# propose

URL: /business/nouns/deal/propose · Id: `verb:Deal.propose` · Call: `await $.Deal.propose({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Propose sends a Deal’s buyer a Quote they accept to place an Order.

Propose sends a [Deal](/business/nouns/deal)’s buyer a [Quote](/business/nouns/quote) they accept to place an [Order](/business/nouns/order).

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `deal` | [Deal](/business/nouns/deal) | Yes | The qualified Deal. |
| `quote` | [Quote](/business/nouns/quote) | Yes | The Quote to send. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `deal` | [Deal](/business/nouns/deal) | Yes | The Deal with its Quote out. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Deal.proposed`](/business/events/Deal.proposed).
- Performed by the [Sales Lead](/agents/sales/sales-lead).
- One-way (money, customer): it waits out its delay window, and runs in the `send` and `do` modes.
- Checks the discount Limit; above it, opens an Approval.
- Checks each Quote line’s discount against the discount Limit’s `percent`; a deeper line holds the Quote and opens an Approval.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Deal.propose](/business/nouns/deal/propose) |
| The record is not in a state that allows this Verb, so the call is refused. | [`refused`](/code/api/errors/refused) | Read the record, run the Verb that moves it to an allowed state, then retry. | [Deal.propose](/business/nouns/deal/propose) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Medium: one-way, bounded (money, customer) |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | 1 business hour, in which a watcher can pause, redirect or cancel it; then it runs. |
| Limit | The spend [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) or [Mandate](/business/nouns/mandate) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Propose the latest deal with a quote.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/quietcopy.com/deals/deal_1/propose \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"quote":"quote_1"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/quietcopy.com",
  "deal": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/quietcopy.com/deals/deal_1",
    "$type": "Deal",
    "status": "Proposed"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/quietcopy.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Deal.propose",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/quietcopy.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const deal = await $.Deal.propose({ deal: 'deal_1', quote: 'quote_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Deal.propose --json '{"deal":"deal_1","quote":"quote_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Deal.propose({ deal: 'deal_1', quote: 'quote_1' })"
  }
}
```