April 2025
‍

We get a lot of emails that often start with “I’m looking for a price on developing Microsoft templates”. This is a great question, and one that requires further interrogation before being answered.

The cost of Microsoft templates is determined by a number of factors. Because of this, almost every request for proposal (RFP) for templates starts with us having a conversation with you. We need to ascertain many things to get the appropriate price and service delivery you are seeking.

What we need

Below is a list of essentials that we need to understand to respond to an RFP:

• Word or PowerPoint … or both?
  
• Number of templates?
• Purpose of each template?
• For Word templates: the numbering structure each template needs
• An idea of the visual branding that we will be working with

What we ask

Microsoft template development is complex work, and several factors influence the cost.

Below are key questions that need answering to respond to an RFP effectively:

• Is there any pre-existing content that needs to be present in the starting template?
  
• Are some of the styles or content to be locked (users can’t edit)?
• Does the template need to meet accessibility requirements?
• Is your visual branding in need of further exploration and development prior to template build?
• Do you need IT support to install your templates?
• The need for support material (diagrams, image libraries, repeat content).
• Do you need Word or PowerPoint toolbars (ribbons)?
• Commonality (or not) between multiple templates. If designing templates with a lot of commonality e.g. styles and look/feel is the same just the colour palette and logos change – this is a very different development time/cost than if each template had unique styles, design and numbering structures.
• Conversion of existing documentation.

The cost of templates

Microsoft templates can vary in cost from $750 to $75,000 and above.

The most common price points lie somewhere between $3,500 and $14,000.

These costs are determined by the complexity, number of templates and specific requirements.

As we pride ourselves on well-designed templates, all our templates go through a design phase first. This phase is wrapped up in the total cost of your templates (but broken down within the proposal). The design phase also speeds up the development phase. So it’s a win-win.

The process of engagement

• Reach out to us to start the template development conversation. We love hearing from you.
  
• We ask you questions (either on email or in a meeting).
  
• We create a proposal and present this to you.
  
• You review and accept the proposal (changes can be requested prior to sign-off).
  
• Both parties sign a Project Commencement Agreement that outlines the expectations, deliverables and invoicing structure for the project.
  
• We commence the work.
  

What nobody tells you

Templates are just empty shells. It’s what you put into the templates that will make or break your:

• Document outcomes (think proposal win-rates)
  
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to stay on-brand
• Internal operational efficiency (or not)

Our lived experience working in professional services tells us that non-designers need help from designers in meeting the above firm expectations on creating effective communication outcomes that have a positive impact on the firm.

Build a template ecosystem

Our templates are good, but they are even better with a template ecosystem wrapped around it.

Specific to PowerPoint templates, here is how we help our clients get better outcomes through template ecosystems:

• Creating diagrams and other graphical executions, then storing these into a library (helps stay on brand, speeds up document creation time)
  
• Design, build and store marketing content slides (helps speed up document creation time, keeps marketing content on message)
• Convert existing repeat content into a repository (CVs, case studies, etc. Helps speed up document creation time; a literal drag and drop, allows for one-source-of-truth-content).

If you are looking for new templates, use our briefing form to start the process.