# Best Proposal Software - Page 15 *By [Julie Jung](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/julie-jung)* **Proposal** software is designed to streamline and automate the proposal and [request for proposal](https://www.g2.com/categories/rfp) (RFP) process for sales operations. Sales professionals benefit from proposal software features like the ability to quickly generate documents in multiple file formats, share documents through multiple channels, and track the impact of RFP and proposal documents on the sales success. Proposals can be the first important step in a business relationship, which means that salespeople need to include valuable and consistent content that is personalized to customer profiles and needs. Proposal tools are usually used to help sales or partnerships, so common integrations include [CRM software](https://www.g2.com/categories/crm), [CPQ software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cpq), [e-signature software](https://www.g2.com/categories/e-signature), and [accounting software](https://www.g2.com/categories/accounting). To qualify for inclusion in the Proposal category, a product must: - Provide a repository of documents and templates which can be used to quickly generate proposals - Integrate with solutions like CRM and CPQ to pull product and customer data - Offer functionality to quickly and efficiently create and send proposals - Allow edits and feedback during the proposal process, and track changes made - Include analytics to evaluate the efficiency of the proposal process ## Top Proposal Software at a Glance | # | Product | Rating | Best For | What Users Say | |---|---------|--------|----------|----------------| | 1 | [PandaDoc](https://www.g2.com/products/pandadoc/reviews) | 4.7/5.0 (3,383 reviews) | Fast, template-driven proposals | "[Very useful](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/pandadoc-review-11052803)" | | 2 | [GetAccept](https://www.g2.com/products/getaccept/reviews) | 4.6/5.0 (1,230 reviews) | Proposal delivery with sales engagement | "[Easy and efficient document signing platform](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/getaccept-review-12654643)" | | 3 | [Oracle CPQ](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-cpq/reviews) | 4.0/5.0 (246 reviews) | Complex configuration and pricing proposals | "[Oracle CPQ Simplifies Complex Sales with Powerful Guided Selling and Automation](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/oracle-cpq-review-12710518)" | | 4 | [Responsive, formerly RFPIO](https://www.g2.com/products/responsive-formerly-rfpio/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (1,279 reviews) | High-volume RFP and questionnaire responses | "[Modern, versatile, obsolete](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/responsive-formerly-rfpio-review-9940920)" | | 5 | [Qwilr](https://www.g2.com/products/qwilr/reviews) | 4.6/5.0 (894 reviews) | Interactive, web-style proposals | "[Qwilr- Pretty Proposal and Responsive Support](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/qwilr-review-6913855)" | | 6 | [DealHub](https://www.g2.com/products/dealhub/reviews) | 4.7/5.0 (836 reviews) | All-in-one proposal + CPQ automation | "[Exceptional DealHub Onboarding and a Game-Changing CPQ for Scaling Deals](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/dealhub-review-12780504)" | | 7 | [Ignition](https://www.g2.com/products/ignition/reviews) | 4.7/5.0 (121 reviews) | Proposal-to-billing automation for service firms | "[All-in-One System That Simplifies Proposals, Engagement Letters, and Invoicing](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/ignition-review-12759341)" | | 8 | [Anchor](https://www.g2.com/products/anchor-anchor/reviews) | 4.9/5.0 (120 reviews) | Services proposals with recurring pricing | "[Intuitive Proposals with Fast Setup and Built-In Invoicing](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/anchor-review-12951275)" | | 9 | [Loopio](https://www.g2.com/products/loopio/reviews) | 4.6/5.0 (803 reviews) | Centralized RFP content management | "[Improving Workflow Efficiency with Loopio](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/loopio-review-12035437)" | | 10 | [Jotform Sign](https://www.g2.com/products/jotform-sign/reviews) | 4.7/5.0 (1,636 reviews) | — | "[User-Friendly PDF Signatures and Approval Workflows with Jotform Sign](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/jotform-sign-review-12965629)" | --- ## What Are the Most Common Questions About Proposal Software? *AI-generated · Last updated: May 26, 2026* ### What most trusted Proposal by sales leaders based on verified user reviews. and key capabilities? Based on G2 reviews, sales teams most often describe proposal software they trust in terms of speed, consistency, and visibility after sending documents. According to verified users, products in this category help teams build proposals from templates, track when buyers open documents, manage approvals, and collect signatures without switching between multiple tools. G2 reviewers mention that strong proposal software also supports CRM integrations, reusable content libraries, and easier collaboration between sales and operations. In recent reviews, PandaDoc is the most frequently mentioned product among eligible options, with users repeatedly highlighting proposal creation speed, template reuse, tracking, and signing workflows that help teams move deals forward. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [PandaDoc](https://www.g2.com/products/pandadoc/reviews/pandadoc-review-11856586) – used for fast proposal creation, template reuse, document tracking, and e-signature workflows - [GetAccept](https://www.g2.com/products/getaccept/reviews/getaccept-review-12859481) – helps sales teams create offers quickly, track engagement, and simplify digital signing - [Qwilr](https://www.g2.com/products/qwilr/reviews/qwilr-review-12868863) – supports interactive proposals, customizable templates, and client-friendly presentation experiences ### What best Proposal platforms enabling tracking of engagement metrics and acceptance rates. that deliver strong? Based on G2 reviews, buyers looking for proposal software with engagement tracking should prioritize products that show when documents are opened, what sections prospects spend time on, and when signatures or approvals are completed. According to verified users, these capabilities help sales teams time follow-ups better and keep proposals moving without guesswork. G2 reviewers mention that strong platforms in this area also combine tracking with templates, digital signatures, and easier collaboration so proposal activity is tied directly to execution. Across recent reviews, PandaDoc, GetAccept, and Qwilr are the products most often associated with document visibility, buyer engagement signals, and smoother proposal workflows for sales teams. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [PandaDoc](https://www.g2.com/products/pandadoc/reviews/pandadoc-review-11819301) – gives teams visibility into customer views and proposal activity to support sales follow-up - [GetAccept](https://www.g2.com/products/getaccept/reviews/getaccept-review-12681948) – offers real-time engagement tracking so teams can see opens, interactions, and signing progress - [Qwilr](https://www.g2.com/products/qwilr/reviews/qwilr-review-12739009) – helps teams track proposal views and partner engagement while standardizing proposal delivery ### Which Proposal tools include templates and workflows that actually help close deals? Based on G2 reviews, PandaDoc stands out here because verified users repeatedly connect its templates and workflow features to faster proposal delivery, easier collaboration, and quicker signatures. According to verified users, proposal tools that help close deals usually combine reusable templates, content blocks or libraries, reminders, approval flow support, and simple signing steps in one process. G2 reviewers mention that these features reduce manual rework, keep content consistent, and make it easier for reps to personalize proposals without rebuilding them every time. Recent reviews also highlight that effective workflows matter most when they shorten handoffs between sales, reviewers, and customers while keeping document status visible. ### What top Proposal vendors offering integrated e-signature and approval workflow automation. and key capabilities? Based on G2 reviews, leading proposal vendors with integrated e-signature and approval workflow automation help teams move from draft to signed agreement in one system. According to verified users, the most valued capabilities include proposal creation, reusable templates, approval routing, digital signatures, payment collection or invoicing support, and visibility into document status. G2 reviewers mention that these tools reduce manual handoffs, keep records centralized, and help sales, finance, and operations stay aligned during the quote-to-signature process. In recent category reviews, PandaDoc, GetAccept, and Qwilr are repeatedly associated with all-in-one proposal creation, signing, and workflow support that helps organizations keep deals moving. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [PandaDoc](https://www.g2.com/products/pandadoc/reviews/pandadoc-review-12719243) – supports electronic quoting, document tracking, certification, and standardized workflows - [GetAccept](https://www.g2.com/products/getaccept/reviews/getaccept-review-12654643) – combines proposal sending, tracking, notifications, and e-signatures in one workflow - [Qwilr](https://www.g2.com/products/qwilr/reviews/qwilr-review-12701678) – connects proposal presentation with signatures and payments to speed deal completion ### What highest rated Proposal for reducing proposal cycle time and improving closure rates? Based on G2 reviews, PandaDoc is the strongest fit for this need because users consistently describe faster proposal creation, quicker sending, and easier signing as key benefits. According to verified users, reducing proposal cycle time usually comes from reusable templates, auto-filled or standardized content, smoother collaboration, reminders, and built-in tracking after documents are sent. G2 reviewers mention that these features help sales teams avoid rebuilding proposals, reduce back-and-forth, and keep customer momentum high. Reviews also connect visibility into opens and signatures with better follow-up timing, which supports stronger close outcomes. For teams prioritizing speed from draft to signed document, recent review themes point most clearly to PandaDoc. ### Which Proposal solutions effectively prevent version confusion and lost opportunities for your organization and specific needs? Based on G2 reviews, solutions that reduce version confusion tend to centralize proposal content, keep one active document source, and make collaboration visible across teams. According to verified users, the biggest pain points before adopting proposal software were scattered files, duplicate edits, outdated content, and manual back-and-forth between sales and reviewers. G2 reviewers mention that tools with shared templates, tracked revisions, content libraries, and in-platform collaboration help teams avoid sending the wrong version or missing follow-up moments. Recent reviews especially emphasize PandaDoc for centralized proposal creation and editing, Qwilr for maintaining one linked proposal version, and GetAccept for keeping communication, offers, and signing activity together in one workflow. ### What most reliable Proposal software based on reviews from sales teams and operations? Based on G2 reviews, reliability in proposal software is usually defined by consistent daily use, easy adoption across sales and operations, and fewer breakdowns between quoting, approvals, and signing. According to verified users, reliable tools help teams create documents quickly, maintain content consistency, track proposal status, and keep customer actions visible without constant manual intervention. G2 reviewers mention that products feel most dependable when they are straightforward to use, integrate into existing workflows, and support both internal collaboration and external customer signing. In the recent review set, PandaDoc, GetAccept, and Qwilr appear most often in reliability-related feedback tied to proposal execution, visibility, and team efficiency. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [PandaDoc](https://www.g2.com/products/pandadoc/reviews/pandadoc-review-12579427) – keeps proposal creation, sending, tracking, and signing organized in one place - [GetAccept](https://www.g2.com/products/getaccept/reviews/getaccept-review-12682321) – praised for smooth onboarding, a clear dashboard, and reliable proposal workflow support - [Qwilr](https://www.g2.com/products/qwilr/reviews/qwilr-review-12068746) – helps teams deliver polished, consistent proposals while reducing formatting and workflow overhead ### Which Proposal software handles complex configurations with multiple products and pricing for your organization and specific needs? Based on G2 reviews, proposal software that handles more complex product and pricing scenarios usually combines configurable templates, pricing tables, reusable product content, and stronger quote structure controls. According to verified users, these capabilities matter when teams need to manage bundles, multiple vendor lists, itemized pricing, or project options without rebuilding proposals manually. G2 reviewers mention PandaDoc for compiling pricing with terms and keeping standard content current, Qwilr for customizable quote structures and buyer-selectable options, and QuoteWerks for centralized product, pricing, and bundle management in more detailed quoting workflows. Buyers with more layered quoting needs should look for products that keep product data organized while still making proposals client-friendly. ### How Proposal software that measurably reduces the time from initial quote to send? Based on G2 reviews, proposal software reduces time from initial quote to send by removing repetitive drafting, centralizing pricing and content, and making documents easier to assemble from templates. According to verified users, the biggest time savings come from predefined templates, reusable content blocks, automatic reminders, quote duplication, and integrations that pull information from existing systems. G2 reviewers mention that these features let teams move from customer conversation to proposal delivery much faster, especially when they no longer need to juggle spreadsheets, word processors, and separate signing tools. Across recent reviews, PandaDoc, Qwilr, and QuoteWerks are repeatedly linked to faster quote preparation and smoother quote-to-send workflows. ### What are the best Proposal software platforms designed specifically for sales teams? Based on G2 reviews, the best proposal software platforms for sales teams are the ones that make it easier to create polished proposals fast, track buyer engagement, and move directly into approval or signature steps. According to verified users, sales-focused platforms stand out when they combine templates, CRM-connected workflows, visibility into document activity, and simple collaboration between reps and supporting teams. G2 reviewers mention that sales teams value tools that help them stay consistent while still personalizing offers for each buyer. In the recent review data, PandaDoc, GetAccept, and Qwilr are the most consistently mentioned platforms for sales-driven proposal creation, engagement tracking, and closing workflows. **Here are some of the top-rated products on G2:** - [PandaDoc](https://www.g2.com/products/pandadoc/reviews/pandadoc-review-12678944) – supports sales teams with tailored proposals, content libraries, and streamlined quoting workflows - [GetAccept](https://www.g2.com/products/getaccept/reviews/getaccept-review-12683567) – helps sales teams present, track, and close deals with engagement visibility - [Qwilr](https://www.g2.com/products/qwilr/reviews/qwilr-review-12708455) – speeds proposal creation for sales teams with reusable blocks and CRM-connected workflows ## How Many Proposal Software Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 286 ### Category Stats (Jun 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.49/5 The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **New Reviews This Quarter**: 285 - **Buyer Segments**: Mid-Market 43% │ Small-Business 42% │ Enterprise 15% Represents the distribution of reviewers across all products in this category. - **Top Trending Product**: Dasseti ENGAGE (+3.3%) - Among all products in this category, Dasseti ENGAGE recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month *Last updated: June 01, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank Proposal Software Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 22,200+ Authentic Reviews - 286+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## Which Proposal Software Is Best for Your Use Case? - **Leader:** [PandaDoc](https://www.g2.com/products/pandadoc/reviews) - **Highest Performer:** [Iris](https://www.g2.com/products/heyiris-ai-iris/reviews) - **Easiest to Use:** [Anchor](https://www.g2.com/products/anchor-anchor/reviews) - **Top Trending:** [Iris](https://www.g2.com/products/heyiris-ai-iris/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [PandaDoc](https://www.g2.com/products/pandadoc/reviews) --- **Sponsored** ### RocketDocs At its core, a response management platform is a specialized software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution designed to centralize, automate, and govern the creation of mission-critical business documents. For organizations dealing with high volumes of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs), and Security Questionnaires, the product serves as a centralized "System of Record." it bridges the gap between static content and active document execution, ensuring that the information used to win business is both accurate and secure. By utilizing a unified automation platform, companies can move away from fragmented workflows, such as searching through old emails or disparate spreadsheets, and instead leverage a governed library of pre-approved content. This infrastructure is particularly vital for industries where data accuracy and compliance are non-negotiable. The maturity of this technology stems from decades of innovation within the response management space. By focusing on the intersection of automation and security, the product enables organizations to scale their operations without sacrificing the precision or the "voice" of their brand. The result is a more efficient internal process that allows professionals to focus on strategic initiatives rather than administrative data retrieval. Through our unified automation platform, powered by Private AI, and the expertise that comes with 30 years of trusted innovation, companies win more, are more efficient, and have greater confidence in their responses and proposals. To see how we can help you and your team, visit https://rocketdocs.com/discoverycall to chat with us and learn more. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=57&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=57&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=57&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=6311&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=57&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fproposal%3Fpage%3D3&secure%5Btoken%5D=10efe26d291dea31082ebefbf18518aa1e933621c609eec4f5027d6f0e62f202&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Frocketdocs.com%2Flp%2Fbook-demo%3Futm_source%3Dg2%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_campaign%3Dg2-clicks%26utm_content%3Dtopic-proposal&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) --- ## What Is Proposal Software? [Quote Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/quote-management) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to Proposal Software? - [Contract Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/contract-management) - [CPQ Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cpq) - [E-Signature Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/e-signature) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Proposal Software? ### What You Should Know About Proposal Software ### What is Proposal Software? Proposal software provides features that streamline the process of writing, managing, and sending business proposals. In terms of helping with proposal writing, proposal software offers simple document builder interfaces that make proposals visually appealing as well as easy to read and follow. Some businesses spend countless hours manually building proposals whereas proposal software cuts that time down by providing proposal templates as well as drag and drop features to add visually appealing pictures and content. Proposal software also comes with e-signature integrations which allow customers to promptly scan the document and find the areas where they need to sign. In terms of helping manage proposals, proposal software generally provides analytics and notification features that can help users track how clients interact with a proposal. This allows users to see how many times a client opened, viewed, or commented on a proposal. Additionally, both the customer and the business that sends the proposal can comment in the proposal if there are any questions the client has. This allows for easy conversation to happen rather than back and forth emails. #### What Types of Proposal Software Exist? **Cloud-based proposal software** Cloud products often operate under a SaaS model and are run over the internet (in the cloud). These are generally sold as a subscription and require a recurring payment, most often as monthly or yearly payments. Cloud-based proposal software offers the major advantage of real-time collaboration with the client. This way a company can share their proposal via the internet, then the client can comment in real time and the business can respond with answers. The alternative is downloading the proposal and that can require many back and forth conversations over email or a phone call **On-premise proposal software** An on-premise proposal software is often a one-time payment for a perpetual license. This type of solution is becoming less common across most software vendors as subscription models are taking over. However, for some businesses, an on-premises solution may make sense. For example, on-premises solutions give companies confidence that their servers are locked down and they don’t need to trust another company with their private data. This can make proposals more secure if the data is only being shared between the business sending and receiving the proposal. ### What are the Common Features of Proposal Software? The following are some core features within proposal software that can help users in various ways: **Document builder interface:** Proposal software allows users to easily search and add features to a proposal with a document builder interface. This includes customizing the proposal with different templates, branding, and even media. This can be a huge factor in displaying a company’s value. For example, for a landscape or interior design firm, it will be extremely useful to provide videos and pictures displaying how effective their work is. This makes the proposal look clearer and more professional for other businesses. **Collaboration:** Oftentimes, a proposal will need members across a variety of teams to jump in and provide expertise where it’s needed. Proposal software allows multiple users to work on the same document, which provides more visibility and support for each proposal. Users can also easily create, edit, and collaborate on supplemental documents, as well as track changes right within the proposal software. **Assembly and approval workflows:** A huge benefit of proposal software is task and team management. This allows companies to automate workflows by routing documents to the correct individuals for adding content and approval. **Analytics:** Proposal software provides companies with a variety of analytics tools. With engagement tracking features, teams can track who is looking at their proposal, how often, or for how long. Businesses can also use proposal effectiveness reporting. This allows users to see which pieces of content are performing the best and grants the user with custom reports and dashboards on proposal volume and acceptance. These analytics tools will help users craft more effective proposals in the future. Other Features of Proposal Software: [API Integrations](https://www.g2.com/categories/proposal/f/api-integrations), [CPQ Integrations](https://www.g2.com/categories/proposal/f/cpq-integration), [Engagement Tracking Capabilities](https://www.g2.com/categories/proposal/f/engagement-tracking), [Proposal Effectiveness Reporting Capabilities](https://www.g2.com/categories/proposal/f/proposal-effectiveness-reporting) ### What are the Benefits of Proposal Software? **Speeds up proposal time:** Proposals are often a long, drawn-out process that can take months for businesses to complete. Proposal software reduces the time it takes to complete a proposal by automating plenty of repetitive tasks within the overall proposal process. This includes canned responses to familiar RFP questions, preexisting proposal templates, and automatic price quoting. These features, among others, allow businesses to spend less time on tedious tasks and focus on the overall quality of their proposal. **Improved collaboration:** In addition to automation, proposal software aids in content management, team collaboration, and workflow management. With proposal software, employees can work on the document with their coworkers, assign tasks out to relevant teams, and track proposal deadlines. ### Who Uses Proposal Software? **Sales teams:** Sales teams are a huge part of the proposal process. They are often the ones who must effectively communicate the value of a company’s work, and in doing such, they must respond to RFPs with effective answers. Proposal software allows the sales team to collaborate in real time on a proposal, which allows everyone to add their expertise. Proposal software also allows sales teams to speed up the entire sales process by giving the requesting company the ability to sign the proposal online. Furthermore, proposal software integrates with CRM software, which houses all necessary contact information that must be included in the proposal. This helps identify key stakeholders to include in the proposal. **Marketing teams:** A proposal is an important marketing tool for most businesses. Proposal software allows marketing teams to take control over branding and use customizable templates to present proposals with a clear and professional look. Proposal software offers a variety of templates that can be used to play to a company’s strengths. This includes templates that market a company’s SEO, social media, content marketing, video production, and much more. **Proposal managers:** Proposal managers can use proposal software to lead team efforts during the proposal process. WIthin proposal software, proposal managers can use project management tools to assign tasks and track the progression of the proposal. This helps keep teams focused and aware of proposal completion deadlines. ### What are the Alternatives to Proposal Software? [CPQ software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cpq) **:** Configure, price, quote (CPQ) software helps companies automate the lifecycle of the quoting and proposal process, starting with the moment a customer supplies their needs in a company’s offering and ending with sending a detailed quote to the customer or prospect. This can be used as an alternative to proposal software as CPQ software offers many of the same features in addition to pricing features. #### Software Related to Proposal Software Related solutions that can be used together with proposal software include: [CRM software](https://www.g2.com/categories/crm) **:** Many proposal software solutions can integrate with CRM software. If a company uses a CRM, they can research proposal tools for potential integration with that CRM. Ensuring that proposal software integrates well with current systems or expanding the search to more complex systems that can manage proposals is key to choosing the right software. **CPQ software:** Proposal software works hand in hand with CPQ software. When companies are crafting their proposals, they often need to send out detailed quotes in line with what they are offering. CPQ software helps companies pull accurate quotes and helps make the proposal process much smoother. [E-signature software](https://www.g2.com/categories/e-signature) **:** E-signature software gives users the ability to gather signatures on documents shared electronically, eliminating the need for physical documents to record signatures. This is a great tool to integrate with proposal software since most proposals require signatures from the requesting company ### Challenges with Proposal Software **Shifting from legacy systems:** Proposal software can store documents in their native format, such as Microsoft Word and Excel, PDF, or HTML. The way the existing systems of a company handle these file types, and their preferred document type, can be a potential roadblock when they transfer to using proposal software. ### Which Companies Should Buy Proposal Software? Virtually every business that has an enterprise sales team will, at one time or another, send out a proposal to another company. For this reason, proposal software can truly be utilized by businesses in nearly any industry that must tailor sales proposals to a client. While some proposal software are created for certain industries such as construction, education, healthcare, or financial services, most proposal software are industry agnostic and can be used across any industry that has an enterprise sales team. ### How to Buy Proposal Software #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Proposal Software Requirements gathering for proposal software is critical to ensure that the business is implementing a product that meets all of their needs. While some businesses are more focused on the aesthetic presentation of their proposals, other businesses might be more focused on the integration with e-signature software. Whatever a company’s requirements are it is always best to create a list of the must-have features that the business needs to consider purchasing proposal software. #### Compare Proposal Software Products **Create a long list** Long lists are created by eliminating software options that do not provide critical functionality. To make a long list for proposal software, a buyer should look at the following functionalities and deem which products provide the necessary functionality: - E-signature - Template creation - Media support for images, audio, and video - Analytics - Collaboration - Quote management - Contract management - Payment integrations - Assembly and approval workflows **Create a short list** Once a buyer has narrowed down their list from the above functionality, it’s important to prepare even more specific requirements. For example, if a company is in a certain industry, they should make sure that there is functionality that might help them create proposals for that industry. Likewise, if a company uses a certain CRM they should make sure that the proposal software integrates with that CRM. **Conduct demos** Demos are one of the most important stages in the buying journey. This allows a buyer to sit through an actual product demo and see if the product matches all of the requirements. To make sure the demo runs smoothly, users must ensure that the vendor has all of the requirements beforehand so they can showcase their features properly. #### Selection of Proposal Software **Choose a selection team** The selection team for proposal software should include at least one member from the enterprise sales team, customer success team, and marketing team. These are plausibly the teams that will use proposal software most often, and as such, they should have the most input on desired features of the proposal software. **Negotiation** When negotiating during the purchasing stage, the selection team should always strive to have implementation and ongoing support fees included in the cost. This way if any ongoing support is needed then businesses can always contact their customer success or support representative. **Final decision** After the negotiation stage is conducted, the final decision requires buy-in from everyone on the selection team. It’s important to get everyone on the same page to ensure that all requirements are met and the final decision is supported by everyone involved. ### What Does Proposal Software Cost? As with any software purchase, the price of proposal software can fluctuate based on a lot of things. The first thing that will affect pricing is the number of licenses or seats that a business needs to purchase. This essentially means the number of users that have access to the software with their own logins. For proposal software, this can range anywhere from $19 per user per month up to $70 per user per month. The more seats a user wants to purchase, the more they’ll have to pay. The reason for the wide range in pricing per seat can be based on a variety of factors. For example, some proposal software is run on a model where the user is charged based on the number of proposals they want to use per month. While the most basic plans allow users to have five active proposals at a time, the highest-priced plans generally allow users to send an unlimited number of proposals per month.  Another factor that contributes to the price of proposal software is the features included. The lowest tiered plans may include basic features such as e-signature and templated proposals, where the most expensive plans include integrations with other software, analytics, and client input forms.  #### Return on Investment (ROI) Below is the breakdown of the estimated time to ROI according to the review data on G2 as of December 18, 2020: - 55% of buyers see an ROI in 6 months or less - 28% of buyers see an ROI in 7-12 months - 10% of buyers see an ROI in 13-24 months - 7% of all other buyers see an ROI from 24 months onwards ### Implementation of Proposal Software **How is Proposal Software Implemented?** Implementing proposal software is generally a straightforward process. According to G2 review data as of December 18, 2020, 68% of users were able to implement and go live with proposal software in under a month. Generally, this process is broken down into a few key stages: - Software installation - Process review and needs analysis - Design, configuration, and integrations - Training  - Post-implementation support  During this process, some users may find a stall in implementation time when it comes to software integrations. Some users like to implement their proposal software with other products in their software stack including CRMs, content management systems, payment processing, and more. This can be a lengthy process so businesses must be prepared for longer implementation times if they go this route.