Free Creative Proposal Template

Fully editable with custom branding and templated offering.

Free Creative Proposal Template

Fully editable with custom branding and templated offering.

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First Name
Last Name
Acme LLC.
Client
First Name
Last Name
Corporation Corp.
First Name
Last Name
Acme LLC.
Client
First Name
Last Name
Corporation Corp.

Free Creative Proposal Template

Fully editable with custom branding and templated offering.

Free Creative Proposal Template

Fully editable with custom branding and templated offering.

Bonsai has helped create 1,023,928 documents and counting.

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Date: March 8th 2023


Between:

Coach:

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client:

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.

This Contract is between Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC, a California limited liability company (the "Coach").

The Contract is dated January 23, 2023.

1. WORK AND PAYMENT.

1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Coach to develop a coaching relationship between the Client and Coach in order to cultivate the Client's personal, professional, or business goals and create a plan to achieve those goals through stimulating and creative interactions with the ultimate result of maximizing the Client's personal or professional potential.

1.2 Schedule. The Coach will begin work on February 1, 2023 and will continue until the work is completed. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Coach at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 4, Term and Termination.

The Coach and Client will meet by video conference, 4 days per month for 2 hours.

1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Coach an hourly rate of $150. Of this, the Client will pay the Coach $500.00 (USD) before work begins.

1.4 Expenses. The Client will reimburse the Coach's expenses. Expenses do not need to be pre-approved by the Client.

1.5 Invoices. The Coach will invoice the Client in accordance with the milestones in Section 1.3. The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within 15 days of receiving the invoice. Payment after that date will incur a late fee of 1.0% per month on the outstanding amount.

1.6 Support. The Coach will not be available by telephone, or email in between scheduled sessions.

2.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

- A coaching relationship is a partnership between two or more individuals or entities, like a teacher-student or coach-athlete relationship. Both the Client and Coach must uphold their obligations for the relationship to be successful.

- The Coach agrees to maintain the ethics and standards of behavior established by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

- The Client acknowledges and agrees that coaching is a comprehensive process that may explore different areas of the Client's life, including work, finances, health, and relationships.

- The Client is responsible for implementing the insights and techniques learned from the Coach.

3. REPRESENTATIONS.

3.1 Overview. This section contains important promises between the parties.

3.2 Authority To Sign. Each party promises to the other party that it has the authority to enter into this Contract and to perform all of its obligations under this Contract.

3.3 Coach Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Coach promises that it owns the work product, that the Coach is able to give the work product to the Client, and that no other party will claim that it owns the work product. If the Coach uses employees or subcontractors, the Coach also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Coach giving the Coach any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Coach's background IP and work product.

3.4 Coach Will Comply With Laws. The Coach promises that the manner it does this job, its work product, and any background IP it uses comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.

3.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Coach promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights, that the Coach has the right to let the Client use the background IP, and that this Contract does not and will not violate any contract that the Coach has entered into or will enter into with someone else.

3.7 Client-Supplied Material Does Not Infringe. If the Client provides the Coach with material to incorporate into the work product, the Client promises that this material does not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights.

4. TERM AND TERMINATION

This Contract is ongoing until it expires or the work is completed. Either party may end this Contract for any reason by sending an email or letter to the other party, informing the recipient that the sender is ending the Contract and that the Contract will end in 7 days. The Contract officially ends once that time has passed. The party that is ending the Contract must provide notice by taking the steps explained in Section 9.4. The Coach must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice unless the notice says otherwise.

If either party ends this Contract before the Contract automatically ends, the Client will pay the Contractor for the work done up until when the Contract ends. The following sections don't end even after the Contract ends: 3 (Representations); 6 (Confidential Information); 7 (Limitation of Liability); 8 (Indemnity); and 9 (General).

3. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

The Client is hiring the Coach as an independent contractor. The following statements accurately reflect their relationship:

- The Coach will use its own equipment, tools, and material to do the work.

- The Client will not control how the job is performed on a day-to-day basis. Rather, the Coach is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.

- The Client will not provide the Coach with any training.

- The Client and the Coach do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.

- The Coach cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.

- The Coach is not entitled to the Client's benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).

- The Coach is responsible for its own taxes.

- The Client will not withhold social security and Medicare taxes or make payments for disability insurance, unemployment insurance, or workers compensation for the Coach or any of the Coach's employees or subcontractors.

6. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

6.1 Overview. This Contract imposes special restrictions on how the Client and the Coach must handle confidential information. These obligations are explained in this section.

6.2 The Client's Confidential Information. While working for the Client, the Coach may come across, or be given, Client information that is confidential. This is information like customer lists, business strategies, research & development notes, statistics about a website, and other information that is private. The Coach promises to treat this information as if it is the Coach's own confidential information. The Coach may use this information to do its job under this Contract, but not for anything else. For example, if the Client lets the Coach use a customer list to send out a newsletter, the Coach cannot use those email addresses for any other purpose. The one exception to this is if the Client gives the Coach written permission to use the information for another purpose, the Coach may use the information for that purpose, as well. When this Contract ends, the Coach must give back or destroy all confidential information, and confirm that it has done so. The Coach promises that it will not share confidential information with a third party, unless the Client gives the Coach written permission first. The Coach must continue to follow these obligations, even after the Contract ends. The Coach's responsibilities only stop if the Coach can show any of the following: (i) that the information was already public when the Coach came across it; (ii) the information became public after the Coach came across it, but not because of anything the Coach did or didn't do; (iii) the Coach already knew the information when the Coach came across it and the Coach didn't have any obligation to keep it secret; (iv) a third party provided the Coach with the information without requiring that the Coach keep it a secret; or (v) the Coach created the information on its own, without using anything belonging to the Client.

6.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It's possible the Client and the Coach each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Coach each promise that it will not share with the other party confidential information that belongs to third parties, unless it is allowed to do so. If the Client or the Coach is allowed to share confidential information with the other party and does so, the sharing party promises to tell the other party in writing of any special restrictions regarding that information.

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

Neither party is liable for breach-of-contract damages that the breaching party could not reasonably have foreseen when it entered this Contract.

8. INDEMNITY.

8.1 Overview. This section transfers certain risks between the parties if a third party sues or goes after the Client or the Coach or both. For example, if the Client gets sued for something that the Coach did, then the Coach may promise to come to the Client's defense or to reimburse the Client for any losses.

8.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Coach agrees to indemnify the Client (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of: (i) the work the Coach has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Coach of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Coach of the promises it is making in Section 3 (Representations).

8.3 Coach Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Coach (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of a breach by the Client of its obligations under this Contract.

9. GENERAL.

9.1 Assignment​. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Coach. Neither the Client nor the Coach can assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the other's written permission.

9.2 Arbitration. As the exclusive means of initiating adversarial proceedings to resolve any dispute arising under this Contract, a party may demand that the dispute be resolved by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules.

9.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Coach must agree to that change in writing and sign a document showing their contract. Neither party can waive its rights under this Contract or release the other party from its obligations under this Contract, unless the waiving party acknowledges it is doing so in writing and signs a document that says so.

9.4. Noticies.

(a) Over the course of this Contract, one party may need to send a notice to the other party. For the notice to be valid, it must be in writing and delivered in one of the following ways: personal delivery, email, or certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested). The notice must be delivered to the party's address listed at the end of this Contract or to another address that the party has provided in writing as an appropriate address to receive notice.

(b) The timing of when a notice is received can be very important. To avoid confusion, a valid notice is considered received as follows: (i) if delivered personally, it is considered received immediately; (ii) if delivered by email, it is considered received upon acknowledgement of receipt; (iii) if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), it is considered received upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt. If a party refuses to accept notice or if notice cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then it is considered received when the notice is rejected or unable to be delivered. If the notice is received after 5:00pm on a business day at the location specified in the address for that party, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice is considered received at 9:00am on the next business day.

9.5 Severability. This section deals with what happens if a portion of the Contract is found to be unenforceable. If that's the case, the unenforceable portion will be changed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, unless that change is not permitted by law, in which case the portion will be disregarded. If any portion of the Contract is changed or disregarded because it is unenforceable, the rest of the Contract is still enforceable.

9.6 Signatures. The Client and the Coach must sign this document using Bonsai's e-signing system. These electronic signatures count as originals for all purposes.

9.7 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this document shall be governed by the laws of the United States of America.

9.8 Entire Contract. This Contract represents the parties' final and complete understanding of this job and the subject matter discussed in this Contract. This Contract supersedes all other contracts (both written and oral) between the parties.

THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO THE FOREGOING AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW.

Coach

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.
Table of contents
Creative Proposal Template
Use this creative proposal now for free

What is a Creative Proposal?

A creative proposal is a document that freelancers and consultants in creative industries, like writing and graphic design, use to pitch projects to prospective clients. 

It includes information about the project scope, timeline, pricing, and services, to demonstrate why a client should choose to work with you over a competitor. 

A creative proposal may also be referred to as: 

  • A company proposal
  • A business proposal
  • A corporate proposal 
  • A project proposal

What to Include in a Creative Proposal 

A creative proposal should include a variety of different elements, such as: 

1. A cover page

Since your business proposals need to convince potential clients to work with you, they need to make a good first impression. The first thing your professional proposal needs is a well-designed cover page. 

Whether you use a proposal template like Bonsai’s, or you make your own using a Microsoft Word or Adobe InDesign, make sure that it has: 

  • A title (for example, Web Design Proposal
  • The client’s business name
  • Your name
  • The sent date

While the cover page for your business proposal doesn’t have to be professionally designed, it should be clean, clear, and easy to read. Avoid overwhelming design elements, use white space, and choose a simple font to keep your cover page looking crisp and to the point. 

2. Client and freelancer details

Every business proposal needs to have basic information about the parties involved. To get started, you’ll need the client’s personal or business name as well as their contact information, like a phone number and email address. 

You should also include your name, professional title, business name (if relevant), and your contact information as well. Make sure that your email, website, and phone number are easy to find so that when a client decides to accept your business proposal, they’re able to let you know.

3. Information about your freelance business

Including an “About Us” section in your proposal template gives you an opportunity to highlight the skills and experience you bring to the table. You should customize it for each client and tailor the content to:

  • Reflect the industry the client is in
  • Use examples of work experience from similar projects
  • Showcase what sets you apart from competitors (experience, pricing, etc.)

While this section doesn’t need to be any longer than a paragraph or two, it should give the client a feel for who you are as a professional creative business consultant so that it leaves them feeling confident you’re the right choice. 

4. A project description

Next comes the project brief. This is where you outline the project details and scope of work. For example, in this section, describe: 

  • What the objective or goal of the project is
  • How you will meet it
  • Which services you will provide
  • What the work process will look like 

For example, here’s what a finished project description could look like for a logo redesign: 

The purpose of this project is to design and apply seasonal painting to the client’s commercial storefront to engage customers, advertise seasonal promotions, and attract foot traffic through an appealing, engaging, and professional design. 

[Freelancer] will work with the store manager to review design preferences and specifications, such as promotional material and branding guidelines as well as marketing trends. [Freelancer] will provide a minimum of three drafts based on a brief provided by the client that includes any requested promotions, logos, taglines, colors, or images. Once a draft is selected and any adjustments are made, [freelancer] will have the display completed by [date].

5. A project timeline

One of the most important elements of a professional proposal is a timeline. Especially if the client needs the work done quickly or it’s a large project that requires significant planning. 

Develop a reasonable timeline that you can fit into your current schedule. When possible, include specific dates and proposed deadlines. For big projects, break up the timeline into smaller segments. 

For example, provide an outline of what a client can expect from you in the first week, the first month, and after three months. 

6. Work samples

Work samples from previous projects help to prove you have skills and experience in a given area. It’s important to include client feedback, testimonials, and examples of similar or recent projects in your proposal. 

If you have a case study or professional portfolio, feel free to include them as well. 

Remember to customize the work samples that you use for each company you submit a proposal to. The more that you tailor your pitch to the client and their industry, the more likely you are to meet success. 

7. Pricing information

Every business proposal should include pricing information similar to a formal quote. This helps a client to determine whether your services are within their budget and what exactly they’ll be paying for. 

It’s a good idea to attach a detailed pricing breakdown as opposed to just a standalone number because it shows potential customers how their money will be used. 

For example, you can use pricing tables to detail: 

  • Your hourly or per project rate for each element
  • What it includes
  • Any additional fees or discounts
  • A total cost estimate

Be sure to note any important payment details as well, such as whether a deposit is required before work can begin. 

If the client does decide to accept your proposal, you can use this section to inform your invoices in the future. 

Example of a pricing table made using Bonsai’s creative proposal template


When to use a Creative Proposal

A project proposal is typically given to a client before they decide whether to sign a contract with you. You should use a creative proposal when: 

  • You are pitching a project to a corporate client
  • You know that a client is getting quotes from more than one contractor
  • You really want to impress a specific client
  • You want to give your consulting business a more professional edge by following formal administrative processes 

Since business proposals are time-consuming and require a lot of work, you don’t have to use them for every single client. For example, they’re typically not necessary for small, one-off projects or clients with low budgets. 

Who should use a Creative Proposal?

General creative proposals are meant to be used for creative projects that don’t fall into a specific category like writing or graphic design. 

For example, you can use a creative proposal to pitch a project to design and paint a window display for a commercial storefront or make a custom scrapbook. 

You should use a creative proposal if: 

  • You’re offering creative services to a client that don’t fit into a specific category
  • You’ve been asked to do a one-off creative project outside of your typical freelance services
  • You want to pitch a project that’s a mix of a variety of creative services in one proposal

How to Write a Creative Proposal 

When creating a proposal from scratch or using a proposal template, you can boost your chances of success by following these tips. 

1. Have a kickoff meeting

Before you draft your business proposal, meet with the client to figure out exactly what they want. Make sure to ask probing questions to really get to the heart of the issue. When you leave the meeting, you should know: 

  • What problem needs to be solved
  • Whether your skills are a fit for the project
  • What the budget is
  • Whether the client has any hard deadlines

Use this information to inform your proposal content so that you can customize it to reflect the client’s needs and goals. 

2. Highlight what sets you apart

You should have a good idea of who your competitors are, and, if not, it may be time to do some research. In the body copy of your proposal, make sure to explain why you’re the best freelancer for the job. 

For example, are you more experienced in the client’s industry? Do you specialize in this type of work? Or do you offer lower rates than other contractors?

Consider what’s important to the client and why you’re a great match for their project. 

3. Build a creative proposal template

Instead of having to draft a proposal from scratch every time you need one, create your own creative proposal template to save time. While the content will change based on the client and project, build a template that you can easily edit and update on a regular basis. 

4. Pay attention to design

While the content of your proposal is certainly the most important element of your template, the design also plays a major role in whether or not it impresses a client. 

You don’t have to be a graphic designer to make a visually appealing proposal, but you should keep these design tips in mind: 

  • Save your proposal in a print-ready format, such as a PDF
  • Use the same font throughout 
  • Stick with a clean, modern design
  • Use a standard format with letter-size pages

5. Avoid jargon and watch for typos

Your content can still be engaging and intriguing without going over the top. Use plain language so that your proposal is accessible to anyone who reads it. Sell yourself and your skills by summarizing your past experience and what you bring to the table. Keep your content straightforward and to the point. 

When writing your creative proposal, be mindful of the words you use. Stick to a professional tone, avoid using too much industry jargon, and review your creative proposal for typos and spelling errors before you send it. 

Customizing Creative Proposal Templates is Simple with Bonsai 

Professional proposals help you to save time and sign more clients. That’s why Bonsai makes it easy for you to create, customize, and send your proposals, giving you a professional edge and taking care of some of the administrative footwork. 

Simply create a free account, choose your creative proposal template, customize the content, and share it with a client. Bonsai even allows your clients to accept your proposal online, making the process easy and straightforward. 

Creative Proposal FAQs

How can I make my proposal more attractive?

If you’re confident in the content of your proposal, but not the design, consider using a template. For example, Bonsai’s templates are visually appealing and pre-formatted so you can type in your content quickly and easily without having to waste time choosing a font or placing a background image. 

You can even upload your logo, insert pricing tables, and customize your cover page. 

Many word processors, such as Google Docs and Microsoft Word offer free proposal templates that you can use as well. 

How should I send a creative proposal?

Most creative proposals are either sent digitally via email or printed out and given to a client in person. Regardless of the format you use, make sure to save the final version of your proposal as a PDF so that it maintains its formatting and design elements whether it’s downloaded or printed. 

How do I end a creative proposal?

To boost your chances of signing a new client, end your proposal with a call-to-action. Make sure to tell the client what the next step is, whether that means accepting the proposal via email or scheduling a meeting to go over it. 

Base your sign-off on the client and project. For example, if you know they’re in a rush and need the project finished sooner rather than later, let them know that if they get back to you before the end of the weekend, you can have the project booked for early next week. 

Or, if you know they’re on a tight budget, motivate them by offering a discount if they sign on before month-end. 

Related Documents: 

Not quite what you’re looking for? Take a look at these related documents to find a template that works for you: 

  • Website proposal: Use this document to pitch website redesigns and updates to new clients. 
  • Social media marketing proposal: Use this template to outline social media marketing plans to potential clients, such as schedules, posts, and ads. 
  • Graphic design proposal: Use this template to propose graphic design projects to potential clients, like logos and branding packages. 
  • Content writing proposal: Use this template to propose content writing projects for website copy, blogs, articles, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this template.

How do you write a creative proposal?

Using Bonsai's pre-made templates, customize the primary issue the client is attempting to resolve, justify your hiring, highlight your relevant/previous experience, and outline the anticipated cost of working together.

What is a creative proposal?

A creative project proposal outlines your objectives while describing the steps required to reach your main goal. By doing this, you can be sure that your client and you both have a clear understanding of the project's goals and expected results.

How can I make my proposal more attractive?

Use a pre-made template that is professionally designed (like the ones provided by Bonsai). Creating an account is free and it has all the relevant details you need for a flawless proposal (cost, pitch, goals, timeline, etc).