What should a construction proposal include?

The scope in stages, what is and is not included, the price and which parts are allowances, the payment schedule, a start and finish estimate, how changes are handled, and your licence and insurance details. This template covers each of those.

What is the difference between a bid and a proposal in construction?

A bid is usually a price submitted against a defined scope, often against other contractors. A proposal adds the how and why: your approach, schedule, terms and exclusions. For private clients, a bid with clear terms and a plain explanation usually wins on trust.

How do I handle changes after the client signs?

Write a change order: what changes, the price, the effect on the schedule, and a signature before the work is done. This template states the rule, so the client has already agreed to it.

Do I need a licence number on the proposal?

Many places require contractors to show a licence number on proposals and contracts, and the rules differ by state and trade. Check yours and add it where this template mentions licence and insurance.

Construction proposal template

A remodeling client is afraid of two things: a price that grows and work that never ends. This template answers both before the first nail. It prices the job in the stages it happens in, shows the materials as an allowance the client controls, ties each payment to a milestone, and states how a change is approved and priced.

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What your client receives

This is the page your client opens from your email, drawn exactly as PropoBox sends it. Your name, logo and client replace the placeholders; the prices are examples to replace with your own.

Your Studio

Proposal

Home remodeling project

Prepared for Client company

A remodel priced in the stages the work happens in, with a written allowance for the materials you choose, a staged payment schedule, and a change-order rule so the final bill holds no surprises.

Proposal no.: PROP-SAMPLE
Issued: November 2, 2026
Valid until: November 16, 2026
Delivery: January 11, 2027
Total: $34,000

Prepared by

Your Studio

Your name

you@example.com

Prepared for

Client company

Client name

client@example.com

Services and pricing

Demolition and site protection
Remove existing cabinets, counters and flooring, protect adjoining rooms and floors, and haul away debris.
$2,800
Framing and rough-in (electrical and plumbing)
Wall and ceiling changes, new circuits and plumbing lines to plan, ready for the rough-in inspection.
$6,400
Materials allowance: cabinets, counters and tile
Budget for the finishes you select. Selections above the allowance are billed at cost plus 15%; savings are credited.
$14,500
Installation labor
Install cabinets, counters, backsplash and flooring, fit fixtures and finish trim and paint.
$9,200
Permits, inspections and disposal
Permit fees, inspection scheduling, dumpster and disposal fees.
$1,100

Total$34,000

Terms

Payment: 30% on signing to schedule the work and order materials, 30% when the rough-in inspection passes, 30% when cabinets and counters are installed, and the final 10% after the completion walkthrough.
Revisions: Any change after signing is written up as a change order with the price and the effect on the schedule, and approved by you before the work is done.
Additional terms: Conditions hidden behind walls and floors (rot, outdated wiring or plumbing) are quoted separately before work continues. The contractor pulls the permits and holds the licence and insurance required for the work; certificates are available on request. Work days lost to weather or late client selections move the schedule.

How to scope and price it

Split the job by stage, not by trade. Clients can follow demolition, rough-in and finish; they cannot judge a line that says carpentry.
Write allowances as a budget, not a price. Say what is in it, that choices above it are billed at cost plus your markup (15% here), and that savings are credited.
Keep permits and disposal on their own line. They are real money and the first thing a low bid leaves out.
Tie payments to milestones you can verify, such as a passed inspection, instead of dates. Cash flow follows progress, and the client keeps a sense of control.

The terms, and why

A deposit that covers ordering materials, then payments at the inspection and installation milestones, keeps you from financing the job. The change-order rule is the clause that prevents most remodeling disputes: nothing extra is built or billed unless the client approved it in writing first. Naming hidden conditions up front means the first rotten stud is not an argument.

Payment: 30% on signing to schedule the work and order materials, 30% when the rough-in inspection passes, 30% when cabinets and counters are installed, and the final 10% after the completion walkthrough.
Revisions: Any change after signing is written up as a change order with the price and the effect on the schedule, and approved by you before the work is done.

Three ways to price a build

Pick the one that matches how well the scope is known, and say which it is on the first page.

Three ways to price a build
Method	How it works	Best when	Who carries the risk
Fixed price	One agreed total for a defined scope	The scope is clear and the drawings are done	The contractor, so include a contingency
Cost plus a fee	Actual cost plus an agreed percentage or fee	The scope is uncertain or still changing	The client, so share receipts and agree a cap
Unit price	A price per unit, such as per square foot or per linear foot	Quantities are unknown until work starts	Shared: the price is fixed, the quantity is not

A change order to copy

Replace the bracketed parts. The last sentence is the one that protects you.

Change order [number] for [project], dated [date]. Change requested: [describe the change]. Price change: [amount to add or deduct]. Effect on the schedule: [days added, or none]. Revised contract total: [amount]. This change is part of the original agreement and takes effect when both parties have signed. Work on this change does not begin until it is signed.

Construction proposal template: common questions

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Send it as a page your client can sign.

Start from this template, set your prices, and send it. The client opens it from your email, signs online and pays the deposit if you added your payment link, and you see every visit.

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