Competitive-analysis report proposal: Free template
Customize this free competitive-analysis report proposal with Cobrief
Open this free competitive-analysis report proposal in Cobrief and start editing it instantly using AI. You can adjust the tone, structure, and content based on the client’s industry, stage, and strategic priorities. You can also use AI to review your draft — spot gaps, tighten language, and improve clarity before sending.
Once you're done, send, download, or save the proposal in one click — no formatting or setup required.
This template is fully customizable and built for real-world use — ideal for pitching competitor research projects to founders, marketers, strategy teams, or product leads. Whether you’re building from scratch or updating a stale slide deck, this version gives you a structured head start and removes the guesswork.
What is a competitive-analysis report proposal?
A competitive-analysis report proposal outlines your plan to evaluate how a company’s competitors position themselves, win deals, and serve customers — and how that compares to the client. It typically includes research scope, data sources, comparison frameworks, reporting structure, and strategic insights.
This type of proposal is commonly used:
- When companies are entering a new market or segment
- To improve positioning, messaging, or sales effectiveness
- Ahead of fundraising, product launches, or pricing changes
- As part of strategic planning, marketing, or M&A prep
It helps clients make clearer decisions about where to compete, how to win, and what gaps to close.
A strong proposal helps you:
- Identify key competitors (direct, indirect, and emerging)
- Compare features, pricing, positioning, funding, and messaging
- Reveal gaps or opportunities in the client’s strategy or GTM approach
- Package findings in a way that’s actually usable — not just a spreadsheet dump
Why use Cobrief to edit your proposal
Cobrief helps you write cleaner, sharper proposals — with smart structure and in-browser AI tools that keep things moving.
- Edit the proposal directly in your browser: No formatting headaches — just focus on the content.
- Rewrite sections with AI: Instantly tailor tone for founders, strategy leads, or product marketers.
- Run a one-click AI review: Let AI flag unclear scope, weak insights, or missing next steps.
- Apply AI suggestions instantly: Accept edits line by line or improve the full proposal at once.
- Share or export instantly: Send via Cobrief or download a polished PDF or DOCX file.
You’ll go from rough outline to client-ready proposal in minutes — without friction.
When to use this proposal
Use this competitive-analysis report proposal when:
- A client is unsure how they stack up against competitors — or who the real competition even is
- They’re preparing for a product launch, fundraise, or strategic planning cycle
- You’re helping define positioning, pricing, or sales narratives
- They’re losing deals and want to understand why
- Marketing and product are misaligned on what competitors are actually saying or shipping
It’s especially useful when leadership wants signal — not noise — and fast, actionable takeaways.
What to include in a competitive-analysis report proposal
Use this template to walk the client through your analysis structure — from data collection to final insights — in clear, high-signal language.
- Project overview: Frame the problem — unclear market landscape, poor differentiation, or pricing gaps — and how the report will help.
- Research scope: Define which competitors you’ll cover and how you’ll categorize them (e.g., direct, adjacent, aspirational).
- Data sources: Explain what you’ll pull from — websites, product pages, pricing, customer reviews, interviews, funding databases, SEO data, etc.
- Comparison framework: Show how you’ll structure the analysis — e.g., feature matrix, positioning map, pricing model teardown, SWOT, or battlecards.
- Analysis outputs: List deliverables — e.g., competitor profiles, summary slides, GTM comparison tables, strategic insights, internal battlecards.
- Use cases: Describe how the client can apply the report — sales enablement, investor decks, pricing strategy, product roadmap, or messaging.
- Collaboration flow: Clarify what input you’ll need — customer personas, deal feedback, product strategy — and how you’ll loop in key stakeholders.
- Timeline and phases: Break into stages — kickoff, data collection, analysis, synthesis, final delivery — with time estimates for each.
- Pricing: Offer a fixed fee or tiered pricing by number of competitors or depth of analysis. Include optional add-ons like sales battlecards or strategy workshops.
- Next steps: End with a clear CTA — such as aligning on competitor list, sharing recent wins/losses, or booking the kickoff.
How to write an effective competitive-analysis report proposal
This proposal should feel strategic, usable, and fast-moving — especially for clients who want clarity without wading through fluff.
- Focus on decision-making: Make it clear how this analysis helps them act — not just learn.
- Keep it structured: Use consistent comparison frameworks so insights are easy to scan and use.
- Tailor to their team: Execs want strategy. Sales wants objections. Product wants feature gaps. Know your audience.
- Avoid surface-level comparisons: The value is in framing and implications — not just facts anyone can Google.
- Show you can go deep without overloading: Clients want sharp, focused reporting — not a 100-page data dump.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How many competitors should I include in the report?
Usually 5–10 is plenty. Focus on direct competitors first. Offer adjacent or aspirational players as a second tier if scoped.
Should I include pricing comparisons if the data isn’t public?
Yes — if you can. Use open-source intel (e.g., review sites, interviews, sales enablement sites), but flag where assumptions are made.
Do I need to interview customers or prospects as part of this?
Only if scoped. It’s powerful to include qualitative insights, but not required unless the client wants voice-of-customer input.
What format should I deliver the report in?
Decks work best for strategic takeaways. Supplement with spreadsheets for feature comparisons or raw data. Keep the final deliverable easy to present.
Should I include recommendations or just the analysis?
Always include recommendations. That’s what separates you from a generic research report — turn data into clear action steps.
This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Cobrief is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.