This chapter covers the core features and capabilities of Proposal & Contract Templates.
| File | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
templates/project-proposal-web-dev.md | Proposal | Web development projects (sites, apps, e-commerce) |
templates/project-proposal-consulting.md | Proposal | Business/strategy/technology consulting engagements |
templates/project-proposal-design.md | Proposal | Branding, UI/UX, graphic design projects |
templates/project-proposal-copywriting.md | Proposal | Content, copywriting, and content strategy projects |
templates/service-agreement.md | Contract | General freelance service agreement (all disciplines) |
templates/fixed-price-contract.md | Contract | Fixed-bid projects with defined deliverables |
templates/hourly-contract.md | Contract | Time-and-materials engagements |
templates/retainer-agreement.md | Contract | Ongoing monthly retainer relationships |
templates/change-order.md | Amendment | Scope changes on an active project |
templates/statement-of-work.md | SOW | Detailed deliverables, timeline, and acceptance criteria |
templates/project-quote.md | Quote | Quick pricing document for smaller jobs |
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
pages/how-to-use-these-templates.md | Step-by-step instructions for customizing and sending templates |
pages/proposal-writing-guide.md | How to write proposals that win — structure, psychology, common mistakes |
pages/what-to-charge.md | Freelancer pricing guide — hourly vs. fixed, value-based pricing, rate benchmarks |
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
docs/placeholder-reference.md | Complete list of every [PLACEHOLDER] used across all templates |
docs/e-signature-tools-guide.md | How to send contracts for electronic signature (free and paid tools) |
[PLACEHOLDER] system — Every variable is wrapped in brackets for easy find-and-replace: [CLIENT_NAME], [PROJECT_FEE], [START_DATE], etc.Follow this guide to get Proposal & Contract Templates up and running in your environment.
1. Pick the right template — See the table above or pages/how-to-use-these-templates.md
2. Find and replace placeholders — Use Ctrl+H / Cmd+H to replace [PLACEHOLDER] values with your details (see docs/placeholder-reference.md for the full list)
3. Customize the scope section — This is the part that changes most between projects
4. Review payment terms — Adjust milestone percentages, payment timing, and late fees to match your preferences
5. Export to PDF — Use any Markdown editor (Typora, VS Code, Notion) or paste into Google Docs
6. Send for signature — See docs/e-signature-tools-guide.md for options
Not sure which template to use? Here's a quick decision tree:
Are you pricing the project?
├── Yes, quick estimate → project-quote.md
├── Yes, detailed proposal → project-proposal-[your-discipline].md
└── No, client already approved → Skip to contract
What pricing model?
├── Fixed price → fixed-price-contract.md
├── Hourly → hourly-contract.md
├── Monthly retainer → retainer-agreement.md
└── General / mixed → service-agreement.md
Need detailed deliverables?
├── Yes → statement-of-work.md (attach to your contract)
└── No → The contract's scope section is enough
Client wants to add scope mid-project?
└── Always → change-order.mdGet the full Proposal & Contract Templates and unlock everything.
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