by ProposalKit (LX AI)
ProposalKit turns client, project, and price into a structured freelance proposal — summary, scope, timeline, investment, and next step — for freelancers who hate writing proposals from scratch.
Decision-support only — confirm before you publish or act.
Download the latest release from the official site and unzip it into a folder on your workstation. The package contains a single executable file and a sample data folder. Run the executable once to create the default configuration file in your home directory.
Open the application and click the “New Proposal” button. You will be prompted to enter a project name. Use a short, clear label that you can reuse in file names and invoices.
Navigate to Settings → Profile. Fill in your name, email, phone, and a brief tagline that appears under your signature. Save the changes; they will be applied to every proposal you generate.
In the Client tab, fill the fields for company name, contact person, email, and phone. If you have a client website, add it in the Website field. The application validates email format and warns if the phone number looks incomplete.
After you finish entering data for a recurring client, click the “Save as Template” button. The template stores all filled fields except the project‑specific ones. Later you can load the template and only change the project name and scope.
Use the “Preview” button at the bottom of the Client tab to see a read‑only view of the entered data. Check for typos, especially in email addresses, because an incorrect address will break the final PDF generation.
In the Scope tab, start with a bullet list of each deliverable you will provide. Use short phrases that describe the output, not the process. For example: “Logo design – three concepts, final vector files” or “Blog post – 800‑word article, SEO meta tags”.
Below each deliverable, add a short note on how the client will confirm completion. Examples: “Client approves vector files via email” or “Client publishes article on their site and shares the link”.
It is helpful to state what you will not do. Add a section titled “Out of Scope” and list items such as “Print production”, “Paid advertising setup”, or “Ongoing maintenance”. This prevents scope creep later.
The Scope tab includes a built‑in checklist that marks each deliverable as “Draft”, “Reviewed”, or “Approved”. Tick the box when you finish internal review; the status appears in the final proposal summary.
Enter the project kickoff date and the expected delivery date in the Timeline tab. The application calculates the total number of days automatically and displays it in a read‑only field.
Split the timeline into logical phases such as “Discovery”, “Design”, “Revision”, and “Final Delivery”. For each phase, specify a start date, an end date, and the primary deliverable(s) tied to that phase.
Freelance work often needs extra time for feedback loops. Add a buffer of 10‑20 % of the phase duration and label it clearly as “Feedback Buffer”. This helps you set realistic expectations with the client.
Click the “Show Gantt” button to see a simple bar chart of phases and buffers. You can drag the edges of a bar to adjust dates; the underlying fields update instantly.
Select either Fixed Price, Hourly Rate, or Retainer from the Pricing Model dropdown. The form adapts to show the relevant fields.
If you chose Hourly Rate, input your hourly rate and the estimated hours for each phase. The application multiplies rate × hours and shows a subtotal per phase. For Fixed Price, type the lump sum you intend to charge for each deliverable.
Under the Expenses section, list any third‑party costs you will pass through, such as stock photo licenses, font fees, or domain registration. Enter a description, quantity, unit cost, and total.
The application generates a table that aggregates all line items. Below is an example of the table structure you will see:
| Item | Description | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Design – Logo concepts | Three initial concepts, two revision rounds | 450 |
| Development – Frontend | HTML/CSS/JS implementation, responsive breakpoints | 1200 |
| Expenses – Stock photos | 5 images @ $12 each | 60 |
| Total | 1710 |
Check that the totals match your mental math. If you need to adjust a rate or hour estimate, edit the corresponding field and the table updates automatically.
If your jurisdiction requires tax, enable the Tax toggle and enter the percentage. The application adds a tax line below the subtotal. To offer a discount, enter a percentage or fixed amount in the Discount field; the final amount reflects the reduction.
In the Next Steps tab, write a clear sentence that tells the client what to do to move forward. Example: “Sign the attached agreement and return a 50 % deposit via bank transfer within five business days.”
Add a date by which you expect the client to respond. This creates a gentle urgency without sounding pushy.
List your preferred contact methods: email, phone, and a link to your calendar for scheduling a kickoff call. Use plain text; the application will turn the email and phone into mailto: and tel: links in the exported PDF.
If you often receive the same questions, add a collapsible FAQ block. Keep each answer under two sentences to maintain readability.
Click the “Validate” button in the top toolbar. The tool checks for missing required fields, invalid email formats, and empty deliverable lists. It highlights any issues in red and blocks export until they are fixed.
Use the “Preview” pane to see how the proposal will look when rendered. Scroll through each section to confirm formatting, table alignment, and that no placeholder text remains.
When satisfied, press “Export PDF”. Choose a filename that includes the client name and project tag, for example “AcmeCo_LogoProposal_2026-09.pdf”. The PDF is saved to the folder you set in Settings → Output.
After export, the application automatically creates a JSON backup of the proposal data in the backups folder. This lets you reopen and edit the proposal later without re‑entering information.
This guide does not guarantee that every proposal you generate will win a contract. It is a decision‑support tool that helps you structure information, but you must still judge fit, price, and timing for each opportunity.
It does not promise 100 % accuracy in legal or financial advice. Always consult a qualified attorney or accountant when you have questions about contracts, tax treatment, or liability.
It will not replace direct communication with clients. Use the proposal as a starting point, then discuss details in a call or meeting to ensure mutual understanding.
The tool does not prevent scope creep on its own. You need to monitor changes and update the scope section whenever the client requests new work.
It does not offer unlimited customization of the visual design. The layout follows a fixed template optimized for readability; if you need a fully branded look, you must edit the exported PDF in a design program after export.
I keep a written checklist next to every release that touches this topic. The list is boring on purpose: name the owner, name the evidence artifact, and name the rollback. If a step cannot produce a file, a ticket, or a log line, it is not a step — it is a wish.
| Signal | What to record | Stop-ship? |
|---|---|---|
| Unexpected write or send | Tool name, args, identity | Yes until gated |
| Missing confirmation on destructive action | Call path and bypass | Yes |
| Untrusted text treated as instruction | Source surface and resulting action | Yes for agent reach |
| Scanner clean, judgment open | Deferred items + owner | Only if core path safe |
proposal-gen helps with the measurable first pass. Architecture choices, legal sign-off, and customer-facing claims still need a human owner. Treat every checklist row as decision support, not a certificate.
When a prospect asks whether the product "covers everything," I answer with the boundary: automated checks catch known patterns; novel chains and policy judgment still need review. That honesty keeps support load down and keeps the blog aligned with what the product actually does.
If you need a second opinion, pair this write-up with the references below and with your own staging reproduction. Do not skip the reproduction step just because a model wrote a confident summary.
ProposalKit turns client, project, and price into a structured freelance proposal — summary, scope, timeline, investment, and next step — for freelancers who hate writing proposals from scratch.
Decision-support only — confirm before you publish or act.
Want to try the product? ProposalKit
Generated 2026-09-17 · primary sources only · no fabricated traffic metrics