# Free Construction Proposal Template | Download PDF, Word, Excel Canonical URL: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/construction-proposal-template/ Plain text: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/construction-proposal-template/llms.txt Publisher: SimplyWise, Inc. (https://www.simplywise.com) Published: October 9, 2026 Updated: October 27, 2026 Category: Free Templates Summary: Free construction proposal template: cover letter, scope, exclusions, schedule, and payment schedule with a signature block. PDF, Word, Excel, no signup. --- Log in (https://simplywise.com/login) Templates > Bidding > Construction Proposal Template ## 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. Full proposal πŸ“„ PDF (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/simplywise-construction-proposal-template.pdf) Word (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/simplywise-construction-proposal-template.docx) Payment schedule only Excel (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/simplywise-construction-proposal-payment-schedule.xlsx) Google Sheets (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/simplywise-construction-proposal-payment-schedule.csv) No signup required. Fill it in, send it, get it signed. Add SimplyWise as a preferred source (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=simplywise.com) CONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL Solstice Build Co. Submitted to: Renee Alvarado. 908 Larkspur Ln, Denver, CO 80206. Proposal #: CP‑2026‑0447. Valid for 30 days. Cover letter. Example only. Scope of work narrative. Example only. Exclusions. Example only. Payment schedule. Example only. SIGNATURE BLOCK. Sample layout. Not a price. Trusted by 10,000+ contractors ⭐ 4.8 Stars πŸ“± App Store πŸ“± Google Play ## 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 β†’. 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 (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/construction-bid-template/). Or skip the paperwork. Turn a photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds with SimplyWise Cost Estimator β†’. 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 (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/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 β†’. It is free to try. ## The Free Template vs. Running It in the App Template download ### 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. Free to Try ### 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 What is the difference between a construction proposal and a construction bid? Is a signed proposal a legal contract? ### Filling out the proposal How many payment milestones should a proposal have? Can I price the job from a photo before I write the proposal? Does the free template include a way to take card payment? ## More Free Templates for Contractors CONSTRUCTION BID. Ironclad Builders Inc. General conditions example. Structural framing example. BID TOTAL example. ### Construction Bid Template The fixed-price submission this proposal wraps around. Open the template β†’ (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/construction-bid-template/). CONTRACTOR INVOICE. Apex Construction LLC. Phase 1: Foundation work example. Materials example. BALANCE DUE example. ### Contractor Invoice Template Bill the job once the proposal is signed and the work is done. Open the template β†’ (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/contractor-invoice-template/). CONSTRUCTION CALCULATORS. SimplyWise. Concrete slab example. Paint cost example. ESTIMATE example. ### Construction Calculators Price the job before you write the scope narrative or the payment schedule. Open the calculators β†’ (https://www.simplywise.com/blog/construction-calculators/). ### 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. 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It is free to try with a 7-day free trial, then $29.99 per month or $239.99 per year (about $20 per month on the annual plan), and one subscription includes every app in the SimplyWise suite. - Download: https://www.simplywise.com/download - App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simplywise-cost-estimator/id6670619664 - Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplywise.costestimator - Every SimplyWise page as plain text: https://www.simplywise.com/blog/llms.txt