Did you know that business proposals are the entry point to success for any organization? They send out a strong, professional impression and lay the foundation for long-term, mutually-profitable working relationships. 

With an authoritative proposal, you are well-positioned to blow the competition out of the water and persuade prospective clients to work with you. 

Looking to create a compelling and professional-looking business proposal? In this article, we’ll take you through the top 15 best proposal software in 2022.

What is proposal automation software?

Proposal automation software is a technology with which businesses can automate the entire proposal process for the sales department of their company. With proposal automation software, businesses can generate documents and files quickly in various formats, such as PDF. What’s more, it enables you to share these documents via multiple platforms and also track their impact.

Business proposals are very important, especially if you talk about having a business relationship for a long time. As long as the sales team consistently provides valuable material personalized to the needs of each prospective customer, there will be a success in closing deals promptly. 

Most proposal automation software also has various other features such as CPO and CRM software and accounting and e-signature software integrated into the system.

What are the different types of proposal software?

There are two types of proposal software:

• Cloud-based proposal software: Most proposal software available on the internet are cloud-based and can be purchased on a subscription basis. Most users fancy this model since it allows all the parties involved to interact and modify the proposal in real time. So, the company makes a proposal, the client can view, comment, and make modifications if necessary. However, if no modifications are required, they provide an electronic signature and it is verified.
• On-premise proposal software: This type of software usually requires a one-time payment for a lifetime license. However, it can be a comparatively expensive solution since subscription models are more popular. Many users feel that cloud-based proposal software is a cheaper option for them. That is not always the case though. Some businesses prefer on-premise proposal software since their data stays with them; no other company has access to their data. It can instill confidence in their prospective clients when they share proposals since it stays only between them.

Reasons why you should use a proposal software

There are various reasons why businesses must adapt to proposal software. Let us take a look:

• Helps businesses save time

Businesses usually consume a lot of time by creating proposals from scratch for each prospective client. Templates are available online. However, they tend to require a lot of reformatting, which consumes time as well. As a result, the sales department spends more time creating accurate proposals than closing deals successfully. Proposal software eliminates the need to create proposals from scratch. With a content creation suite integrated into the system, ready-to-use templates can be designed to close deals promptly. 

• Allows quick updates of documents

Previously, businesses would have to wait for days to receive a change request from the client. Using a proposal software allows clients to make changes within the same document in real-time. Quick updating of documents saves a lot of time.

• Document hit rate increases

Creating a well-designed proposal increases the chances of your prospective client actually reading it. The hit rate can be improved further with interactive content such as images, videos, designs, etc. 

• Creates a good impression

By tailoring offers to your prospect, you demonstrate that you appreciate their time and want to collaborate with them. By allowing for dialogue, proposal software may help you give a human touch to your proposal. Including video demos or live chat tools in your proposals might help you engage with your prospects right away. 

• Facilitates security

Receiving an electronic signature is the defining point in the sales process. When you integrate the option for clients to sign the proposal digitally and directly, you are more likely to close a deal. Not only are electronic signatures secure, they are also legally binding. The audits safeguard the business and the client both. 

• Maximizes sales

There are many logistical factors that can hamper or even negate the sales process. Your prospective clients might not pay due attention or deals might get discarded altogether. If not, they might take their own sweet time to respond to proposals. Traditional proposals also require to be sent back and forth via email as they require constant updates, prints, scans, etc. 

Proposal automation software eliminates these time-consuming processes and increases the likelihood of your prospects accepting the deal immediately. Electronic signatures are secure, and removing logistical barriers makes it easier for them to sign proposals online. This leads to positive engagement rates, which can drastically improve sales. The faster a deal is closed, the more clients can be approached. 

• Useful in tracking interactions

The proposal automation software generates various insights which can help you track your interactions with your clients. It will also suggest the best way for this business relationship to progress. It is useful when you have multiple prospects inspecting the proposal. With the ability to track these interactions, you will be able to make better decisions.

• Provide automatic reminders

Prospective clients may forget to view and sign the proposal completely if they have other things to do. They might even take many days to respond. However, proposal software keeps this in check and will not allow them to forget your proposal. You can program the software to send the prospects automatic reminders to view the proposal or make a decision on acceptance or rejection. 

• Improve communication

Proposal automation software can assist in improving communication between the sales team and the client purchasing their services. The sales team needs to take their client’s methods of making a purchase into consideration, especially if they are a business too. 

The proposal software eases communication between both businesses with the help of personalized proposals especially crafted for B2Bs. As a result, it becomes easy to close a deal successfully. 

• Help align business goals

Your data can help you enhance sales performance and forecast corporate goals in the future. As time goes on, your analytics will disclose which portions of your contracts your prospects are more likely to reject, suggesting areas where you may restructure or enhance. If buyers seldom accept the cost in one section of your proposal, for example, you may need to discover a better approach to showcase that component of your product in the best light possible. 

What ar the best proposal software in 2022?

• Osmosis

Osmosis is an online proposal generation software serving mainly agencies and enterprises. Contact management, online signature, proposal generation, and document management are its main features. You can access all of this in one place. It has a cloud-based deployment system with mobile support.

Osmosis gives you the ability to develop client surveys. This feature could be used to get ideas for new projects and proposals. Proposals developed by Osmosis are handed over in web page format. You can save the document as a PDF or get it printed. For convenience, Osmosis has collaborated with other platforms such as Freshbooks, Trello, Basecamp, and other common tools. 

These are their various plans available:

• 10 proposals, $19 monthly per user
• 35 proposals, $49 monthly for five users
• 2000 proposals, $999 for ten users

• GetAccept

GetAccept boosts your sales with exceptionally built-in proposal templates. There are ample options to choose from, ranging from software proposal templates to subcontractor proposal templates. The customizable templates come with video and chat functions. GetAccept is easily a favourite among businesses since it can be integrated with CRM, API, and Zapier to simplify the workflow. GetAccept presents clients with documents that they can e-sign instantly and close the deal.

The starter plan for GetAccept costs $35 per user per month, whereas the pro plan costs $40 for the same.

• RFP360

With automation skills, smart collaboration and workflows and AI integration, RFP360 is among the most intuitive proposal automation software available today. RFP360 provides quick responses with its centralization process. It allows you to import your RFPs and, with the help of AI, makes suggestions for the proposals.

RFP360 allows its users to create and manage tasks and communicate with each other in real-time. It also provides various integrations for other applications, such as Microsoft Office, so you do not need to leave the software while using those applications. The pricing is subject to the specific needs of each business. To get a quote, businesses will have to get in touch with their experts.

• PandaDoc

PandaDoc supports more than 30000 organizations by helping them minimize document overflow work. It allows you to rapidly develop personalized on-brand proposals with the help of smart collaboration tools, a content library, and a variety of CRMs. PandaDoc makes sure that your business team has everything it needs to address the client’s queries and concerns.

It is beneficial as it assists the users to set alerts for notifications for when the client opens the document and how long they even read it for. What’s more, it will also notify you as the prospect signs your document.

Furthermore, PandaDoc can be used to sign digital documents such as quotes, proposals, and contracts. It can also be used to renew contracts. The HR solution in the software may be used to execute and simplify hiring and onboarding, which helps in structuring the organization. The monthly subscription cost is $19 per user and $39 per user if they choose the premium plan. It allows unlimited users to access the software. This is one of the best proposal software in the market.

• Bidsketch

You may quickly generate proposals using Bidsketch by merging previously used portions or by utilizing the company’s sample proposal language. Bidsketch also comes with ready-to-use proposal templates.

It also has a section where you may designate optional costs to benefit from upselling and cross-selling possibilities. When the proposal is examined and if the user exports it as a PDF, the software will send you alerts for it. There are various pricing plans available, which are as follows:

• $23 per user monthly
• $47 for 3 users monthly
• $119 for 8 users monthly 

• Better Proposals

Better proposals is an effective proposal software that provides businesses with more than a hundred different designer templates. It is one of the heavyweights in the market since it helps receive instant payments and provides analytics for every page. What’s more, it also comes equipped with an intuitive editor.

In case you wish to purchase additional templates, you have the option of choosing that too. The e-signature feature is also integrated into the system, which makes it easier to close deals quickly. The subscription plans allow limited as well as unlimited users to access the software depending on your budget: 

• $19 per month for the beginner plan
• $49 per month for the premium plan
• $129 per month for the enterprise plan

• Qwilr

Proposals created in Qwilr display an aesthetic, visual front to the prospects. This helps businesses stand out from the crowd. Top features of Qwilr include intelligent tracking services, Google analytics, automation, extensive libraries, page builders, and much more.

With Qwilr, you can easily connect to premium software such as SalesForce, Slack, etc., which improves communication and engagement rates. The software immediately sends out notifications each time the proposal is viewed and altered and also for how long it is being viewed.

With real-time communication and teamwork being possible, team members can collaborate efficiently. Businesses can try the software for free. Post that, subscription charges begin at $39 per user per month all the way to $590 for 10 users. Do note, each price plan has different primary features. 

• Proposable

Proposable helps you build interesting proposals for your clients. It helps save time by simplifying the proposal workflow. The creation tools are user-friendly and let you add media directly to the sheet. The “Pay” feature of Proposable helps you get paid faster. All you need to do is turn on the proposal payments feature. The payment gets credited as soon as the client reviews and accepts your proposal.

Once you send out the proposal, Proposable helps you keep track of how the prospects are interacting with your material. It sends you emails and texts when a client opens, views, or accepts the proposal. It integrates with other office tools to make workflow seamless. You can opt for a customized subscription plan once your free trial is over.

• Quote Roller

The distinct quoting feature of Quote Roller makes it a one-of-a-kind software in the market. Quote Roller assists in calculating a profit margin for your project beforehand to let you convert potential leads to clients. Quote Roller is an all-in-one platform where you can create your proposals without switching between various apps. The comment feature on the document allows negotiating prices with the clients. The client can review your draft work and suggest edits. Quote roller also contains a workflow approval feature which allows the review and approval of documents by clients before handing them out. There is a 14-day free trial period and dynamic pricing for accessing the premium features.

• RFPIO

RFPIO has managed to become the most trustable Request for Proposal (RFP) website to handle replies to RFPs, Request for Information (RFIs), Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs), and security questionnaires. It is the industry’s first AI-enabled software that uses artificial intelligence to manage responses. Businesses may use RFPIO to input draft proposals and get final proposals as the output in their preferred format. At the same time, they can interact with multiple employees through the software. 

The most sophisticated feature of RFPIO is its automated recommendation engine. It makes work easier by proposing content from your collection, facilitating the best responses for your RFPs. The open API lets employees connect from both directions to share content without boundaries. RFPIO merges with Okta, Google Drive, HubSpot, and Slack. The demonstration of the software is free of cost.

• Loopio

Loopio lets you close business deals faster by generating automated responses to RFPs. You can choose templates from Loopio’s smart library to produce quality RFPs. The created RFPs are attractive enough to win over a client’s heart. Tedious tasks are made easier as Loopio suggests automated answers from your library of contents. You can share your workspace online with your other colleagues for better efficiency and collaboration.

Another intriguing feature is its ability to link material to a subject matter expert, making it easier to figure out whom to contact for updates and information. Loopio can function alongside applications such as Microsoft 365, Google Drive, Salesforce, and many other office tools. It is trusted by over 1000 international brands, such as PayPal, American Express, Dropbox, and IBM. Businesses can have a free demo of the app before purchase.  The subscription plans are customizable according to the needs of each business.

• Nusii

Nusii ends your struggle with InDesign, Excel, and PDF. Especially made for creative firms, Nusii lets you design beautiful proposals without ease. Readymade proposal designs available in this proposal software allow you to save time on creating proposals. This way, you can invest more time in the growth of your business. 

The user interface is easy to drag and drop and lets you recycle old content. Nusii also sends regular notifications for follow-up of proposals. It lets you know whether your proposal has been opened by your prospect and how much time they are spending on it. With the Nusii reports feature, you can create documents easily and keep your clients updated on the project.

Apart from the free trial, they offer various subscription plans, which are:

• $29 per month, per user for 5 proposals
• $49 per month for 20 proposals
• $129 per month for 50 proposals

• Octiv

This proposal software is laden with tons of interesting features which are useful right from when you create a pitch to the time you get the contract signed by the prospective client. Their content library assists businesses in creating presentations online. It also allows them to view detailed reports on the approved sections and which parts of the proposals have been viewed. The best part about this proposal software is the DocuSign feature integration, which allows prospective clients to easily provide their e-signature on the business proposal. The pricing for this software begins at $50 per user per month. 

• Proposify

Proposify is a web-based proposal software that gives your customers a flawless sign-off experience. The most important features of Proposify include electronic signatures, CRM interfaces, and interactive pricing. The user-friendly drag-and-drop interface enables you to add different sections of your document in a breeze. What’s more, the InDesign editor lets you customize your proposal according to your preferences. 

Proposify comes with advanced analytical capabilities matching Google Analytics that highlight the most important features of your document. It shows you the most viewed sections of your proposal, as well as how frequently the client has seen it.

Proposify delivers the insights to scale up your process by tracking the performance of your proposal. Thus, your business team will get a better grasp of rates by month, quarter, and year. It is a mobile app and is currently only available for iOS. It is free for 1 user with 5 active documents. The team rate is $49 with unlimited documents, and the business rate is $590 per month for 10 users.

• Venngage

Venngage is a software for creating beautiful infographics in three easy steps. It contains more than 7000 professionally designed templates, suited for a wide range of industries. Making it one of the best proposal software. The drag-and-drop editor enables you to add charts, icons, and images almost effortlessly. You can also invite other colleagues to work on the project online or download and share it.

Recently, Venngage has added a proposal builder to their design program. The extensive library of templates allows you to make impressive proposals within minutes. Venngage runs on your browser and has a simple user interface. 

The 24-hour customer service is ready to provide help when needed. The signup for Venngage is free, whereas it charges $49 monthly for business plans.

How to choose the best proposal software for you?

• Analyze your requirements (RFI/RFP) for proposal software

Businesses seeking to purchase proposal automation software must first consider analyzing their requirements. What do you want out of your proposal software? Are you buying it to create aesthetic presentations, or is the e-signature feature more appealing to you? Regardless of why you are buying it, you must ensure that it has all the basic features that can help your business.

• Make an elaborate list

Begin by creating an elaborate list of all types of functions a proposal software can perform regardless of whether it is useful or not. An elaborate list can look like this:

• Create templates
• E-signature features
• The possibility to add interactive media such as images and video
• Real-time collaboration
• Contract and quote management
• Analytics
• Integration of payment gateways

• Narrow down on your biggest requirements

The next step is identifying your top requirements from the proposal automation software. While there are many functions available, you need to identify the functions which help you in your industry. If your business uses a CRM, you need to ensure that the proposal software is compatible with that CRM. 

• Conduct trials

Conduct trials of various types of proposal software with the functions you require to see which one is most useful for you. Ensure that the vendor has all the primary features ready so that you can test it out and see if it suits your business. This will help you choose the right software. 

• Select your proposal software

These steps should help you select the right proposal software for the business:

• Create a team

Businesses can use a selection team from different verticals of the company. For example, it can include one person from the sales team, another from the marketing team, and a third from customer service. The reason is these teams interact the most with your customers. Hence, they will assist in choosing the right proposal software for the business. 

• Negotiate the costs

The team selecting the software must negotiate the costs so that they can have extras such as maintenance and upkeep costs included in the price of the proposal software. This way, if any kind of support is needed in the future, the technical team is only a call away at no extra cost. 

• Make the final decision

Post negotiations, it is only a matter of making the final decision. By now, you will have analyzed multiple proposal software. Everyone needs to be on the same page when choosing the software which brings maximum value to the business. 

Boost your business performance with proposal software

Proposal automation software can be highly beneficial for businesses of all sizes. They ensure you close deals faster and focus on signing new contracts with clients instead of running back and forth after one prospect. With this list of the best proposal software and a guide on how to choose the right software for you, it will be easy to buy the right software comprising key features to cater to your business. 

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