Why do you need the best proposal software for your business in 2024? Here’s why!

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You devote hours to drafting a proposal, ticking off a long list of tasks – collaborating with team members of different departments to gather assets, curate images, define the scope, explain terms and conditions, create timelines, arrive at estimates, etc.‍

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Then, you email the proposal to the potential client and await a response.

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The wait can be frustrating. Because you do not know if the prospective client went through with the proposal, or worse, if the prospect even opened the email until days later – maybe after many follow-up emails. And with each Request for Proposal (RFP) your company receives, you and the rest of the sales and project management team will have to start the creation process again.

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Considering how hurried the proposal course usually is, businesses today understand the need and importance of proposal apps and proposal writing software.

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According to a report by Loopio, companies spend a significant amount of time on RFPs. On average, it takes 24 hours to complete an RFP, involving a team of seven people. The writing process itself takes nearly 23.8 hours.

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Proposal software helps reduce the non-billable hours you spend creating content for sales proposals. Proposal creators are designed to address the need to effectively develop, hoard, and manage proposals, gain a better understanding of a company’s sales pipeline, business plan, and performance, and ultimately, win more deals.

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‍What Makes A Great Proposal Software?

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Crafting compelling proposals is essential for securing new clients, projects, or funding.  However, traditional methods of proposal creation are often time-consuming and error-prone.  Best proposal software addresses these challenges head-on, offering a powerful solution to streamline the process and empower you to submit high-quality proposals consistently. Let us explore the three key features that make proposal apps such valuable management tools: Speed, Accuracy, and Automation.

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1. Speed

The best proposal apps enable faster creation of proposals. Instead of typing out all the required information in a word processor document, proposal apps typically include form fields to quickly fill in the details, both manually and automatically, with saved content blocks that you can reuse in every formal proposal sample. 

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The best proposal apps are designed to make proposal creation a breeze, helping you get formal proposal samples out the door quickly. Here are some key features that contribute to a speedy workflow:

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• Lightning-Fast Loading
• Responsive Design on Any Device
• Effortless Editing
• Real-Time Collaboration
• Speedy Previews
• Streamlined Interface
• Optimized File Handling
• Intelligent Caching
• Swift Server Response
• Continuous Performance Tuning

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With several other options to make it aesthetically pleasing, sales executives can save the proposal as a presentation, PDF document, or webpage and send it to clients in just a few clicks. The best proposal software speeds up the proposal workflow so sales professionals spend less time on paperwork.

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2. Accuracy

Handling several tasks and RFPs simultaneously can lead to slip-ups and missing out on important information that a proposal might need. Perhaps the vital feature that makes a good proposal app is the ability to save content and provide customized fields in project proposal templates to fill in the saved information. With a good proposal app, sales professionals can create accurate online proposals and need not worry about forgetting important information.

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3. Automation

As mentioned earlier, creating a proposal on a word processor document entails at least a half-dozen steps. The best proposal apps usually take just a couple of clicks to finish and send a proposal—and they also provide notifications when clients view and sign proposals online. Many good proposal apps even include integrations with CRM tools, accounting tools, etc., to manage entire sales and business cycles automatically.

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8 Best Proposal Software for Streamlining Your Workflow

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Now that you understand the benefits of proposal apps, let us explore some of the top proposed solutions available. These innovative tools offer a range of features to cater to different needs. Whether you are crafting grant proposals, proposals for web design projects, or any other product or service, there is a proposal app best suited to streamline your workflow and help you win more business.

#1 - Zomentum

‍Certainly one of the best proposal apps and an intuitive one, Zomentum includes a drag-and-drop feature, Zomentum streamlines the proposal creation process, enabling the use of both external and in-built free business proposal templates. You can start from scratch and this proposal management software will ensure your sales process is streamlined. Zomentum enables the personalization of proposals like adding videos, sending proposals in the form of microsites, and so on, and is one of the best MSP proposal software.

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Additional Features Include:

• ‍Digital signature feature for the fast and convenient signing of proposals
• Document tracking – notifies sales teams when a proposal is opened, commented on, or signed by a prospect
• Set and send automatic reminders to prospects who haven’t signed the proposal
• Built-in MSP proposal templates
• In-built CRM and automation modules make it a complete sales platform
• Cost: Free Forever!

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#2 - GetAccept

Beyond crafting compelling proposals, securing client buy-in is crucial for closing deals. GetAccept steps in to bridge this gap, offering a unique solution that streamlines proposals, accelerates deal closure, and fosters stronger client engagement. While it integrates seamlessly with your existing CRM and proposal software, GetAccept focuses on the presentation and client interaction aspects of the sales cycle.

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Additional Features Include:

• Presentation templates
• Proposal templates for various industries
• Simple, drag-and-drop editor to customize templates quickly
• Collaboration features allow multiple team members to make changes or comment on the proposal
• Cost: Starts at $25/month with free options available.

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#3 - Proposify

Proposify is a sales proposal software that perfectly suits general contractors who want to quickly tweak their business proposal templates for clients in different industries. Once the sections are created and saved, a bidder can simply plug them in and out as required. This proposal app also features a detailed layout editor that helps customize background colors, tables, text boxes, sidebars, etc., in line with a brand’s identity.

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Additional Features Include:

‍Branded templates that can be customized to save time

Embed videos from YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

Online signature tool for faster sign-offs

Cost: Starts at $49/month

#4 - PandaDoc

The PandaDoc proposal app is available on iOS and Android and helps create customized proposals quickly with smart collaboration and integration with several CRMs. It provides a content library to save different categories of data. The software provides custom notifications when a client opens a proposal.

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‍Additional Features Include:

• ‍Easy contract renewals
• Simplified recruiting and onboarding
• Customized pricing based on the additional features
• Cost: Starts at $19/month

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#5 - Bidsketch

This MSP proposal app simplifies the proposal writing process by following proven methods for landing new business. The Bidsketch proposal app is based on the research of over 25,000 proposals worth over $270 million to determine the best practices for creating proposals. The research data is available in the proposal app to help sales teams create winning proposals.

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Additional Features Include:

• Proposal stats, Free samples, and MSP Proposal templates
• Reusable content
• Professional template designs
• Cost: Starts at $29/month

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#6 - Formstack (Formerly WebMerge)

‍The Formstack proposal software simplifies the proposal process with document automation. Sales teams can simply take existing files and customize them into smart new documents for quick submission. Formstack also helps create invoices, contract agreements, terms documents, and more.

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Additional Features Include:

• ‍Simplified document generation
• Customizable templates that are compatible with PDF, WordDoc, Excel, etc.
• HTML flexibility
• Integration with popular software such as Salesforce, DocuSign
• Cost: Starts at $50/month

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#7 - Better Proposals

Better Proposals offers a user-friendly platform for creating impactful proposals. It includes features like drag-and-drop editing, analytics to track proposal performance, and integrations with popular business tools.

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Additional Features Include:

• User-friendly 
• Drag-and-drop editing 
• Analytics
• Starts at $19/month

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#8 - Connectwise (Formerly Quosal)

Connectwise Sell is another strong proposal software option. It streamlines the proposal creation process with pre-built templates, automated workflows, and e-signatures. Connectwise integrates with various CRM and accounting software as well.

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Additional Features Include:

• Pre-built templates
• Automation 
• E-signatures
• Cost: On request

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The Bottom Line

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The time it takes to create proposals can significantly impact your sales pipeline. By leveraging proposal software, you can streamline the process, reduce errors, and free up your team to focus on closing deals.

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While all the proposal apps mentioned offer valuable features, Zomentum goes a step further for MSPs. In addition to the core functionalities like proposal creation and automation, Zomentum provides features specifically designed to address the needs of Managed Service Providers:

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• Built-in MSP Proposal Templates: Get started quickly with pre-built templates tailored to the MSP industry.
• In-built CRM and Automation Modules: Manage your entire sales pipeline and automate repetitive tasks within a single platform.
• Powerful Integrations: Zomentum integrates seamlessly with popular PSA tools used by MSPs, ensuring a smooth workflow.
• Seamless Payment Processing: Zomentum Payments simplifies collecting recurring payments from your clients, eliminating the need for separate invoicing and chasing outstanding balances.

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Ready to transform your MSP's proposal process? Book a free demo with Zomentum today and see how our software can help you win more deals sustainably and shorten your sales cycle!