Business report vs. business proposal.
Learn the difference between a business report and a business proposal and when to use each.
Discover the difference between a business report and a business proposal and determine when to utilize each. One aids in analyzing situations and recommending enhancements, while the other drives business growth.
What is a business report?
A business report is for analyzing business situations — either hypothetical or real — and then providing suggestions for improvement. They can be formal or informal depending on the recipient, but a formal business report should include at least the following:
- Cover sheet with a title, company name, address, and date
- Table of contents for reports 10 pages or longer
- Report summary
- Introduction with the report’s background and methodology used
- Main body with organized headings and subheadings
- Conclusion with recommendations for improvement
- Appendix, including supporting graphs and charts
Informal business reports can be much shorter. If you include the problem and a few suggestions, an informal report can be just one or two pages. Ask the recipient which format they prefer before you begin.
What is a business proposal?
What is a business proposal exactly? A business proposal is a document that asks another company to do business with you. Most business proposals are sent by suppliers to win contracts or projects and should include at least the following information:
- Project scope
- Products or services to be delivered
- Project cost
- Completion date and milestone timelines
When you write a job-specific business proposal, be sure to include information like target market reports. The more detailed your proposal, the better. If the client approves your bid, they’ll accept the terms and sign your business proposal.
Main difference between business reports and business proposals.
The main difference between business reports and business proposals is their objectives. A business report focuses on relaying information or analyzing a situation. It is an objective summary, often based on research or data, that discusses a business problem, presents findings, and offers recommendations.
However, a business proposal is more persuasive, as its main goal is to offer a solution or a service to a client.
When to use a business report vs. a business proposal.
It’s important to know when to use a business report and when to utilize a business proposal instead.
You should use a business report in the following cases:
- When you need to present findings from research
- When you need to provide an objective summary of a situation or business problem
- When you need to detail an event, situation, or performance
You should use a business proposal in the following cases:
- When you’re aiming to persuade a client to take a specific action
- When there’s a project you would like to be a part of or initiate
- When you’re presenting a solution to a problem
Use tools to streamline business reports and proposals.
Make it easy for clients to move forward with bids by offering an electronic signature option. With Adobe Acrobat, they can add signatures online — no scanning, printing, or mailing required.
Explore what more you can do with Acrobat to simplify the project bidding process.
