Writing a business proposal can be a stressful situation for a new virtual assistant. I’ve been doing this for awhile, but I still get cold feet when it comes to submitting these things. Most virtual assistants start off with an hourly rate for work, which is what they’re most familiar. But I’m finding that in order to earn what you’re really worth, bidding on projects and getting a lump sum is more profitable (and predictable).
When you leave Corporate America to venture out on your own it’s sooo easy to get trapped in employee thinking. You know, you interview for a job and it’s usually described in terms of hourly wages. But as consultants (which is how a virtual assistant should consider themselves) we’re generally going to be working on projects. Some of the projects will be long-term (such as the work I do with Dr. Rory Stern) while others will be on a periodic short term need basis (such as my work with one of my foreclosure specialists).
In order to land those profitable projects you’ll need to submit a bid or business proposal explaining why you’re the best person for the project. So, after scouring the Internet to find information and a format that made sense to me I stumbled upon this link:
http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/matthewmoran/consulting-creating-a-proposal-section-by-section-7121
The author, Matthew Moran, is an IT guy, but the guidelines he presents are easily converted to whatever you need. It was fast and easy, but professional and thorough. So, if you’re struggling with writing business proposals, this is a great one to cut your teeth on. His sample is in a Word format that you can download for free. He also gives tips in his article that leads up to the link, so take plenty of notes before writing your business proposal.
If anyone else knows of other great business proposal information, please let me know. Thanks!
