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Templates / Proposal

Free Instructional Design Proposal Template

An instructional design proposal covers the course build scope, deliverables, pricing, change rounds, platform access, and acceptance terms.

Instructional Design Proposal template preview

Language:

en

Last updated:

October 2026

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A course idea can be strong, the launch date can stay fixed, and the material can still sprawl once the recordings start. The buyer wants a clear path and a tight scope, but they’re picturing weeks of production that end in a course that runs long, feels muddled, and triggers refund emails. This instructional design proposal gives that conversation a written shape before anyone starts building, so the work stays tied to outcomes instead of expanding lesson by lesson.

The proposal starts with Summary, then introduces Who you are working with and The team so the buyer knows who’s making the calls as the course gets mapped and built. Our approach explains the order of decisions, then Course map and module plan and LMS course build and upload spell out what gets produced, including scripts, slides, downloads, a QA checklist, and handover notes. The pricing sits under What it costs with the Full Build option, and the terms sections cover payment timing, what materials and access need to be provided, what happens during change rounds, and when ownership transfers.

  • Summary Frames the course build outcome, the learner path, and what the buyer can expect by launch, in plain language you can keep or rewrite.
  • Our approach Explains how the work moves from source review into a course map and build steps, so scope gets locked before late-stage changes start.
  • What it costs Holds the priced item and the tier name you’ll send, leaving you to replace the template numbers with your own pricing.
  • Payment States the deposit and final invoice timing, what you need from the client to begin, and how change rounds and scope changes get handled.
  • Next steps Closes with acceptance, signature, and the fee summary so the buyer can approve the work and book the slot.

Once the proposal is in your workspace, you replace the prices for the single listed item and send it for acceptance online. The client signs, the fee summary confirms what’s being booked, and the signed copy carries the same scope and terms you agreed to at the start.

We went from spending hours on every proposal to creating fully customized ones in under 5 minutes. That's not an exaggeration - we timed it.

Yazan & Mawaheb
Yazan & MawahebAgency Owners

What to include in an instructional design proposal

PartWhat it covers

Summary

Opens with the course outcome, the build plan, and how the course stays in the client’s voice while the structure gets tightened.

Who you are working with

Describes the kind of course creation work being offered and how decisions get reviewed in order to avoid late-stage expansion.

The team

States who stays involved across the build so handoffs don’t blur decisions or change the plan midstream.

Team

Names the roles on the project and what each person owns during mapping, build, and QA.

Recent projects

Introduces the examples section so a buyer can place the work in real course builds, not abstract promises.

Portfolio

Gives concrete before-and-after examples of course rebuilds and conversions, which you can swap for your own work.

Our approach

Explains the decision sequence and what gets reviewed when, so approvals happen before scripts and builds move ahead.

Course map and module plan

Spells out the deliverables for mapping, scripts, slides, and learner downloads so the scope is clear before production starts.

LMS course build and upload

Covers what gets built inside the LMS plus the QA checklist, fix log, and handover notes you’ll deliver at the end.

What it costs

Includes priced items for the buyer to approve, and the numbers are the part you change before sending.

Next steps

Ends with signature and the fee summary so acceptance, booking, and the agreed totals sit in the same place.

Payment

States the deposit and final payment terms, what source materials are needed to start, and how change rounds and scope changes get handled.

Platform access

Covers admin access, handover contents, and ownership, including what transfers once the final invoice is paid.

Who it is for

Independent instructional designers, course studios, and curriculum mappers quoting course creation work for experts building a self-paced course inside an LMS.

The proposal in full

Summary

You’ll have a course that moves in a straight line from first lesson to final result, with lessons that run to time, assignments that match the teaching, and an LMS build that is ready for a real launch date.

We’ll shape it into a clear module path, build it in Kajabi, Thinkific, or Teachable, then run a pilot learner QA pass before launch. You’ll end up with a course that stays in your voice and tells learners what to do next.

We start by pulling structure out of what you already have. We map modules and lessons to one promise, one learner path, and one set of outcomes. Then we script and build each lesson so it fits the run time, the platform, and the assignments. We load it into your LMS, test it like a real learner, and fix what slows people down.

Who you are working with

We do course creation for experts who already know their topic and have a backlog of material. We got into this work by watching good teaching turn into confusing self-paced content the moment it left Zoom. We’re the team people bring in when the idea is strong, the deadline is real, and the course needs a clean path.

We keep scope tight by locking the course map early and treating every lesson like a build. You see the sequence before we write scripts, you see scripts before we build slides, and you see the course inside your LMS before a learner does. That order prevents the common late-stage problem where a launch date stays fixed while the course keeps expanding.

The team

You’ll work with the same four people from map to launch, so decisions don’t get lost between handoffs.

Team

Morgan Hartley, Lead instructional designer. Morgan leads the course structure and keeps each lesson tied to the outcomes you want learners to reach.

Casey Rios, Curriculum mapper. Casey turns your notes and recordings into a module map, lesson sequence, and a checklist we can build against.

Jordan Keene, Course build specialist. Jordan builds the course inside Kajabi, Thinkific, or Teachable, and makes sure every lesson, download, and setting is in the right place.

Taylor Whitaker, QA and learner testing. Taylor runs the learner test pass, tracks where people get stuck, and verifies fixes inside the LMS before handover.

Recent projects

Here are a few course builds where the job was taking real expertise and turning it into a course learners could finish without getting lost.

Portfolio

Zoom workshop to Kajabi. Converted a live workshop series into a self-paced course with a tighter module sequence and shorter lessons. The final build shipped as 6 modules and 28 lessons, with a single assignment flow learners could follow start to finish.

Teachable course rebuild. Re-mapped an existing course that had grown over time and was causing refunds. We merged overlapping lessons, rewrote the lesson openers to set expectations, and rebuilt navigation so learners always knew what to do next.

Thinkific cohort to self-paced. Turned a cohort program into a self-paced course by extracting the core path from call recordings and worksheets. The finished course ran 4 modules and 16 lessons, with updated worksheets sized to each lesson’s run time.

“Everything finally had an order, and the course stopped feeling like a pile of files.”

Consultant, moving from Zoom to a paid course

Our approach

We run course creation like a build, with decisions made in order and a checklist that keeps the course tight as it grows. You’ll always know what we’re working on, what we need from you, and what is locked versus still flexible.

1. Source review Days 1-3 You share your raw material: recordings, notes, slides, handouts, and any launch dates or promises you’ve already made to buyers. We review it, flag gaps we can already see, and confirm which LMS we’re building in so the structure fits the platform. 2. Course map Week 1 We turn your material into a module sequence and lesson map, with outcomes, lesson run times, and where assignments belong. You review the map in one pass and we revise it once, then we lock it so scripts and builds don’t drift. 3. Scripts and build Weeks 2-4 We write lesson scripts and talking points in your voice, then build slides, worksheets, and assignments to match the lesson flow. While that’s happening, we start building inside your LMS so you can see the course take shape as lessons are approved. 4. Pilot QA and handover Week 5 We run a learner-style QA pass inside the LMS, checking navigation, lesson order, download links, and assignment clarity. We apply fixes, then hand over the finished course with a simple admin checklist so you know what to adjust before launch.

Course map and module plan

A locked module sequence and lesson list with outcomes, lesson run times, and the assignments placed where they support the learning, not where they fit on a page.

LESSON SCRIPTS AND TALKING POINTS

Scripts and outlines for each video lesson, written in your voice, with clear openings, transitions, and closes so recording stays paced and on message.

SLIDE DECKS AND LEARNER DOWNLOADS

Slide decks for video lessons plus worksheets, templates, or checklists that match what you teach. Each download is labeled and sized to the lesson it supports.

LMS course build and upload

A complete build inside Kajabi, Thinkific, or Teachable, including modules, lessons, video placeholders or uploads, downloads, and the settings learners interact with.

QA CHECKLIST AND FIX LOG

A test pass report that shows what we checked, what we changed, and what we recommend you review before launch, so nothing gets missed the week you open the cart.

HANDOVER WALKTHROUGH NOTES

A short, practical set of notes that shows how the course is organized in your LMS and where to update lesson text, files, and release settings later.

What it costs

Pick the tier that matches how much is already decided versus still in your head. Each one covers the same five-week flow, with a different amount of scripting and build.

Priced items

Next steps

If you want us to hold a build slot for your launch, the next step is to lock the start date and get your source material into one place.

1. Sign this proposal to book the work. 2. Pay the 50% booking invoice within 14 days. 3. Share your recordings, notes, and existing slides so we can start mapping.

Signature

Fee summary

Payment

To book course creation, we invoice 50% when you sign. We invoice the remaining 50% when we hand over the finished work. Each invoice is due within 14 days.

What we need from you. We start after you share your source materials in one place: notes, Zoom recordings, slides, and any links you already teach from. We will send a checklist so nothing gets missed.

Change rounds. Each tier includes two rounds of changes on the course map and two rounds on scripts and slides, collected in one document each round. Extra rounds are possible and we will quote first.

Scope changes. If you add lessons, swap platforms, or change the course goal after the course map is approved, we will pause and write a short scope update with price and timing before we continue.

Platform access

If we are building in Kajabi, Thinkific, or Teachable, you will provide admin access and any required assets before build week. If access is delayed, the timeline moves with it.

Handover. Handover includes the LMS build in your account, the final scripts and files, plus our QA checklist and fix log. We will also provide walkthrough notes so you can run the next update.

Ownership. Once the final invoice is paid, you own the course materials we created for you: maps, scripts, slides, downloads, and the LMS build. We may reuse general templates, not your content.

Questions about this proposal template

What should an instructional design proposal include?

An instructional design proposal usually covers the course build scope, deliverables, pricing, the review and change process, and the terms for platform access and ownership. This template includes sections for approach, mapping and scripts, LMS build, payment terms, and acceptance.

How do you turn notes and recordings into a course outline?

Course mapping starts by reviewing the source material, then turning it into a module sequence and lesson list tied to outcomes. This proposal describes a course map deliverable with lesson run times and assignments placed where they support the learning.

What do you need from a client before starting course creation?

Course creation usually starts once the client shares source materials like recordings, notes, slides, and any existing links they teach from. This proposal also calls out the need for admin access if the build happens inside Kajabi, Thinkific, or Teachable.

Do you build the course inside Kajabi, Thinkific, or Teachable?

A course build can mean handing over files, or it can mean building directly inside an LMS. This proposal describes an LMS build inside Kajabi, Thinkific, or Teachable, including modules, lessons, downloads, and learner-facing settings.

How many rounds of changes should a course build include?

Change rounds vary, but the key is stating them up front and collecting feedback in a controlled way. This proposal includes two rounds of changes on the course map and two rounds on scripts and slides, with extra rounds quoted first.

When do clients pay for instructional design work?

Payment terms often split the work into a booking deposit and a final payment at handover. This proposal states a 50% invoice when the client signs and the remaining 50% when the finished work is handed over, with each invoice due within 14 days.

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