Introduction
If you’ve ever lost a small job because the proposal took two days to type, you’re not alone. Homeowners move fast; they pick the contractor who sends a clear, signable proposal first. The good news: you don’t need a back office to move at that speed. Here’s how Donizo’s free Discover plan lets you capture details by voice, add a few photos, and send a professional, e‑signable proposal while you’re still parked outside the site. We’ll break down the problem, show the exact workflow, and share real results from everyday jobs.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Same-day proposals win: responding within hours commonly shortens decision time from days to under 24 hours.
- Voice capture cuts admin: converting site notes to a proposal typically takes 5–10 minutes on-site instead of 30–60 minutes later.
- Fewer revs, fewer errors: clear scopes with photos reduce back‑and‑forth by roughly half on small jobs.
- E‑sign removes friction: clients can approve legally from their phone—no printing, scanning, or “I’ll sign later.”
Why Slow Proposals Lose Work
Many contractors find the proposal is the bottleneck, not the work. You walk the site, take notes, then life happens—crew calls, supply runs, and by the time you sit down at night, that “quick” quote turns into an hour.
The Problem
- Delays kill momentum. In general, prospects who don’t see a proposal within a day drift to another contractor or “think about it.”
- Manual typing invites misses. It’s common for small line items—sealant, disposal, protection—to be forgotten when proposals are re-typed after hours.
- Approval friction. Without e‑sign, clients often send “looks good” emails without clear acceptance, which leads to confusion on start dates and scope.
The Impact You Feel
- Time drag: 30–60 minutes per proposal in the evening is normal when starting from scratch.
- Decision lag: contractors often report a two-to-three day wait for a “yes” when proposals go out late.
- Scope creep: unclear assumptions add callbacks and margin erosion.
The Feature: Donizo Discover, Built For Speed
Donizo’s free Discover plan is designed for that exact crunch: get a professional, signable proposal out fast—without a back office.
What You Get On Discover (Free)
- Unlimited proposals with voice, text, and photo input
- E‑signature capability for legally binding acceptance
- PDF export (watermark) for easy sharing
Why It Matters
- Unlimited means you can quote everything you see—no rationing. Many small teams find this alone adds an extra accepted job per week because they stop “saving” proposals for later.
- E‑sign keeps approvals clean. No more “send me a paper” delays; acceptance happens in the client portal from any device.
| Task | Old Way | With Discover |
|---|
| Site notes to draft | 30–60 min typing at night | 5–10 min voice on-site |
| Proposal delivery | Attach PDF in email | Send via Donizo with client portal access |
| Client approval | Email “OK” or print/sign | Legal e‑signature from phone |
How It Works In The Field
You don’t need a script or a template library to start. You need your phone and the job in front of you.
Step 1: Capture By Voice (Plus Photos)
Talk like you’re explaining the job to a new apprentice:
- Scope by area or sequence: “Bathroom—remove 5 sq ft damaged drywall, install moisture‑resistant board, tape and finish to Level 4, prime and paint color to match.”
- Materials and inclusions: “Includes dust protection at the door, floor protection in the hallway, and debris removal.”
- Conditions: “Assumes studs are sound; additional framing billed if required.”
- Snap 3–5 photos of problem areas and reference points.
Commonly, this takes 3–6 minutes per small job.
Step 2: Generate The Proposal
Donizo turns your voice, text, and photos into a clean, professional proposal. On the free plan, export a PDF (with watermark) or send it directly so the client can view it in their portal. In general, draft generation lands in under a minute once your notes are in.
Step 3: Send For E‑Signature
Hit send. The client opens the branded proposal page (branding upgrades on paid plans) and signs digitally. It’s common for approvals to come back same‑day when the proposal arrives while the job is fresh in their mind.
Real Results: Everyday Jobs, Same-Day Proposals
Let’s talk practical. Here’s how the workflow plays out on typical small jobs.
Case 1: Faucet Swap + Shutoff Upgrade
- Problem: Client expects a 30‑minute swap; you know seized nuts and old shutoffs can triple the time.
- Solution with Discover: Dictate the base scope plus a “known risk” allowance and include photos of existing shutoffs.
- Outcome: Admin drops from about 40 minutes to roughly 8 minutes on-site. Approval usually returns in less than 24 hours because the proposal explains the risk clearly.
Case 2: Ceiling Stain and Drywall Patch
- Problem: Quick patch jobs get vague scopes—then clients expect repainting the entire room.
- Solution with Discover: Voice-capture the exact patch size, Level 4 finish, prime, and “blend paint up to one wall.” Attach a photo with tape measure for scale.
- Outcome: Back‑and‑forth questions often halve. Contractors commonly report the proposal being out in under 15 minutes from first note to send.
Case 3: Storm-Damaged Fence Panel
- Problem: Small exterior fixes are easy to over‑promise. Missing disposal or concrete setting time eats margin.
- Solution with Discover: Dictate line items for panel replacement, post setting, ready‑mix, and disposal; add photos of the footing area.
- Outcome: Decision time drops from a couple of days to same‑day when the client can sign immediately. Crews get scheduled faster, and callbacks over “what’s included” shrink.
What This Adds Up To
- Time savings: Many small teams free up 2–3 hours per week by recording proposals on-site instead of after hours.
- Faster yes: In general, proposals sent within the hour get answers in under 24 hours compared to multi‑day waits when sent later.
- Cleaner scopes: Clear inclusions/exclusions and photos reduce change conversations and protect margin.
When To Upgrade: Growing Past Day One
Discover gets you moving. When volume grows and you want more polish and control, the paid plans add what most teams ask for next.
Ascension (Paid)
- Everything in Discover
- Custom branding on proposals (logo and company details)
- Invoicing and payment tracking
- Basic templates
- Analytics dashboard
- Priority support
- No watermark on PDFs
Practical benefit: After a client signs, convert the accepted proposal to an invoice in one click—no re‑typing. Contractors often report this removes another 10–15 minutes per job and reduces invoicing errors.
Autopilot (Paid)
- Everything in Ascension
- Advanced templates
- Margin estimator for pricing
- Multi‑language support
- Work report exports
Practical benefit: For teams handling repeat scopes or multilingual neighborhoods, Autopilot keeps proposals consistent and clear while protecting margin during pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Donizo E‑Signatures Legally Binding?
Yes. Clients can digitally sign the proposal for legally binding acceptance. The signed acceptance is stored with the proposal and viewable through the client portal and PDF.
Can I Really Build A Proposal From Just Voice Notes And Photos?
Yes. On Discover, you can capture scope with voice, add text if needed, attach photos, and generate a professional proposal in minutes. Many contractors find this replaces 30–60 minutes of typing later.
What If I Need My Logo And A Clean PDF Without A Watermark?
That’s in the Ascension plan. You get custom branding and watermark‑free PDFs, plus invoicing, payment tracking, templates, analytics, and priority support.
How Fast Can I Go From Yes To Invoice?
On Ascension and above, you can convert an accepted proposal to an invoice in one click. In general, that handoff takes under a minute and eliminates re‑entering line items.
Does Donizo Work For Multi-Language Clients?
Yes, multi‑language support is available on the Autopilot plan. It’s helpful if you regularly serve bilingual households or neighborhoods.
Conclusion
Speed wins small jobs. If you can capture the scope by voice, attach a few photos, and send a clear, e‑signable proposal before you leave the curb, you’ll cut admin and get faster yeses—without hiring office help. Start with Donizo’s free Discover plan for unlimited proposals, e‑signature, and PDF export. When you’re ready for branding and invoicing in one click, step up to Ascension. Try it on your next site visit at Donizo and see how much time it puts back in your week.
