How fast should you send a proposal?

Speed is one of the most underrated factors in winning jobs. Here's why — and how to use it to your advantage.

Why speed matters

Most clients contact multiple contractors at the same time. The first professional proposal in their inbox anchors the comparison. When you're first, the other quotes are judged relative to yours. When you're last, you're playing catch-up.

The numbers

• Proposals sent within 1 hour of a site visit win at a significantly higher rate than those sent the next day
• After 24 hours, the client may have already committed mentally to another contractor
• After 72 hours, many clients assume you're not interested or not organized

How to send proposals faster

• Use BidCraft on your phone from the job site — describe the job while you're still there
• Keep your company profile fully set up so proposals are ready to send immediately
• Use templates for repeat job types so you only need to fill in the client-specific details
• Send the proposal before leaving the driveway — it makes an impression clients remember

Quality vs. speed

Speed matters more than perfection. A thorough proposal sent in an hour beats a perfect proposal sent two days later. Use BidCraft to hit both — fast generation with professional output.