GoProposal vs Outbooks Proposal: Which is Better for UK Accountants?

When a prospect asks about pricing and does not get a reply for a few days, it creates uncertainty. Accounting firms that rely on email chains and manually created documents make the process more complicated than it needs to be. The right proposal software helps make it clear and straightforward.

GoProposal has been the recognised name in UK accounting proposal software since 2016. It was founded by UK accountant James Ashford and became part of Sage in October 2021. Outbooks Proposal is the independent alternative, built from direct experience working with UK accounting practices. It includes engagement letters as standard, requires no card to start a free trial and allows prospects to generate a proposal directly from the firm’s own website, without any input from the accountant.

Key Takeaways

• GoProposal offers an AI-powered pricing engine, quarterly updated engagement letters via OverSuite, automated annual fee reviews and AML identity checks, all under Sage ownership since 2021.
• Outbooks Proposal includes engagement letters at every paid tier, supports single and multiple signatories on eSignatures and automates payment collection from the moment a proposal is accepted.
• Outbooks Proposal is an accounting proposal tool that offers API website integration, letting prospects generate a proposal from the firm’s website without any accountant involvement.
• Smaller firms and sole practitioners will find Outbooks Proposal more cost-effective. Larger practices needing AML checks and deep compliance automation may find GoProposal worth the additional cost.

The Hidden Cost of Manual Proposals

Most accounting firms do not realise how much the manual proposal process costs them, not just in time but in clients they never knew they lost.

From a prospect’s side, the process usually looks like this:

• They ask about fees on a Tuesday
• They get a PDF on Thursday
• By Friday they have signed with someone who replied within the hour

Even when the proposal is sent, the process is still not complete. Signatures often need follow ups, payment setup is done separately and engagement letters can be delayed or missed. This slows down onboarding and creates gaps in the workflow.

For accounting firms, this leads to inconsistent quotes, slower client onboarding and delayed cash flow even after approval.

With Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax requiring more frequent client interaction and structured workflows, delays in proposals and onboarding can directly impact how quickly firms can take on and manage new clients.

How GoProposal Works?

GoProposal is built around one idea: agree the price while you are still sitting with the client. Not in a follow-up email. Not the next morning. Right there, in the meeting.

Pricing and Proposals

• The Pricing Wizard builds suggested fees based on best practices from UK accounting firms. Answer three quick questions and the system does the rest
• Every team member quotes from the same approved structure, so no two people in the firm are charging different amounts for the same work
• Proposals are produced instantly during the meeting, branded to your firm, with service breakdowns, team pages and testimonials included
• Different templates are available for different client types, sole traders, limited companies and growing businesses

This is one of the clearest advantages of a dedicated proposal tool over manual documents. The price feels justified before the client has had time to question it.

Compliance tools

• The OverSuite add-on generates letters of engagement instantly for the exact services selected, covering ICAEW, ACCA, AAT and CIOT standards, updated every quarter
• The Anti-Money Laundering add-on handles identity verification, KYC risk assessments and ongoing monitoring inside the same platform. UK accountants have a legal obligation to verify new clients before taking them on, and GoProposal brings that process into the onboarding workflow rather than treating it as a separate task
• The annual fee review flags clients due for repricing automatically and drafts the communication to go with it

AppsMap

AppsMap lets you build a visual diagram of the technology tools you recommend for a client directly into the proposal. It shows how the apps connect and how data flows between them, shifting the conversation from fees to strategy.

How Outbooks Proposal Works?

Outbooks Proposal connects every step from a prospect’s first enquiry to payment collected, with nothing manual required between any of them. It was built from direct conversations with UK accounting firms that struggled to price consistently and propose professionally.

Building and Sending Proposals

• Every proposal is built from a team-approved pricing structure, so the fee is consistent regardless of who creates it
• Proposals go out as a secure link. Clients open them in a browser on any device, no downloads needed
• You can see exactly when a client has opened the proposal, so follow-up is always timed right
• Most firms are live and sending online proposals the same day they sign up

Why eSignatures are important for accountants in the UK?

An engagement letter is not just a formality. It is legal protection. A properly signed letter issued before work begins defines the exact scope of work, demonstrates compliance with ICAEW and ACCA professional standards and gives you legal standing if a client disputes fees later.

Paper and email-based signatures create gaps. Letters sent but not returned. Days spent chasing. Documents filed inconsistently.

Outbooks Proposal removes every one of those gaps:

• Single signatory support for sole traders and individuals
• Multiple signatory support for limited companies where two directors must sign, handled automatically
• HMRC-recognised eSignatures, legally valid and professionally delivered
• Clients sign from any device in under a minute via a secure link

The Connected Workflow

When a proposal is accepted, the engagement letter is generated and sent automatically. No manual trigger. No separate tool. Payment collection begins at the same moment, direct debit or card, set up within the same workflow. This removes the need to chase signatures, follow up payments or handle separate conversations later.

Website Integration

On the Unlimited Premium plan, the proposal tool integrates into your firm’s website. A prospect visits, selects their services, reviews the pricing and receives a complete branded proposal automatically, at any time of day, without anyone from your team being involved. Setup takes few hours in total and works on WordPress, Squarespace, Wix and custom-built sites.

How the Two Tools Compare?

Both tools are built for UK accounting and bookkeeping firms. Both cover proposals, eSignatures and payment collection. The differences appear when you look at what each tool includes from the start and what requires additional payment.

Other tools such as Ignition also operate in this space, but the proposal software comparison here focuses specifically on GoProposal and Outbooks Proposal.

Pricing Comparison

All prices exclude VAT. GoProposal pricing is taken directly from their website. Outbooks Proposal pricing is taken directly from their website.

GoProposal

All plans include unlimited clients, consistent pricing, automated engagement letters and integrations with Xero, QuickBooks, Karbon and GoCardless. OverSuite and Anti-Money Laundering checks are paid add-ons, both free to trial during the 30-day period.

Outbooks Proposal Tool

All plans include proposals, engagement letters, digital signing and eSignature support. The personalised outgoing mailbox is available from the Unlimited plan. The website integration is on Unlimited Premium. A one-month free trial is available with no card required.

NOTE: Always check GoProposal and Outbooks Proposal directly before making any purchasing decision, as prices may be updated by either provider.

Which tool is right for your firm?

The right tool depends on your firm’s size, client complexity and how structured your proposal process needs to be.

GoProposal is the stronger choice if your firm:

• Handles complex, multi-service clients where pricing needs to account for transaction volume and service scope in detail
• Needs engagement letters that update quarterly, aligned with ICAEW’s engagement letter requirements
• Wants an automated annual fee review process with built-in repricing communication
• Requires integrated AML identity checks and KYC risk assessments in one platform
• Values the AppsMap feature for presenting a client’s technology stack within the proposal
• Has budget for the full platform including add-ons, which can reach £225 per month excluding VAT

Outbooks Proposal is the stronger choice if your firm:

• Is smaller, cost-conscious or setting up a formal proposal process for the first time
• Wants proposals, engagement letters and payment collection in one place with no add-on fees
• Needs a full month to evaluate the tool without entering card details
• Requires support for multiple signatories on proposals and engagement letters
• Wants prospects to create proposals directly from your firm’s website
• Is looking for a professional setup at an accessible monthly cost, starting at £10

Conclusion

The choice between these two tools is a question of what your firm genuinely needs, not which product offers more features on paper

GoProposal is built for practices that use its pricing intelligence, compliance automation and AML checks regularly. If those features match your firm’s daily workflow, the investment makes sense.

Outbooks Proposal is built for practices that want a clean, complete process without the overhead. Proposals, engagement letters and payment in one place, no add-on fees, a free trial with no card required and a website integration that no other tool offers.

Choose the tool that fits your firm as it is today. Try Outbooks Proposal free for a month and go live when you are ready.

FAQs

How much does GoProposal cost?

Base plans run from £70 per month (Solo) to £225 per month (Premium), all excluding VAT. OverSuite and AML are available as paid add-ons on every plan.

How much does Outbooks Proposal cost?

Plans start at £10 per month (Basic) through to £100 per month (Unlimited Premium), all excluding VAT. Engagement letters are included at every tier. A one-month free trial is available with no card required.

Does GoProposal include engagement letters in its base price?

GoProposal does not include compliance-grade engagement letters in its base price. These are provided through the OverSuite add-on, which is priced separately and updated regularly to meet ICAEW, ACCA, AAT and CIOT standards.

Does Outbooks Proposal include engagement letters?

Yes, engagement letters are included at every paid tier in line with ICAEW engagement letter requirements. The number that can be digitally signed each month varies by plan, from 2 on Basic to 1,000 on Unlimited Premium.

What is the Outbooks Proposal API integration?

It is available on the Unlimited Premium plan at £100 per month. It embeds the proposal tool into the firm’s website so prospects can select services, receive instant pricing and get a complete proposal automatically, without any input from the accountant.

Is GoProposal owned by Sage?

Yes, GoProposal was acquired by Sage in October 2021 and continues as a standalone product available on the Xero and QuickBooks app stores.