Brief & Bill / Free guides
Freelance proposal template with three options: a free outline
A proposal with three options gives the client a choice between versions of working with you, not just a yes or a no. It also makes it clear what each price includes.
Free outline: freelance proposal
- Goals, in the client’s words. Two or three sentences from your first call.
- How you will approach it. The steps, in plain language.
- Three options side by side. What each includes, feedback rounds, timeline and price.
- Not included. The things people often assume are included.
- Timeline. Key dates, and what you need from the client and when.
- Next steps. How to say yes, the deposit and the start date.
Example: website copy project
| Essential | Standard | Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pages | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Feedback rounds | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| SEO titles and descriptions | Yes | Yes | |
| Launch email | Yes | ||
| Timeline | 2 weeks | 3 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Price | [your price] | [your price] | [your price] |
A “not included” list to adapt
- Extra pages beyond the option chosen
- More feedback rounds than listed
- Photography or stock images
- Uploading copy to the website
- Translation
- Work requested after sign-off
If the proposal goes quiet
- After 3 working days: a short check-in asking if they have questions.
- After a week: offer a quick call to walk through the options.
- After two weeks: a polite last note saying you will keep the dates open until a set day.