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Creating a Proposal

Learn how to create a Proposal for a Client

Bobbie Combs avatar
Written by Bobbie Combs
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Proposals in Design Manager are a tool to use during the selection and design phase of a Project. The Proposal can be sent to your Client to show a design concept, fabric and finish options, treatment options and to request a deposit to begin the Project. Proposals are meant to be edited with selection changes and can show these changes to the Client. Proposals are an optional feature of Design Manger as some businesses prefer to use only Invoices. You can learn how to create an invoice here.

You can create a Proposal by going to the Proposal tab in your Project as outlined below and shown in the video above or you can create a Proposal directly from the Items tab in your Project. In the Items tab, you would select the Items you want to add to a Proposal by clicking in the box to the left of the Item and then selecting the Create button and selecting Proposal. From there you can jump to Step 5 below.

1. On the left side menu, select Projects and click on Project List. Then find the Project you want to create a Proposal for and open it.

2. Click the Proposals tab at the top under the Project name.

3. Click the + Add button.

4. On the Add Proposal page, click on the + Add Item button. In the new window, select the Items you want to add to the Proposal by clicking in the box to the left of the Item. When you are finished selecting Items, click on the Save button. Note: if the Project doesn't have any Items, this window will be blank and you will need to add Items. You can learn how to add items here

5. On the Add Proposal page, enter the Proposal information.

  • Name/Phase: You can edit this to a specific Proposal name

  • Date: You can select the date to show on the Proposal

  • Style: You can select a style for the proposal. Note: the style shown is from your default settings. You can see examples of these styles here

  • Remove Item: You can remove an Item from the Proposal by clicking in the box to left of the Item and then click on the Remove Item button

  • Add Item: You can add more Items to the Proposal by clicking on the Add Item button

  • In the pricing fields at the bottom you can check over the totals and can make changes if needed by clicking on the Item Ref. No. and editing the pricing


  • Add or edit Remarks: In this tab you will see the default Proposal remarks entered under Settings. You can edit this or add to it if needed

6. When you are finished with the Proposal, click on the Save button at the top or bottom.

7. On the Proposal page you can see the new Proposal listed. From this page you can:

  • View a proposal: Click on the word PDF to see what the Proposal looks like

  • Edit a proposal: Click on the Proposal number. To learn more about editing a proposal click here


  • Send a Proposal: Select the Proposal by clicking in the box to the left of the Proposal and click on the Action button and select Send. This will open an email template to send to your Client


  • Include on Portal: Select the proposal by clicking in the box to the left of the Proposal and click on the Actions button and select Include on Portal. This will add the Proposal selected to the DesignPay Client Portal. To learn more about the Client Portal, click here

  • Remove from Portal: Select the proposal by clicking in the box to the left of the Proposal and click on the Actions button and select Remove from Portal. This will remove the Proposal selected from the DesignPay Client Portal.

  • Delete a Proposal: Select the Proposal by clicking in the box to the left of the Proposal and click on the Actions button and select Delete

  • Show History: Select the proposal by clicking in the box to the left of the Proposal and click on the Actions button and select Show History. This will show all iterations of the Proposal/Document that you have created via edits. Click on the proposal number link to see the PDF of that version of the proposal. The PDF will open in your web browser to view/print

  • Add a Proposal: Click on the + Add button

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