The right way to Write a Consulting Proposal [Templates & Examples]

by thebestworldevents.com 26 April 2024 · Sales

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You’ve simply wrapped up a name with a potential consulting consumer. They’re fascinated with working with you. Congratulations! When you’ve discovered your option to this weblog put up, it’s protected to imagine you now must develop a consulting proposal for this consumer — and also you need assistance doing so. That’s why I’m right here.

Woman showing how to write a consulting proposal

On this put up, I’ll clarify what a consulting proposal is, and how you can write one which your potential shoppers can’t resist.

Desk of Contents

What’s a consulting proposal?

A consulting proposal is a doc that outlines the character, scope, and timeline of a particular consulting challenge. Like a salesman’s pitch to a prospect, a consulting proposal highlights the issue your potential consumer is experiencing and positions you, the advisor, as the answer.

Many potential shoppers request proposals earlier than formally signing on the dotted line. Why? Briefly, a consulting proposal outlines your working relationship so each events can keep aligned and perceive the opposite’s expectations. Proposals aren’t paper formalities — they signify the beginning of an essential client-consultant relationship.

This doc will successfully take your conversations with the prospect into an energetic working relationship. That’s why it’s essential to write down a great proposal.

A superb consulting proposal should have the next info:

A abstract of the issues or challenges that your prospect is going through.
An in depth account of the way you’ll remedy these issues.
An inventory of the outcomes you’ll search to realize for his or her enterprise.

It additionally contains contractual info similar to charges and phrases.

Earlier than You Create a Consulting Proposal

Writing a consulting proposal would require a little bit of pre-work. You’ll wish to get to know your consumer’s wants and objectives.

1. Chat along with your consumer in individual or over the telephone.

You may’t write an efficient consulting proposal with out chatting along with your potential consumer first. Do your greatest to arrange a telephone name for this dialog; if you happen to can, meet in individual. An e mail will suffice for attending to know your consumer and their consulting wants, however letting them see your face and/or hear your voice will provide help to construct belief with them.

2. Perceive their challenges and desires.

The higher you perceive your potential consumer’s challenges and ache factors, the extra impactful your proposal could be.

Whereas a consulting proposal template will help get the job achieved, the small print in your proposals shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all; they need to be tailor-made to every consumer and their wants. Don’t hesitate to comply with up with further telephone calls or conferences to higher perceive your consumer and what they want from you.

3. Spotlight your worth proposition.

Hiring a advisor will not be an inexpensive funding, and also you need your consumer to know that they’re investing in you since you’ll ship outcomes. You don’t essentially want to incorporate a bit titled “Worth Proposition,” both.

As an alternative, get particular on the way you’ll ship. For instance, you possibly can point out the way you’ll be growing X metric, lowering Y unfavorable final result, or driving Z outcomes for his or her enterprise.

4. Ask in regards to the particulars.

A profitable proposal displays the challenge scope and particulars to maintain each events aligned. Don’t neglect to ask about your consumer’s perfect timeline, finances, expectations, and outcomes. These particulars are essential for promoting a potential consumer in your providers in addition to giving your consumer a greater understanding of how precisely you two will work collectively.

Understanding how you can write a transparent, concise consulting proposal could make or break your skill to transform potential shoppers. Let’s evaluation how you can put collectively a profitable proposal.

Consulting Scope Template

In consulting, a scope of labor doc ensures that the advisor and consumer are on the identical web page from the beginning relating to the exact work to be accomplished, by when, and for what funding.

Right here’s what I usually see a scope of labor doc include:

Shopper Particulars
Marketing consultant Particulars
Challenge Abstract
Milestones, Duties, Course of, and Timeline
Challenge Exclusions
Funding and Cost Phrases
Communications, Reporting, and Approval Particulars
Different Phrases
Signature
Subsequent Steps

Specificity is vital right here — until you clearly define what you’ll be doing on your consumer, you could expertise scope creep. This can lead to financial loss, strained relationships, and delay in deadlines. On the finish? Each events are sad.

To stop this, it’s very important to have a well-written scope of labor doc. As Drew McLellan advises, “set limits, set boundaries, and be very particular. Good scope paperwork embrace assumptions about each the challenge and the processes.”

Right here’s a consulting scope of labor template you can draw inspiration from.

Scope of Work

Shopper Particulars

Firm Title:

Handle:

Firm Consultant:

Designation:

Electronic mail:

Alternate Firm Consultant (and Contact Particulars):

Marketing consultant Particulars

Firm Title:

Handle:

Consulting Consultant:

Designation:

Electronic mail:

Challenge Abstract

This challenge will entail (enter particulars right here in two to 3 paragraphs).

Common Particulars of the Engagement
Challenge Title	Enter title right here.
Challenge ID	Enter challenge ID right here.
Challenge Timeline	mm/dd/yy – mm/dd/yy
Duties to be Accomplished	Outlined under.
Supply Format	Define how the work will probably be delivered — similar to a presentation, doc, web site, bodily merchandise, or a mixture.
Funding	Define how the price construction is decided or add a greenback quantity.
Cost Phrases	Summarize key cost phrases right here and point out that it is lined intimately under.

Milestones, Duties, Course of, and Timeline

Right here’s an summary of the challenge’s duties together with the corresponding deadlines:

Key Milestones	Job Quantity	Job	Dependencies (if any)	Individual In-Cost	Estimated Deadline
Milestone 1
Milestone 1
Milestone 2
Milestone 2
Milestone 3
Milestone 3

Challenge Exclusions

The scope of labor defines the parameters of the challenge. Any duties or providers not explicitly specified inside this doc are thought-about outdoors the scope of the challenge.

Funding and Cost Phrases

In consideration of the milestones described above, (Shopper Firm) shall pay (Consulting Firm) the next price construction for the challenge:

Milestone	Value


Estimated Complete	$00.00

Pattern Bill (Connect a pattern bill template for reference)

The cost phrases are as follows:

$X will probably be paid inside (insert variety of days) days after signing of this scope of labor as an preliminary deposit.
Invoices will probably be submitted each (insert frequency) which is able to embrace the worth for accomplished milestones.
Cost must be made inside X days of the bill receipt.
Late cost will end in a price of $X per day.
Record different cost phrases.

Communication, Reporting, and Approval

Common Contact Particulars

Shopper Firm

Main Contact Individual for the Challenge:
Contact Info:

Consulting Firm

Main Contact Individual for the Challenge:
Contact Info:

Communication Channels

This subsection outlines the communication tips for this challenge, which is able to happen through:

Communication channel one
- (Add common tips)
- (Add availability/timing/frequency particulars)
Communication channel two
- (Add common tips)
- (Add availability/timing/frequency particulars)
Communication channel three
- (Add common tips)
- (Add availability/timing/frequency particulars)

Reporting

Periodic updates relating to the challenge progress will probably be given through:

Reporting choice one
- What it Consists of:
- Frequency:
Reporting choice two
- What it Consists of:
- Frequency:

Approval

The rules for milestone/process approval and last sign-off for the challenge are as follows:

Different Phrases

(Record and clarify different essential phrases and situations)

Every social gathering acknowledges that it has learn this scope of labor, understands it, and agrees to the phrases and situations.

Shopper Consultant (On Behalf of ‘Shopper Firm’):

Designation:

Shopper Firm:

Signature:

Date:

Consulting Consultant (On Behalf of ‘Consulting Firm’):

Designation:

Consulting Firm:

Signature:

Date:

Subsequent Steps

Please learn, approve, and signal this doc by (insert date right here). As soon as the scope of labor is accepted, (Consulting Firm Title) shall get in contact inside two enterprise days to arrange an introductory name for the challenge.

Word: This template doesn’t represent authorized recommendation and is for common info functions solely. Earlier than getting into right into a authorized settlement, ask a lawyer to evaluation your scope of labor doc previous to sending it to a consumer. This can assist forestall points from arising down the road.

The right way to Write a Consulting Proposal

Write an govt abstract.
Briefly describe why you’re the most effective for the job.
Specify what the consumer can count on from the challenge.
Set up what your deliverables will probably be.
Affirm and description the prices.
Specify another contract phrases and situations.
Hold the proposal concise.
Ask for suggestions

1. Write an govt abstract.

Get began by writing an govt abstract or introduction (additionally referred to as a challenge abstract). This part will embrace your consumer’s challenges or obstacles and the way you propose to unravel them. Merely put, this part summarizes the complete challenge.

2. Briefly describe why you’re the most effective for the job.

There’s a great likelihood your consumer could also be receiving proposals from different corporations. You’ll want to point out them that you just’re the proper individual for the job and guarantee them they’re in nice palms. Briefly describe how your expertise will assist the consumer obtain their objectives.

Whereas it might be tempting to hone in in your {qualifications} and expertise, your consulting proposal ought to deal with what your consumer will get from working with you. You may add this info as a brief (1-2 sentences) paragraph in your introduction.

3. Specify what the consumer can count on from the challenge.

Be as particular as doable in regards to the worth and outcomes your consumer can count on. For instance, in case your most important goal is to extend visitors, say that and description how. This can provide help to draft your challenge scope.

Keep away from buzzwords and generic jargon. The truth is, do your greatest to make use of the identical phrases they did in your conferences — it will resonate with them and present you have been listening.

4. Set up what your deliverables will probably be.

Return to your consumer dialog notes. Do they want a brand new advertising and marketing technique, a brand new web site, or promoting plan? What tangible merchandise will they’ve as soon as the challenge is accomplished? These will probably be your “deliverables” and also you’ll wish to embrace them in your proposal so the consumer is aware of precisely what they’re getting out of the challenge. I’ll describe deliverables in additional element within the subsequent part.

5. Affirm and description the prices.

You’ll wish to be up entrance with the consumer about how a lot the challenge will price. Be clear about your charges and what they embrace. When you require particular cost buildings like a deposit or installments on sure dates, explicitly clarify them on this part of your proposal.

6. Specify another contract phrases and situations.

This part will specify precisely what phrases and situations the consumer is agreeing to ought to they determine to proceed. Along with charges, this may embrace a timeframe for the challenge (begin and finish date), cost sorts accepted or another phrases you require.

7. Hold the proposal concise.

With regards to consulting proposals, high quality issues way more than amount. Hold your proposal as transient as doable to precisely describe the challenge scope and expectations. Don’t give your consumer a purpose to cease studying your proposal and doubtlessly view one other advisor’s — as a substitute, maintain your proposal concise and fascinating.

8. Ask for suggestions.

A consulting proposal is a two-way doc, that means each events ought to have a say within the content material it contains. As you develop your proposal, make clear any questions or considerations you’ve got along with your potential consumer. When completed, ship it to your consumer for evaluation and suggestions.

Take into account constructing your proposal in Google Docs or an identical phrase processor through which your consumer can collaborate and go away feedback or solutions.

Now that I’ve lined how you can write a consulting proposal extra broadly, let’s break it down into elements.

Components of a Consulting Proposal

The best consulting proposals comply with a fascinating and logical construction. On this part, I’ll talk about the anatomy of a well-written consulting proposal.

1. Salutation

Start your doc by greeting your consumer.

A customized greeting units aside your consulting proposals from a generic proposal. If you deal with your proposal as a private letter, potential shoppers usually tend to belief you and wish to construct a relationship with you. Use the consumer’s formal identify (e.g., “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” or “Dr.”) until you’re on a first-name foundation.

2. Introduction

On this part, write three to 4 sentences describing the character of the challenge and the problems you wish to remedy.

Take into account this part the introduction, or hook, of your proposal. Summarize the challenges your potential consumer is going through and what worth you possibly can present by means of your consulting providers. On this part, you must also thank your consumer for contemplating you and provides them a quick overview of what they’ll count on from the remainder of the proposal.

You can too embrace one to 2 sentences introducing your self and your enterprise. Whereas the proposal shouldn’t be targeted in your work as a advisor, it by no means hurts to incorporate a brief part through which you clarify why the consumer ought to select you. Even if you happen to pitched your self throughout your preliminary potential name, you possibly can reiterate your key strengths and {qualifications} right here.

3. Challenge Scope

Subsequent, add three to 5 bullet factors giving perception into the precise motion objects (or duties) you’ll undertake to realize the specified outcome.

This part is all about what you’ll be doing to hold out the challenge you outlined above. For instance, if you happen to’re being employed to evaluation and analyze a consumer’s advertising and marketing methods, this part would define how lengthy your telephone calls or workplace visits will probably be, what number of calls or visits you commit to every week, the size of every go to, and so forth. You may by no means be too detailed within the challenge scope part; it’ll solely prevent and your consumer a headache later.

4. Aims

On this part, you’ll wish to record out three to 5 goals for the challenge.

Now that you just’ve lined each the aim and scope of the challenge, it’s time to persuade the consumer of the challenge’s worth. What kind of outcomes would you like your consumer to see after they’re achieved working with you?

Not like the deliverables part under, which focuses on the precise “last merchandise” you’ll be delivering, the goals part focuses on the tip outcome after these merchandise are delivered. It’s essential to place this as early as doable in your doc in order that your consumer is satisfied they’re making a great funding.

5. Deliverables

Subsequent, record out the concrete deliverable(s) the consumer can have as soon as they’re completed working with you. Will or not it’s a revamped web site? A redesigned assortment of brochures?

This part outlines the tangible, identifiable finish “merchandise” you’ll be offering your consumer because of the challenge. If the challenge scope describes “how,” the deliverables are the “what.”

Following the instance above, whereas your challenge scope could be reviewing and analyzing advertising and marketing methods, your deliverables could also be an in depth evaluation doc, a presentation of proposed modifications, or perhaps a brand-new advertising and marketing plan (the particular particulars will differ relying in your consumer and their preferences and desires).

6. Timeline

On this part, give a timeline for every particular motion merchandise you listed within the “Scope” part.

This part is extremely essential for setting expectations and creating boundaries with shoppers. If the challenge scope describes “how” and the deliverables define the “what,” are you able to guess what the timeline part is? Ding, ding — it’s the “when.”

The timeline a part of the proposal ought to define particular challenge dates and deadlines for various elements of your challenge. Whether or not you’re making workplace visits, creating paperwork, or just sending follow-up emails, attempt to element each doable date in your proposal. On the very least, ensure you embrace the challenge begin, last challenge deadlines, and any milestones in between.

7. Funding

Subsequent, record out your consulting charges and what they embrace, in addition to how and while you choose to receives a commission.

When you advocate utilizing a sure cost portal, embrace that info right here. Equally, if you happen to require a down cost or staggered price construction, don’t neglect that info, too.

Listed here are another tricks to take into account when creating this part of your proposal.

8. Signature

On this part, you’ll instantly ask for a signature out of your potential consumer. Embrace area for them to write down the day’s date, their identify, and their signature.

You’ll wish to embrace this straight within the proposal, even when they’re nonetheless within the consideration stage, in order that it’s simpler to get approval. When you add the extra step of getting to ship a “finalized contract,” you danger unnecessarily elongating the method.

9. Subsequent Steps

Final, embrace a powerful call-to-action in your proposal. Go away your e mail for them to contact you as properly. Give clear directions on this last part so shoppers know how you can transfer ahead.

Whereas every proposal must be tailor-made to every potential consumer, it may be tedious to write down out the complete doc each time. That is the place a consulting proposal template can come in useful.

Under you’ll discover two consulting proposal templates: one for gross sales and one for advertising and marketing.

Consulting Proposal Template for Gross sales

You need to use this free consulting proposal template in Phrase or PDF format. The sections match up with what I lined above, however are worded a little bit in a different way to higher align with gross sales.

Professional tip: When you use a template, don’t neglect to double-check that each one client-specific particulars are up to date and proper.

Featured Useful resource: Free Consulting Proposal Template

Obtain the Template for Free

This proposal template contains the next sections:

Introduction. Describe the character of the challenge and introduce your self and what you do.
Aims. Record out the objectives for the challenge.
Method. Summarize your methodology for reaching the specified outcomes and record the particular duties you’ll undertake.
Schedule of Challenge Actions. The equal of a “Timeline” part, you’ll use this area to explain when challenge duties will probably be accomplished.
The Staff. Record out any further workforce members, in addition to their {qualifications}.
Your Funding. Lay out in clear phrases what the consumer will probably be paying for.
Signatures. Seal the deal by inviting the consumer to signal immediately.
Appendices. If in case you have particular phrases and situations on your providers, embrace them right here.

Consulting Proposal Template for Advertising and marketing

Proposals are particularly essential in advertising and marketing. With so many areas of specialization, channels, deliverable sorts, and metrics to maintain up with, you will must set expectations for the connection between you and the consumer.

A consulting proposal for advertising and marketing would possibly embrace a top level view of your strategic framework, the general objectives, and maybe even the smaller milestones you wish to be measured by. This free advertising and marketing proposal template is a superb place to begin.

Featured Useful resource: Free Advertising and marketing Consulting Proposal Template

Obtain the Template for Free

This proposal template contains the next sections:

Our Firm and Staff. On this part, you’ll give an intensive overview of your enterprise by offering an inventory of your providers and proposed workforce for the challenge.
Challenge Scope. Summarize the challenge in its entirety. You’ll write a brief abstract, a proposed resolution, and an outline of projected outcomes.
Challenge Schedule. Record out the totally different levels of the challenge with their begin and completion dates.
Your Funding. Define what the consumer will probably be paying for in an itemized desk.
Contact Us. Give the consumer a chance to contact you by itemizing your info right here.
Contract and Signatures. Streamline the method by inviting the consumer to signal immediately.
Further Supplies. If you wish to embrace case research, portfolio objects, or testimonials, embrace them right here.

The right way to Write a Consulting Proposal

Feeling caught? Let’s check out a pattern consulting proposal. To adapt this pattern on your personal use, I like to recommend changing the mentions of the particular challenge with what you’ll really be doing on your consumer.

Tamara Akingbola

Resort One

123 Resort Avenue, Workplace #123

Metropolis, State 12345

December 1, 20XX

Your Title

Consultancy Title

123 Consulting Avenue, Workplace #123

Metropolis, State 12345

Consulting Proposal

Pricey Mrs. Akingbola,

It’s a pleasure to work with you on the web site advertising and marketing challenge we mentioned over the telephone. I look ahead to rising your web site’s natural visitors at a sustained scale, serving to you increase bookings and reservations, and enhancing the underside line at your resort.

On this proposal, I’ll go over a quick challenge abstract, cowl the challenge’s scope, share deliverables, define a timeline, and provides extra particulars about your funding. I’ll additionally present some fast subsequent steps.

Abstract

The aim of this challenge is to develop natural visitors for Resort One’s web site. Attributable to growing competitors, older content material advertising and marketing practices, and reviews of a clunky person expertise, the enterprise has suffered from a marked lower in natural visitors, which has decreased reservations and, due to this fact, income.

My digital advertising and marketing consulting agency focuses on instances identical to yours. I’ve greater than ten years of expertise driving outcomes for small companies within the hospitality trade. My final consumer, Resort Two, noticed a 233% enhance in bookings YoY after I labored with them.

Challenge Scope

To develop natural visitors and obtain sustained progress, I will probably be endeavor the next duties.

Full a complete content material and technical audit of the complete web site.
Perform usability checks on a person testing platform to test what’s presently working and what’s not.
Seek the advice of with you as I create a brand new and improved content material technique.
Rent two freelance writers to rewrite the complete web site.
Carry within the experience of an online developer to design a contemporary and search-engine-optimized web site.

Aims

The goals of the challenge are as follows.

Publish related, keyword-optimized content material that drives extra customers to the reservation web page.
Enhance the UX of the positioning each within the front- and back-end.
Enhance the common rating for goal key phrases by no less than 2 spots.
Get on the primary web page of Google SERPs for no less than 20% of the goal key phrases.
Redesign the complete web site in order that it exceeds present design and usefulness requirements.

Deliverables

You’ll obtain 5 deliverables from me.

A PDF doc with my findings from the content material and technical audit.
A presentation with findings from the usability checks and advised enhancements.
A brand new content material plan that will probably be authorized by you previous to execution.
An editable copy of each the rewritten and newly-written web site pages.
A wholly redesigned web site with the brand new content material and technical enhancements in place.

Timeline

The estimated completion time for the complete challenge is six months.

Exercise	Begin Date	Completion Date
Content material Audit	January 1	January 14
Technical Audit	January 15	January 31
Usability Assessments	February 1	February 7
Content material Plan Creation	February 8	February 28
Content material Plan Assessment and Approval	March 1	March 7
Content material Creation	March 8	April 30
Web site Redesign	April 1	June 1

Funding

I cost charges per challenge based mostly on the estimated time to completion.

You received’t have to fret about hiring freelance writers or discovering an online developer. As your advisor, I’ll care for that for you. All charges are inclusive of telephone calls and emails.

Challenge Exercise	Hours	Payment
Content material and Technical Audit	30	$900
Usability Assessments	N/A	$200
Content material Plan Creation	30	$900
Content material Creation	100	$3,000
Web site Redesign	100	$3,000
	Complete	$8,000

Signature

Please signal under.

[signature form]

Subsequent Steps

Please return the signed doc to me by Wednesday, December 6. I’ll contact base with you on Friday, December 8, to debate this proposal. You may ship me any questions and considerations at e mail@supplier.com. I look ahead to working with you.

Now that you’ve an thought of what a pattern consulting proposal seems to be like, I’m going to share some instruments that may assist along with your subsequent draft.

Consulting Proposal Instance

For extra inspiration on how you can write your proposal, I’d like to point out you an instance of an audio advertising and marketing firm’s proposal.

Picture Supply

This proposal is just two pages lengthy, but it surely covers loads of floor regardless of its brevity. For starters, it’s acquired a pleasing greeting and introduction expressing thanks for the consumer’s consideration adopted by a one-sentence challenge abstract.

Including a background part describing the consumer’s ache factors in additional element can also be a pleasant contact. The true star of this proposal, although, is the challenge goal part (challenge scope).

As an alternative of making a separate part for goals and deliverables, they’re mixed collectively. Every aim or deliverable is its personal bullet level. Beneath every of those objectives is the technique that will probably be carried out to realize every aim.

The following part clearly explains the seller’s price and costs, with a signature wrapping issues up on the finish.

Whereas this proposal lacks an intensive timeline, I believe it’s a wonderful place to begin for smaller tasks.

Consulting Proposal Instruments

1. DocuSign

This software program has many options that may assist in consulting proposal creation. DocuSign permits you to create reusable templates and retailer digital signatures in its cloud for paperless operations.

What I Like: Along with being a strong, top-of-the-line device, DocuSign’s security measures fulfill the standards of a number of regulatory our bodies.

Picture Supply

Pricing: Whereas accessible for a free trial, costs start from $15 per thirty days or $120 for an annual plan. This will increase relying on the function set, variety of customers, and scale of your organization.

2. Fiverr Workspace

It can save you time drafting with the Fiverr Workspace platform. Made to create personalized proposals and contracts — with free templates to work with.

What I Like: You may monitor the progress of a doc’s creation all the best way to accumulating deposits at signing.

Picture Supply

Pricing: Fiverr is free for a single consumer. In any other case, its Limitless plan is $24 a month (or a reduced price of $18 per thirty days if you happen to pay yearly) for a number of accounts, which additionally offers you extra management when modifying templates.

3. Prospero

A device devoted solely to proposals, Prospero comes with 105+ customizable templates, doc monitoring particulars, and e-signature amenities.

What I Like: Quick and simple to arrange, and likewise has nice monitoring options. The value is inexpensive for unbiased consultants. Bonus factors for all their integrations.

Picture Supply

Pricing: Prospero comes with a free 14-day trial. Charges begin from $10 per thirty days (or $8 month-to-month while you select the annual choice), with one person and limitless proposals. This goes up based mostly on the variety of workforce members.

4. Higher Proposals

Higher Proposals lives as much as its identify with the provision of 70+ stunning proposal templates — and 260+ doc templates in complete — made for each desktop and cell units.

What I Like: With built-in signature and cost choices, this platform is a useful gizmo for these seeking to impress new shoppers. Bonus factors for his or her in-product editor.

Picture Supply

Pricing: After a 14-day free trial, you can begin utilizing the software program for $19 per thirty days, or extra relying on the dimensions of enterprise performed.

Create a Consulting Proposal to Win Extra Purchasers

A well-written consulting proposal not solely serves as a guidepost for a consultant-client relationship, however it will probably assist convert prospects into loyal, long-term shoppers.

Implement the consulting proposal greatest practices I’ve shared on this put up, and begin creating profitable proposals on your consulting enterprise.

Editor’s notice: This put up was initially revealed in December 2019 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.