📝 Proposal Writer — Drafting project proposal...

Generates a professional project proposal with executive summary, deliverables, tiered pricing, timeline, and terms — ready to send as PDF or email.

Activation

When this skill activates, output:

📝 Proposal Writer — Gathering project details...

Then execute the protocol below.

Context	Status
User says "write proposal" or "create proposal"	ACTIVE
User says "pitch" or "bid on project" or "client proposal"	ACTIVE
Preparing a document to send to a prospective client	ACTIVE
Writing internal project plans (no client)	DORMANT — use scope-of-work
Discussing pricing strategy generally	DORMANT

Anti-patterns

Trap	Reality Check
"Just list what we'll build"	Proposals sell outcomes, not features. Lead with the problem you solve.
"One price, take it or leave it"	Tiered pricing lets clients choose their budget level. Always offer 2-3 options.
"We'll figure out scope later"	Vague scope creates disputes. Define deliverables AND exclusions explicitly.
"Terms can wait until contract"	Payment schedule, revision limits, and IP ownership prevent 80% of freelance conflicts. Include them.
"The longer the better"	Busy clients skim. Executive summary + pricing first. Details in appendix.

Protocol

Step 1: Gather Project Requirements

If the user hasn't provided project details, ask:

I need a few details for the proposal:

1. Client name and company
2. Project type (web app, mobile app, marketing site, API, etc.)
3. Core problem — what does the client need solved?
4. Rough scope — key features or deliverables
5. Timeline — any deadlines or target launch date?
6. Budget range — if known (helps calibrate tier pricing)

If the user provides partial info, ask only for what's missing. Don't ask for information you can infer.

Step 2: Write Executive Summary

The executive summary is what the client reads first (and sometimes only). It must:

1. Name the problem the client faces — in their language, not technical jargon
2. Present the solution at a high level — what you'll build and why it works
3. State the outcome — what the client gets (revenue, time saved, users served)
4. Establish credibility — briefly mention relevant experience

Template:

## Executive Summary

[Client name] needs [problem statement — what's broken, missing, or inefficient].

We propose [solution summary — what you'll build] using [key technology/approach].
This will [primary outcome — measurable benefit to the client].

Based on our experience with [relevant past work], we estimate [timeline]
for full delivery, with [key milestone] available within [shorter timeframe].

Rules:

• Max 150 words — if you can't summarize in 150 words, you don't understand the project
• No technical jargon the client wouldn't use
• Lead with their problem, not your solution
• Include one specific number (timeline, cost savings, user capacity)

Step 3: Break Down Deliverables

List every deliverable with estimated hours per phase:

## Deliverables

### Phase 1: Foundation (Week 1-2)
| Deliverable | Description | Est. Hours |
|-------------|-------------|-----------|
| Project setup | Repository, CI/CD, staging environment | 8 |
| Authentication | User registration, login, password reset | 16 |
| Database design | Schema, migrations, seed data | 12 |
| **Phase subtotal** | | **36** |

### Phase 2: Core Features (Week 3-5)
| Deliverable | Description | Est. Hours |
|-------------|-------------|-----------|
| Dashboard | Admin dashboard with key metrics | 24 |
| User management | CRUD, roles, permissions | 20 |
| API integration | Connect to [external service] | 16 |
| **Phase subtotal** | | **60** |

### Phase 3: Polish & Launch (Week 6-7)
| Deliverable | Description | Est. Hours |
|-------------|-------------|-----------|
| Testing | Unit tests, integration tests, QA | 16 |
| Deployment | Production setup, domain, SSL | 8 |
| Documentation | User guide, API docs | 8 |
| **Phase subtotal** | | **32** |

**Total estimated hours: 128**

Rules:

• Group deliverables by phase (foundation, core, polish)
• Each deliverable is specific and verifiable (not "backend work")
• Hours are estimates — include a buffer note ("+/- 15%")
• Include testing, deployment, and documentation — clients forget these exist

Step 4: Tech Stack Recommendation

Justify the technology choices:

## Technical Approach

| Layer | Technology | Why |
|-------|-----------|-----|
| Frontend | Next.js 15 + React | Fast development, SEO-friendly, scales well |
| Styling | Tailwind CSS | Rapid UI development, consistent design system |
| Backend | Next.js API Routes | Unified codebase, simplifies deployment |
| Database | Supabase (Postgres) | Real-time capabilities, built-in auth, RLS |
| Hosting | Railway + Netlify | Reliable, auto-scaling, CI/CD built-in |
| Auth | Supabase Auth | Secure, supports OAuth, handles sessions |

This stack was chosen for [speed of development / scalability / client's existing infrastructure / cost-effectiveness].

Rules:

• Only include if the client cares about technical details (some don't)
• Justify each choice in client terms (fast, cheap, reliable — not "it's cool")
• Mention alternatives you considered and why you didn't pick them
• Flag any client-side constraints (existing systems, team expertise)

Step 5: Create Tiered Pricing

Always offer 2-3 options — never a single price:

## Investment

### Option A: Essential — $X,XXX
Core functionality to solve the primary problem.
- [Deliverable 1]
- [Deliverable 2]
- [Deliverable 3]
- 1 round of revisions
- 30 days post-launch support

### Option B: Standard — $XX,XXX ⭐ Recommended
Full solution with all planned features.
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- [Additional deliverable 4]
- [Additional deliverable 5]
- [Additional deliverable 6]
- 2 rounds of revisions
- 60 days post-launch support

### Option C: Premium — $XX,XXX
Complete solution with ongoing support and future-proofing.
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- [Premium deliverable 7]
- [Premium deliverable 8]
- Priority support and maintenance
- 3 rounds of revisions
- 90 days post-launch support + monthly check-ins

All prices exclude applicable taxes. See Payment Terms below.

Pricing rules:

• Standard tier should be the one you actually want them to pick
• Essential is 60-70% of Standard price — stripped to minimum viable
• Premium is 140-160% of Standard price — adds ongoing value
• Mark the recommended tier visually
• Include revision rounds and support period in each tier — these are the #1 source of scope creep

Step 6: Timeline with Milestones

## Timeline

| Milestone | Target Date | Deliverables |
|-----------|------------|-------------|
| Kickoff | [Date] | Requirements review, access handoff |
| Phase 1 Complete | [Date + 2 weeks] | Foundation: auth, database, staging |
| Phase 1 Review | [Date + 2.5 weeks] | Client review and feedback |
| Phase 2 Complete | [Date + 5 weeks] | Core features on staging |
| Phase 2 Review | [Date + 5.5 weeks] | Client review and feedback |
| Phase 3 Complete | [Date + 7 weeks] | Testing, deployment, docs |
| Launch | [Date + 7.5 weeks] | Production deployment |
| Support Period Begins | [Date + 8 weeks] | Post-launch monitoring |

**Notes:**
- Timeline assumes prompt feedback at review milestones (2 business days)
- Delays in feedback shift subsequent milestones by the same duration
- Timeline is for [Standard tier] — Essential is shorter, Premium is longer

Rules:

• Include explicit review/feedback milestones (clients cause most delays)
• State feedback turnaround expectation
• Note that delayed feedback shifts the timeline
• Tie timeline to the recommended tier

Step 7: Terms and Conditions

## Terms

### Payment Schedule
| Milestone | Amount | Due |
|-----------|--------|-----|
| Project kickoff | 30% ($X,XXX) | Upon signing |
| Phase 2 complete | 40% ($X,XXX) | On delivery |
| Final delivery | 30% ($X,XXX) | On launch |

### Revision Policy
- Each tier includes [N] rounds of revisions per phase
- A "round" is a single set of consolidated feedback
- Additional revision rounds billed at $XXX/round
- Revisions must be submitted within 5 business days of delivery

### Intellectual Property
- All code and assets become client property upon final payment
- Third-party libraries remain under their original licenses
- We retain the right to use the project in our portfolio (unless client opts out)

### Cancellation
- Client may cancel with 7 days written notice
- Work completed to date is billed at hourly rate ($XXX/hr)
- Deposit is non-refundable after kickoff meeting

### Confidentiality
- Both parties agree to keep project details confidential
- NDA available upon request

Rules:

• Payment is milestone-based, never 100% upfront or 100% on completion
• Revision policy prevents infinite feedback loops
• IP transfers on final payment — protects you if they don't pay
• Cancellation terms protect both sides

Step 8: Assemble Final Document

Output the complete proposal in clean markdown:

# Project Proposal: [Project Name]

**Prepared for:** [Client Name], [Company]
**Prepared by:** [Your Name / Company]
**Date:** [YYYY-MM-DD]
**Valid until:** [Date + 30 days]

---

## Executive Summary
[Step 2 output]

## Deliverables
[Step 3 output]

## Technical Approach
[Step 4 output]

## Investment
[Step 5 output]

## Timeline
[Step 6 output]

## Terms
[Step 7 output]

---

## Next Steps

To proceed, please:
1. Select your preferred tier (Essential / Standard / Premium)
2. Sign this proposal (reply with written confirmation)
3. Submit the initial deposit

We'll schedule a kickoff meeting within 3 business days of receiving both.

Questions? Reply to this email or call [phone number].

---
*This proposal is valid for 30 days from the date above.*

Output summary:

📝 Proposal Writer — Complete

Client: [name]
Project: [project name]
Tiers: Essential ($X) / Standard ($XX) / Premium ($XXX)
Timeline: [N] weeks (Standard tier)
Phases: [N] with [N] review milestones

Document: [word count] words, ready for PDF conversion

Next steps:
1. Review and customize pricing figures
2. Add your company details and contact info
3. Export to PDF or paste into email

Level History

• Lv.1 — Base: Requirements gathering, executive summary, phased deliverables with hours, tech stack justification, 3-tier pricing, milestone timeline, terms (payment, revisions, IP, cancellation), final document assembly. Based on Quill skill patterns and real client work (Soul Siren Somatics, freelance projects). (Origin: MemStack Pro v3.2, Mar 2026)