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Proposals

By Bharath
• 31 articles

Clients and Contacts Overview

In this article - Understanding clients and contacts - Clients - Contacts - Key features - Data import options - Client workspace - Quick view information - Client portal - Custom fields - Billing Settings - Accounting integration - Contact management - Getting Started Clients and Contacts Overview Cone's client management system helps you organize and manage your business relationships, integrating client data with your accounting software and providing tools for contact management, project tracking, and client communication. Understanding clients and contacts Clients Clients represent the companies or individuals you do business with. Each client in Cone can be: - Customer: An entity with an established business relationship or accepted proposal - Prospect: A potential client you're actively engaging but haven't converted yet - Business or Individual: Clients can be either business entities or individual persons You can learn more about clients here Contacts Contacts are the individual people associated with your clients. Key aspects include: - Each client must have at least one primary contact - A single contact can be linked to multiple clients - Contacts manage portal access and receive communications - Contact details update across all linked clients when edited You can learn more about contacts here Key features Data import options - Manual entry: Create clients directly in Cone - Accounting software sync: Import from QuickBooks, Xero - Bulk CSV import: Upload multiple clients at once - Companies House: Import UK company details automatically Client workspace When you open a client record, you access a comprehensive workspace with multiple sections: - Overview: Summary of client information and recent activity - Tasks: Client-specific tasks and to-dos - Projects: Active and completed projects for this client - Files: Document storage and management - Notes: Internal notes and comments - Emails: Email communication history - Chat: Internal team discussions about the client - Forms: Client-submitted forms and responses - Time Entries: Time tracking for client work - Billing: Invoices, payments, and financial history - Settings: Client-specific configurations Quick view information - Basic company details and status - Custom fields specific to your business - Billing information and payment terms - Accounting software sync status - VAT/Tax registration details - For UK clients: Companies House information and filing deadlines Client portal Clients can access their own portal to: - Manage tasks - View and Download documents - Communicate with your team Custom fields Create industry-specific fields to track: - Contract details - Renewal dates - Service preferences - Compliance information - Any data unique to your business Billing Settings Configure client-specific billing preferences: - Payment terms (Net 15, 30, 60, etc.) - Preferred payment methods - Auto-charge settings - Invoice delivery preferences Accounting integration Two-way synchronization keeps data consistent: - Client information syncs automatically - Invoices and payments update in real-time - Changes in either system reflect everywhere - Conflict resolution for data discrepancies Contact management - Each client must have at least one primary contact. This contact is pivotal for communication and proposal engagement processes - Adding contacts: Contacts can be added manually to a client's profile or selected from a list of existing contacts. This flexibility allows seamless management of client communications - Multiple associations: A single contact can be associated with multiple clients. Editing a contact's details updates the information across all client profiles linked to this contact. If a contact is removed, it will be detached from all associated clients - Functional actions with contacts: Beyond basic management, contacts allow for direct actions - creating proposals, associating them with existing clients, or initiating deals directly from the contacts page Getting Started 1. Connect your accounting software to import existing clients 2. Add primary contacts for each client 3. Configure custom fields for your industry needs 4. Set up the client portal for self-service access 5. Establish billing preferences for automated invoicing

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

📖 Craft stunning Proposals on Cone: An in-depth Guide

https://www.loom.com/share/9ed78539418e4bde9d9f7ccad44fe76a 💡Cone provides diverse proposal templates which makes it very easy to get started with creating a proposal. You can learn more about creating a proposals from templates here Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Getting started with proposals 1. Setting recipients 2. Key dates 3. Theme selection 4. Assigning staff 5. Arrangement 3. Proposal sections 1. Mandatory sections 2. Custom sections 4. Sending your proposal 1. Customizing PDF layout 2. Review and save 3. Publishing and sending 1. Introduction - Cone simplifies proposal creation with a powerful editor, designed for flexibility and user-friendliness - It streamlines capturing all essential information tailored specifically to each client's needs - The adaptive design ensures no two proposals are the same, allowing full customization - There are ready-to-use industry standard templates available for you to get started with - The header section allows you manage important information for the proposal - Right-hand side bar option allows you to customize the proposal to your and client's needs 2. Getting started with proposals 2.a Setting recipients - Select the client: Choose the client from your existing list within Cone - If the client isn’t listed, add a new client directly in this step Creating Proposals - Designate the contact person: Identify who in the client's company will receive the proposal - Important for ensuring the proposal is reviewed and signed by the correct authority Creating Proposals - Inclusion of signatures: Opt to include your signature within the proposal - Adds a personal commitment touch and shows readiness to move forward - Select Add my signature to include your signature in the proposal ℹ️ Currently, you can select only one signature per client 2.b Key dates - Select when the contract starts: You can choose one of On proposal acceptance or On custom date - On proposal acceptance: Contracts starts on the day proposal is accepted - On custom date: You can choose a custom date for the contract start date - Specify contract end date: Mark clear end dates to define the scope of service provision - You can choose an option from a selected list - You can choose a custom date - You can choose never if it will be rolling contract - Set Acceptance Deadline: You can impose a deadline for proposal acceptance, encouraging timely decision-making 2.c Theme selection - Theme selection: Choose from preset themes that tie into your brand’s visual identity - Themes affect the color scheme of buttons, labels, and overall layout - Background customization: Enhance the visual appeal by selecting solid colors, gradients, or high-resolution images - Leverage Unsplash integration for quality images or upload custom backgrounds to align with the proposal's tone 2.d Assigning staff - Team assignment: Include team members involved in the proposal process or project delivery - It's usually a person who follows up with the client 2.e Arrangement - Section organization: Rearrange the structure of your proposal to ensure a coherent flow of information - Drag-and-drop interface for intuitive arrangement and customization 3. Proposal sections 3.a Mandatory sections Header - Proposal title and dates: - The header is where you prominently display the proposal's title, providing an immediate understanding of the proposal’s purpose - Here, you also specify the contract's key dates, including the start and end dates, along with the acceptance deadline, which instills a sense of urgency and timeline clarity - Visual Elements: - Adding a logo strengthens brand recognition, while a compelling header image can capture attention and set the tone for the proposal - Cone allows for easy insertion of these visual elements, facilitating a customized look that aligns with your brand identity or the specific proposal theme - Unsplash Integration: - Cone provides direct access to high-quality images from Unsplash, allowing you to search and select an image that best fits the proposal's aesthetic without leaving the editor - Custom Upload: - If you prefer personalized imagery, Cone supports uploading your images, offering you complete control over the visual presentation of your proposal Services - Services overview: - This section is dedicated to detailing the services you are offering - It’s important to describe each service comprehensively, including the scope of work and the specific pricing model applied, whether it's fixed, per unit, or has variable pricing based on certain factors - Cone provides extensive customization options, ensuring that the presentation of services can be meticulously tailored to suit the proposal's audience and objectives. This tailored approach ensures that your proposals stand out, meeting both your strategic goals and your clients' specific requirements - Service level breakdown: This allows you to itemize the services provided under each category or project phase. It offers clients a granular view of the tasks involved and the value delivered at each step - Service level fee display: Deciding to show or hide the fee for each service level gives you control over how much pricing information is disclosed upfront - Pricing factors inclusion: Cone allows the inclusion of dynamic pricing factors directly within the services overview - Service categories visibility: Users have the option to display service category label against a service - Side overlay for customization: - When adding services to your proposal, Cone provides a side overlay for in-depth customization - This allows you to adjust service details, pricing, and descriptions without impacting the firm-level service - Each adjustment made here tailors the service offering to the specific proposal at hand, ensuring customization that meets the client's unique needs Engagement terms - Terms and conditions: This crucial section outlines the legal and operational terms governing the engagement. It should include a detailed description of the services to be provided, payment terms, cancellation policies, confidentiality obligations, and any other conditions pertinent to the agreement - Selecting from a template: You can select an engagement letter from an existing template. You can choose from Cone's provided templates or from your existing templates. You can save the current engagement letter as a template for future use - You can learn more about engagement letter templates here - Signature block: The inclusion of a digital signature block is a vital part of this section. Cone facilitates the digital acceptance process by integrating a signature block directly within the proposal. The signing process is designed to be intuitive, the signing process guides the client through adding their e-signature, ensuring the proposal is legally binding 3.b Custom sections Custom sections offer the flexibility to add unique content that enhances the proposal, making it more engaging and tailored to the client’s needs Text/Image Section - Purpose and use: This section is designed for rich textual content accompanied by images. It’s ideal for providing detailed descriptions of your company, outlining project methodologies, or explaining service benefits - Features: - Rich text editor: Utilize Cone’s rich text editor to format text easily, allowing for bold, italic, bullet points, and more to make the information easily digestible - Image integration: Add relevant images alongside the text to illustrate points, showcase previous work, or present diagrams and charts - Benefits: Enhances the narrative of your proposal, making complex information more accessible and visually appealing. Well-placed images can break up text, making the proposal more engaging to read through Media Embed Section - Purpose and use: Embed multimedia content such as videos or interactive widgets directly into your proposal. This is particularly useful for product demos, testimonials in video format, slides or explanatory animations - Features: - Embedding: Paste the URL from popular platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or others supported by Cone. The content is then rendered directly within the proposal - Benefits: Videos and interactive content can significantly boost engagement, helping to convey your message more effectively than text and images alone You can also embed Youtube/Vimeo links Testimonials Section - Purpose and use: Build trust and credibility by showcasing positive feedback from previous clients. Testimonials can significantly influence decision-making by providing third-party endorsements of your work - Features: - Structured layout: Testimonials can be arranged in a visually appealing layout, with options for including client names, titles, and even company logos to add authenticity - Highlight specific achievements: Choose testimonials that highlight the strengths and achievements most relevant to the proposal at hand, aligning client expectations with proven outcomes - Benefits: Including testimonials directly within the proposal reinforces the value of your services through real-world endorsements, helping to solidify the client’s confidence in choosing your services 4.Sending your proposal 4.a Customizing PDF layout Cone's PDF customization feature ensures your exported proposals are: - Tailored to your style and structure needs - Easy to read and visually clear for your clients - Consistent across different projects Whether you're preparing a detailed breakdown or a high-level overview, you'll be able to adjust how sections are displayed — all without leaving the editor You can learn more about this customization here 4.b Preview and save - Draft mode: Save ongoing work as a draft to prevent data loss - Preview: Utilize the client preview feature to ensure the proposal appears as intended from the client’s viewpoint 4.c Publishing and sending - Publish the proposal: Finalize the proposal and get ready to send it to client - Delivery options: Choose to send the proposal directly via email or share a personalized link - Share via link: - Once you get the link, you can share it with your client - You can also configure the reminders for the proposal - You can get the link any time from the proposal details page - Share via email: - You can edit that email that gets sent to the client - You can also choose an existing email template - You can configure the reminders for the proposal Once a proposal is sent, you can manage it as described here You can manage won proposal as outlined here

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

How to setup proposals with invoicing

With Cone, you can send proposals to your clients and create invoices automatically or manually once the proposal is signed. Below are the steps to create proposal, send to your client for e-signatures and manage invoices once proposal is accepted Below are the steps to create a proposal, configure settings and manage invoicing - Create a proposal for your client with the desired services - Check that auto-invoicing option, when applicable, is configured for the services that have been used in the proposal 💡 For auto-invoicing, you need to ensure that auto-invoicing flag is enabled in the service. You can enable this flag during the service creation or by editing an existing service. Without auto-invoicing enabled, invoices will not be automatically created and you have to manually invoice the services once proposal is accepted. You can learn more about auto-invoicing for services here - Check that billing options are correctly configured for the services. This will impact when invoices will get generated - If you want to collect payment details before a client signs the proposal, ensure it's enabled in the settings as described here 💡 This option can be configured only when a payments account is created with Cone. You can create one as described here - Once a proposal is accepted, if there were services with auto-invoice enabled, an invoice will be created with those and sent to the client for payment. For the services with auto-invoice disabled, billable service items will be added under Pending Items in Billing under a client's workspace. You can manually invoice these as described here - Sent invoices will be shown under Sent Invoices in Billing under a client's workspace. You will be able to see the status of the payment as well there. More about sent invoices can be found here

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

How to use proposal templates?

Table of contents 1. Introduction 2. Navigating to proposal templates 1. Accessing templates 2. Previewing templates 3. Using a template to create proposal 4. Creating and managing your own templates 1. Duplicating and customizing Cone templates 2. Saving custom templates 3. Template library management 1. Introduction Cone simplifies the initial steps of proposal creation by offering a library of pre-defined, industry-standard templates. These templates are designed to cover a wide range of business needs and scenarios, making it easy to get started with a professional-looking proposal that can be customized to fit your specific requirements 2. Navigating to proposal templates 2.a Accessing templates - From proposals: From the proposals listing page, click on "Create proposal" and then choose "Explore templates" - From templates: Under "Templates" tab from left navigation bar, select "Proposals". Here you can find your templates. Click on "Template library" for Cone provided templates 2.b Previewing templates Cone allows you to browse through various templates and offers a preview feature. This enables you to see what the template looks like before selecting it, ensuring it aligns with your proposal’s intended message and style 3. Using a template to create proposal Once you find a template that suits your needs, select it to create a draft proposal from it and begin the customization process. This template will now serve as the foundation for your new proposal You can now manage the proposal and it's contents like a usual proposal. More info on setting up proposal is here 4. Creating and managing your own templates 4.a Duplicating and customizing Cone templates If a Cone provided template closely matches your needs but requires adjustments, you can duplicate it. This creates a new template based on the original, which you can then customize. It will be available under your proposal templates 4.b Saving custom templates - After making changes to a duplicated template or creating a proposal from scratch that you believe could be useful in the future, you can save this as a new template within Cone - This is particularly helpful for maintaining consistency across proposals or quickly generating new proposals for similar projects 4.c Template library management Your custom templates, along with Cone’s default options, are accessible in your template library. This library becomes a valuable resource for speeding up the proposal process while ensuring each proposal remains tailored to its audience

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

Managing sent proposals

Table of contents 1. Introduction 2. Proposal details 1. Overview section 1. Proposal info 2. Signature link 2. Services section 3. Actions 1. Proposal actions 1. Send 2. Duplicate 3. Mark as won 4. Mark as lost 5. Preview 6. Recall 7. Recall and edit 8. Reminder settings 9. Save as template 1. Introduction After sending a proposal using Cone’s proposal software, managing and tracking the proposal becomes crucial to understanding client engagement and moving the proposal to completion. Cone enables you to monitor proposal interactions and taking further actions based on the proposal's status 2. Proposal details You can access proposal details by clicking on any sent proposal from the listing page. Listing can be found when you click Proposals on the left navigation bar After a proposal is sent, detailed insights become accessible, offering valuable data on client interactions and proposal status 2.a Overview section The Overview section provides a comprehensive look at the proposal's current standing and vital contract details 2.a.i Proposal info - Contract info: Essential contract details, including start and end dates, total contract value, and specific terms and conditions agreed upon - Internal contact info: Key contact details of team member within your organization who are responsible for or involved in the proposal - Views and Signatures: Insight into how often the proposal has been viewed by the client 2.a.ii Signature link You can view the signature status of the proposal, You can also click on Copy link to get a sharable link for the proposal to sign 2.b Services section You can get the specifics of whats services are being offered under the proposal through the Services section. You can click on each service to get detailed information on what service information was included in the proposal You can view the details of the service by clicking on it Services can only be edited after a proposal is won. If you want to edit services while is Sent state, you will have to recall the proposal, make edits and send again 3. Actions Actions on a sent proposal are designed to enhance the flexibility and control you have over your proposal management process in Cone, ensuring you can adapt to various circumstances that may arise post-sending a proposal 3.a Proposal actions 3.a.i Send You can resend a proposal to your client. This will send them an email to sign the proposal 3.a.ii Duplicate Creates an identical copy of the sent proposal. Useful for when you need to send a similar proposal to another client or for creating a variation of the existing proposal without starting from scratch 3.a.iii Mark as won Officially records the proposal as accepted by the client, moving the proposal into a "won" status. It signifies a successful deal closure and transitions the proposal to initiate project kickoff or service delivery processes 3.a.iv Mark as lost Assigns the proposal a "lost" status, indicating that the client declined the offer or chose another provider. Useful for tracking and analyzing proposal success rates and understanding areas for improvement 3.a.v Preview Allows you to view the proposal exactly as the client sees it. This feature ensures that all formatting and content are correct and presented professionally before and after sending it to the client 3.a.vi Recall Retracts a sent proposal from the client’s view, effectively pulling it back. Suitable for situations where an error is identified post-send or if premature sending occurs 3.a.vii Recall and edit Similar to "Recall," this action not only retracts the proposal but also automatically transitions it back to an editable state, allowing for immediate revisions or corrections as needed 3.a.viii Reminder settings Configures automated reminder emails to the client concerning the proposal. This tool helps in setting follow-up frequencies and content, ensuring clients respond in a timely manner without manual intervention for reminders 3.a.ix Save as template Converts the structure and content of the sent proposal into a template for future use. This action is perfect for streamlining the proposal creation process when dealing with similar projects or services, saving time and maintaining consistency. You can also manage the proposal after it's won. You can learn more about won proposals here

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

Managing signed proposals

Table of contents 1. Introduction 2. Proposal details 1. Overview section 1. Status 2. Proposal info 3. Signatures 2. Services section 1. Active services 2. Expired services 3. Actions 1. Proposal 1. Duplicate 2. Preview 3. Mark as ended 4. Create template 2. Services 1. Modifying services 2. Enable auto invoicing 3. View upcoming invoice 4. Skip next billing 5. Stop billing 1. Introduction Finalizing a proposal marks a significant step towards securing business, but the journey doesn't stop there. Cone offers comprehensive functionalities for managing signed proposals, ensuring you can smoothly transition from agreement to execution 2. Proposal details Once a proposal is signed, Cone enables you to access and review all related details directly from the platform, ensuring you have the complete context and agreement specifics at your fingertips Navigating to the signed proposal will present you with a detailed breakdown of essential information, carefully categorized to enhance user experience and accessibility 2.a Overview section The Overview section provides a comprehensive look at the proposal's current standing and vital contract details 2.a.i Status Quickly identify the proposal’s current status, whether Won, Ended 2.a.ii Proposal info - Contract info: Essential contract details, including start and end dates, total contract value, and specific terms and conditions agreed upon - Internal contact info: Key contact details of team member within your organization who are responsible for or involved in the proposal - Views and Signatures: Insight into how often the proposal has been viewed by the client 2.a.iii Signatures Status of signatures, including the client contact who signed the proposal and the date and time it was signed on 2.b Services section You can get the specifics of whats services are being offered under the proposal through the Services section. You can click on each service to get detailed informaion on what service information was included in the proposal You can view the details of the service by clicking on it 2.b.i Active services You can view a list of all services currently active under the proposal. This includes detailed descriptions, agreed-upon pricing, billing type, and duration of each service, ensuring a clear understanding of ongoing engagements 2.b.ii Expired services You can access information on services that have previously concluded or expired as per the proposal terms. Expired services provide insights into past engagements, useful for review or future proposal planning 3. Actions For a won proposal, a user can take several actions to further manage the proposal and associated services. Whether it’s leveraging the proposal to create new templates or adjusting service specifics for billing, these functionalities are designed to streamline post-win processes 3.a Proposal 3.a.i Duplicate You can create a copy of the won proposal for use in similar future engagements, saving time and effort in proposal creation 3.a.ii Preview You can view the proposal as it appears to the client, ensuring all information is accurate and presented as intended 3.a.iii Mark as ended You can conclude a won proposal’s lifecycle when the project or service delivery is complete 3.a.iv Create template You can transform the won proposal into a customizable template, streamlining the process for future proposals with similar scopes or requirements 3.b Services On a won proposal, Cone allows for the adaptation of service details to reflect evolving project needs or agreements accurately 3.b.i Modifying services A user can modify ongoing service parameters, including price, name, description, tax, and invoice accounting code, to ensure they align with current agreements and project scopes Note: Changes to service details will be taken into account for invoicing from the next billing cycle. This delay ensures that any amendments do not disrupt the current billing period, providing clarity and consistency in financial management 3.b.ii Enable auto invoicing You can automate the creation of invoices for the service going ahead, ensuring clients are billed consistently without manual intervention 3.b.iii View upcoming invoice You can preview the next invoice to be generated for a service, allowing you to verify details and make any necessary adjustments before it’s issued to the client 3.b.iv Skip next billing You can opt to skip a billing cycle for a service, useful in scenarios where service pauses or client agreements dictate a temporary billing halt 3.b.v Stop billing You can stop billing for a service entirely, typically used when a service is completed or discontinued ahead of schedule. On stopping the service, it will be moved to Expired services Successfully managing won proposals in Cone not only facilitates a smoother transition into project execution but also enhances your overall efficiency and readiness for future engagements. By taking advantage of proposal-level actions and ensuring service details are up-to-date, you maintain alignment with client expectations and project objectives You can learn more about managing sent proposals here ​

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

Multiple pricing packages

In this article - Enabling Packages in Your Proposal - Adding and customizing packages - Customizing the client view - The client experience - After client acceptance - Benefits https://www.loom.com/share/9af974f78e374e2baa08d125224696e7 Cone makes it easy to present multiple pricing package options within a single proposal, giving your clients flexibility and helping you close deals faster. This guide walks you through enabling, configuring, and managing multiple packages in your proposals, as well as the client experience. Enabling Packages in Your Proposal Create or open a proposal - Start by creating a new proposal or opening an existing one in Cone. Navigate to the Services section - Go to the Services section of your proposal. Enable packages - Find the Enable packages option and click to activate it - This allows you to offer multiple package choices within the same proposal Adding and customizing packages Add package options - Once packages are enabled, you can add as many package options as you wish (e.g., Bronze, Silver, Gold) Customize each package - Name: Give each package a unique name - Description: Add a description to clarify what each package includes - Services: Select and configure the services included in each package - Highlight a package: Mark one package as your recommended choice (e.g., Silver). This will be visually highlighted for your client Edit and Manage Packages - You can edit, reorder, or remove packages at any time from the Services section Customizing the client view Presentation control - Customize labels, headings, and choose which details are visible to your client Preview - Use the preview feature to see exactly how your proposal and packages will appear to your client The client experience Viewing packages - When your client opens the proposal, they’ll see all available package options, with your recommended package clearly highlighted Comparing packages - Clients can click on any package to view its details and easily switch between options to compare. Selecting and signing - Clients select their preferred package - They can sign off directly within the proposal - The selected package is clearly indicated for both parties After client acceptance Accepted package - The chosen package and its services are marked as active and signed in the proposal Review options - You can always review which package was selected and what was agreed upon, as well as see the other options you presented Benefits Simple & flexible - Easily present multiple options in a single proposal Seamless client experience - Clients can view, compare, and select packages effortlessly Faster deal closures - Make it easier for clients to choose, increasing your chances of closing deals

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

Overview: Views & Column Management

In this article - Key features - 📌 Views - 🔍 Filtering capabilities - 📊 Column management - 🎯 Grouping Options - Why use views? - Types of views - System views (built-in) - Custom views (user-created) - Clients - Proposals - Invoices - Tasks - Projects - Deals - Column management for custom fields - Common use cases - Sales team - Project managers - Finance team - Account managers https://www.loom.com/share/5a5ffa4b7b214e60ad5c9cf78c5d219a Key features 📌 Views - Pre-built views: Each module comes with default views like All, Active, Draft, Completed - Custom views: Create up to 5 custom views per module with your preferred filters and columns - View persistence: Your views are saved automatically and persist across sessions - Quick switching: Switch between views using the tabs at the top of each list 🔍 Filtering capabilities - Add filters: Click the Add filter button to filter by any field - Multiple filters: Combine multiple filters to narrow down your results - Filter types: Text, date ranges, status, amounts, and custom field filters - Filter indicators: See at a glance when filters are active with the Filters: X badge 📊 Column management - Custom field columns: For entities with custom fields (like Clients), you can show/hide columns - Column selection: Choose which columns appear in your view - Sort columns: Click any column header to sort by that field 🎯 Grouping Options - Group by: Organize your lists by grouping items (e.g., by Status, Due date) - Collapsed groups: Expand/collapse groups to focus on what matters - Group counts: See the number of items in each group at a glance What are views? Views are saved configurations that control how you see and organize your data in Cone. Think of them as different "lenses" through which you can look at your information. Each view remembers: - Filters - Which records to show (e.g., only Past due invoices) - Columns - What information to display for each record - Sorting - How to order the records - Grouping - How to organize records into sections - Layout - Whether to show data as a List (table) or Board (Kanban) Why use views? Views help you - Focus on what matters - See only the data relevant to your current task - Save time - No need to reapply the same filters repeatedly - Stay organized - Different views for different workflows - Share perspectives - Share view URLs with team members Types of views System views (built-in) Every module comes with pre-configured system views that cover common use cases. These views - Cannot be modified or deleted - Provide instant access to frequently needed data filters - Serve as starting points for creating custom views Custom views (user-created) You can create up to 5 custom views per module to match your specific workflows. Custom views: - Can be fully customized with your preferred filters and columns - Can be renamed, modified, or deleted as needed - Persist via unique URLs that can be bookmarked or shared What is column management? Column management lets you control which data fields appear in your table views. You can: - Show/hide columns - Display only the information you need - Reorder columns - Arrange fields in your preferred sequence - Add custom fields - Include any custom fields defined for that module Important: Column management is only available for modules that have custom fields configured. If you don't see column options, it means that module doesn't have custom fields defined yet How views and column work together Views and column management work in harmony: 1. Select or create a view to filter your data 2. Customize columns to show relevant fields 3. Save the combination as a custom view for future use 4. Switch between views instantly with all settings preserved For example, you might create an "Overdue payments" view that: - Filters to show only past-due invoices - Displays columns for client name, amount, days overdue, and contact info - Sorts by days overdue (highest first) - Highlights critical accounts in red System views by module Each module comes with pre-configured system views to help you quickly access commonly needed data: Clients - Prospects - View all potential clients in your pipeline - Customers - See active client accounts - Active - Filter to currently active clients only Proposals - All - View all proposals - Drafts - Proposals being prepared - Active - Signed and active proposals - Inactive - Lost, expired, or ended proposals Invoices - All - Complete invoice list - Draft - Invoices being prepared - Open - Sent invoices awaiting payment - Scheduled - Invoices set to send automatically - Past due - Overdue invoices requiring attention - Paid - Completed and paid invoices - Cancelled - Cancelled invoices - Rejected - Invoices rejected by clients - Write off - Written-off bad debt Tasks - List - Your tasks in a table format, organized by due date - Board - Your tasks in a Kanban board, organized by due date Note: Both task views automatically show only tasks assigned to you Projects - List - All projects in table view, grouped by status - Board - Projects in Kanban view, grouped by status Deals - List - All deals in table format - Board - Deals in Kanban board layout Creating and managing custom views 1. View Selector: Click the "View" button to see available options 2. View Limit: You can create up to 5 custom views per module 3. View URLs: Each view has a unique URL (with ?v=uuid parameter) for easy sharing 4. View Tabs: Your custom views appear as tabs alongside the default ones Column management for custom fields When working with entities that have custom fields: 1. Access column Settings: Available in modules where custom fields are configured 2. Select columns: Choose which custom field columns to display Common use cases Sales team - View all active proposals - Filter by deal value - Group by sales stage Project managers - View projects by status - Filter by deadline - Show custom project health indicators Finance team - View overdue invoices - Filter by amount ranges - Group by client Account managers - View clients with custom categories - Filter by relationship status - Show custom fields like Internal ID

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

Proposal invoicing overview

https://www.loom.com/share/7eb01fec9cd340ada98c2ee795ce2d82 You can learn more about proposals invoicing here Summary 1. Introduction to proposal services billing - Cone offers versatile billing options tailored to meet various business needs - The platform supports different billing structures, ensuring seamless financial management 2. Billing options - One-time charges: Ideal for projects with a single payment requirement - Recurring billing: Suitable for ongoing services or subscriptions - Milestone-based billing: Perfect for projects divided into specific stages or deliverables 3. Billing triggers - Upon acceptance: Bill immediately after the proposal is accepted - Contract start date: Initiate billing at the beginning of the contract term - Contract end date: Charge at the conclusion of the contract period - Custom dates: Set specific dates for billing that align with your business needs - References to Contract Dates: Use key contract milestones as billing points 4. Recurring billing settings - Define how frequently recurring charges will occur (e.g., monthly, quarterly) - Specify the start and end dates of the recurring period - Determine the number of times the charge will recur 5. Auto-Invoicing option - Enable auto-invoicing to streamline your billing process - Invoices are automatically generated on the specified billing date - Benefits include time savings, reduced errors, and consistent cash flow management 6. Manual Invoicing for un-billed Items - Access un-billed items within the client workspace under the billing section - Group related un-billed items together for efficient management - Create new invoices manually by selecting these items - Once invoiced, items are removed from the un-billed list 7. Comprehensive Visibility and Management - Gain a holistic view of all un-billed items across clients through a centralized platform - Efficiently track and manage pending invoices - Ensure transparency and control over your financial operations ​

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

Proposal Reminders

Proposal Reminders are designed to automate the process of sending reminders to clients regarding their proposals. This documentation outlines how reminders can be set and the various configurations available to suit different needs Configuration Options Once a proposal is published, you can share the proposal with the client via an email or a link. Reminders can be configured to both or either of these approaches To make the reminder system adaptable to different usage scenarios, several configuration options are available: 1. Limit on Number of Reminders: You can set a cap on the total number of reminders a client can receive for a particular proposal. This helps in avoiding the risk of spamming the client and ensures that reminders are sent until a certain number of reminders have been reached 2. Start Time for Sending Reminders: You have the ability to determine the delay in days before the first reminder is sent after the proposal has been published. For instance, if a user sets this to '3', the first reminder will be dispatched three days following the publishing of the proposal. This allows the recipient some time to respond to the proposal before receiving reminders 3. Frequency of Reminders: You can set how often to send reminders about the proposal. The frequency can be configured to suit the urgency of the proposal 💡 Proposal reminders will be sent until one of the following is met: proposal is signed or configuration indicates no more reminders are to be sent

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

Rich text editor

Table of contents 1. Overview 2. Toolbar 1. Fixed toolbar 2. Floating toolbar 3. Slash options 4. Customization 1. Text formatting 1. Styles 2. Text decoration 3. Colors 2. Links 3. Images 1. Adding image 2. Replacing image 4. Tables 1. Creating table 2. Modifying table 3. Configure borders 4. Adjust column width 5. Column layouts 1. Overview Cone's rich text editor is designed to empower your proposal creation process with advanced formatting and layout options. Whether you are drafting a proposal, customizing an email, or tailoring contract terms, understanding how to leverage the rich text editor will elevate the quality and impact of your documents. It's equipped with a variety of tools and features that allow for nuanced customization, from basic text formatting to sophisticated layout options 2. Toolbar In Cone’s rich text editor, crafting engaging and well-structured documents is made easier with the inclusion of two types of toolbars: the Fixed toolbar and the Floating toolbar. Each serves a distinct purpose, ensuring you have the right formatting tools at your fingertips exactly when you need them 2.a Fixed toolbar At the top of the rich text editor, the fixed toolbar stands as your primary command center for formatting. Key features include: - All-encompassing: The fixed toolbar houses all possible formatting actions, including text alignment, list creation, color adjustments, and more, ensuring you have full control over document appearance - Scrollable for more options: Despite its fixed position, this toolbar is scrollable, revealing a comprehensive set of formatting tools, from basic text styles and decorations to advanced layout options 2.b Floating toolbar When you select text within the editor, the floating toolbar appears near your selection, offering: - Immediate Access: This toolbar provides quick access to commonly used formatting actions, such as making text bold, italicizing, underlining, and more, streamlining the editing process - Context-sensitive: The floating toolbar dynamically adjusts to offer relevant options based on your current activity, like showing text styling options for text selections and table options when a table is selected 3. Slash options Initiate various formatting tools by simply typing '/' followed by the action (e.g., ‘/table’ to insert a table) for quick access 4. Customization 4.a Text formatting Cone's editor offers comprehensive text formatting options to help you emphasize key points and structure your content effectively 4.a.i Styles You can easily apply different styles, including - Paragraph - Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, Heading 4 - Quote 4.a.ii Text decoration You can customize the appearance of your text with: - Bold - Italic - Underline - Strikethrough 4.a.iii Colors Adjust the: - Font color - Font background color, enhancing readability and visual appeal 4.b Links Add hyperlinks with descriptive text to direct readers to additional resources or references Link should always start with https 4.c Images Incorporate images directly into your content for visual support 4.c.i Adding images You can drag and drop the image in the editor, use a local image or from a link 4.c.ii Replacing images You can directly replace an existing image without affecting the layout and styling 4.d Tables Tables are an integral part of organizing data, comparing figures, and structuring content in a visually appealing manner. Cone’s rich text editor enhances your document creation process with advanced table functionalities, allowing for a high degree of customization 4.d.i Creating table Simply choose the table icon from the toolbar. Your table is ready to be filled with content 4.d.ii Modifying table Once your table is in place, Cone provides straightforward options to adjust its structure to fit your content needs perfectly. - Adding rows/columns: Seamlessly insert additional rows or columns wherever needed, ensuring your table grows with your content - Deleting rows/columns: Remove unnecessary rows or columns with a click, keeping your tables concise and focused 4.d.iii Configure borders Choose to show or hide borders on all four sides: bottom, top, left, and right. Alternatively, select No Border for a minimalist look or Show Outside Borders for a clean, outlined style 4.d.iv Adjust column width Simply drag the dividers between columns to resize, giving you full control over the distribution of space within the table. This flexibility ensures your data is displayed precisely as intended, enhancing readability 4.e Column layouts Create visually engaging and information-rich proposals by arranging content into multi-column layouts

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026

Templates Overview

Table of contents 1. Introduction 2. Types of templates 3. Using Cone Template Library 1. Accessing templates 2. Duplication and customization 4. Creating custom templates 5. Template management 6. Application of templates 1. Introduction Templates in Cone serve as a foundational tool for enhancing the efficiency and consistency of your proposal creation process. By leveraging templates, users can save frequently used formats and content, reducing the need for repetitive work and maintaining brand consistency across communications 2. Types of templates Cone provides a versatile range of template types to cover the various aspects of proposal and client engagement processes: - Proposal templates: Foundation layouts for proposals, including structure, key sections, and formatting - Proposal section templates: Customizable sections within proposals such as media embeds, text and image blocks, and testimonials - Engagement letter templates: Pre-formatted letters that outline the terms of engagement, scope of work, and other contractual details - Email templates: Ready-to-use email formats for communicating with clients throughout the proposal process 3. Using Cone Template Library Accessing templates: - Cone offers a library of professionally designed templates for each category. Users can browse these templates to find a format that aligns with their needs - You can find Cone templates by clicking on Templates from left navigation bar and clicking on Template library in each of the sections Duplication and customization: Once a suitable template is selected, users can duplicate it, creating a customizable version that can be edited to fit specific requirements 4. Creating custom templates - Starting from scratch: Users can create new templates by opting to start with a blank template or by modifying duplicated Cone-provided templates - Editing and customization: Whether created anew or from a duplication, templates can be extensively edited—including text alterations, adding or removing sections, and branding adjustments 5. Template management - Draft and published statuses: Templates exist in two states: - Draft: A template in this state is under development. Users can make any necessary edits until the template is ready for use - Published: Only published templates are available for official use when creating new proposals, engagement letters, or emails - Publishing a template: To make a draft template available for use, users must publish it. This action finalizes the template, incorporating it into the selectable options for future document creation - Editing published templates: To amend a published template, it must first be reverted to the draft state. You can do this by using Unpublish from the triple dot actions available for a template. Following edits, the template can be republished, updating the version available for use 6. Application of templates - Proposal creation: Utilize published proposal and section templates to create consistent and engaging proposals that capture your brand's ethos and meet clients' expectations - Engagement letters and emails: Adopt engagement letter and email templates to ensure all client communications are professionally formatted and contain all necessary information, reinforcing a coherent brand image

Last updated on Apr 04, 2026