Notion – Project Proposal Template

$7

A project proposal—also known as a business proposal—is a way of communicating a business growth idea to leadership and getting the go-ahead to run with that idea. This document covers everything from budget to research; team members involved to project deliverables. It’s a complete overview of what the project will entail and the desired results.

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Notion – Project Proposal Template

A project proposal is a document that establishes a project stating details like goals, objectives, important dates, milestones and requirements needed to start and complete the project. There are different types of project proposals that we cover in our step-by-step guide: writing your project proposal article. Usually, it’s self-led and is the beginning of something great.

In short, a project proposal—also known as a business proposal—is a way of communicating a business growth idea to leadership and getting the go-ahead to run with that idea. This document covers everything from budget to research; team members involved to project deliverables. It’s a complete overview of what the project will entail and the desired results.

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What you need before purchase

  • Basic knowledge of how to use Notion
  • Paid Notion account if you’re looking to add lots of content to your template / Notion account (sign up here). Not much content? You’re able to use their free account.

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After purchase

After purchase, you’ll be able to view the template immediately. The template can be added to your Notion account by:

  • Click on the template download link in Gumroad
  • When viewing the Notion template, click on the “Duplicate” link in the top-right of your screen
  • The template will now be available in your own Notion account

For ongoing use, the steps are:

  • Login to Notion and select the template you want to view
  • Click on the Duplicate link in the top-right of your screen to create a copy to use
  • You’ll be able to retain the Notion template and work on the Duplicate (with a new name) and can repeat this process whenever you want to use the template again

 

What is a project proposal?

A project proposal is the first step in getting your idea off the ground. It’s an opportunity to get feedback from potential collaborators and investors, as well as to gain valuable experience on how to present your ideas effectively.

Project proposals are not just for startups: they can be used by any organization that wants to raise funds or build partnerships with other organizations.

In this article you will learn about:

  • The purpose of a project proposal
  • How to write a good project proposal
  • What types of projects need a project proposal
  • When to use a project proposal
  • What to include in a project proposal

 

The purpose of a project proposal

The purpose of a project proposal is to get people excited about your idea. A project proposal should be short (around 1 page) and concise. You don’t want to bore anyone with long paragraphs of text. Instead, keep it simple and direct.

Your goal is to show what value your product/service will bring to others, why it’s needed, and how much money it will make them.

How to write a good project proposal

Writing a good project proposal requires some planning. Here are some things to consider when writing your project proposal:

1. Who is going to read it?

Who is going to read your project proposal? This includes potential partners, investors, and customers. If you’re pitching to a large company, chances are they have dozens of employees who could potentially review your proposal. On the other hand, if you’re pitching to a small startup, you may only have one person reviewing your proposal. Make sure you know who is going to read your proposal before you start writing.

2. What do I want my audience to take away?

When you’re writing your project proposal, think about what you want your audience to take away. For example, if you’re pitching a new app to a venture capital firm, you might want them to see that your app has the potential to generate millions of dollars in revenue. If you’re pitching a new web service to a tech company, you might want them to see that your service will save them time and money. Whatever you want your audience to understand after reading your project proposal, make sure you communicate that clearly.

3. Is there anything else I need to say?

If you’ve got something important to add to your project proposal but don’t want to repeat yourself, then put it in a separate section called “Additional information”. This way, you won’t forget to mention it later.

4. Does my project fit into their business model?

If your project doesn’t fit into someone else’s business model, then it probably isn’t worth pursuing. Don’t waste your time trying to convince someone to invest in your project if they aren’t interested.

5. Is my project too risky?

If you’re building new technology, then you’ll likely face challenges along the way. However, if you’re proposing an existing technology, then you shouldn’t worry as much about risk. Your project proposal should focus on showing how your technology solves problems and how it will benefit others.

6. Do I have enough evidence to back up my claims?

You need to provide proof that your claim is true. In other words, you need to prove that your technology works or that your solution can solve a problem.

7. How does this compare to similar projects?

You should always compare your project to similar ones. Find out what other companies are doing and learn from their mistakes.

8. Can I improve upon my proposal?

Once you’ve written your project proposal, you should go through it again and ask yourself whether you can improve it. You can use these questions to help guide you:

  • Are all my points clear?
  • Have I included everything I need to include?
  • Am I being redundant?
  • Do I need more examples?

9. When do I need to submit my proposal?

The best time to send your proposal is right before you pitch. That way, you can spend less time preparing and more time focusing on making your presentation great.

10. Will anyone actually read my proposal?

This question is especially relevant for startups. After all, most people at startups work long hours with little free time. So, make sure you write your proposal in such a way that it’s easy to read and digest.

11. What happens next?

After you’ve submitted your proposal, you’ll receive feedback from the person who reads it. They may give you some suggestions or tell you why they didn’t like your proposal. Either way, you’ll know what needs improvement.

 

What types of projects need a project proposal

A project proposal is useful for any type of project. But here are three common types of projects where you’ll find yourself needing one:

1. Startups

Startups often need to get funding so they can build their product. A startup project proposal gives investors a chance to evaluate your idea and decide whether it’s worth investing in.

2. New technologies

New technologies are usually built by teams of engineers. If you’re working on new technology, then a project proposal helps you explain its value to potential users.

3. Existing products

Existing products already exist. And sometimes, you might be asked to improve them. For example, you could be tasked with improving the user experience of an app. Or maybe you’re asked to fix bugs or add features to an existing product.

 

How to Write a Project Proposal: Step-By-Step

Writing a good project proposal isn’t difficult. It just takes practice. Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing yours:

  1. Be specific – When you’re describing your project, stick to specifics. Don’t say “I’m going to develop a new feature.” Instead, describe exactly what you plan to create. This makes it easier for someone else to understand what you’re talking about.
  2. Include details – Include as many details as possible. The more information you provide, the better. Think about how much detail you’d want if you were reading your own project proposal. Would you want to know every single thing you planned to do? Probably not.
  3. Use bullet points – Bullet points are a quick way to summarize large amounts of text. They also look nice and clean. To create a bullet point, simply start typing the first word of each sentence. Then, press Enter to move onto the next sentence.
  4. Make it short – Don’t waste space with unnecessary words. Keep your proposals brief. Even though you have plenty of room to fill out, don’t overdo it. You only have a few minutes to convince someone to invest in your project.
  5. Proofread – Proofreading is important. Read through your proposal once again after you finish writing it. Look for spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and other things that aren’t quite right.
  6. Add images – Adding images to your proposal will help readers visualize what you’re describing. Images can also help you make your ideas clearer.
  7. Ask questions – If you’re unsure about something, ask! Your reader probably has similar doubts. So, take advantage of this opportunity to clarify anything that’s unclear.
  8. Show off your work – You should include links to websites or documents that show off your previous work. This demonstrates that you’re capable of creating quality content.
  9. Tell a story – Your proposal shouldn’t be all facts and figures. Try telling a story instead. Describe the problem you’re trying to solve and why your solution matters.
  10. Wrap up – Finally, wrap up your proposal by summarizing what you’ve written. What would you like people to remember about your project? How does it fit into the bigger picture?

 

What Should I Include in My Project Proposal?

A project proposal includes several different types of information. Each type plays a role in convincing someone to fund your project.

Here are some examples of the kinds of information you’ll need to include in your proposal:

Problem Statement

The problem statement describes the issue you’re solving. In most cases, this section will focus on explaining the problem itself. But, it doesn’t always have to be so straightforward. For example, you could use the problem statement to explain why your idea is worth pursuing.

Solution

The solution section explains how you intend to fix the problem. If you’re developing an app, for instance, you might write about the features you plan to add. Or, you could talk about the changes you expect to make to existing code.

Benefits

Benefits describe the benefits your solution provides. These benefits usually relate to the problems you’re addressing. For example, if you’re working on an app to help students study for exams, you might write about how your app makes studying easier.

Approach

The approach section describes how you plan to tackle the problem. It often includes a high-level overview of your project. However, you don’t necessarily have to go into detail about every aspect of your project. Instead, you could choose to focus on one specific part of your project.

Team

This section lists the members who will be involved in your project. You may want to include team members from both inside and outside your organization.

Timeline

Include a timeline showing when you plan to complete your project. A good timeline shows exactly where you stand with respect to your deadline.

Costs

Include a cost estimate for your project. The amount you quote depends on the budget available for your project.