Freelance Proposal Template: Win More Clients [Free Template]

The exact proposal template freelancers use to close $5K-$50K projects. Copy, customize, and send in 15 minutes.

You found a great client. The discovery call went well. Now you need to send a proposal that seals the deal.

Most freelancers lose projects at this stage—not because of price, but because their proposals look unprofessional or take too long to arrive.

This template fixes that.

Free Freelance Proposal Template

Copy this template and customize it for your next client:

[Your Name/Logo]

[Your Email] | [Your Phone] | [Your Website]

Proposal for [Client Name]

Project: [Project Name]

Date: [Today's Date]

Valid for: 14 days

Hi [Client First Name],

Thanks for taking the time to chat on [day]. I'm excited about the possibility of working together on [brief project description].

Based on our conversation, here's my proposal for [achieving their main goal].

The Challenge

You mentioned that:

[Pain point 1 they shared]
[Pain point 2 they shared]
[Goal they want to achieve]

This is costing you [time/money/opportunity] every [day/week/month].

My Approach

Here's how I'll solve this:

Phase 1: [Name] (Week 1-2)

[Deliverable]
[Deliverable]
[Deliverable]

Phase 2: [Name] (Week 3-4)

[Deliverable]
[Deliverable]

Final Delivery: [What they get at the end]

What's Included

[Specific deliverable]

[Number] rounds of revisions

[Timeline] delivery

[Any bonuses]

Not included (available as add-ons):

[Service they might want later]
[Service they might want later]

Investment

[Project Name]: $[X,XXX]

Payment schedule:

50% ($[X,XXX]) to start
50% ($[X,XXX]) on completion

Payment via credit card or bank transfer.

Timeline

Milestone	Date
Project start	[Date]
[Phase 1] complete	[Date]
[Phase 2] complete	[Date]
Final delivery	[Date]

Timeline starts upon deposit payment.

Why Me?

I've helped [number] clients with similar projects:

[Client A]: "[One-sentence testimonial about results]"

[Client B]: "[One-sentence testimonial about results]"

[Link to portfolio/case studies]

Next Steps

Reply to this email to accept (or ask any questions)
Sign the agreement (link below)
Submit deposit (link included in agreement)
I'll send a kickoff questionnaire within 24 hours

[Accept Proposal & Sign →]

Looking forward to working together!

[Your Name]

[Your Title]

Why This Template Works

It Leads with Their Problem

Notice the proposal doesn't start with "About Me." It starts with what the client said in the discovery call. This shows you listened and understand their situation.

It's Specific

Vague proposals get vague responses (or no response). This template uses exact deliverables, specific dates, clear pricing, and defined scope.

It's Easy to Say Yes

The "Next Steps" section tells them exactly what to do. No ambiguity = faster decisions.

It Creates Urgency

The 14-day validity and specific start date prevent proposals from sitting in inboxes forever.

Customization Tips by Freelance Type

For Writers

Include:

Word count or article count
Research expectations
SEO requirements
Revision rounds
Content calendar

Sample deliverable:

"4 blog posts (1,500 words each), SEO-optimized, delivered weekly for 1 month"

For Designers

Include:

Number of concepts
File formats delivered
Revision rounds
Source files (yes/no)
Usage rights

Sample deliverable:

"3 initial logo concepts, 2 revision rounds, final files in AI, EPS, PNG, and SVG formats with full usage rights"

For Developers

Include:

Technical specifications
Hosting/deployment
Browser/device support
Testing included
Post-launch support period

Sample deliverable:

"5-page responsive website, WordPress CMS, tested on Chrome/Safari/Firefox, includes 30 days post-launch bug fixes"

For Consultants

Include:

Number of sessions/hours
Deliverable documents
Communication expectations
Implementation support

Sample deliverable:

"4 x 90-minute strategy sessions, recorded with transcripts, plus implementation roadmap document"

Pricing Strategies for Freelance Proposals

Strategy 1: Single Price

Best for:

Simple, well-defined projects
Clients who know what they want
Projects under $5K

Example:

"Website Redesign: $3,500"

Strategy 2: Tiered Pricing

Best for:

Clients who might want more
Projects where scope varies
Upselling opportunities

Example:

See pricing table below

Strategy 3: Retainer

Best for:

Ongoing work
Predictable revenue
Long-term clients

Example:

"Monthly Retainer: $2,000/month for up to 20 hours of design work"

Example: Tiered Pricing

Package	Includes	Price
Starter	5 pages, basic design	$2,500
Professional	10 pages, custom design, SEO	$5,000
Premium	15 pages, custom design, SEO, copywriting	$8,000

Common Freelance Proposal Mistakes

Mistake 1: Waiting Too Long to Send

Send your proposal within 24 hours of the discovery call. Every day you wait, close rates drop.

Mistake 2: No Social Proof

Include at least one testimonial or case study. "Trust me, I'm good" doesn't work.

Mistake 3: Unclear Revisions Policy

"Unlimited revisions" sounds client-friendly but leads to scope creep. Define exactly how many rounds are included.

Mistake 4: Missing Payment Terms

When is payment due? How can they pay? What happens if they're late? Spell it out.

Mistake 5: No Signature Mechanism

Asking someone to "reply to accept" is weaker than a formal signature. Use e-signatures for professional proposals.

How to Follow Up on Freelance Proposals

If They Don't Respond

Day 2:

"Hi [Name], just checking if you received the proposal. Any questions?"

Day 5:

"Hi [Name], wanted to follow up on the proposal. Happy to hop on a call if anything needs clarification."

Day 10:

"Hi [Name], the proposal expires in 4 days. Let me know if you'd like to move forward or if the timing isn't right."

Day 14:

"Hi [Name], the proposal has expired but I'd still love to work with you. If you're interested, let me know and I can send an updated version."

If They Say "Too Expensive"

"I understand. What budget did you have in mind? I might be able to adjust the scope to fit."

Then either:

Reduce deliverables to match budget
Offer payment plans
Walk away professionally

If They Say "Need to Think About It"

"Of course! What specifically do you want to think through? Maybe I can provide more info."

This uncovers the real objection.

Tools for Freelance Proposals

Manual Options

Google Docs - Free, looks unprofessional
Canva - Free tier, design-focused
Word/PDF - Free if you have Office

Professional Options

OpenProposal - Proposals + e-signatures + payments in one
Proposify - Template-heavy
Better Proposals - Good designs
HoneyBook - Full client management

The difference? Professional tools let you:

Track when proposals are viewed

Collect signatures digitally

Accept payment immediately

Send automatic reminders

Create Freelance Proposals That Close

Stop losing clients to sloppy proposals. OpenProposal gives you professional templates, e-signatures, Stripe payment collection, open/view tracking, and no per-user pricing.

Create Your Free Proposal

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How much should I charge?

Price based on value, not time. Ask: "What is this worth to the client?" A logo for a Fortune 500 company is worth more than the same logo for a local bakery.

Should I negotiate?

Hold your price. If they push, reduce scope instead of discounting. "I can't do it for $2,000, but here's what I can do for that budget..."

When should I require a deposit?

Always. 50% upfront is standard. Never start work without payment.

How do I handle scope creep?

Reference your proposal: "That wasn't in our original scope. I'm happy to add it for $X. Want me to send a change order?"

Last updated: January 2026