# Software Development proposal

Replace everything in [brackets]. Keep it specific to this client.

---

## Cover

Proposal: [Project name] for [Client]
Prepared by: [Your name, business]
Date: [Date]
Valid until: [Date]

## 1. Your situation

[In the client’s words: where they are now, what they want to achieve and why now.]

## 2. Objectives

- [Objective, ideally measurable]
- [Objective]
- [Objective]

## 3. Our approach

1. **Discovery:** [What happens and what the client sees]
2. **Build sprints:** [What happens and what the client sees]
3. **User acceptance testing:** [What happens and what the client sees]
4. **Launch and handover:** [What happens and what the client sees]

## 4. Deliverables

- [Working software deployed to the client’s environment]
- [Source code in the client’s repository]
- [Technical documentation and deployment notes]
- [Handover session for the client’s team]

## 5. Timeline

| Phase | Dates | Client input needed |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Discovery | [Dates] | [Input or approval] |
| Build sprints | [Dates] | [Input or approval] |
| User acceptance testing | [Dates] | [Input or approval] |
| Launch and handover | [Dates] | [Input or approval] |

## 6. Investment

| Item | Description | Fee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Discovery sprint | [Requirements, user flows and estimate] | [Fee] |
| Development sprint 1 | [Two-week sprint: authentication and scheduling] | [Fee] |
| Development sprint 2 | [Two-week sprint: notifications and admin] | [Fee] |
| QA and user acceptance support | [Test plan, bug fixes during UAT] | [Fee] |
| Cloud hosting (passed through) | [Hosting for the staging environment] | [Fee] |

Total: [Amount, excluding tax]
Payment schedule: [e.g. 40% to start, 30% at milestone, 30% on completion]

## 7. Not included

- [Hosting, third-party APIs and licences unless listed]
- [Features not listed in the agreed backlog]
- [Support after the warranty period]
- [Data migration from legacy systems]

## 8. What we need from you

- [A product owner available for sprint reviews]
- [Access to existing systems and test data]
- [Decisions on priorities within agreed timeframes]

## 9. Why us

[Two or three sentences and one relevant example or result. Keep it about the client’s problem.]

## 10. Next steps

1. [Sign below or reply to accept]
2. [Pay the deposit]
3. [Kickoff on date]

Accepted by: [Name, title]
Signature: [Signature]
Date: [Date]

---

## Before you send it

- [ ] The opening describes this client’s situation, not yours.
- [ ] Objectives are specific.
- [ ] Every deliverable is listed and every exclusion named.
- [ ] The price is broken down with a payment schedule.
- [ ] The validity date and next step are clear.
- [ ] Every placeholder and old client name is removed.

---

# Example: Keel Labs’s proposal for Harbour Freight Ltd

Key sections from a proposal for a driver scheduling web app. Both companies are fictional.

## Your situation

Harbour Freight Ltd wants a driver scheduling web app. You told us the priority is getting it right first time, with clear approvals and no surprises on cost.

## Our approach

1. Discovery: Working software deployed to the client’s environment
2. Build sprints: Source code in the client’s repository
3. User acceptance testing: Technical documentation and deployment notes
4. Launch and handover: Handover session for the client’s team

## Investment

| Item | Description | Qty / time | Rate | Amount |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Discovery sprint | Requirements, user flows and estimate | 5 days | $900.00 | $4,500.00 |
| Development sprint 1 | Two-week sprint: authentication and scheduling | 10 days | $850.00 | $8,500.00 |
| Development sprint 2 | Two-week sprint: notifications and admin | 10 days | $850.00 | $8,500.00 |
| QA and user acceptance support | Test plan, bug fixes during UAT | 4 days | $750.00 | $3,000.00 |
| Cloud hosting (passed through) | Hosting for the staging environment | 1 month | $120.00 | $120.00 |

Total: $24,620.00 excluding tax

## What we need from you

- A product owner available for sprint reviews
- Access to existing systems and test data
- Decisions on priorities within agreed timeframes

Template by Angelwood — https://angelwood.io/templates