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Short answer: A good web design proposal fits on one or two pages and has seven parts: the client's goal, what you will build (pages and features), three packages with prices, a monthly care plan, the timeline, what is not included, and the next step with a 50% deposit. Below is a free template you can copy and paste, filled in for a real example, plus how to price it and how to write one in seconds with AI.
💼 Host every client you sign on one plan
Hostinger Web Hosting Unlimited hosts unlimited websites, so the care plan in your proposal is almost pure profit. Code LEARN2EARN = extra discount.
The free web design proposal template
Copy everything in the box, replace the words in [brackets], and delete what you don't need.
Subject: Website proposal for [Business name]
Hi [Client first name],
Thanks for the call. Here is my proposal for the new [Business name] website.
1. YOUR GOAL
You want [more calls / more bookings / more orders] from people in [City]
who search for [service] on their phone. Today they [can't find you /
can't see your prices / can't book online].
2. WHAT I WILL BUILD
Pages: Home, Services & Prices, About, Reviews, Contact
Features: click-to-call button, contact form, Google map,
[online booking], mobile-friendly design, basic SEO setup
3. PACKAGES
Starter [$___] One page: contact info, map, click-to-call
Business [$___] Up to 5 pages, text written for you (recommended)
Pro [$___] Business + online booking + SEO setup
4. MONTHLY CARE PLAN [$__/month]
Hosting and domain renewal, updates, daily backups,
[2] small changes a month, a short monthly report.
5. TIMELINE
Week 1: content and first draft
Week 2: your changes ([2] rounds included) and launch
6. NOT INCLUDED
Extra pages, extra rounds of changes, paid ads, logo design.
These are quoted separately.
7. NEXT STEP
Reply "yes" with the package you want. I start after a 50% deposit,
and the rest is due when the website goes live.
Thanks,
[Your name] · [Phone] · [Your website]How to fill in the prices
Don't guess. Use the formula costs + hours × your hourly rate + a value bonus for features that make the client money, like online booking. Our free website quote calculator fills in all three packages and the care plan from your own rate. At $35 an hour it gives about $350 / $630 / $1,080 plus a care plan of $40 to $110 a month. The full method is in how much to charge for a website.
A real example: a proposal for a bakery
We built a Gemini skill that writes these proposals. For a family bakery in Austin with a $1,500 budget, it made the Business package match the budget and added a cheaper and a bigger option:
Three packages built around the client's $1,500 budget: Starter $950, Business $1,500 (recommended), Premium $2,200, plus a $49/month hosting and maintenance plan.
Notice the trick: the middle package sits exactly on the client's budget, with one option below and one above. Most clients pick the middle. The proposal also added a $49 a month hosting and maintenance fee and a 50% deposit. See how we built that skill in the video Gemini Skills explained.
7 tips that get proposals accepted
- Start with their goal, not your skills. "More bookings from Austin" beats "responsive React website".
- Offer three packages. The question changes from "should I hire you?" to "which one?".
- Always add a care plan. It turns one project into monthly income, and on a plan with unlimited sites like Hostinger Unlimited your hosting cost per client stays tiny.
- Write what is not included. It prevents endless changes later.
- Limit rounds of changes. Two is a fair default.
- Ask for 50% up front. Serious clients don't mind.
- Send it the same day. Speed wins: a proposal sent in an hour beats a perfect one sent next week.
Write proposals in seconds with AI (and check them)
Give ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini the template above plus the client's name, city, business type and budget, and ask it to fill it in. Then read every line before you send it: AI can invent features or promise things you don't do. Set your own prices; never let the AI pick them.
Where to host the website after they say yes
Put the site on real hosting with the client's own domain, so it's fast and professional. On a plan with unlimited websites, one bill covers every client. Here is how we host multiple client websites on one plan, and you can check Hostinger Unlimited's current price (code LEARN2EARN).
🌐 Build the site you just sold
Our step-by-step guide builds a complete five-page client-style site with WordPress and AI: how to make a website in 2026.
Sources: Hostinger pricing (for the care plan cost).
FAQ
What should a web design proposal include?
The client's goal, the pages and features, three packages with prices, a monthly care plan, a timeline, what is not included, and the next step with the deposit.
How long should a web design proposal be?
One or two pages. Small business owners read short proposals; long ones get skipped.
Should I send a PDF or an email?
For small local businesses, a clear email is often faster to read and reply to. Use a PDF when the client asks for one or needs to share it with a partner.
How much deposit should a web designer ask for?
About 50% before you start, and the rest at launch.
Want more clients to send this to? Read how to find web design clients without marketplaces, or start with our guide on making money building websites with AI.
