How to Write a Capability Statement for Construction Projects (Template Links Included)

If you’re in construction, trades or services and want to win work before you’ve even quoted, your capabilities statement is the place to start.

Forget bland Word docs and half-finished PDFs. The way you present your business visually can be just as powerful as what you say. At CBM, we design capabilities statement templates that help you stand out from the crowd, connect with decision-makers and make a serious impression in the construction industry.

This guide shows you how to write a capabilities statement that’s sharp, strategic and built to win jobs. It includes a free editable template to help you get there faster.

What is a Capabilities Statement?

A capabilities statement is a branded one-pager or short-form document that tells potential clients:

Who you are
What you do
Why you're the best choice

It’s often required in government tenders, council projects and commercial procurement. Within construction, it’s a vital part of pre-qualification. It also works as a powerful sales tool in private industry, especially when you're competing for large-scale jobs and need to make a strong first impression quickly.

If you're targeting government contracts in Australia, check out business.gov.au’s capability statement guide to understand what procurement officers expect.

What to Include in a Winning Capabilities Statement

We’ve analysed hundreds of tenders and buyer documents to design templates that help construction and service businesses lead with confidence.

Company Overview

Start with a one-liner that clearly states what your business does, where you're based and what makes you valuable. Keep it short and strong.

Core Capabilities

Use bullet points or icons instead of long paragraphs. Make it easy to scan your key services and expertise.

Previous Projects

List a few projects that showcase your experience. Include names of commercial or government clients where possible. This adds instant credibility.

Why Choose You

This is your value proposition. Are you locally based, highly responsive, licensed for specialist work or focused on safety? Call it out.

Key Business Details

Don’t forget the fundamentals. Include:

ABN
Business structure
Years in operation
Industry certifications
Licences and insurance
Service area
Contact details

Our CBM Capability Statement Template makes space for all of this, with flexible layouts designed to stay clean and easy to read.

Design Tips That Make the Difference

Prioritise Good UX

Great design isn’t just about looking nice. It’s about guiding the reader. Your capabilities statement should feel like a website — structured, clear and easy to navigate. That means:

Logical sections and spacing
Visual hierarchy
Mobile-friendly formatting
Room to breathe between content blocks

If it feels effortless to read, it creates trust before you even speak to the client.

Use the Right Software

Our templates are available in:

✅ Canva
✅ PowerPoint
✅ Google Slides
✅ Figma
✅ Adobe InDesign

Each format is professionally designed and easy to customise. Drop in your content and export to PDF without the formatting issues you get from Word or spreadsheets.

Keep It On-Brand

Your capabilities statement should feel like part of your business, not a one-off. Our templates match the rest of the CBM document suite so you stay consistent across quotes, proposals and company profiles.

Where Most Businesses Go Wrong

Most capabilities statements:

Look like rushed Word docs
Over-explain without saying anything meaningful
Have no structure, making them hard to skim

CBM templates are designed to stand out. Not just better than 90 percent — better than all of them. We give you the tools to win work and build trust before the quoting stage even begins.

Why This Document Matters

This document is often reviewed before your quote. Sometimes it’s the reason you get invited to quote at all. A weak one can be the reason you’re overlooked. A strong one positions you as experienced, professional and ready to deliver.

Ready to Build Yours?

Our CBM Capability Statement Template helps you get it done faster, with designs tailored for construction and trade businesses.

You’ll get:

✅ Flexible layouts for 1–3 page documents
✅ Clean, professional design made for tenders and EOIs
✅ Editable files in Canva, PowerPoint, Google Slides, Adobe InDesign and Figma
✅ Customisable sections built around what buyers expect to see

👉 Download your template now and give your business the edge it deserves before the quoting even begins.

Need Help Writing It?

Try our free Capability Statement Assistant GPT, built to help you write content that sounds professional and fits your industry. You can also access our Brand Voice Assistant GPT to create consistent messaging across your templates.

👉 Use the Capability Statement GPT
👉 Try the Brand Voice Assistant GPT

No forms. No friction. Just helpful tools to get your business seen and shortlisted.

How to Write a Capabilities Statement: Tips + Tricks