Manage

Start a new proposal

Create a proposal draft for a booked client or a lead, or start one from a layout and attach the couple later.

Updated September 2, 2026

There are three doors into a new proposal. The lead's Booking tab is the everyday one (it builds the proposal, contract, questions and payments as one link). This article covers the other two: the New proposal page and the layouts gallery.

Tip

For a lead you are courting, start from the lead's Booking tab and pick All-in-one booking. It creates the proposal and wires the contract, questionnaire and payment schedule around it. See Book a lead.

From the New proposal page

Open Finance > Proposals and click New proposal, or press Cmd+K and choose New proposal. The subtitle reads "Pick who this proposal is for".

  1. Type a Title. It defaults to "Wedding Film Proposal". If you leave that default and pick a lead, Hailo names the proposal after the couple instead.
  2. Pick one of: - Send to existing client: a couple already on your roster. - Or send to a lead (will convert on acceptance): an open lead (status New or Contacted). When the couple accepts, Hailo converts the lead into a client.
  3. Click Create draft & open builder.

The draft inherits your default proposal intro, default contract terms and default cover from Settings > Defaults, uses the Editorial Cream layout with its sample photos, and expires 30 days after creation. It opens straight in the builder.

If you have no clients and no open leads, the page says "You don't have any clients or active leads yet." with a Create a lead first button.

From a layout

Open Templates > Proposal templates and click Create Proposal on a design. The draft is called "Untitled Proposal" and has nobody attached. Attach the couple in the builder under Advanced settings > Prepared for before sending. See Proposal layouts.

Client or lead: what changes

Attached to On acceptance
A lead The couple signs and pays on the booking page. Hailo converts the lead to a client, creates the wedding event and raises the deposit and installment invoices.
A client The proposal's own accept step records the signature, creates the booking and raises the deposit invoice.

If it didn't work

Message What to do
"Pick a client or lead first." Both pickers were left blank. Choose one and click Create draft & open builder again.
"Unknown layout." The layout link was stale. Open the gallery again and pick a card.
  • The proposal builderEdit a proposal in place, set who it is for, price it, attach a contract, brand it, set the deposit and save the setup as a preset.
  • Proposal layoutsPick one of the four proposal designs, preview it, and start a proposal from it.
  • The Proposals listSee every proposal by status, open one, and delete several at once without taking a signed booking down by mistake.
  • Send a proposalReview and email a proposal, know what changes the moment it goes out, resend it, preview it and delete it.
  • Book a leadBuild the one link that rolls up the proposal, contract, questionnaire and deposit, send it, and watch the couple book.
  • The lead recordEverything on a lead's page, from the header card and countersign banner to the six tabs and the Activity rail.
Still stuck? Send a note from the contact page and a real person at Hailo answers. Include the studio name you signed up with and, if it is about a specific screen, what you clicked.
Contact support