Stop writing free proposals that clients take to someone cheaper.
Charge a small discovery fee first, then send the detailed plan. This pack has the agreement, intake form, gated proposal, and emails to do it without sounding awkward.
What the client sees, before and after paying
The free note shows you understand the problem. The plan itself unlocks after discovery.
Proposal — Website rebuild
Prepared for Acme Co · Oct 2026
1
Your goal, as I understand itCut demo-request drop-off and let marketing edit pages without a developer.
Free2
Investment rangesDiscovery $450 · typical projects $6k–$14k
Free3
Scope: in / out / laterCMS migration of 42 pages, form rebuild, analytics events, redirects map
After discovery4
Phases & milestonesWk 1–2 content model · Wk 3–5 build · Wk 6 QA and launch
After discovery5
Fixed price per optionGood $6.2k · Better $9.8k · Best $13.5k (discovery credited)
After discoveryWhat should you charge for discovery?
A rough starting point: about 7% of the project, and never less than 3 hours of your time. An estimate to test, not a rule.
Suggested discovery fee
Credited 100% if they sign within 30 days$560
What's inside
Discovery fee agreementFull and email-length versions. Fee credit, ownership, no-obligation terms.
Two-stage intakeA 7-question free form that qualifies leads, and a paid workshop guide for the deep questions.
Gated proposal outlineA 1-page free Approach Note, and the full 9-part proposal for after payment.
7 email scripts"Just send a quote", "others do it free", follow-ups, and the invoice line.
Compared with the usual options
| Generic proposal kit | PandaDoc / Qwilr | This pack | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery fee built in | No | DIY | Yes |
| Free vs paid detail split | No | No | Yes |
| Cost | $20–60 | Monthly per seat | $29 once |
$29 one-time
Instant download · use with unlimited clients
FAQ
Is this legal advice?
No. These are templates. Contract and IP rules vary by country, so have them reviewed locally.
What if a client won't pay for discovery?
Some won't. Script 2 gives them an honest price range instead, so you don't write a detailed plan for free.
Are there results or testimonials?
Not yet, and we won't make any up. The method is common among consultants. How well it works depends on your market.
Pairs with
한국어 안내 — 상세 제안서를 무료로 주지 말고, 유료 진단비를 먼저 받은 뒤 공유하는 템플릿 팩입니다. 파일은 영어이고 한국어 메모(원천징수 3.3% 세전/세후 표기)를 포함합니다. 법률 자문이 아닙니다.