If you’re tired of rewriting the same sales proposal over and over, or digging through old docs to copy-paste your “standard” info, you’re not alone. Every sales team hits this wall eventually. This guide is for folks who want to set up proposal templates in Dock — fast, without the usual headaches, and with enough flexibility so your team doesn’t rebel.
Here’s how to actually build, customize, and use proposal templates in Dock to speed up your deal cycles, keep branding tight, and avoid the “wait, which version is this?” chaos.
1. Get Clear on What You Need From a Proposal Template
Before you jump into Dock (or anywhere else), step back. What do you actually need your proposal template to do for you?
- Consistent branding (logo, voice, legal language)
- Easy customization for each client (pricing, scope, timelines)
- All the right sections (problem statement, solution, pricing, terms, next steps)
- Room for client-specific details (and a way to add them without breaking the whole doc)
Don’t overthink it. You want a template that covers 80% of what you send every time, and lets you tweak the rest.
Pro tip: If your current proposals are a Frankenstein’s monster of old Word docs and emails, gather your best 2-3 recent examples and highlight what’s always the same, and what changes. This will save you a ton of time later.
2. Set Up Your First Template in Dock
Dock’s proposal templates live in its “Templates” section. Here’s how to get started without getting lost in the weeds.
Step 1: Head to Templates
- In Dock, find the Templates area from the main dashboard.
- Click Create Template (pretty hard to miss).
Step 2: Choose a Base Layout
- Dock gives you a few starting points: blank, simple proposal, or more detailed templates.
- If you’re new, start simple. You can always add sections later.
- Ignore the urge to cram every possible scenario into your base template. Less is more.
Step 3: Build Out the Sections
Typical sections most teams use:
- Cover/Intro (with your logo and client’s name)
- Overview/Problem Statement
- Your Solution
- Pricing or Investment
- Timeline
- Terms and Conditions (legal, but keep it readable)
- Call to Action / Next Steps
Each section in Dock is basically a content block. You can drag, drop, and rename them. If your team needs a certain order, set it up now.
Step 4: Add Content and Placeholders
- For the parts that never change (your “About Us,” for example), just type them in.
- For client-specific stuff, use placeholders like
{Client Name}or{Pricing}. - Dock lets you set up variables or “custom fields” that you can fill in for each proposal. Set these up now for anything you know will change (e.g., pricing, dates, contact info).
What to ignore: Don’t bother adding every possible legal clause or fringe case. Add those as needed per deal. Templates should be for what’s usually included, not every what-if.
3. Customize Branding and Style Once (Not Every Time)
You want your proposals to look sharp — but you don’t want to fiddle with fonts and logos every time.
- Upload your logo and set company colors in Dock’s template editor. This will save you (and your team) so much time.
- Use Dock’s built-in styles for headings, body text, and tables. Resist the urge to override everything with custom fonts unless you really need to.
- If you send proposals as PDFs, double-check how they look in export. Dock’s web view is usually fine, but PDFs can get weird with images or spacing.
Pro tip: Save your style settings as part of the template. This keeps everyone on-brand, even if they’re in a rush.
4. Make It Dead Simple to Customize for Each Deal
Templates are only useful if they’re easy to tweak.
- When creating a new proposal from your template, Dock will prompt you to fill out any custom fields (like
{Client Name}or{Pricing}). - You can also edit sections directly for one-off changes. But if you find yourself rewriting the same section for every deal, go back and improve your template.
- Use Dock’s comment or notes features if you want to leave reminders for your team (like “Double-check this number!”).
What works: Setting up required fields in your template for anything that must be updated (e.g., client name, price). This prevents embarrassing mistakes.
What doesn’t: Overcomplicating with too many custom fields or conditional logic. If it feels more like filling out a tax form than sending a proposal, dial it back.
5. Roll Out to the Team and Get Feedback
Don’t build your template in a vacuum. Get a couple of your sales reps, CSMs, or whoever actually sends proposals to try it out.
- Ask them to use the template for a real deal and note what’s clunky or missing.
- Iterate based on feedback. If everyone skips a section, cut it. If they’re all adding the same info, add it to the template.
- Save a “final” version, and set permissions so folks don’t accidentally edit the master template.
Honest take: No template is perfect the first time. Expect to tweak it a few times before it really saves you time. Don’t let “template design” become a never-ending project.
6. Tips to Speed Up Deals (and Avoid Mistakes)
- Version control: Dock automatically tracks changes, but it’s still smart to have a naming convention (like ClientName_Proposal_MonthYear).
- Quick approvals: If your proposals need sign-off, set up an approval workflow in Dock so you’re not chasing down signatures in Slack or email.
- Re-use winning content: If a proposal lands a big deal, pull those sections into your template.
- Keep legal happy: Store boilerplate terms in the template, but leave wiggle room for legal to review anything out of the ordinary.
- Don’t over-automate: Automation is great—until you miss a detail because you trusted the template too much. Always skim before you hit send.
7. Common Pitfalls (and How to Dodge Them)
- Too much customization: If every proposal feels like a new doc, your template’s too generic. Add more detail.
- Not enough flexibility: If reps are hacking the template every time, loosen it up. Swap some static text for placeholders.
- Ignoring feedback: If your team grumbles, listen. Templates should make life easier, not harder.
- Letting it go stale: Review your templates every quarter or after major product/pricing changes.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Templates should save you time, not eat it up. Start with a basic structure, roll it out, and improve as you go. Don’t try to build the “perfect” proposal doc from day one—you’ll just end up stuck. Keep your Dock template lean, clear, and easy to customize. Fast deals come from focus, not from cramming in every possible option.
Now get your first template built, send it out, and see how much faster you can close. Adjust as you learn. The best template is the one your team actually uses.