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If someone sent you a proposal through Quikly, this page explains what you’re looking at and what you can do with it.

What is this page?

You received a link to a professional software proposal. It contains the project scope, requirements, pricing, timeline, and terms for the work being offered. You can review everything, ask questions, and respond — all from the same link. No account or app download is needed.

Actions you can take

When you open the proposal, you have three options:

Accept the proposal

Click Accept to approve the scope, pricing, and terms. You’ll be asked to provide:
  • Your full name (for the acceptance record)
  • A visual signature (draw or type)
  • Confirmation that you agree to the terms
This creates a legally binding acceptance record with a timestamp, your IP address, and a hash of the document.

Reject the proposal

Click Reject if the proposal doesn’t meet your needs. You can optionally include a reason, which helps the provider understand what didn’t work.

Request a revision

Click Request Revision if you’d like changes before accepting. Include details about what you’d like adjusted — pricing, scope, timeline, or terms. The provider receives your feedback and can update the proposal. You’ll get a new notification when the revised version is ready.

Proposal sections explained

Depending on the proposal type, you may see some or all of these sections:

Requirements

The list of features, modules, or deliverables included in the project. Each requirement shows:
  • Name — what will be built
  • Description — detailed explanation of the deliverable
  • Complexity — estimated effort in story points (1 = trivial, 3 = small, 5 = medium, 8 = large)
  • Priority — high, medium, or low

Price breakdown

The total cost and how it’s calculated:
  • Base cost — hours × hourly rate
  • Modifiers — adjustments for tech stack complexity, urgency, or client discounts
  • Taxes — if applicable
  • Total — the final amount

Timeline

A visual timeline showing project phases, milestones, and estimated delivery dates. Each phase lists the requirements included and the expected duration.

Milestones and payments

For milestone-based proposals, each deliverable has acceptance conditions and an associated payment. You pay when each milestone is completed and meets the defined criteria.

Differentiators

A “Why choose us” section highlighting the provider’s relevant experience, technical skills, certifications, and past projects related to your needs.

Governance and terms

Legal and operational terms that protect both parties:
  • Delivery conditions — what “done” means for each requirement
  • Out of scope — what is explicitly excluded from this engagement
  • Change management — how scope changes are handled and priced
  • IP and code ownership — who owns the code after delivery
  • Service commitments — response times, availability, and support terms
  • Payment terms — schedule, methods, and late payment policy

Statement of Work (SOW)

Some proposals include a full SOW that consolidates all sections into a single reference document.

Common terminology

If you’re not familiar with software project terms, here’s a quick reference:
TermMeaning
Story pointsA relative measure of effort. Higher points = more complex work. Common scale: 1, 3, 5, 8.
SOWStatement of Work — a formal document describing the project scope, deliverables, timeline, and terms.
T&MTime and Materials — a billing model where you pay for actual hours worked at an agreed rate.
RetainerA fixed monthly fee for a reserved block of hours. Unused hours may or may not roll over.
MilestoneA defined deliverable with acceptance conditions. Payment is tied to completion.
SprintA fixed time period (usually 1-2 weeks) during which specific work is completed.
MVPMinimum Viable Product — the smallest version of the product that delivers value and can be tested with real users.
APIApplication Programming Interface — how different software systems communicate with each other.
Scope creepWhen requirements grow beyond what was agreed, often without adjusting timeline or budget.

Alignment questions

Some proposals include alignment questions — these are points the provider wants to confirm with you before starting. They might ask about:
  • Technical preferences (hosting provider, specific tools)
  • Business priorities (which features matter most for launch)
  • Timeline constraints (hard deadlines, dependencies on other projects)
  • Access requirements (existing systems, accounts, credentials)
Answer these in the chat or during your next conversation with the provider.

Chat with the provider

Every shared proposal includes a chat where you can message the provider directly. Use it to:
  • Ask questions about requirements or pricing
  • Clarify technical details
  • Discuss timeline adjustments
  • Negotiate terms
The provider receives email notifications when you send a message.

Electronic signature

When you accept a proposal, Quikly records:
  • Your name and email
  • A visual signature (drawn or typed)
  • The exact date and time of acceptance
  • Your IP address
  • A SHA-256 hash of the document at the time of signing
This ensures the document cannot be modified after acceptance. The acceptance record is compliant with the ESIGN Act (US), eIDAS (EU), and UNCITRAL international standards.

What is Quikly?

Quikly is a proposal platform for software teams. Your provider uses it to create, share, and manage technical proposals. You don’t need a Quikly account to view or respond to proposals — everything happens through the shared link.