what is a proposal

A proposal is a written document that outlines a plan of action or a course of treatment, usually submitted to an organization with the aim of persuading them to accept a particular course of action or provide funding for a specific project. Proposals can be either formal or informal, but most commonly take the form of a business proposal. A business proposal is a written offer from a seller to a prospective sponsor, often a key step in the complex sales process). There are three distinct categories of business proposals: formally solicited, informally solicited, and unsolicited). Solicited proposals are written in response to published requirements, contained in a request for proposal (RFP), request for quotation (RFQ), invitation for bid (IFB), or a request for information (RFI) ). A proposal typically includes an executive summary, outlines the plan of action, and educates the buyer about the sellers capability to satisfy their needs. Proposals must be powerfully persuasive and easy to read.