Actionist
A business you run with AI

Start a proposal writing business while you keep your day job

Contractors and consultancies win work by responding to RFPs, but few have the time. Sign them as monthly clients. Actionist reads each brief, drafts the response, and has it ready for your review.

Actionist does the research and the drafting. You review before anything goes to the client.

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Your AI workforce
$1,200+per client retainer, you set it
$43,200a year at 3 clients a month
6phases Actionist runs
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Starting a proposal writing business normally means becoming a full-time writer. Actionist changes that. It is an AI agent that operates real apps the way a person does, so it can read a new RFP, pull your client's past wins and credentials from their document library, draft a compliant bid response section by section, and have it ready for your approval, all while you keep your day job. The work is the same whether you are running a proposal writing business for one client or ten.

You do not need to be a specialist writer or a procurement expert. You bring the client relationships and the judgment call on each submission. Actionist handles the research, the drafting, and the formatting so that each bid goes out polished and on time.

start a proposal writing businessbid writing business with AImake money writing proposalsRFP response serviceproposal writing for contractorsbid writing service with AI
01

Your opportunity

The opportunity

Why this works

Every sector that bids on contracts, from construction and IT to consultancy and staffing, has a backlog of RFPs that the team simply does not have time to answer well. A single missed bid can cost a firm a six-figure contract.

As the operator, you sign these firms as monthly retainer clients. Actionist does the recurring work of reading each new RFP, matching the requirements against the client's credentials, and drafting the response. You review and approve. The client submits.

What matters to you
  • Persistent demand
    Government and enterprise buyers issue RFPs constantly. Contractors and consultancies receive more than their teams can respond to.
  • High value per engagement
    A lost tender can cost a firm hundreds of thousands. A monthly retainer for reliable proposal support is an easy case to make.
  • Recurring retainer model
    Clients pay monthly because RFPs arrive monthly. This is subscription income, not one-off project fees.
  • No specialist required
    You bring the relationship and the final read. Actionist handles the research, drafting, and formatting for each submission.
Your projection

Run your own numbers

Your projection

Set the numbers, see the picture

Price per client retainer
$1,200
clients a month
3
Per month
$3,600
Per year
$43,200

Illustrative, based on the numbers you enter. Monthly retainer per client. Add clients to grow.

Getting started

What it actually takes to start

Running a proposal writing service used to mean years of procurement experience and a team of writers. Actionist does the drafting and research, so the bar to start is far lower than people assume.

What you don't need
  • A background in procurement or tendering
    Actionist reads the RFP and extracts the requirements for you.
  • To be a skilled copywriter
    Actionist drafts each section from the client's credentials and your review.
  • A full-time writing team
    Your agents cover the research, drafting, and formatting roles.
  • To quit your day job
    Actionist works in the background around your schedule.
  • Upfront software costs
    The apps it operates are your clients' own tools or low-cost plans.
What you bring
  • Connections to firms that bid on contracts
    Contractors, consultancies, agencies: anyone who answers RFPs.
  • A few evenings a week
    Mostly reviewing bid drafts before they go to the client.
  • A laptop and Actionist
    That is the full setup.

If you know a business that bids on contracts and wishes it could respond to more of them, Actionist can do the heavy lifting.

02

How Actionist works

How it works

How Actionist builds the business

You do not write the bids yourself, Actionist does. Here is how it works on any business idea, applied to proposal writing: you pick it, the agent plans every task, works through the drafting, and brings you only the moments that need a human.

  1. 01

    You pick the business and your client focus

    You choose the kinds of firms you will serve, your monthly retainer price, and how many clients you can carry. That brief is all Actionist needs to plan the launch and the recurring delivery cycle.

    A clear scope Actionist plans the service around.
  2. 02

    Actionist maps every task to launch and run it

    Actionist breaks the business into stages: the one-time setup, the client acquisition steps, the onboarding tasks for each new client, and the recurring RFP cycle. You see the full plan in one place.

    A complete task plan from setup to first client submission.
  3. 03

    It schedules the work and works through each RFP

    When a new RFP arrives, Actionist reads the requirements, pulls the client's credentials and past wins from their document library, and drafts the response section by section, working through it while you are at your job.

    A full bid draft ready for your review.
  4. 04

    It assigns you the tasks only a person can do

    Some things only you can handle: a first call with a new client, a decision on whether to bid, a relationship message. Actionist assigns those to you with full context, then carries on with the rest.

    A short, clear list of moments that need you.
  5. 05

    It asks before anything reaches a client

    Before Actionist sends a draft to a client, raises an invoice, or submits anything on your behalf, it stops and waits for your yes. You set how hands-on you want to be per task.

    You stay in control of every client-facing move.
  6. 06

    You keep your day job and check in when needed

    The business moves in the background. You check the board when it suits you, approve what is waiting, and message Actionist over Telegram or Slack to nudge or redirect any task.

    A business that grows around your existing schedule.
Your agent team

Actionist is your whole team

You are one person. Actionist is the whole team. Here is every role it plays to win clients, deliver bids, and keep the business running month after month.

~48 hrs/week of work by hand, run by your agents instead

Plan the service

turns your idea into a delivery system

Your executive assistant maps every task to launch the service, from setting up the systems to planning how you will onboard each new client.

If you did this by hand
Research what a proposal service needsList every setup and delivery taskDecide the client types and pricingBuild trackers and checklistsReprioritise as the service grows
~5 hrs/ week
researching the steps and building the plan from scratch.≈ 3 days a month you do not have, handled for you.
What your agent does
One planfor setup, acquisition, and delivery
Day onescoped before you spend a penny
  • Map every task
    Breaks the service into stages: setup, client acquisition, onboarding, and the recurring RFP cycle.
  • Set the sequence
    Orders the work so each step begins as soon as the one before it is done.
  • Keep the plan live
    Updates the board as clients are added and as delivery requirements shift.
Your part

You set the client niche, the retainer price, and the hours you can give. That is the only heavy thinking you do.

Apps your agent could useSee full Actionist App Store →
03

Your task plan

The task centre

Every task it takes, and who does it

This is the plan Actionist builds to launch the business and deliver bids month after month. Every stage, task, and subtask is laid out across the team. The majority of the work belongs to your agents. Your job is to review, decide, and approve.

29 tasks·88 subtasks
Actionist 23You 2Approval 4Actionist handles ~79%
Done
Executive Agent
Pick the sectors and client types you will serve
Done
Set your monthly retainer price and scope
Done
Write a one-line service description you can repeat
Done
Done
Operations Agent
Check the business name is available
Done
File the registration
Done
Save the certificate to the tracker
Done
Done
You
In progress
Executive Agent
Done
Operations Agent

An example plan Actionist builds for this business. Yours adapts to your client load, your sector focus, and the pace you set.

Under the hood

What one automation looks like

Trigger·A client emails a new RFP document with a submission deadline.
read
Step 1
Gmail
Read the RFP and extract the mandatory requirements, scoring criteria, and deadline
read
Step 2
Dropbox
Pull the client's relevant case studies, team bios, and certifications from their credentials library
write
Step 3
PandaDoc
Draft the full bid response: executive summary, technical approach, credentials, and formatted sections
Confirmation
Step 4
Human
You review the complete draft and mark any changes before it goes to the client
write
Step 5
Gmail
Send the approved draft to the client with a submission checklist and deadline reminder
Saved per run
~4 hrs
Runs / week
~2×
A compliant, credentialed bid draft ready for your review, not your hours.
04

The payoff

Your week

All it asks of you

Here is what a week looks like once the service is running. Your agents research, draft, track, and invoice across every client while you are at your job. You step in for the few moments that need your judgment.

You
A handful of moments

across the week, all in your own time

4 touchpoints · about 80 min all week

Your agents
Every working day

reading briefs, drafting bids, tracking pipelines, and billing clients in the background

7 jobs running in the background

Your team
Your full team runs in the background, every day.
  • Approve this week's outreach batch10 min
    mon · A quick yes before the agent sends.
  • Review a bid draft before the client sees it25 min
    wed · The agent built it; you give the final read.
  • Take a client update call30 min
    thu · The agent booked it and briefed you.
  • Skim the weekly bid outcomes15 min
    sat · Wins, losses, and what is next.
Your team, every day
  • SA
    Sales Agent
    Prospects bid-active firms and drafts the outreach for your approval
  • TA
    Technical Agent
    Reads new RFPs and maps client credentials to every requirement
  • DA
    Developer Agent
    Drafts the full bid response section by section from the credentials library
  • SA
    Support Agent
    Updates clients on bid progress and handles routine questions
  • CA
    CRM Agent
    Logs bid outcomes and flags retainers approaching renewal
  • OA
    Operations Agent
    Raises monthly invoices and sends contracts for new clients to sign
  • RA
    Reception Agent
    Books discovery calls and briefs you on each prospect before you meet
The payoff

What you walk away with

  • No writing
    You never draft a bid yourself
    Actionist reads the RFP, pulls the credentials, and writes the response. You review and approve.
  • Around your job
    Run it while employed
    The research and drafting happen in the background, so you can build this service without quitting.
  • Monthly
    Recurring retainer income
    Clients pay monthly because RFPs arrive monthly. This is subscription income, not one-off project fees.
Before and after

Doing it alone vs with Actionist

On your own
~39h / week
every job below lands on you
With Actionist
minutes to review
it runs all 10 in the background
  • 1Reading each new RFP
    6.5h/wk
    Hours per brief

    You read every page of each new tender document yourself, extract the criteria, and map the scoring model by hand.

    ActionistOff your plate
    A full analysis in the background

    Actionist reads the RFP end to end, extracts every mandatory requirement, and maps your client's credentials to the scoring criteria.

  • 2Drafting bid responses
    10h/wk
    Days per submission

    You write the executive summary, technical approach, and credentials sections from a blank page for every tender.

    ActionistOff your plate
    A complete draft built to the brief

    Actionist assembles the full bid response section by section from your client's credentials library, ready for your review.

  • 3Finding new clients
    4h/wk
    Manual research and cold outreach

    You hunt for firms that tender regularly, find the right contact, and write every cold pitch yourself.

    ActionistOff your plate
    A ranked prospect list and drafted pitches

    Actionist researches bid-active firms in your sector and drafts personalised outreach for your approval before anything sends.

  • 4Onboarding each new client
    5h/wk
    Chase and compile from scratch

    You collect case studies, bios, and certifications from the client piecemeal and organise the folder yourself.

    ActionistOff your plate
    A structured credentials library

    Actionist sends the intake questionnaire, chases missing items, and builds a searchable credentials library for every bid.

  • 5Formatting and compliance
    3.5h/wk
    Checking rules line by line

    You manually verify that every submission meets the page limit, font, heading structure, and attachment rules.

    ActionistOff your plate
    Compliant on the first draft

    Actionist applies the required formatting, checks the page limit, and flags any compliance gaps before the draft reaches you.

  • 1Tracking submission deadlines
    2h/wk
    Calendar entries and daily checking

    You manage submission dates for every active bid across multiple clients in a calendar or spreadsheet you update by hand.

    ActionistOff your plate
    A live bid tracker with alerts

    Actionist logs every deadline, updates the status as bids progress, and alerts you when a submission is approaching.

  • 2Following up on submitted bids
    2.5h/wk
    Chasing outcomes yourself

    You remember to check in with clients on bid status and chase the buyer for feedback when a tender is lost.

    ActionistOff your plate
    Outcomes logged and debriefs sent

    Actionist logs each win or loss, sends the client a short debrief, and updates the win rate for the account.

  • 3Monthly client invoicing
    1.5h/wk
    Invoices you remember to send

    You raise retainer invoices late, forget to follow up on unpaid ones, and track payments in a spreadsheet you rarely open.

    ActionistOff your plate
    Invoiced on time, chased if late

    Actionist raises each retainer invoice on the billing date, sends the payment link, and chases anything overdue.

  • 4Keeping credentials current
    2h/wk
    Outdated files in every bid

    Stale bios, lapsed certifications, and old case studies end up in submissions because no one tracks expiry dates.

    ActionistOff your plate
    A credentials library that stays fresh

    Actionist flags certifications expiring within 90 days and alerts the client to update any case studies that are more than a year old.

  • 5Client retention and renewals
    1.5h/wk
    Relationships that drift

    Retainers lapse because no one started the renewal conversation early enough and the client moved on.

    ActionistOff your plate
    Renewal flagged 30 days out

    Actionist spots the renewal date in advance, drafts a message with the client's win rate summary, and waits for your approval.

That is roughly 39 hours of work handed off every week, while you keep your day job
The tools

The apps Actionist operates

View Actionist App Store
05

Stay in control and start

Already run this business?

See how Actionist can automate your life. Enter your website for a free analysis and a personalised demo built from your own business.

Trust and control

You stay in control

This is your clients' reputation with every buyer they tender to. Actionist prepares each bid and waits for your approval before the draft leaves your desk, and it never submits on your behalf.

You approve every bid before the client sees it

No draft goes out until you have read it and said yes. The client always gets your reviewed version.

Outreach waits for your yes

Every prospecting message Actionist drafts sits in your approval queue before it sends from Gmail.

Every action is logged

Each step Actionist takes is recorded so you can see exactly what was done on any bid at any time.

Your clients' files stay in their own accounts

Actionist works inside the document and storage tools your clients already use. Their credentials never leave their own systems.

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FAQ

Questions about this idea

Do I need experience writing proposals to start this business?
No. Actionist reads each RFP, extracts the requirements, and drafts the response from the client's own credentials and case studies. You review the draft before it goes out. A good eye for quality and honest client relationships are the skills that matter, not years of bid writing experience.
Can I run a proposal writing business alongside a full-time job?
Yes, that is the point of starting a bid writing business with AI. Actionist does the research and drafting in the background. Your involvement is reviewing bid drafts and taking the occasional client call, both of which fit into evenings and weekends.
How does Actionist know what to include in each bid?
When you onboard a client, Actionist builds a credentials library from their case studies, team bios, certifications, and past bids. When a new RFP arrives, it reads the requirements and matches the right evidence from that library into each section of the response.
Will Actionist submit a bid without me seeing it first?
No. Every bid draft sits in your approval queue. Actionist notifies you via Telegram or Slack within about a minute of finishing the draft, and nothing goes to the client until you approve it.
What kinds of companies make good first clients?
The best early clients are small to mid-sized contractors, IT consultancies, and professional services firms that regularly receive RFPs but do not have a dedicated bid team. Construction, facilities management, and government IT are strong starting sectors because the tender volume is high and the firms are often under-resourced.
How do clients send me the RFPs?
Most clients forward RFPs directly to your business email. Actionist monitors the inbox, reads each new document within about a minute of it arriving, and adds it to the bid pipeline. You can also set up a shared folder in Dropbox where clients drop new briefs for Actionist to pick up.
How do I get paid?
Actionist raises each monthly retainer invoice in Stripe and sends the client a payment link once you approve it. Recurring billing keeps cash flow predictable and removes the need to chase payments manually.
What types of bids work best with this approach?
The service works best for document-based responses to written briefs, such as government tenders, framework applications, and corporate RFPs. It is less suited to rapid online auctions or price-only submissions that require no written response.
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