The problem
Writing each proposal from scratch takes the evening after the discovery call. If a designer sends 6 proposals a month at 90 minutes each, that's 540 minutes, 9 hours a month.
What the AI does
After the discovery call, paste your notes into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and ask for a proposal with a summary of the brief, deliverables, number of revision rounds, timeline and what is not included. Leave out names and confidential details. You set the price, the dates and the terms. A proposal is not a contract. For ownership of work, payment and rights, use your own contract or a template from a professional body, and have it checked by a solicitor.
A worked example
A freelance graphic designer in Brighton sends about 6 proposals a month for logos and brand packs and writes each from scratch.
Before
6 proposals at 90 minutes each: 540 minutes, 9 hours a month
After
If a draft plus an edit takes about 50 minutes each: 300 minutes, 5 hours a month
What it's worth
About 4 hours a month saved (240 minutes), worth about £140 at £35 an hour, if the editing takes about 50 minutes (an assumption to test). The free plans of ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini can do this; a paid plan costs up to about £20 a month for one person if you hit usage limits.
How to set it up
- Write your standard sections once: what you include, how many revision rounds, what costs extra.
- After each discovery call, paste your anonymised notes into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and ask for a proposal using your sections.
- Add the price, dates and payment terms yourself; the assistant does not know your rates.
- Check every deliverable and exclusion matches what you discussed with the client.
- Send the proposal with your contract, and ask the client to confirm in writing.
What goes wrong
- An assistant can promise things you did not offer, such as unlimited revisions or a deadline. You are bound by what you send.
- Rights and ownership wording matters. Don't rely on generated text for copyright assignment, licences or liability; use your own contract.
- Keep client names and confidential briefs out of consumer AI plans unless the client agrees.
- Say in the contract if you use AI tools and the client requires it to be disclosed.