 

That’s how you sell your services - by talking about tangle results. If you’re providing website building, explain how it will lead to increased sales and market share. 

If you’re working with a team, make sure to explain what each member will be working on a week to week basis. 

Once you’ve presented your solution, it’s time to get to the price. If you already know your client’s budget, it will be easy for you to come up with a number. But that’s not all, the way you present your price is also very important. 

Make sure you’re not using the word price and try using words like investment and ROI instead. It will make your proposal stand out and won’t cheapen your offer. Moreover, it’s important to present your price as a single number. 

If you present a few different tiered price points, it will confuse your clients. They won’t know which package to choose, since they are looking to you to explain which steps are needed in order to help them achieve their goals. 

Don’t use your presentation to try and upsell your clients. That should be done once you’ve created a relationship with them and created some results with your solution. 

Add a great case study 

Once you’ve presented your solution and price, it might be a good idea to quickly present a few case studies. They will show how you helped a client in a similar position before. It will be a good way to win over the audience, especially if you think you’ve lost them after presenting your price.

A third-party’s quote about your company will build your credibility. Furthermore, it gives you the opportunity to present the benefits your clients experienced from working with you, as well as how quickly they reached ROI. 

Better Proposals’ templates come with a prewrite structure for case studies. We know what the clients want to see and hear, which is why we make sure to provide a visually pleasing layout. 

There is no need to go into detail on how much trouble your client was in before they started working with you. Nor should you talk about the process employed to help them achieve results. In most cases, this will be similar to the process you’ve already presented to the client, so don’t repeat yourself. 

Instead, focus on the results. By this we mean:

• The benefits the client experienced since working with you . Explain a few details - do they have more time now, have they managed to focus on other parts of their business and more?
• What short and long term goals did you help them achieve?
• When did they achieve ROI ?
• A quote from the previous client.

Case studies are a powerful strategy that can help you win deals and secure more revenue. 

How to end your proposal presentation

After that, make sure to outline the next steps as well as present your guarantee and terms and conditions. 

It might sound silly, but including a clear call to action is very important. Since you’ve already created a great proposal presentation, it would be a shame not to state what needs to happen next. 

Does your client need to send any materials, do they need to pay the first fee, is there a need for a team meeting?

Whatever needs to be done, lay it out in order to make it easy for everyone to understand. 

In the guarantee section, present what you could offer the client if anything goes wrong. A popular example would be to promise a free product or service if you don’t provide them with a finished product in the agreed-upon time frame. 

Personalize your proposal for the specific audience

While you’re creating your proposal presentation, you need to keep in mind who your audience is. You need to know their needs, wants, lifestyles and behaviour. However, not only do you need to know your audience, but their audience as well. 

Who are they selling their products and services to? Firstly, distinguish between a B2B, B2C and a combination of those two types of companies. After that look for any reports that focus on their industry. If you’re selling medical equipment, find out all you can about hospitals, private clinics and any upcoming trends in the market. In addition, identify your competitors and analyze their technological stack using the technographic data insights .

You need to be able to confidently present your proposal and that confidence will come from the amount of research you conduct. 

Analyze the previous efforts your client’s company has made in order to solve the problem. If you could explain to them why it didn’t work, it would further demonstrate your expertise and that you’re the perfect person for the job. 

When using Better Proposals, you can make sure you’ll never address your clients by the wrong name. With our custom merge tags , you can name your clients, their company and brand and automatically personalize your proposals. 

That way, even if you’re recycling your proposal presentations, you can rest assured knowing you didn’t leave the names of your previous clients. 

Send out the proposal before the presentation 

It’s a good idea to send out your presentation before the meeting. 

There are three reasons for that: 

• It will give your clients enough information to think about any questions they might have.
• You can utilize proposal analytics to see exactly what your clients are interested in and shape your approach accordingly.
• If your clients agree to your terms, they can sign them then and there using the digital signature option.

Better Proposals offers a great feature called proposal analytics. They show you when your proposals were opened, by who, if they were forwarded, signed and paid. 

You will also receive notifications via email for every action your client takes. Moreover, you’ll know exactly how much time did they spend on each of the chapters. 

This type of insight will help you understand which parts of your presentation to focus more on in the meeting. Did your client jump straight to the price or did they read every section? Once you analyze their actions, you’ll have a different perspective on your presentation. 

Focus on the problem you’re solving, not your offer

Don’t underestimate the power of benefits and value you can bring to your clients. That’s what they’re most interested in. We know that it’s tempting to focus on your offer and go into great detail about how you’re the best person for the job based on your price, approach, quality of work and more. 

As important as that is, make sure your primary focus is on the problem you’re going to solve and the benefits you’ll bring them. 

Your clients won’t be that interested in your features and other technical details. They want to hear what their future will look like if they start a business relationship with you. For example, if you’re selling a meal prep kit, it would make more sense to highlight benefits like - freeing up time in your customers' days, offering a variety of meal plans and more. 

Talking about the technical aspects of your business would only be interesting to potential investors or employees. That's why it’s important to focus on the value you’re bringing to the client. 

Arrive early in a neutral setting

The last tip we have for you is to meet the client in a neutral setting. Most of the time the client will want you to come to their office. Even though you’d want to accommodate your clients, meeting them in their office might be detrimental to your deal. 

Their office is a place with a lot of distractions. Anyone can walk in and ask for input on their own work, there are deliveries going on and the phones ringing off the hook. Offices are not known as quiet places and that is why you’d want to move the meeting to a more neutral setting. 

Our advice is to choose a hotel lobby. They are usually quiet during the workday, making them the perfect setting for a business meeting. 

It’s also important to come early. That way you can choose the perfect table, order a drink (nothing alcoholic though) and relax. If you get nervous about presenting, arriving early will help you set up and focus. 

Further tips we have for anyone presenting are: 

• Rehearse your presentation in front of your colleagues.
• Plan out your pauses and the points you’ll highlight.
• Make sure to connect with your audience, don’t just look at your materials.
• Think about the possible questions they can ask you in advance so that you can prepare answers.

If you win a deal right after the presentation, you’re already in the right place to celebrate. Once everything is done, you can seal the deal with a drink or two. 

The first rule of presentations is - to prepare. The more time and effort you put into your presentation, the more confidence you’ll have in your presenting skills. With our actionable guide, you’ll quickly be able to create a beautifully designed presentation that will help you win the deal. 

Make sure you start any proposal presentation with thorough research into your potential clients. You’ll have to know the answers to all your questions about the way you would implement your solution before you start writing the proposal. 

If you use Better Proposals, you’ll love how quickly and easily you can create a document that is easy to get through and engaging. Sign up for a free trial today and find out for yourself how much our platform can help you in the proposal process.

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4 Ways You’re Ending Your Business Presentations Wrong

Close a Presentation Effectively

You may think your presentations are incredibly well put together; you invest a lot of time into practicing your delivery and you are careful to use body language that sends a positive message to your audience. You know your stuff. You speak confidently. You hook your listeners with an opening that they can’t resist.

Collectively, these are terrific presentations skills and they are critical to your overall presentation. Do they also culminate with an equally formidable conclusion that leaves your listeners ready to spring into action?

Here’s what you need to know about delivering a memorable business presentation: How you end your presentation is what the audience will remember the most. The next most memorable piece? Your opening . That’s not to say everything in between doesn’t matter—after all, it’s the meat of your presentation—but your opening and your closing need to be spot-on. If the final three minutes of your presentation does not leave a lasting impression on your listeners, it’s doubtful they’ll be inclined to do anything with the information you’ve given them after the presentation wraps up.

End a Business Presentation Like a Pro

Just like programming a GPS, it’s easier and more effective to plan your route when you know where you want to end up. Use the same principle when you sit down to work on your presentation: Create the ending first so you can map out the shortest, simplest, and most effective route to get there. The Number 1 mistake people make in their business presentations is failing to get to the end fast enough. There isn’t a prize for the presenter who talks the longest. Say what you need to say and then stop.  Believe me, your audience will appreciate your ability to deliver a timely message.

Here are other mistakes you might not even realize you’re making at the end of your business presentations:

You don’t tie up loose ends. We tell our workshop participants that one of the best ways to start a presentation is with a story .  If you open with a story, you need to make sure it has a conclusion, which is usually placed in your closing. Think of it this way: When you watch a movie or read a book, you expect a sense of closure at the end, even if it’s a bad outcome. Don’t leave your audience hanging; if you open with a story, let them know how the story ends.

You don’t emphasize your main point with repetition. Repetition is the key to learning; it’s the reason you practice your presentation over and over before delivering it.  Repeat your main point in your closing so that your audience will think about it one more time.  Remember, the last few minutes of your presentation are what people will remember the most.

There’s no call to action. If you don’t tell your audience what to do with the information you’ve given them, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll do nothing, and your presentation goes to waste.  Challenge your listeners to do something after your presentation, even if it’s just to look at the world in a different way.  Business presentations don’t have to be dry and boring. Figure out a way to motivate your listeners to do something when it’s over.

The Message Lasts Beyond Your Final Words

Are you guilty of making any of these mistakes? Knowing how to close a presentation effectively is one of the most important skills to have in your public speaking arsenal if you want audiences to remember you after the mic is turned off.

Don’t forget to check out our social media pages for more tips on public speaking and business communication skills. You’ll find us on Facebook , Twitter , Google+ and LinkedIn .

14 Comments

Sage advice. I will remember to start with the end in mind. Nice blog post.

Ꮃorking as a contгact paralegal has factors in its favor, and factors which migһt Ƅe adverse to some peoρle. Most of us arn’t very good at presenting.

One of the things my favorite speeches or presentations have is a link from the opening to the closing. Whether its tying statistics together, finishing the appealing short story, answering the question, or using a compare and contrast method, when a speaker closes by showing me where we started by showing me how the finish really ties back to the beginning, I feel the message is complete. This process doesn’t always happen and I’m left thinking, “That’s it?!?”

Good post! We are linking to this great content on our website. Keep up the good writing.

Helpful information. I try to remember that the first thing someone will remember about me is the last thing I said. Thank you.

I completely agree with the idea that business presentations don’t have to be dry and boring. There is always room for creativity and that is what can set you apart from others.

Nice post. I had always issues with body language but I am working in it. Also sometimes the presentation goes well, but the closeing isnt as good. Good tips.

Great Post, I also had trouble with the endings. I’ll definitely give a task to my fellow crowd next time.

Ahh, so thank you here’s my business card isn’t sufficient. I need to get better at this for sure!

Well written and useful post. Yes, the beginning and the closing is so important, and so is body language.

Thanks for sharing these tips. I’ve read a lot about public speaking and your site is easy to navigate and your blogs are easy to understand (that’s a big accomplishment there). I never knew the end part of the presentation The recommendations are excellent because giving a speech is a form of story-telling. You really hit the nail on its head with these tips.

Thank you for these tips. I recently got promoted at work and will have to start giving press conferences as well as hosting rooms filled with potential clients. My wife noticed I hadn’t been eating much, I have been a nervous wreck. She actually e-mailed me this page. These small tips have likely saved me from embarrassing myself or losing my audience. Thank you!!

Wow! this is really a professional advice, the end of a presentation is also as important as the end as well.Thanks alot for sharing

Good article. Very informative and reliable, thanks for sharing this and keep up the good work. Very much appreciated

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How to Present a Business Proposal: The Complete Guide

Benjamin Reimann

Business proposal | business proposal presentation | how-to | sales tips | winning business, october 7, 2021.

It’s been three long months. You’ve done your research, toiled over every sentence, spent sleepless nights formulating the perfect business proposal. Surely, that should be enough, right?

Wrong. There is one more thing you need to do. And if you get it wrong, it could mean the last three months were for nothing — you need to do a business proposal presentation.

The one thing between your business and the finish line is a compelling presentation where you communicate the key points of your proposed solution. With so much riding on this, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But don’t worry: by the end of this 8-minute guide, you’ll be an expert on how to present a business proposal.

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What Is A Business Proposal?

What is the purpose of a business proposal presentation, open with the problem or need, offer a solution and elaborate, finish with a call-to-action, discuss benefits over features., practice incessantly and get lots of feedback., anticipate and incorporate answers to the questions you’ll receive., ask questions throughout to involve the audience., use stories throughout your presentation., provide written copies on the day of the presentation., don’t lean on your slides as a crutch., building a slide deck your clients will remember, get your business off the ground today with pure proposals, how do i write a business proposal, what is in a business proposal, how long should a business proposal presentation be.

A business proposal is a document you present to a potential client or customers that details a solution to their problem. Typically, business proposals are written documents containing information about deliverables, performance metrics, budgeting projections, expected outcomes, and more.

You’re most likely to see business proposals in a business-to-business (B2B) setting, generally to win over business clients, suppliers, and partners. A proposal can be:

• Formally Solicited: Here, you’re given a list of requirements that you must follow to a tee.
• Informally Solicited: If the client isn’t entirely sure of what the problem or pain point is, they may put out an official request for your research and solutions.
• Unsolicited: These kinds of proposals are uncommon, but they have their place in sales and marketing funnels.

Often, the business proposal process is a laborious one. An in-person presentation tends to be the final barrier to overcome when trying to close a deal with a client.

Typically, after sending a business proposal document, you’ll be called in to deliver a presentation about the proposal. The presentation is where potential clients can finally see the human element of all the documents and spreadsheets they’ve been scanning thus far.

If you can’t communicate the contents of your business proposal clearly through a presentation, then there’s a good chance the days, weeks, or months you’ve spent preparing the proposal could go to waste. A well-delivered proposal presentation will inspire your audience to act then and there to accept your proposition.

How To Structure Your Business Proposal Presentation

The last thing you want is for your presentation to feel too robotic and formulaic. That said, there are a few essential points you should always hit on:

Let’s dive deeper into each one.

A common mistake is to start with a 30-second spiel about you and your company. The problem? Your audience (aka potential clients) probably doesn’t care about you as much as they care about their own company’s issues. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to get past this: start by detailing their problems.

By opening with the customer’s needs vs. a self-introduction, you achieve three things:

• You demonstrate a vested interest in your clients’ success.
• You’re grabbing your audience’s attention by centering them in the presentation.
• You’ve set off a narrative structure by introducing the conflict. (More on this later).

Make sure to use facts, figures, and statistics here to drive your points home.

This will be the most comprehensive section of your presentation. Draw on the data from your written business proposal to flesh out this area, including information about project details, deliverables, performance metrics, budgets, talent, and more. It’s acceptable to follow the structure of your written proposal, but try to incorporate the details into a narrative format.

You should be going into this meeting with an ask in mind — signing a contract, purchasing a bundle, scheduling the next appointment. Ideally, your presentation leads towards this CTA, so you should make it easy for your audience to follow up: include your contact information on the slide, have printed copies of the contract on hand, etc.

Now that you have a basic idea of the structure of a business proposal presentation, let’s go over some tips to elevate your presentation from good to great.

7 Tips on How to Present a Business Proposal Presentation

Have you ever watched an Apple keynote delivered by Steve Jobs? Controversial as the man may have been, one thing is incontestable: he knew how to give a presentation. One of Jobs’ best tricks was to highlight benefits over features. Instead of telling you about the iPod’s internal architecture for data storage, he told you how many songs it could help you fit in your pocket. In your presentation, focus less on the technical specifications of your solution and more on the benefits it will give your client.

Anyone who’s ever winged a presentation with zero preparation knows how frustrating it can be — you know you could do better if only you had more time. Avoid those feelings by practicing as much as you can: in the mirror, in the car, and ideally in front of people who will give you honest and constructive feedback. That leads nicely into the following tip:

There’s a good chance you’ll offer your audience a Q&A period at the end of your business proposal presentation.To avoid getting caught off-guard, get questions from a practice audience in advance. If you can seamlessly mold the answers into your presentation, incorporate them. If not, it doesn’t hurt to have an appendix section at the end of your PowerPoint that you can use to address your potential client’s concerns. Speaking of questions…

Every effective presentation starts with a hook: a startling statistic, the start of a story, an exciting discovery, or a question for the audience. A common mistake is to stop there. You want your audience engaged throughout your business proposal presentation, after all. Include questions and tone shifts at various points in your PowerPoint to give your audience a chance to participate and engage.

Another powerful tool to keep your audience engaged is storytelling. Remember that narrative structure we mentioned earlier? Our brains are wired to process and recall information better if it’s framed in a story. The structure up above is a straightforward iteration of that: problem, solution, epilogue. You can also use smaller stories to add credibility during your presentation: customer testimonials, past achievements, and beyond.

It would be wrong to assume that every single person you’re presenting to has read the extended business proposal. That’s why it’s an excellent idea to have printed copies of the proposal ready and available when you give your presentation. It shows preparation and consideration for your client — a winning combination.

Technology is incredible. Unfortunately, it is also unreliable. You’ve probably been in a situation where technical difficulties have sullied, even ruined, a presentation or pitch. If you grow dependent on your slides to deliver the business proposal presentation, you’ll be in trouble if (and when) you run into computer issues. Construct your presentation so that it works without any slides — it’ll keep you prepared for the worst-case scenario.

So we’ve established that over-reliance on your PowerPoint presentation is a bad idea — but that doesn’t mean you ignore it entirely. Here are five tips for selecting, designing, and building an unforgettable slide deck:

Use consistent typography. Your slide aesthetics are a crucial part of conveying professionalism and thoughtfulness to your audience. Use a legible font (Sans Serif and some Serif fonts will do the trick) with enough contrast that viewers can read if they want to.

Follow a visually appealing color palette. A well-designed slide deck will flow seamlessly with your spoken presentation, but an ugly one will distract from your speech entirely. Keep it simple and stick to three to five colors that complement each other and your brand (or even your clients’).

Vary your slide layouts. Do your best to keep your PowerPoint visually interesting. Following the same format for every slide looks boring and comes across as lazy. Try slides with lots of whitespace and a central statistic, or one that’s entirely an image. On the subject of images…

Add distinctive images over generic ones. Your viewers will remember 65% of the details you provide when an image accompanies them. Unfortunately, that effect loses power when you use grainy, low-quality, and generic photos. Choose diagrams wisely — they should complement or clarify what you’re talking about, not just show it visually.

Don’t overload with text. When most people see a slide deck filled with text, they automatically start reading it. The result? They’re no longer paying attention to you. Don’t add a word-for-word transcript to your slide — instead, summarize the key points and expand upon them verbally.

You’ve got what you need to deliver a presentation that will amaze your client — all that’s left to do is present it! Show up early, speak with confidence, and have faith: you’re going to do great!.

By now, you’ve probably realized that the business proposal process is hard work. In all honesty, you probably just want to get back to the thing you love: your company.

That’s where we come in; here at Pure Proposals, our mission is to help your business thrive using PandaDoc to boost your sales, improve customer experience, and make proposals easier.

Curious to learn more? Chat with us today !

Frequently Asked Questions

Your first step is to determine what the company requires from you — is it a formally solicited proposal? If not, follow traditional conventions: a title page, table of contents, executive summary, statement of need, proposed solution, explanation of capacity, projected billing and budget, and final terms and conditions. Check out our dedicated post on “How to Write a Business Proposal” .

A business proposal contains information regarding a client’s issues or pain points and a proposed solution on how to solve them. Business proposals tend to be data-driven and well-researched, so they may contain diagrams, graphs, and spreadsheets too.

Depending on the situation, varying proposal lengths are appropriate. For a more casual context, a one-pager that covers the basics is all you need. A longer document (around ten pages) is a better fit in more formal settings, such as with prospective customers.

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• By Illiya Vjestica
• - January 23, 2023

10 Powerful Examples of How to End a Presentation

Here are 10 powerful examples of how to end a presentation that does not end with a thank you slide.

How many presentations have you seen that end with “Thank you for listening” or “Any questions?” I bet it’s a lot…

“Thank you for listening.” is the most common example. Unfortunately, when it comes to closing out your slides ending with “thank you” is the norm. We can create a better presentation ending by following these simple examples.

The two most essential slides of your deck are the ending and intro. An excellent presentation ending is critical to helping the audience to the next step or following a specific call to action.

There are many ways you can increase your presentation retention rate . The most critical steps are having a solid call to action at the end of your presentation and a powerful hook that draws your audience in.

What Action do You Want Your Audience to Take?

Before designing your presentation, start with this question – what message or action will you leave your audience with?

Are you looking to persuade, inspire, entertain or inform your audience? You can choose one or multiple words to describe the intent of your presentation.

Think about the action words that best describe your presentation ending – what do you want them to do? Inspire, book, learn, understand, engage, donate, buy, book or schedule. These are a few examples.

If the goal of your presentation is to inspire, why not end with a powerful and inspiring quote ? Let words of wisdom be the spark that ignites an action within your audience.

Here are three ways to end your presentation:

• Call to Action – getting the audience to take a specific action or next step, for example, booking a call, signing up for an event or donating to your cause.
• Persuade – persuading your audience to think differently, try something new, undertake a challenge or join your movement or community.
• Summarise – A summary of the key points and information you want the audience to remember. If you decide to summarise your talk at the end, keep it to no more than three main points.

10 Examples of How to End a Presentation

1. Asking your audience to take action or make a pledge.

Here were asking the audience to take action by using the wording “take action” in our copy. This call to action is a pledge to donate. A clear message like this can be helpful for charities and non-profits looking to raise funding for their campaign or cause.

2. Encourage your audience to take a specific action, e.g. joining your cause or community

Here was are asking the audience to join our community and help solve a problem by becoming part of the solution. It’s a simple call to action. You can pass the touch to your audience and ask them to take the next lead.

3. Highlight the critical points for your audience to remember.

Rember, to summarise your presentation into no more than three key points. This is important because the human brain struggles to remember more than three pieces of information simultaneously. We call this the “Rule of Three”.

4. If you are trying to get more leads or sales end with a call to action to book a demo or schedule a call.

Can you inspire your audience to sign up for a demo or trial of your product? Structure your talk to lead your prospect through a journey of the results you generate for other clients. At the end of your deck, finish with a specific call to action, such as “Want similar results to X?”

Make sure you design a button, or graphic your prospect can click on when you send them the PDF version of the slides.

5. Challenge your audience to think differently or take action, e.g. what impact could they make?

6. Give your audience actions to help share your message.

7. Promote your upcoming events or workshops

8. Asking your audience to become a volunteer.

9. Direct your audience to learn more about your website.

10. If you are a book author, encourage your audience to engage with your book.

6 Questions to Generate an Ending for Your Presentation

You’ve told an engaging story, but why end your presentation without leaving your audience a clear message or call to action?

Here are six great questions you can ask yourself to generate an ending for your presentation or keynote talk.

• What impression would you want to leave your audience with?
• What is the big idea you want to leave them with?
• What action should they take next?
• What key point should you remember 72 hours after your presentation?
• What do you want them to feel?
• What is the key takeaway for them to understand?

What to Say After Ending a Presentation?

When you get to the end of a book, you don’t see the author say, “thank you for reading my last chapter.” Of course, there is no harm in thanking the audience after your presentation ends, but don’t make that the last words you speak.

Think of the ending of the presentation as the final chapter of an epic novel. It’s your chance to leave a lasting impression on the audience. Close with an impactful ending and leave them feeling empowered, invigorated and engaged.

• Leave a lasting impression.
• Think of it as the last chapter of a book.
• Conclude with a thought or question.
• Leave the audience with a specific action or next step.

How to End a Presentation with Style?

There are many great ways you can end your presentation with style. Are you ready to drop the mic?

Ensure your closing slide is punchy, has a clear headline, or uses a thought-provoking image.

Think about colours. You want to capture the audience’s attention before closing the presentation. Make sure the fonts you choose are clear and easy to read.

Do you need to consider adding a link? If you add links to your social media accounts, use icons and buttons to make them easy to see. Add a link to each button or icon. By doing this, if you send the PDF slides to people, they can follow the links to your various accounts.

What Should you Remember?

💡 If you take one thing away from this post, it’s to lose the traditional ending slides. Let’s move on from the “Thank you for your attention.” or “Any questions.” slides.

These don’t help you or the audience. Respect them and think about what they should do next. You may be interested to learn 3 Tactics to Free Your Presentation Style to help you connect to your audience.

Illiya Vjestica

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Blog Business

How to Write Business Proposal (Examples + Free Templates)

By Aditya Sheth , Jan 25, 2024

The great Mark Cuban once said, “Sales cure all.” If a business doesn’t sell, it doesn’t make money and by extension the business fails. That’s why you need to write business proposals .

A well-written business proposal can often mean the difference between winning or losing a prospective client.

In this in-depth guide to creating business proposals, we show you how to close more deals, make more sales and crush your business goals — all by using easy-to-edit professional business proposal templates .

Here’s what this guide will cover (click to jump ahead):

What is a business proposal, what are the components of a business proposal.

• How to write a business proposal step by step

What should you include in a business proposal?

What are the types of business proposals, more business proposal examples + writing and design tips.

• FAQs about business proposals

Looking for a shortcut? Watch this quick video for an overview of everything to include in your business proposal:

A business proposal is a document designed to outline a business plan to convince potential client, investor or partner to engage in a business agreement with you or your company. It’s basically a sales pitch in writing to persuade potential clients to show them benefits of working with you or your company for their business success.

A business proposal outlines what your business does and what you can do for your client . It can be general like this business proposal example:

Or it can be more specific, like this business proposal template which focuses on proposing a project for the Newton Center Rail:

Or this business proposal sample, which presents a plan for a social media strategy and campaign:

To design a business proposal that holds the client’s attention, identify their pain points . Then provide your buyer with the right solution to alleviate those frustrations.

Working on a new project? These project proposal examples might come in handy for you.

The components of a business proposal can change depending on the field, company size and client needs. While details may differ, strong proposals typically introduce your company, explain the problem, offer a solution and its benefits, highlight your team’s skills, and outline timeline, cost and next steps.

How to write a business proposal step by step

Before you start creating your business proposal template, you need to understand the business proposal format. At a high level, your effective business proposal should include the following:

• Create a compelling business proposal title
• Build a table of contents
• Craft the executive summary
• Write a detailed problem statement
• Propose your solutions
• Showcase your team’s expertise
• Create a realistic timeline
• Present your payment structure
• Specify the terms and conditions
• Receiving the decision

Below, you can see business proposal examples that demonstrate how to include these 10 sections.

1. Create a compelling business proposal title

A compelling title could mean the difference between someone reading your proposal or ignoring it in favor of a competitor’s . 

What makes a good title page? Here are the essential elements to include: 

• Your name along with your company’s name
• The name of the prospect (or their business) 
• The date you’re submitting the proposal

The gray business consulting proposal template above contains all the details a prospect would want to know. The title also offers a strong tangible benefit to the prospective buyer. Honestly, “Who doesn’t want to grow their business?”

2. Build a table of contents

The table of contents is a fundamental part of every winning business proposal template. It makes your proposal scannable and easy to read.

The people you will be pitching to are usually C-level executives. These are busy people who don’t have time to read your entire proposal in one go.

That’s why most of the business proposal examples in this list include a table of contents.

Adding a table of contents to your document makes it easy for them to go through it at their own pace. They can also skim through parts of the proposal that they deem more important. You can see how this abstract business proposal template uses the table of contents:

You can also make your business proposal template easier to navigate by adding hyperlinks to the document, particularly in the table of contents. This way your clients can jump to specific sections without having to scroll through the entire document. 

It’s easy to add hyperlinks in the Venngage editor. Select the text you’d like to turn into a link, then click the link icon in the top bar. From there, select the page you want to link to! Then download your completed design as an Interactive PDF .

3. Craft the executive summary

The executive summary is a staple in all kinds of annual reports , leadership development plan , project plans and even marketing plans . It is a concise summary of the entire contents of your document. In other words, write a business proposal outline that is easy to glance over and that highlights your value proposition.

The goals of your executive summary are:

• Introduce your company to your buyer
• Provide an overview of your company goals
• Showcase your company’s milestones, overall vision and future plans
• Include any other relevant details

This gray business proposal example has a detailed yet short executive summary including some social proof in the form of clients they’ve worked with:

Take note of how precise this business proposal example is. You want to keep your executive summary concise and clear from the get-go. This sets the right tone for the rest of your proposal. It also gives your buyer a reason to continue reading your proposal.

Crafting an executive summary and keeping it concise and compelling can be challenging. but you can use an AI summarizer online to generate an executive summary. Such tools are trained on relevant AI models that can extract core points from a given text. You can get such a point either in bullet form or in abstract summary form.

Pro Tip: Try to write an executive summary such that, even if your prospective client doesn’t read the entire proposal (with a good executive summary, they most likely will), they should have a clear idea about what your company does and how you can help them.

4. Write a detailed problem statement

The point of writing a business proposal is to solve a buyer’s problem. Your goal is to outline the problem statement as clearly as possible. This develops a sense of urgency in your prospect. They will want to find a solution to the problem. And you have that solution.

 A well-defined problem statement does two things: 

• It shows the prospect you have done your homework instead of sending a generic pitch
• It creates an opportunity for you to point out a problem your prospect might not be aware they had in the first place. 

This bold business proposal template above clearly outlines the problem at hand and also offers a ray of hope i.e. how you can solve your prospect’s problem. This brings me to… 

5. P ropose your solutions

The good stuff. In the proposed solution section, you show how you can alleviate your prospective buyer’s pain points. This can fit onto the problem statement section but if you have a comprehensive solution or prefer to elaborate on the details, a separate section is a good idea.

Spare no details regarding the solution you will provide. When you write a business proposal, explain how you plan to deliver the solution. Include an estimated timeline of when they can expect your solution and other relevant details.

For inspiration, look at how this business proposal template quickly and succinctly outlines the project plan, deliverables and metrics :

6. Showcase your team’s expertise

At this point, the prospect you’re pitching your solution to likes what they’re reading. But they may not trust you to deliver on your promises. Why is this?

It’s because they don’t know you. Your job is to convince them that you can fix their problem. This section is important because it acts as social proof. You can highlight what your company does best and how qualified your team is when you write a business proposal for a potential client.

This free business proposal template showcases the company’s accolades, client testimonials, relevant case studies, and industry awards. You can also include other forms of social proof to establish yourself as a credible business. This makes it that much more likely that they will say yes!

Pro Tip: Attaching in-depth case studies of your work is a great way to build trust with a potential client by showcasing how you’ve solved similar problems for other clients in the past. Our case study examples post can show you how to do just that.

7. Create a realistic timeline

To further demonstrate just how prepared you are, it’s important to outline the next steps you will take should your buyer decide to work with you.

Provide a timeline of how and when you will complete all your deliverables. You can do this by designing a  flow chart . Or add a  roadmap  with deadlines. Pitching a long-term project? A timeline infographic would be a better fit.

If you look at this abstract business proposal template below, even something as simple as a table can do the trick.

The timeline is not always set in stone, rather it’s an estimation. The goal is to clarify any questions your potential client might have about how you will deliver for the underlying B2B sales process.

8. Present your payment and terms

On this page, you can outline your fees, payment schedule, invoice payment terms , as well as legal aspects involved in this deal. You can even use the  Excel Invoice Template  to create professional-looking invoices (including brand logo and other elements) and add them to this page.

The key to good pricing is to provide your buyer with options. A  pricing comparison table can help with this. You want to give your client some room to work with. Make sure you’re not scaring off your client with a high price, nor undervaluing yourself. 

Breaking up your pricing in stages is another great way to make sure your potential client knows what he’s paying for. Look at how this simple business proposal template does this:

The legal aspects can slot right into the terms and conditions section. Alternatively, you can add them to the signature section of the proposal to keep things simple.

9. Specify the terms and conditions

Summarize everything you have promised to deliver so far. Include what you expect from your prospective buyer in return.   Add the overall project timeline from start to end, as well as payment methods and payment schedule, incorporating these details into an online digital project management tool. This way, both of you will be clear on what is being agreed on.

This step is very important as it outlines all the legal aspects of the deal. That is why the terms and conditions section of your proposal needs to be as clear as possible.

I recommend consulting a lawyer or your legal team when working on this section of the business proposal. If you’re a business veteran and understand the legalities of your business, you can use the same terms and conditions across all your proposals.

10. Receiving the decision

The final step of this whole process. Your client has read your business proposal and they want to buy what you have to offer.

Add a small section at the end of your proposal to get the necessary signatures. This way, you and your client can sign the proposal and the partnership becomes official.

Be sure to also include your contact information in your business proposal template. It acts as a gentle prompt to your client to contact you in case they have any questions. A professional way of doig that would be to include an e-business card with your contact details, email i.d and any other social links you want to share. You can go through this article for the best digital business cards .

A business proposal usually aims to answer the following questions: 

• Who you are and what your company does
• The problem your buyer is facing
• The solution your company offers to alleviate the problem
• How your company will implement this solution effectively
• An estimate of resources (time, money, etc) required to implement the solution

You can see how this sample business proposal template covers the above points.

Notice how this proposal template addresses the same project like in one of the previous templates, but uses a completely different design style (more retro, while the previous business proposal template is more modern and minimalistic).

Generally, there are three types of business proposals:

1. Formally solicited 

A formally solicited business proposal is made when you respond to an official request to write a business proposal.

In this scenario, you know all the requirements and have more (if not all) information about a prospective buyer. You simply need to write the business proposal for your buyer to evaluate so you can begin the sales process .

2. Informally solicited 

Informally solicited business proposals are written when there isn’t an official request for a proposal. A prospective buyer is interested in your services and asks for a proposal so they can evaluate it.

An informally solicited proposal requires a lot more research from your end. These types of proposals are usually created out of informal conversations. They are not based on official requests which often contain more detail.

3. Unsolicited 

Think of this as a marketing brochure or a cold email . Unsolicited business proposals will often take a generic, one-size-fits-all approach to business proposals. Unsolicited proposals lack any understanding of the buyer or their requirements.

But with additional  market research , personalization and identifying customer pain points , you can propose a customized solution based on your buyer’s needs. This can be a very persuasive approach, such as in this business proposal example:

Now that you know how to write a business proposal, let’s look at how you can optimize your proposal to deliver results!

Below you’ll find some winning business proposal templates and examples to get you started. I’ve also included some design tips to keep in mind when you’re creating your next business proposal: 

1. Know your audience 

If you have some clarity on who your ideal buyer is — their pain points, their budget, deadlines, among other things — you’ve already won half the battle.

If you are a business that helps clients with everything from running giveaways or helping grow their blog , identify which customers to pitch. This is a sure-shot way to close the deal.

Mapping user personas  for your ideal buyer can help bring some clarity. It will also help you position your business proposal correctly. This improves the chance of your buyer moving your business proposal to the “Yes!” pile.

2. Put your brand front and center

If your company follows certain brand guidelines, incorporate them in your business proposal templates. Consider how business proposal examples like the one below highlight brand identity :

From the color palettes to the company logos , everything follows their brand guidelines. The result: a business proposal that’s consistent across the board.

Pro Tip: Switching this template to match your brand assets is actually pretty easy. Venngage’s My Brand Kit feature allows you to import your color palettes, logos as well as font choices. Any Venngage template can now be your template.

You can also consider this sample business proposal template:

App design companies sure do know their design. They did a phenomenal job keeping their brand colors consistent while opting for a black design. This unique color scheme also makes their white logo prominent throughout the proposal.

3. Try less text, more visuals

Have you ever read a proposal and thought to yourself, “Wow, this is all text and has no images, I love it!”? Yeah, me neither.

The free business proposal template below is a perfect example of the “less is more” principle. It does a phenomenal job of communicating what it needs to. By substituting some of the text with icons and visuals, you get a clean business proposal that’s much more scannable.

Want to keep things strictly professional? Instead of icons, you can always add your team’s headshots. This shows your buyer exactly who they’ll be working with.  

Check out this formal business proposal format for some inspiration:

4. Switch up your business proposal designs

It doesn’t hurt to go above and beyond once in a while. Jazz up your business proposal template with some extra colors. This helps make your business proposal more engaging. It also helps your buyers retain information faster.

The business proposal example alternates between black, white and grey backgrounds. It still manages to maintain consistency in its branding . Just switching up your backgrounds once in a while can also bring in some variety to an otherwise standard business proposal.

This SEO business proposal sample proves that it’s possible to switch up the colors in every other page. But it still maintains the same color scheme across the entire proposal just like a professionally designed website : 

Pro Tip: Not a color expert? Our guide on picking colors can help you pick the right color scheme for your proposals.

FAQ about business proposals

What is the purpose of a business proposal.

A business proposal aims to streamline the B2B sales process (which is often complex ) between you as a seller and a buyer.

It does this by serving the dual purpose of acting as a source of information. The proposal also acts as a sales pitch aimed at convincing your buyer why they should buy what you have to offer.

What are the best practices for business proposal design?

• Do a thorough spell-check. The goal of your business proposal is to convince your buyer why you’re the perfect person for the job. A proposal with typos or grammatical errors communicates the opposite. A thorough spell-check before you send your proposal is a must.
• Keep things clear and readable: Clarity is an important aspect that you have to ensure in your business proposal. If you want your proposal to hit home and make an impact on the buyer, you have to write it in an understandable way. To keep things clear and readable, there are a couple of things that you can do. You can, for one, take care to use easy wording and segmented sentences from the get-go. You can also try paraphrasing the hard parts of your proposal once you are done writing it.
• Let your brand shine. As discussed before, writing a business proposal is all about knowing your ideal buyer and focusing on their pain points. But that doesn’t mean your business proposal template has to be boring. Demonstrate how different you are compared to other companies. You can do this through your brand guidelines , by using more visuals, switching up your proposal design or showing off your personality in your writing . 
• Create a business proposal PDF. Downloading your business proposal in PDF format allows you to attach other collaterals with your business proposal. These can include a company explainer video or case studies showcasing the work done with past clients. Also, who doesn’t love saving paper?

How long should your business proposal be? 

The length depends on the scope of the work as well as the complexity of the project. Here is a one-page business proposal template:

Can your business proposal template really be one page? Yes, as long as you understand who your buyer is and their pain points. You should also have the ability to communicate everything your ideal buyer needs to know about your business in a succinct manner.

Or if you’re feeling adventurous how about just two pages? Often, clients prefer if you go straight to the point and avoid all the fluff.

For example, this green modern marketing proposal template wastes no time in getting down to brass tacks:

Need more inspiration? Check out this blog on the 5 marketing proposal examples that’ll help elevate your business.

There is no one size fits all approach when it comes to deciding how many pages you should include in your business proposal template. And at the end of the day, “the only rules are the ones you set for yourself”.

At the end of the day, writing winning business proposals that sell is all about you understanding your buyer, their potential pain points and positioning yourself as someone who can alleviate those pain points. 

Now that you know how to write compelling business proposals, what are you waiting for?

Take action and start creating your own business proposals to close more deals and grow your business today!

More business communications templates + writing tips you might be interested in…

• 31 Consulting Proposal Templates to Close Deals
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• How to Write a White Paper [Tips & Templates]

Closing a Proposal

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Writing a business proposal conclusion involves summarizing all of your main points, overcoming objections and finishing with a flourish. Just as in closing a sales presentation, closing a proposal should include asking for a specific response or action. Be prepared for a “yes” by having necessary documents and paperwork available so you can secure the deal right away.

Address Potential Objections

Successfully constructing a project proposal conclusion involves addressing and dismissing any potential objections to the issue at hand. For example, if you’re writing a proposal for your manager about utilizing telecommuting staffers in your office, anticipated objections could relate to employee oversight, productivity and teamwork efforts.

While you likely addressed these concerns earlier in your proposal, the closing is the place to briefly reiterate solutions to potential main areas of concern. A proposal conclusion example that successfully addresses potential objections could say, “To reiterate, telecommuting employees will be required to meet daily production quotas, check in twice daily by email and teleconference with management at the start of each day.”

If you're writing a high-stakes proposal, consider brainstorming potential objections with co-workers to ensure you cover all your bases. You'll not only impress your manager or client with your foresight, but also save time by producing a proposal that mitigates the need for extensive back-and-forth discussion.

Summarize Key Points of the Proposal

Summarize the key points of your proposal (which in itself is a summary of prior conversations, according to Industrial Marketer ) in the conclusion. Focus on why action is needed and emphasize the benefits the action will have for the company. Consider keeping things organized in a written proposal by presenting the key ideas as bullet points.

For example, “Telecommuting will reduce overhead, improve productivity and allow us to expand our staffing and our access to expert freelancers.” If you have vital facts and figures related to costs, earnings or productivity projections, summarize them here as well.

Describe the Next Steps

Describing the next steps to take if a proposal is accepted is a way to take your presentation from a thought or idea into a real concept that decision-makers can visualize.

For example, “With our teleconferencing system already in place and a dozen full-time employees interested in taking their jobs from full-time to telecommuting positions, the next step is to develop a timetable for implementation. This includes finalizing daily quota expectations and setting a schedule for daily teleconferences.”

Make the Ask in the Business Proposal Conclusion

Making the ask in a proposal is much like closing the deal and getting a signed contract in the sales arena. It's a call to action that should, according to Inc.com , give a clear sense of what you provide and what the recipient is expected to do next. If delivering a verbal proposal, you may open the floor to questions prior to this stage to help secure your position.

If developing a written proposal, ask for a definitive timetable for a decision or an in-person meeting or phone call to clarify the final steps of the proposal. For example, “If everyone agrees that this approach will be beneficial to our organization, I would like to propose launching our telecommuting staff on the first of next month with a one-year trial commitment, to be reviewed after the first six months of operation.”

• IndustrialMarketer.com: Proposal Writing Tips That Close Deals
• Inc.com: 5 Closing Statements to Make In a Sales Email

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas Key Insights on How To End a Presentation Effectively

Key Insights on How To End a Presentation Effectively

A piece of research by   Ipsos Corporate Firm  titled “Last Impressions Also Count” argues that “our memories can be governed more by  how an experience ends than how it begins .” A lasting final impression can be critical to any presentation, especially as it makes our presentation goals more attainable. We’re covering  how to end a presentation , as it can certainly come through as an earned skill or a craft tailored with years of experience. Yet, we can also argue that performing exceptionally in a presentation is conducting the proper research. So, here’s vital information to help out with the task.

This article goes over popular presentation types; it gives suggestions, defines the benefits and examples of different speech closing approaches, and lines all this information up following each presentation purpose.

We also included references to industry leaders towards the end, hoping a few real-life examples can help you gain valuable insight. Learn from noted speakers and consultants as you resort to SlideModel’s latest presentation templates for your efforts. We’re working together on more successful presentation endings that make a difference!

Table of Content

A presentation’s end is not a recap

The benefits of ending a presentation uniquely, the power of closing in persuasive presentations, informative presentations: the kind set out to convey, call to action presentations: trigger actions or kickoff initiatives, a final word on cta presentations, real-life examples of how to end a presentation, succeeding with an effective presentation’s ending.

We need to debunk a widespread myth to start. That’s why the ending of the presentation calls for an appealing action or content beyond just restating information that the speaker already provided.

A presentation’s end is not a summary of data already given to our audience.  On the contrary, a wrap-up is a perfect time to provide meaningful and valuable facts that trigger the desired response we seek from our audience. Just as important as knowing how to start a presentation , your skills on how to end a PowerPoint presentation will make a difference in the presentation’s performance.

Effective ways to end a presentation stem from truly seeking to accomplish – and excel – at reaching a presentation’s primary objective. And what are the benefits of that?

Considering the benefits of each closing approach, think about the great satisfaction that comes from giving an excellent presentation that ends well. We all intuitively rejoice in that success, regardless of the kind of audience we face. 

That feeling of achievement, when an ending feels right, is not a minor element, and it’s the engine that should drive our best efforts forward. Going for the most recommended way of ending a presentation according to its primary goal and presentation type is one way to ensure we achieve our purpose. 

The main benefit of cleverly unlocking the secret to presentation success is getting the ball rolling on what we set ourselves to achieve . Whether that’s securing a funding round, delivering a final project, presenting a quarterly business review, or other goals; there is no possible way in which handling the best presentation-ending approaches fails to add to making a skilled presenter, improving a brand or business, or positively stirring any academic or commercial context. 

The best part of mastering these skills is the ability to benefit from all of the above time and time again; for any project, idea, or need moving forward.

How to end a PowerPoint Presentation?

PowerPoint Presentations differ by dimensions. They vary not only tied to the diverse reasons people present, but they also separate themselves from one another according to: a- use, b- context, c- industry, and d- purpose. 

We’re focusing on three different types of presentation pillars, which are: 

• Informative
• Calls to action

As you can guess, the speaker’s intent varies throughout these types. Yet, there’s much more to each! Let’s go over each type’s diverse options with examples. 

In 2009,   “The New Rules of Persuasion,”  a journal article published by The Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, determined that commercial persuasion was missing “the ability to think clearly about behavior goals and the mindset of starting small and growing what works.” Incorporating these thoughts is still equally valid in persuasive presentations today.

What hasn’t changed since, however, is this society’s good reminder that “the potential to persuade is in the hands of millions.” As they stated in that publication, “ordinary people sitting in dorm rooms and garages can compete against the biggest brands and the richest companies.” The proven reality behind that concept can be pretty inspiring.

According to this source, “ the first critical step in designing for persuasion is to select an appropriate target behavior. ” And, for behavior to occur, in their opinion, “three elements must converge at the same moment […]:  Motivation ,  Ability,  and  Trigger .” This theory signals a person is motivated through sensation, anticipation, or belonging when they can perform a particular action. This concept is at the backbone of setting the correct trigger to allow a group of people to react a certain way.

The above is of utmost importance as we seek to gear persuasive efforts. The more insight we get on the matter, the easier it is to define the precise actions that will effectively trigger a certainly required response – in any scenario.

Here are options on how to deliver a final punch in a persuasive presentation during different types of objectives:

Investment presentations

Whenever you seek funding,  that need  should be expressly clear during a pitch. Investors need to know what’s in it for them on a given investment. Highlight what interests them, and add what the  return for the investor  is. Mention dividends, equity, or the return method selected, for instance. Your final ask slide should show the exact amount you’re looking for during this funding stage.

Throughout, explain what an investor’s return on investment (ROI) will be. And make sure you do so according to provable calculations. Here, the goal is to display current figures and future opportunities in your speech.

You mustn’t make up this data. In this setting, presenters are naturally assessed by their ability to stay within real options fully supported by proven and concise reliable information.

Focus on showing an ability to execute and accomplish expected growth. Also, be precise on how you’re using any trusted funds . For that, mention where they’ll be allocated and how you foresee revenue after investing the funds in your idea, product, or company.

Pitch Presentations

Pitches are also another form of persuasive presentation. Presenters are expected to wow in new ways with them, be engaging in their approach, and deliver valuable, market-impacting data. When someone delivers a pitch, it seeks a particular kind of action in return from the audience. Being fully engaged towards a presentation’s end is crucial.

Make sure you give the presentation’s end a Call to Action slide in sales. You’re certainly looking to maximize conversion rates here. Bluntly invite your audience to purchase the product or service you’re selling, and doing so is fair in this context. For example, you can add a QR code or even include an old-fashioned Contact Us button. To generate the QR code, you can use a QR code generator .

According to  Sage Publishing , there are “four types of informative speeches[, which] are definition speeches, demonstration speeches, explanatory speeches, and descriptive speeches.” In business, descriptive speeches are the most common. When we transport these more specifically to the art of presenting, we can think of project presentations, quarterly business reviews, and product launches. In education, the definition and demonstration speeches are the norm, we can think in lectures and research presentations respectively.

As their name suggests, these presentations are meant to inform our audiences of specific content. Or, as  SAGE Flex for Public Speaking  puts it in a document about these kinds of speeches, “the speaker’s general goal is always to inform—or teach—the audience by offering interesting information about a topic in a way that helps the audience remember what they’ve heard.” Remember that as much as possible, you’re looking to, in Sage’s words, give out “information about a topic in a way that’s easy to understand and memorable.” Let’s see how we manage that in the most common informative presentation scenarios mentioned above.

Project Presentations

For projects, presentations should end with an action plan . Ensure the project can keep moving forward after the presentation. The best with these conclusion slides is to define who is responsible for which tasks and the expected date of completion. Aim to do so clearly, so that there are no remaining doubts about stakeholders and duties when the presentation ends. In other words, seek commitment from the team, before stepping out of these meetings. It should be clear to your audience what’s expected next of them.

As an addition, sum up, your problem, solution, and benefits of this project as part of your final message.

Quarterly Business Review Presentations (QBR)

By the end of the presentation type, you would’ve naturally gone over everything that happened during a specific quarter. Therefore, make sure you end this quarterly review with clear objectives on what’s to come for the following term. Be specific on what’s to come.

In doing so, set figures you hope to reach. Give out numbers and be precise in this practice. Having a clear action plan to address new or continuing goals is crucial in this aspect for a recent quarter’s start out of your QBR. Otherwise, we’re missing out on a true QBR’s purpose. According to  Gainsight , “If you go into a QBR without a concrete set of goals and a pathway to achieve them, you’ll only waste everyone’s time. You won’t improve the value of your product or services for your customers. You won’t bolster your company’s image in the eyes of key stakeholders and decision-makers. You won’t better understand your client’s business objectives.” As they put it, “Lock in solid goals for the next quarter (or until your next QBR)” and secure your way forward as the last step in presenting these kinds of data. Visit our guide on  How to Write an Effective Quarterly Business Review  for further tips on this type of presentation.

Research presentations

Your research has come this far! It’s time to close it off with an executive summary.

Include the hypothesis, thesis, and conclusion towards the presentation’s end.

How do you get the audience to recall the main points of all this work? Let this guiding question answer what to insert in your final slide, but seek to reinforce your main findings, key concepts, or valuable insight as much as possible. Support your statements where necessary.

Most commonly, researchers end with credits to the collaborating teams. Consider your main messages for the audience to take home. And tie those with the hypothesis as much as possible.

Product Launch Presentation

Quite simply, please take out the product launch’s roadmap and make it visible for your presentation’s end in this case.

It’s ideal for product launch presentations to stir conversations that get a product moving. Please don’t stick to showcasing the product, but build a narrative around it.

Steve Jobs’ example at the bottom might help guide you with ideas on how to go around this. A key factor is how Apple presentations were based on a precise mix of cutting-edge, revolutionary means of working with technology advancements and a simple human touch.

Elon Musk’s principles are similar. People’s ambitions and dreams are a natural part of that final invitation for consumers or viewers to take action. What will get your audience talking? Seek to make them react.

Lecture for specific classes / educational presentation

When it comes to academic settings, it’s helpful to summarize key points of a presentation while leaving room for questions and answers.

If you’re facing a periodic encounter in a class environment, let students know what’s coming for the next term. For instance, you could title that section “What’s coming next class,” or be creative about how you call for your student body’s attention every time you go over pending items.

If you need to leave homework, list what tasks need to be completed by the audience for the next class.

Another option is to jot down the main learnings from this session or inspire students to come back for the following class with a list of exciting topics. There’s more room for play in this setting than in the others we’ve described thus far.

Harvard Business Review  (HBR) concisely describes the need at the end of a call to action presentation. HBR’s direct piece of advice is that you should “use the last few moments of your presentation to clarify what action [an audience] can take to show their support.” And what’s key to HBR is that you “Also mention your timeframe” as, for them, “a deadline can help to urge [the audience] into action.” Having a clear view of specific timelines is always fruitful for a better grasp of action items.

In her book Resonate,  Nancy Duarte  explains that “No matter how engaging your presentation may be, no audience will act unless you describe a reward that makes it worthwhile. You must clearly articulate the ultimate gain for the audience […] If your call to action asks them to sacrifice their time, money, or ideals, you must be very clear about the payoff.”

Business plan presentations

Here, we need to speak of two different presentation types, one is a  traditional approach , and the second is what we call a  lean approach .

For the traditional business plan presentation, display each internal area call to action. Think of Marketing, Operations, HR, and even budgets as you do so. Your PowerPoint end slide should include the rewards for each of the areas. For example, which will benefit each area when achieving the targets, or how will the company reward its employees when attaining specific goals? Communicating the reward will help each of the responsible entities to trigger action.

On the other hand, for your lean business plan, consider a business model canvas to bring your presentation to an end. 

Job interview presentations

You can undoubtedly feel tons of pressure asking for a specific position. For a great chance of getting that new job, consider closing your case with a  30 60 90 day plan  as a particular hiring date. The employer will see its reward in each of the 30-day milestones.

Also, show off what you’ll bring to the role and how you’ll benefit the company in that period, specifically. Again, to a certain extent, we’re seeking to impress by being offered a position. Your differentiator can help as a wrap-up statement in this case.

Business Model Presentation

The pivot business model fits perfectly here for a presentation’s grand finale. The reward is simple; the business validated a hypothesis, and a new approach has been defined.

Though the setting can be stressful around business model presentations, you can see this as simply letting executives know what the following line of steps will need to be for the business model to be scalable and viable. Take some tension off this purpose by focusing on actions needed moving forward.

Your call to action will center around a clear business model canvas pivot here.

We need to work hard at ending presentations with clear and concise calls to action (CTA) and dare be creative as we’re doing so! Suppose you can manage to give out a specific CTA in a way that’s imaginative, appealing, and even innovative. In that case, you’ll be showing off priceless and unique creative skills that get people talking for years!

Think of  Bill Gates’ releasing mosquitoes  in a TED Talk on malaria, for example. He went that far to get his CTA across. Maybe that’s a bit too bold, but there’s also no limit!

Now that we can rely on a broader understanding of how to conclude a presentation successfully, we’ll top this summary off with real-life examples of great endings to famous speakers’ presentations. These people have done a stellar job at ending their presentations in every case.

We’re also going back to our three main pillars to focus on a practical example for each. You’ll find an excellent example for an informative speech, a persuasive pitch, and a successful investor pitch deck. We’re also expanding on the last item for a guiding idea on ending a pitch directly from Reid Hoffman.

Informational Presentation: A product launch of a phone reinvention

The first is what’s been titled “the best product launch ever.” We’re going back to the  iconic Steve Jobs’ iPhone launch  dated more than a decade ago. You can see how to end a presentation with a quote in this example effectively. The quote resonates with the whole presentation purpose, which was not “selling” the iPhone as a “hardware phone” but as the “hardware” platform for “great software.” Closing with a quote from a famous personality that summarizes the idea was a clever move.

Little words are needed to introduce Steve Jobs as a great speaker who effectively moved the business forward every time he went up on a stage to present a new product. No one has ever been so revolutionary with a calm business spirit that has changed the world! 

Persuasive Presentation: The best pitch deck ever

We’re giving you the perfect example of a great pitch deck for a persuasive kind of presentation. 

Here’s  TechCrunch’s gallery on Uber’s first pitch deck . 

As you can see, the last slide doesn’t just report the status to date on their services; it also accounts for the  following steps moving forward  with a precise date scheduled. 

Check the deck out for a clearer idea of wrapping up a persuasive business presentation. 

Call to Action Presentation: LinkedIn’s Series B pitch deck by Reid Hoffman

As mentioned before,  here’s  an expanded final sendoff! Reid Hoffman is an established entrepreneur. As a venture capitalist and author, he’s earned quite a remarkable record in his career, acting as co-founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn. 

We’re highlighting LinkedIn’s series B pitch deck to Greylock Partners mainly because these slides managed to raise a $10 M funding round. Yet, moreover, we’re doing so because this deck is known to be well-rounded and overall highly successful. 

LinkedIn may be famous now for what it does, but back in 2004, when this deck made a difference, the company wasn’t a leader in a market with lots of attention. As Reid highlights on his website, they had no substantial organic growth or revenue. Yet, they still managed to raise a considerable amount. 

In Reid’s words for his last slide, “The reason we reused this slide from the beginning of the presentation was to indicate the end of presentation while returning to the high line of conceptualizing the business and reminding investors of the value proposition.” In his vision, “You should end on a slide that you want people to be paying attention to,” which he has tied with the recommendation that you “close with your investment thesis,” as well. A final note from him on this last slide of LinkedIn’s winning pitch is that “the end is when you should return to the most fundamental topic to discuss with your investors.” Quite a wrap-up from a stellar VC! Follow the linked site above to read more on the rest of his ending slides if you haven’t ever done so already.

The suggestions above are practical and proven ways to end a presentation effectively. Yet, remember, the real secret is knowing your audience so well you’ll learn how to grasp their attention for your production in the first place.

Focus on the bigger picture and add content to your conclusion slide that’s cohesive to your entire presentation. And then aim to make a lasting final impression that will secure what you need. There is a myriad of ways to achieve that and seek the perfect-suiting one.

Also, be bold if the area calls for it. As you see above, there is no shame, but an actual need to state the precise funding amount you need to make it through a specific stage of funding. Exercise whatever tools you have at your disposal to get the required attention.

Also, being sure about whatever decision you make will only make this an easier road to travel. If your head is transparent about what’s needed, you’ll be more confident to make a convincing case that points your audience in the right direction.

Check out our step-by-step guide on how to make a presentation .

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How to Create Slides That Suit Your Superiors: 11 Tips

When you’re pitching ideas or budgets to execs in your organization, you need to deliver slides that fit those particular people just right. This checklist identifies the key considerations.

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I recently interviewed 20 of my customers, all in senior roles at Fortune 100 companies, and asked them their biggest pain point in presenting to higher-ups and even colleagues. What I heard consistently was that it can feel like Goldilocks bouncing from one option to the next, testing to figure out what’s “just right.” Does the audience want deep reports? Sparse slides? Something in between? Like … what?

Teams often come to presentation meetings with vast amounts of backup content just in case an exec wants to take a deep dive on any given point. There’s often a struggle to anticipate every direction attendees might want to go. It’s frustrating, and it’s not efficient.

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There are many ways to build slides. I’m not just talking about crafting them well versus poorly. I’m talking about all of the important decisions regarding how to organize them, how much text to use, when to lean into a chart, the best ways to use bullets and color, and whether to include an appendix with additional information. Before you make your next proposal or request of the executive team, use this list of 11 tips for your next set of slides as a guide.

Four Things You Must Have in Every Exec’s Slides

Before we drill down into the harder aspects, the ones where your executives’ tastes may vary widely, let’s quickly cover four aspects that you can consider the building blocks — the basics you should never proceed without.

Start with an executive summary. Begin the slide deck with a tight executive summary that follows a three-act structure. First, start with stating the current realities. Second, clearly state the problem or opportunity your idea addresses and its potential impact. Third, explain how your recommendation solves the problem or exploits the opportunity and the next steps you’re proposing.

Have a logical organization. The arc of the deck — the package from beginning to end — should make sense. If your audience reads only the headline of every slide, the order should be coherent and make most of the case for you. The content below each slide’s headline must support the statement made in the title. Remove everything that doesn’t support your point; as writers will tell you, you sometimes need to “kill your darlings” when you’re editing.

Begin the slide deck with a tight executive summary that follows a three-act structure.

Make it skimmable. Help your audience to quickly grasp the point without getting bogged down in details. Create a clear visual hierarchy. Guide the reader’s eye through the content: Use bold headings, bullet points, and numbered lists to break down information into digestible pieces. Highlight key takeaways or conclusions in a different color or font size to draw attention to these critical points.

Focus on concise insights. Succinct statements with clear insights are everyone’s jam. Every slide should serve a purpose and contribute directly to the decision-making process. Distill complex information. Don’t use 100 words when 20 words will nail it. If you’re having difficulty trimming, consider using company-approved AI tools to help you take out the fluff.

Five Preferences to Confirm With the Person You Want to Reach

Now we’ll delve into what your particular audience does and does not want. If you haven’t yet, start by asking the person you’re presenting to what they generally prefer. They probably know themselves well but have not been asked to articulate how they like to receive information.

Ask how dense is too dense. Some executives prefer detailed slides with comprehensive data. Others favor a more high-level approach. You’re weighing how to balance informative content with readability, ensuring that slides are not overloaded yet are sufficiently detailed to support decision-making.

Confirm the delivery format and timing. Some execs like information presented to them. Others prefer a pre-read of the material followed by a discussion. I always recommend our tool Slidedocs (I’ve written a free e-book on them), which are visual documents using both words and images. The templates help presenters organize their thoughts into a document for a pre-read or a read-along. They are designed to be skimmable and able to travel through your organization without the help of a presenter.

I’m a huge fan of pre-reads and prefer to use my time in meetings to ask questions and build alignment. If your audience didn’t review your material in advance, ask at the top of the meeting whether they would like you to present it or would prefer to read through it and then discuss it.

Find out how much data visualization they prefer. Charts, graphs, photos, and illustrations often communicate complex data more clearly than words alone. When execs can see what you’re saying, they often can better understand the impact of your idea. Does the exec want to understand exact numbers? Bar charts allow them to move their eyes across a series of specifics. Does the exec want to know the shape of a trend over time? Line charts can show the pattern. (See “Classic Charts Communicate Data Quickly.”) Some prefer charts with annotations that draw attention to what you think is the most important point. Others want to make their own conclusions from the data.

One of my clients, the CEO of a massive commercial real estate company, doesn’t want anything visualized. He prefers numbers, only in a table, and only in two colors — black and red. You might think this is archaic. But the fact that he’s clear to his teams about what he wants takes all the mystery out of how to communicate with him.

When the stakes are high, have a conceptual thinker help with diagrams and concepts. If you don’t have one on your team, and when it’s high stakes, find an internal designer to help you or hire one. You can’t afford to have the baby (your idea) thrown out with the bathwater (terrible slides).

Identify which details need spelling out. How well do the people you’re presenting to know the landscape and function of the company and products you’re talking about? For example, if your engineering team threw a slide into a deck about an issue that requires executive approval, do the execs all speak geek? Or do you need to explain the technology so that they will really understand the ask? Either eliminate internal jargon and acronyms or unpack those bits, especially if your proposal deeply involves expertise outside of the executives’ domain.

Ask whether appendices will be useful. When you’re organizing a presentation, you often troll data, read through complicated reports, and even hire external experts to figure out what’s best for the company. Do your execs want access to that supporting data? You can add a document to the end of the presentation as an appendix to show all of the data and source material. This allows the main content of the slides to remain focused and accessible while still providing comprehensive background information for those who want more.

Two Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills

Getting materials in place is the biggest step. They will be your best tools for selling your ideas. But there are two extra areas to pay attention to as a presenter: how you handle questions and how you use every experience to improve.

Anticipate questions, and practice your answers. Before you have your meeting, gather a small team to challenge every point you make. Invite colleagues you trust to role-play as “a rapidly inquisitive exec” or “the doubting naysayer exec” so you are prepared to present your idea well. They’re gonna grill you, and practicing will help you remain unruffled when it happens.

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Ask for feedback after the presentation. Establish a feedback loop with those you presented to. Ask what worked well and how you can improve. If attendees don’t have the time, find people who have had their ideas funded and talk to them about what they did that worked. Advice and some perspective will help you nail your performance even better next time.

Empathetically understanding your audience members and how they process information, whether it’s executives or peers, sets up your ideas for success. Clarity creates efficiency. When a presentation fits just right, you’ve given your great thinking the best chance of moving through your organization and having maximum impact.

About the Author

Nancy Duarte is CEO of Duarte Inc. , a communication company in the Silicon Valley. She’s the author of six books, including DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story (Ideapress Publishing, 2019).

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How to Write a Business Proposal [Examples + Template]

Published: December 05, 2023

Here's what every new business owner needs: an extra 8 hours in the day, an endless supply of coffee, and, most importantly, a really strong business proposal.

A business proposal can bridge the gap between you and potential clients. Done correctly, and it will outline your value proposition and persuade a company or organization to do business with you.

Here, we'll take a look at the various kinds of business proposals and go over how to write one. We’ll also see some ideas and examples to help guide yours.

Know exactly what you need? Jump to one of the following sections:

What is a business proposal?

Types of business proposals, how to write a business proposal, business proposal templates, business proposal example, tips for writing a business proposal, business proposal ideas.

A business proposal is a formal document that’s created by a company and given to a prospect to secure a business agreement.

It's a common misconception that business proposals and business plans are the same. However, a proposal helps you sell your product or service — not your business itself.

Think of it this way: instead of assisting your search for investors to fund your business, a proposal helps you seek new customers.

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There are two types of business proposals: unsolicited and solicited.

• Unsolicited Business Proposals : With unsolicited business proposals, you approach a potential customer with a proposal, even if they don't request one, to gain their business.
• Solicited Business Proposals : Solicited business proposals are requested by prospective clients so that they can decide whether to do business with your company.

In a solicited business proposal, the other organization asks for a request for proposal (RFP). When a company needs a problem solved, they invite other businesses to submit a proposal that details how they'd solve it.

Free Business Proposal Template

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• Problem summary
• Proposed solution
• Pricing information
• Project timeline

You're all set!

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Whether the proposal is solicited or unsolicited, the steps to create your proposal are similar. Make sure it includes three main points:

• A statement of the organization's problem
• Begin with a title page.
• 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.

Before writing your business proposal, it's crucial you understand the company. If they've sent you an RFP, make sure you read it carefully, so you know exactly what they want.

I recommend having an initial call or meeting with any new clients to ensure you fully understand their objectives. Ask open-ended questions to understand not just what they want, but why they want it.

Once you've done your research, it's time to begin writing your business proposal. While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a business proposal, there's several elements most proposals include. (I designed this example business proposal using Canva .)

1. Begin with a title page.

You have to convey some basic information here. Introduce yourself and your business. Be sure to include:

• Your company's name
• The date you submitted the proposal
• The name of the client or individual you're submitting the proposal to

Your title page should reconcile engagement with professionalism. I think of it as your first tone-setter, so you need to make sure yours is sleek, aesthetically appealing, and not too "out there."

Here's an example of what a business proposal template looks like when done right:

The executive summary details exactly why you're sending the proposal and why your solution is the best for the prospective client.

Specificity is key here. Why are you the best choice for them?

Like a value proposition, your executive summary outlines the benefits of your company's products or services and how they can solve your potential client's problem.

After reading your executive summary, the prospect should offer a clear idea of how you can help them, even if they don't read the entire proposal. Here's what one should look like:

3. State the problem or need.

This is where you share a summary of the issue impacting the potential client. This is your opportunity to show them you understand their needs and the problem they need help solving.

In the example above, I included several signals to showcase my expertise – that I've been in the photography biz for 10 years, that I've worked with over 500 clients, and that I've been featured a number of publications. 

As you approach this section, focus on presenting yourself as an authority. Consider leveraging tools like:

• Case studies
• Client testimonials
• Relevant awards
• Industry accreditations

6. Include pricing options.

Pricing is where things can get a bit tricky, as you don't want to under or over-price your product.

The pricing section of your proposal could include:

• A detailed pricing breakdown, including packages, tiers, and add-ons or optional services
• How product features and benefits align with pricing choices
• Pricing for different needs and budgets
• How your pricing compares with competitors
• An FAQ section to respond to anticipated objections and explain your pricing strategy

7. Summarize with a conclusion.

After sharing the above information, simplify it all into one final section.

• First, briefly summarize the proposal. Be sure to share your qualifications and why you’d serve as the best choice.
• Then, to prompt further conversation, confirm your availability to go over the next steps.
• At the end of the proposal, the goal is to have the client ready to work with you. So, be sure to offer your contact information for easy follow-up.

In need of some inspiration before you begin writing? Here are example business proposal templates from popular business proposal software companies you can use to help create your proposal.

1. HubSpot's Free Business Plan Templates

Download these Templates

We know how crucial a great business proposal is to your and your client’s success. That's why we've compiled 2 Free Business Proposal Templates for you to use and customize for any of your projects.

You'll gain access to a concise, one-page template (pictured above), as well as a longer template for you to refine your plan and proposal.

Download the templates now to get started on building your proposal.

What We Like

The one-page template is clear, straightforward, and easy to read — without skipping on the key elements of a business proposal. This format is especially useful for busy clients who appreciate brevity and clarity.

2. Web Design Proposal

With advertising on social networks projected to reach $82.23 billion dollars in 2025 , it's in your business's best interest to have a plan for growing your client's social media presence.

To help you in that effort, the information in this social media marketing proposal includes an executive summary to help introduce your high-level ideas, an assessment of the client’s company to show your diligence, and a breakdown of billing to show how your company charges for posting, content creation, and analytics.

This template includes all the bells and whistles of a social media proposal packaged in a fun yet professional design. It also includes helpful writing instructions under each section.

8. Content Marketing Proposal

Business proposal templates are helpful places to get started, but what should your business proposal look like when it's complete? This template should inspire you.

When pitching your content marketing services to clients, this template can help you organize your ideas. While it walks you through initial objectives and how to communicate your prospected results, one of the most helpful parts of this template is the pricing ideas it gives you when charging for your services.

In the business template example below, Social Portal Consulting (SPC) pitches a marketing proposal to Graphic Bean. At first sight, this proposal appeals to the creative. I recommend going a step forward and designing the layout in your or your client’s brand colors.

Besides the design, the social media icons quickly tell the prospect what platforms Social Portal is pitching. Because we see Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest icons, the client instantly knows that this proposal doesn’t include LinkedIn, YouTube, or other platforms.

While maintaining its design, this example outlines Social Portal Consulting’s plans efficiently. It begins by providing insight into Graphic Bean and its goals before elaborating on how SPC can leverage its expertise to help them achieve them.

This business proposal template includes an easy-to-follow timeframe for goals and objectives while keeping the client abreast of how payment will happen across the project.

Overall, this is an excellent example of how to combine the elements of social media marketing into a creative and concise business proposal. Finally, we'll leave you with some business proposal ideas to get you started on your own.

• Start with an outline.
• Keep it simple.
• Stay on brand.
• Quality control.
• Include data and visuals.
• Add social proof.
• Use a call-to-action.
• Create a sense of urgency.
• Make the decision for them.
• Incorporate video into your proposal.
• Include up-sell and add-on opportunities.
• Clarify your terms and conditions.
• Include a space for signatures to document agreement.
• Create a table of contents.

1. Start with an outline.

If you want to produce a thoughtful, effective business proposal, you need to have some idea of what you're hoping to achieve with it.

Before I dive into writing a proposal, I always outline the major sections of the proposal that I want to include. That way, I can stay focused and make sure my message stays intact as I write.

Use these free business proposal templates to make sure that your outline includes everything you need.

2. Keep it simple.

Ultimately, there's no definitive blueprint for how long a business proposal has to be. Yours should be however long it takes to convey the information you want to get across.

That said, I'm a firm believer in quality over quantity, especially when it comes to business proposals. Keep your sentences short and simple, and avoid including too much business jargon.

You want anyone who picks up your proposal to make sense of it. So, be straightforward and don't get too fancy. Aim for substance over flash.

3. Stay on brand.

Don't be afraid to let your company's personality shine through in your proposal. Stay true to your brand and show the client what sets you apart from your competitors.

4. Quality control.

I've made it a habit to add an editing/QA step in my writing process. During this step, I do a quick spelling and grammar check before hitting send.

So, as you draft your proposal, and after checking for the basics, keep scanning this document until it's just right.

Check to make sure your proposal:

• Meets client needs and expectations
• Highlights your value proposition
• Is well-structured and easy to read or skim
• Complies with legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements
• Looks professional and engaging

5. Include data and visuals.

You want your business proposal to capture your prospect's attention and help set you apart from any other ones they might have received. One of the best ways to do that is to include hard, quantitative data that helps stress the value of your business.

Use relevant, compelling figures that highlight what you have to offer. This can establish authority and make your proposal more convincing. It also helps to include visuals such as charts and graphs to enhance your proposal.

6. Add social proof.

From my experience, you can only be so convincing when you're personally talking up how great your business is — which is why adding social proof is key to establishing credibility.

At the end of the day, prospects are skeptical. They may not take you at your word. But they'll likely trust peers and fellow customers. That's why including elements like customer quotes and testimonials can go a long way.

7. Use a call-to-action.

I've learned that the best proposal in the world can only take you so far if you don't clearly define the next steps. That's why you have to make sure the reader knows what to do after reading your proposal.

A clear call-to-action is the best way to get there.

Define and highlight exactly what they should do to act on the interest your proposal has generated. Without that guidance, you might leave your reader in limbo.

HubSpot customers : Use this CTA builder to create powerful customized CTAs.

8. Create a sense of urgency.

No one wants to feel as if they missed out on a great opportunity. From my experience, prospect tend to drag their feet and put off making a decision if there isn't a sense of urgency.

So, as you create your business proposal, your goal should be to add a degree of urgency. When prospective clients read your business proposal they should feel that the best time to sign up for your service is now .

One way I accomplish this is by stating short and long-term goals for their business. They'll have to wait for the long-term goals, but I make the short-term goals so enticing that they'll be ready to begin a collaboration.

9. Make the decision for them.

Craft your copy in a way that seems like saying "no" to the proposal would be stepping over dollars to pick up pennies. Your offer should go above and beyond their expectations. Do everything in your power to remove friction and objections along the way.

10. Incorporate video into your proposal.

If you're creating an online proposal using document file formats like PDF, add multimedia elements. This will enhance the proposal experience, make your document richer, and keep them engaged.

Try adding a video at the beginning as an intro to your proposal. Or, put a video in the project breakdown to verbally discuss some of the more confusing parts.

Extras like this can make an impression. This tip works especially well with prospects who are visual or auditory communicators.

Pro tip : HubSpot Video makes it easy to record and embed video into a website or email for a big proposal boost.

11. Include up-sell and add-on opportunities.

They say you won't receive unless you ask. And readers won't explore the upper tiers of your solutions if you don't give them the opportunity.

So, share some upsells and add-ons about your business that they can act on. Call out a specific pain point and how this extra can add value.

With this step, balance is important. Show them everything your business has to offer without overwhelming your recipient.

12. Clarify your terms and conditions.

Your business proposal should include details on your project timeline and payment schedule. This summary is basically what you and the client agree to if they accept your proposal.

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