Start with a position.
Before pitching an opinion article, write one sentence that makes a specific argument a reader could reasonably disagree with. “Small businesses should share price ranges before a sales call” is a position. “Transparency is important” is a broad theme. Pick an issue you know from direct experience, and make the argument useful beyond your own company.
Write the strongest reasonable objection.
Under your sentence, write one thoughtful counterargument. In the hypothetical pricing example, a service business might argue that scope varies too much for a public range to be meaningful. Take that concern seriously instead of inventing an easy objection to knock down.
Answer it with a useful distinction.
Revise your position to acknowledge where the objection applies. You might argue that a clearly qualified starting range can help some buyers decide whether to inquire, while complex projects may still need a custom quote. That narrower claim gives the reader something concrete to consider.
Check what supports your argument.
Separate personal observations from facts that need evidence. Use verifiable sources for factual claims, identify the limits of examples, and leave out client details without permission. Avoid turning a hypothetical example into an asserted result or making promises about what the approach will achieve.
Pitch the idea, not an advertisement.
Review the publication’s current submission guidelines and recent opinion pieces. In a short pitch, state the argument, why its readers should care, and why you are equipped to discuss it. Explain the practical takeaway and disclose relevant business interests. The editor decides whether the idea fits.