GratisAI

Business · official-source review · reviewed 2026-10-26

Count What Each Proposal Costs Before It Wins

Proposal time is paid whether the answer is yes or no, and the cost per win includes every proposal that failed.

What this guide helps you do

Turn proposal count, hours each, hourly value, and win rate into a cost per proposal and a cost per win.

Who this guide is for

Freelancers and agencies who write several proposals a month.

Use the source document or official route that applies to your situation. This guide does not contact another person or verify external information.

Steps

  1. Count the proposals

    Count the proposals you sent in a month, including the ones that went nowhere.

  2. Time the writing

    Include the call notes, the draft, the pricing, and the follow-up.

  3. Value the hour

    Use the rate you charge for client work, or the value of your time.

  4. Use a measured win rate

    Divide wins by proposals sent. Use a real period.

  5. Read the cost per win

    The App spreads the proposal cost across the wins.

Worked example

Ten proposals of four hours at $60 cost $2,400. At a 30 percent win rate three win, so each win carries $800 of proposal cost.

  1. Cost a proposal = 4 hours × $60 = $240
  2. Monthly proposal cost = 10 × $240 = $2,400
  3. Wins = 10 × 30 percent = 3, so cost per win = $2,400 ÷ 3 = $800

Use your own source and details. The example is not a record about a real person or organization.

Compare two worked cases

Two proposal patterns. Both are examples.

Both cases are examples, not records about a real person. The bars show the same numbers the free App computes.

What the sources say

Price Your Products or Services

U.S. Small Business Administration · reviewed 2026-10-26

What this source supports: Freelance rates must cover taxes, expenses, downtime, and profit, not just desired take-home pay.

Source limit: This computes a floor rate; market rates in your field may differ.

These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.

Limits

This guide multiplies the hours and rates you enter. It does not include travel or the cost of a lost relationship.

This computes a floor rate; market rates in your field may differ.

Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.

Common questions

What does the App compute?

Turn proposal count, hours, hourly value, and win rate into a cost per proposal and per win.

What does the App not do?

This App multiplies the hours and rates you enter. It does not include travel or the value of a lost relationship.

Where do the numbers come from?

You enter every number yourself. The sources support the method and the limits. They do not produce a result for your specific case. Keep the original documents next to the sheet you build.

Before you start

Free Companion App

The App computes the worked example with your own numbers, in your browser.

APP 1

Proposal Cost per Win

Turn proposal count, hours, hourly value, and win rate into a cost per proposal and per win.

Free · no account · no upload

Open Proposal Cost per Win

The App runs in this browser. It does not send or save entries. Copy, download, or print only when you choose.

This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.

About this guide

Category
Business
Reading time
About 3 minutes
Last reviewed
Cost
Free to read. No account is required.

Companion App: Proposal Cost per Win. It runs in this browser and does not upload your entries.

This guide is edited for clarity and checked against the sources it links. It is not a substitute for official instructions or qualified advice. A linked source does not show that every person needs this guide.