Free Construction
Proposal Template
The client-facing document that wraps your bid: cover letter, scope, exclusions, schedule, payments, and signatures. Grab the PDF, Word, Excel, or Google Sheets version below.
No signup required. Fill it in, send it, get it signed.
Sample layout. Not a price.
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Every Section a Construction Proposal Needs
A bid is a price. A construction proposal template wraps that price in what a client reads before signing. Six sections do the job.
Cover letter
Two or three sentences showing you understood the project.
Scope of work narrative
The work, phase by phase, in plain language.
Exclusions
What is NOT in the price. Spell it out to avoid scope disputes.
Schedule
Start date, estimated completion, and working days.
Payment schedule
A deposit, then milestone payments tied to work done on site.
Signature block
One line for you, one for the client.
Pricing the job before your construction proposal template? Turn a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds with SimplyWise Cost Estimator →. It is free to try.
Construction Proposal vs. Construction Bid
Related documents, different jobs. Our construction proposal template covers the second one.
| What the document does | Bid | Proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Core content | Fixed price: line items, totals, terms. | The bid plus a cover letter, scope, exclusions. |
| Audience | Often a GC comparing several bids. | Usually the owner deciding who to hire. |
| Schedule and payment terms | Brief, or left for the contract. | Both in full, with milestone payments. |
| Exclusions | A short list, or assumed. | A dedicated section. |
| Acceptance | Awarded or rejected. | Ends in a signature block. |
Need the bid first? Use the construction bid template. Or skip the paperwork. Turn a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds with SimplyWise Cost Estimator →. It is free to try.
How to Write a Construction Proposal in 5 Steps
Step 1: Open with a cover letter that shows you understood the job
Name the property, cite something from the walkthrough, and state your proposal in one sentence.
Step 2: Write the scope narrative in plain language
Describe the work phase by phase. The bid has the line items. The proposal has the story.
Step 3: State exclusions before the client asks about them
List what is not included: permits, design fees, owner-supplied fixtures.
Step 4: Attach the schedule and the payment schedule
Give a start date and a completion date. Then tie payments to work done.
Step 5: Close with a signature block, not a legal lecture
End with a line for each party. Keep the language plain.
Worked Example: A Kitchen Remodel Proposal
Solstice Build Co. walked a kitchen remodel with Renee Alvarado.
The proposal, block by block
- Cover letter. Two sentences on the kitchen layout and Renee’s timeline.
- Scope narrative. Demo, cabinets, counters, backsplash, paint, and cleanup.
- Exclusions. Appliances, plumbing upgrades, and electrical panel work.
- Schedule. Start date, completion date, and working days for cabinet lead time.
- Payment schedule. Deposit at signing, then materials, rough-in, substantial completion, and a final milestone at walkthrough.
- Signature block. A dated line for Solstice and one for Renee.
This construction proposal template example shows how sections fill in. It is not a price. Price the job with the construction calculators before you write a number on anything.
What Is Actually in the Files Above
In this construction proposal template, PDF and Word carry the full proposal. Excel and Google Sheets carry only the payment schedule.
Cover letter
A greeting, a short paragraph, and a closing.
Scope of work narrative
Project overview, scope by phase, and materials.
Exclusions
A six-line starter list (permits, design fees, owner-supplied items, out-of-scope work, unforeseen conditions, change orders) to edit.
Schedule
Start, completion, working days, and contingency days.
Payment schedule
Five milestone rows: deposit, materials and mobilization, rough-in, substantial completion, final completion. PDF and Word list the milestone, its trigger, percent of contract, and amount. Excel and Google Sheets add a what-it-covers column and a running total. Excel calculates amounts automatically. Google Sheets ships flat.
Payment methods
Check, bank transfer, or a payment app handle. No card number field.
Acceptance and signatures
An acceptance note plus signature and date lines for you and the client. Not legal advice; ask your attorney about state contract rules.
Every percent, amount, and date cell ships blank. Or price the job first with SimplyWise Cost Estimator →. It is free to try.
The Free Template vs. Running It in the App
No cost
- Cover letter, scope, exclusions, schedule, and signature blocks.
- PDF, Word, Excel, Google Sheets.
- Auto totals on the payment schedule in Excel.
- You write the scope narrative yourself.
SimplyWise App
- Photo to itemized estimate in about 6 seconds.
- Material pricing pulled for your ZIP code.
- Turn a saved estimate straight into a professional, branded quote.
- Client signs to approve the quote.
- $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr, about $20/mo on annual, 7-day free trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Proposal vs. bid
Filling out the proposal
More Free Templates for Contractors
Construction Bid Template
The fixed-price submission this proposal wraps around.
Contractor Invoice Template
Bill the job once the proposal is signed and the work is done.
Construction Calculators
Price the job before you write the scope narrative or the payment schedule.
A note on the numbers on this page
The construction proposal template preview and example use a fictional business. Neither shows a market price. This page is not legal advice, so have your attorney review any proposal.
Ready to price the job this proposal describes?
SimplyWise turns a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Free to try, then $29.99/mo or $239.99/yr.