What should a project proposal include?

What the client needs, in their words. The scope, and what's out of it. The deliverables and a rough timeline. The price, split by phase so the client can see where the money goes. Payment terms, and the date the offer stands until. This builder does the price, scope, terms and validity; write the why and the timeline around it in Word.

What's the difference between a proposal and a statement of work?

A proposal sells: what you'd do and what it costs, so the client can say yes. A statement of work (SOW) comes after the yes. It pins down deliverables, milestones, how work gets accepted and when it's paid, and usually sits under a contract you've already signed. Many small studios send one document that does both. Bigger clients' legal teams often want a separate SOW.

How do I price a design project?

Estimate the hours for each phase, multiply by your rate, and leave room for the feedback rounds nobody can predict. We won't quote a market rate: it depends on your city, your clients and your team, and any single number online is a guess. What helps most is your own record of how long similar projects really took. If you don't have one yet, start keeping it on the next project.

Hourly or fixed price?

A fixed price is easier for a client to approve, and the risk of running over is yours. Hourly (time and materials) is fairer when the scope is still fuzzy. A common middle ground: fixed prices for the phases you can see clearly, hourly for the rest. You can mix both in one quote here.

How are the totals worked out?

Each line is hours × rate, kept exact. The lines are added up, the discount comes off, tax goes on the discounted amount, and only then are the subtotal, net and total rounded to the cent. The discount and tax rows are the differences between those rounded figures, so the rows always add up to the total. Line amounts are rounded for display, so once in a while they're a cent off the subtotal.

Does the Excel file have formulas?

Yes. Each hourly line is hours × rate, and the subtotal, net and total are formulas that read the discount and tax rates from cells at the top. Change hours, a rate or the tax rate in Excel and the totals follow. The file opens in Google Sheets too.

How do I save the quote as a PDF?

Click Print or save as PDF, then pick Save as PDF as the destination. Only the quote prints, without the form.

Does this tool save what I type?

No. The quote lives in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored. No account either. Close the tab and it's gone, so download or print first.

Free project proposal template and quote builder

Fill in the phases, hours and rates and get a quote with the totals worked out. Download it for Word or Excel, or print it.

Your studio

Client

Project name

Currency

Scope (a few lines: what's in, what's out)

Phases or line items

Item	Notes	Priced by	Hours	Rate	Amount	Remove line
					€0.00
					€0.00
					€0.00

Discount %

Tax or VAT %

Date

Valid until

Payment terms

Quote

Item	Notes	Hours	Rate	Amount
Discovery				€0.00
Design				€0.00
Build				€0.00
Total				€0.00

Hours take 1.5, 1:30 or 1h 30m. Lines are summed exactly and rounded to the cent once, at the totals; the discount comes off before tax. The Excel file keeps hours × rate and the totals as formulas. Nothing you type is stored. Convert minutes to hours.

How to use it

Type your studio, the client and the project name, then a few lines of scope: what's in, and what isn't.
Add a line per phase or deliverable. Price it as hours × rate, or switch it to a fixed price. A new line copies the last rate.
Pick the currency and add a discount or tax if you need them. The discount comes off before tax.
Set the date the quote is valid until and your payment terms, check the preview, then download it for Word or Excel, or print it (or save it as a PDF).

Questions

What should a project proposal include?: What the client needs, in their words. The scope, and what's out of it. The deliverables and a rough timeline. The price, split by phase so the client can see where the money goes. Payment terms, and the date the offer stands until. This builder does the price, scope, terms and validity; write the why and the timeline around it in Word.
What's the difference between a proposal and a statement of work?: A proposal sells: what you'd do and what it costs, so the client can say yes. A statement of work (SOW) comes after the yes. It pins down deliverables, milestones, how work gets accepted and when it's paid, and usually sits under a contract you've already signed. Many small studios send one document that does both. Bigger clients' legal teams often want a separate SOW.
How do I price a design project?: Estimate the hours for each phase, multiply by your rate, and leave room for the feedback rounds nobody can predict. We won't quote a market rate: it depends on your city, your clients and your team, and any single number online is a guess. What helps most is your own record of how long similar projects really took. If you don't have one yet, start keeping it on the next project.
Hourly or fixed price?: A fixed price is easier for a client to approve, and the risk of running over is yours. Hourly (time and materials) is fairer when the scope is still fuzzy. A common middle ground: fixed prices for the phases you can see clearly, hourly for the rest. You can mix both in one quote here.
How are the totals worked out?: Each line is hours × rate, kept exact. The lines are added up, the discount comes off, tax goes on the discounted amount, and only then are the subtotal, net and total rounded to the cent. The discount and tax rows are the differences between those rounded figures, so the rows always add up to the total. Line amounts are rounded for display, so once in a while they're a cent off the subtotal.
Does the Excel file have formulas?: Yes. Each hourly line is hours × rate, and the subtotal, net and total are formulas that read the discount and tax rates from cells at the top. Change hours, a rate or the tax rate in Excel and the totals follow. The file opens in Google Sheets too.
How do I save the quote as a PDF?: Click Print or save as PDF, then pick Save as PDF as the destination. Only the quote prints, without the form.
Does this tool save what I type?: No. The quote lives in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored. No account either. Close the tab and it's gone, so download or print first.

Proposal, statement of work or project budget

Document	What it's for	When	Who reads it	What's in it
Project proposal	Winning the work	Before the client says yes	The client, deciding	The need, your approach, phases and price, terms, a validity date
Statement of work	Pinning down what was agreed	After the yes, before work starts	Both sides, often their legal team	Deliverables, milestones, acceptance, payment schedule, how changes are handled
Project budget	Keeping the project on track	While the work runs	Your team	Hours and money per phase, and how much is already spent

Quote

How to use it

Questions

Proposal, statement of work or project budget

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