A freelancing job proposal should consist of the following elements:
- An overview of the project
- The purposes of the project
- The responsibilities of the project
- The deliverables
- The scope of the project
- The duration of the project
- The budget
- The hiring process
- Any additional requirements
- A discussion of terms and conditions
- A contract
- A proposal for the work
- What is required to be done
- The expected outcomes
- A schedule for the work
- Review of previous work
- A discussion of possible improvements
- A conclusion
- A summary of the proposal
- Source documents
- Appendices
- References
- Signature
The proposed scope of the work should be as broad as possible, but should be defined. It should define the tasks to be performed and the results to be achieved. Defining the exact scope of the work will help the client to understand what is and what is not included in the project. It will also help you to be sure that you are on the right track and that the scope of the work is in line with the requirements. When it comes to budget, you want to provide your best estimate because the client is going to review this number. However, you should not be afraid to ask for additional funding if needed. It is not unusual for writers to be requested for additional funds to finish a particular piece.
The Purpose of the Project
The purpose of the project should be clearly stated in the proposal. This will help the reader know what is and what is not included in the project. The proposal should include a description of the tasks to be performed and the results to be achieved. The purpose should be based on a clear understanding of the objectives of the business or institution and should be measurable. For example, you might want to explain that the project is being commissioned by the institution’s marketing department and they want you to create some marketing material for them.
A clear purpose will help you to determine the objectives of the project and ensure that you are working towards these goals. The proposal should include some key performance indicators (KPIs) so that you and the client can track the progress of the project.
The Responsibilities of the Project
The proposal should include the responsibilities of the project. You should include the individuals that are going to be responsible for the tasks mentioned in the proposal. The proposal should also list the specific skills and abilities of these individuals. Having all the relevant information in one place will help the client make an informed decision and feel confident that all the appropriate people are going to be involved in the project. The proposal should be signed by the senior manager or the person who is signing on behalf of the manager. It should also be dated and include any relevant contact details. The client should feel confident that they can rely on you to carry out the tasks as described in the proposal. You can use a proposal template to make the process of creating proposals simpler and to ensure that all the necessary information is included.
The documentation should be clear and concise, but also detailed enough for the client to understand exactly what is and what is not included in the project. There should be no ambiguity regarding the scope of the project.
The Deliverables
The deliverables are the tangible results of the project. These are the products or services for which you are responsible and which the client is going to receive. The proposal should include details regarding the following:
- The products or services to be created
- The dates by which they are due
- How much they are going to cost
- Additional information required
- The locations and the mode of delivery
- Any relevant quality controls or restrictions
- The availability of raw materials, equipment or tools required
- The person or company with whom the client is going to contract (optional)
- Billing details (optional)
The client should feel confident that they can rely on you to deliver the products or services as described in the proposal. The offer should also include a description of the products or services to be created and the terms and conditions under which the client is going to buy them. The proposal should be supported by adequate documentation (such as sketches, diagrams, blueprints, etc.).
The Scope of the Project
The scope of the project is the part of the project that will be delivered. It refers to the tasks to be performed and the time that it will take to complete them. The proposal should include the following:
- An overview of the project
- A project timeline
- The objectives of the project
- The deliverables
- The resources required (manpower, material, etc.)
- The environment in which the project is going to be conducted (physical structures, locations, etc.)
- The methodology and the tools used (software, hardware, etc.)
- The anticipated costs
- Relevant copyright details
- The contract details
- Any additional requirements
- A discussion of terms and conditions
- A proposal for the work
Defining the exact scope of the project will help the client to understand what is and what is not included in the project. It will also help you to be sure that you are on the right track and that the project is going to be carried out according to plan. It is always better to be too detailed than to leave out any relevant information. Being too broad can also work against you because it is easy for the client to lose sight of the big picture when given too many tasks to do in a short space of time. If you are not 100% sure of what is included in the project, it is a good idea to ask for additional funding or time. Sometimes, a project can be so big that it is not possible to give a full scope of it in a proposal. In these cases, it is best to break the project down into smaller pieces so that each one can be submitted as a proposal.
The Duration of the Project
The duration of the project is the time that it is going to take to complete the project. It includes the time that it will take to design the product or service, as well as the time that it will take to deliver the product or service. You should include the following:
- The estimated dates by which the project will be delivered
- The expected duration of each phase of the project
- The total number of hours that this project will take
You must be careful when estimating the duration of a project because it is easy to underestimate the time that it will take. You should also consider the variables that you have no control over (such as material costs). Being precise is always better than being vague when it comes to this element. For example, if you are asked to write an informative piece for a trade magazine and you want to write the best piece that you can, but you do not have enough time to dedicate to it, consider that you might end up delivering a sub-par product because you did not have enough time to do it properly. In this case, you would have had to cancel the project, but rather than doing that, you might end up delivering a poorer-quality product because you did not want to disappoint your client. These are the kind of situations in which it is essential to consider the duration of your project.
The Budget
The budget is how much you are willing to spend on this project. You should include the following: