No sample business proposal will work precisely as you want it to. Each
proposition is different. Yours is different. And that is as it
should be. You will not be able to simply copy an existing business
proposal, change the names, and submit it. Your business plan is too
unique for that.
The goal, then, is to review a number of examples of business proposals,
and pick the best from each of them. Mold those "bests" into something
that more nearly reflects your business proposal, and you've nailed it.
So what are you looking for?
First, what is it that is unique about your business proposal? Are
you looking for an exceptional amount of money? Is the transaction
particularly complex? Is the industry very unique, or very new? Do
the principals have problems in their background that you would rather not
disclose?
Every single business proposal has some kind of "issue" attached to it.
Look for those business proposal examples that address the issues that are
important to you and see how they handle it.
The sample business proposals that you choose to review need not even be in your
industry. A new type of medication has the same presentation issues as
new energy sources. And any company in any industry seeking exceptional
levels of funding will approach it in much the same way.
So, first address the issue in reading examples of business proposals.
Next, look for a sample business proposal in the same range of funding, or same
type of funding source, that your project is seeking.
A sample business proposal looking for $10,000 in joint venture funding is not the
same as sample business proposals seeking $10 million. The sophistication of
the business proposal presentation will just be very different.
The best course of action? Do lots and lots of research. Review
a number of business proposal examples, and study how to make them really
great.
Then set the research aside, and write your business proposal yourself.
Fill it with all the inspiration you've pulled from your research.
It will be fantastic. Honest.
C.J. Ralph,
