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 method to this weblog publish, it’s secure to imagine you now must develop a consulting proposal for this consumer — and also you need assistance doing so.
On this publish, I’ll clarify what a consulting proposal is and how you can write one which your potential purchasers can’t resist.
And if you happen to’re in a pinch and want a listing, discover what you want by way of these hyperlinks:
What’s a consulting proposal?
A consulting proposal is a doc that outlines the character, scope, and timeline of a particular consulting undertaking. 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 purchasers request proposals earlier than formally signing on the dotted line. Why? In brief, 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 vital client-consultant relationship.
This doc will successfully take your conversations with the prospect into an lively working relationship. That’s why it’s vital to write down a very good proposal.
A great 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 resolve these issues.
- A listing of the outcomes you’ll search to attain for his or her enterprise.
It additionally consists of contractual info akin 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 particular person or over the cellphone.
You possibly can’t write an efficient consulting proposal with out chatting along with your potential consumer first. Do your finest to arrange a cellphone name for this dialog; if you happen to can, meet in particular person. 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 allow you to construct belief with them
2. Perceive their challenges and wishes.
The higher you perceive your potential consumer’s challenges and ache factors, the extra impactful your proposal might be. Whereas a consulting proposal template can assist get the job accomplished, 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 observe up with extra cellphone 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 could possibly point out the way you’ll be rising X metric, decreasing Y damaging end result, or driving Z outcomes for his or her enterprise.
4. Ask concerning the particulars.
A profitable proposal displays the undertaking scope and particulars to maintain each events aligned. Don’t neglect to ask about your consumer’s very best timeline, price range, expectations, and outcomes. These particulars are vital 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 potential to transform potential purchasers. Let’s assessment how you can put collectively a profitable proposal.
Write a Consulting Proposal
- Write an government abstract.
- Briefly describe why you’re the perfect for the job.
- Specify what the consumer can anticipate from the undertaking.
- Set up what your deliverables can be.
- Affirm and description the prices.
- Specify another contract phrases and situations.
- Hold the proposal concise.
- Ask for suggestions
1. Write an government abstract.
Get began by writing an government abstract or introduction (additionally known as a undertaking abstract). This part will embrace your consumer’s challenges or obstacles and the way you plan to unravel them. Merely put, this part summarizes your complete undertaking.
2. Briefly describe why you’re the perfect for the job.
There’s a very good likelihood your consumer could also be receiving proposals from different corporations. You’ll want to indicate them that you simply’re the best particular person for the job and guarantee them they’re in nice fingers. 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 give attention to what your consumer will get from working with you. You possibly can add this info as a brief (1-2 sentences) paragraph in your introduction.
3. Specify what the consumer can anticipate from the undertaking.
Be as particular as attainable concerning the worth and outcomes your consumer can anticipate. For instance, in case your important goal is to extend visitors, say that and description how. This can allow you to draft your undertaking scope.
Keep away from buzzwords and generic jargon. Actually, do your finest to make use of the identical phrases they did in your conferences — this can resonate with them and present you have been listening.
4. Set up what your deliverables can 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 undertaking is accomplished? These can 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 undertaking. We’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 undertaking will value. Be clear about your charges and what they embrace. When you require particular fee constructions 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 resolve to proceed. Along with charges, this may embrace a timeframe for the undertaking (begin and finish date), fee varieties accepted or another phrases you require.
7. Hold the proposal concise.
In the case of consulting proposals, high quality issues far more than amount. Hold your proposal as transient as attainable to precisely describe the undertaking 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 consists of. As you develop your proposal, make clear any questions or considerations you have got along with your potential consumer. When completed, ship it to your consumer for assessment and suggestions.
Contemplate constructing your proposal inGoogle Docs or an analogous phrase processor through which your consumer can collaborate and depart feedback or recommendations.
Now that we’ve coated how you can write a consulting proposal, let’s break it down into elements.
Components of a Consulting Proposal
The simplest consulting proposals observe an attractive and logical construction. On this part, we’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. Whenever you deal with your proposal as a private letter, potential purchasers usually tend to belief you and wish to construct a relationship with you. Use the consumer’s formal title (e.g. “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” or “Dr.”) except you’re on a first-name foundation.
2. Introduction
On this part, write three to 4 sentences describing the character of the undertaking and the problems you wish to resolve.
Contemplate 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 way of your consulting providers. On this part, you also needs to thank your consumer for contemplating you and provides them a quick overview of what they’ll anticipate from the remainder of the proposal.
You can too embrace one to 2 sentences introducing your self and your corporation. Whereas the proposal shouldn’t be centered 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. Venture Scope
Subsequent, add three to 5 bullet factors giving perception into the precise motion gadgets (or duties) you’ll undertake to attain the specified outcome.
This part is all about what you’ll be doing to hold out the undertaking you outlined above. Specificity is vital right here — except you clearly define what you’ll be doing on your consumer, you might expertise scope creep.
For instance, if you happen to’re being employed to assessment and analyze a consumer’s advertising and marketing methods, this part would define how lengthy your cellphone calls or workplace visits can be, what number of calls or visits you commit to every week, the size of every go to, and many others. You possibly can by no means be too detailed within the undertaking scope part; it’ll solely prevent and your consumer a headache later.
4. Targets
On this part, you’ll wish to listing out three to 5 aims for the undertaking.
Now that you simply’ve coated each the aim and scope of the undertaking, it’s time to persuade the consumer of the undertaking’s worth. What kind of outcomes would you like your consumer to see after they’re accomplished working with you?
In contrast to the deliverables part beneath, which focuses on the precise “remaining merchandise” you’ll be delivering, the aims part focuses on the top outcome after these merchandise are delivered. It’s vital to place this as early as attainable in your doc in order that your consumer is satisfied they’re making a very good funding.
5. Deliverables
Subsequent, listing out the concrete deliverable(s) the consumer can have as soon as they’re completed working with you. Will 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 undertaking. If the undertaking scope describes “how,” the deliverables are the “what.”
Following the instance above, whereas your undertaking scope can be reviewing and analyzing advertising and marketing methods, your deliverables could also be an in depth evaluation doc, a presentation of proposed adjustments, or perhaps a model new advertising and marketing plan (the particular particulars will fluctuate relying in your consumer and their preferences and wishes).
6. Timeline
On this part, give a timeline for every particular motion merchandise you listed within the “Scope” part.
This part is extremely vital for setting expectations and creating boundaries with purchasers. If the undertaking 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 undertaking dates and deadlines for various elements of your undertaking. Whether or not you’re making workplace visits, creating paperwork, or just sending follow-up emails, attempt to element each attainable date in your proposal. On the very least, ensure you embrace the undertaking begin, remaining undertaking deadlines, and any milestones in between.
7. Funding
Subsequent, listing out your consulting charges and what they embrace, in addition to how and if you favor to receives a commission.
When you suggest utilizing a sure fee portal, embrace that info right here. Equally, if you happen to require a down fee or staggered price construction, don’t neglect that info, too.
8. Signature
On this part, you’ll instantly ask for a signature out of your potential consumer. Embrace house for them to write down the day’s date, their title, 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 threat 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 effectively. Give clear directions on this remaining part so purchasers 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 your complete doc each time.
That is the place a consulting proposal template can come in useful. Beneath you’ll discover two consulting proposal templates: one for gross sales and the opposite for advertising and marketing.
Consulting Proposal Template for Gross sales
You should use this free consulting proposal template in Phrase or PDF format. The sections match up with what we coated above, however are worded somewhat in a different way to higher align with gross sales.
Word: 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
This proposal template consists of the next sections:
- Introduction: Describe the character of the undertaking and introduce your self and what you do.
- Targets: Record out the objectives for the undertaking.
- Method: Summarize your methodology for reaching the specified outcomes and listing the particular duties you’ll undertake.
- Schedule of Venture Actions: The equal of a “Timeline” part, you’ll use this house to explain when undertaking duties can be accomplished.
- The Workforce: Record out any extra group members, in addition to their {qualifications}.
- Your Funding: Format in clear phrases what the consumer can be paying for.
- Signatures: Seal the deal by inviting the consumer to signal immediately.
- Appendices: You probably have particular phrases and situations on your providers, embrace them right here.
Consulting Proposal Template for Advertising
Proposals are particularly crucial in advertising and marketing. With so many areas of specialization, channels, deliverable varieties, 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 may embrace a top level view of your strategic framework, the general objectives, and even perhaps the smaller milestones you wish to be measured by. This free advertising and marketing proposal template is a superb place to start out.
Featured Useful resource: Free Advertising Consulting Proposal Template
This proposal template consists of the next sections:
- Our Firm and Workforce: On this part, you’ll give a radical overview of your corporation by offering a listing of your providers and proposed group for the undertaking.
- Venture Scope: Summarize the undertaking in its entirety. You’ll write a brief abstract, a proposed resolution, and an outline of projected outcomes.
- Venture Schedule: Record out the completely different phases of the undertaking with their begin and completion dates.
- Your Funding: Define what the consumer can be paying for in an itemized desk.
- Contact Us: Give the consumer a possibility 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 gadgets, or testimonials, embrace them right here.
Write a Consulting Proposal
Feeling caught? Let’s check out a pattern consulting proposal. To adapt this pattern on your personal use, merely change the mentions of the particular undertaking with what you’ll really be doing on your consumer.
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 undertaking we mentioned over the cellphone. I stay up for 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 lodge.
On this proposal, I’ll go over a quick undertaking abstract, cowl the undertaking’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 undertaking is to develop natural visitors for Resort One’s web site. Because of rising competitors, older content material advertising and marketing practices, and stories of a clunky consumer expertise, the enterprise has suffered from a marked lower in natural visitors, which has diminished reservations and, due to this fact, income.
My digital advertising and marketing consulting agency makes a speciality of circumstances identical to yours. I’ve greater than ten years of expertise driving outcomes for small companies within the hospitality business. My final consumer, Resort Two, noticed a 233% enhance in bookings YoY after I labored with them.
Venture Scope
To develop natural visitors and obtain sustained development, I can be endeavor the next duties.
- Full a complete content material and technical audit of your complete web site.
- Perform usability assessments on a consumer testing platform to verify 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 your complete web site.
- Carry within the experience of an online developer to design a contemporary and search-engine-optimized web site.
Targets
The aims of the undertaking 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 typical rating for goal key phrases by a minimum of 2 spots.
- Get on the primary web page of Google SERPs for a minimum of 20% of the goal key phrases.
- Redesign your complete web site in order that it exceeds present design and value 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 assessments and urged enhancements.
- A brand new content material plan that can be authorized by you previous to execution.
- An editable copy of each the rewritten and newly-written web site pages.
- A completely redesigned web site with the brand new content material and technical enhancements in place.
Timeline
The estimated completion time for your complete undertaking is six months.
| Exercise | Begin Date | Completion Date |
| Content material Audit | January 1 | January 14 |
| Technical Audit | January 15 | January 31 |
| Usability Exams | February 1 | February 7 |
| Content material Plan Creation | February 8 | February 28 |
| Content material Plan Evaluation 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 undertaking primarily based 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 deal with that for you. All charges are inclusive of cellphone calls and emails.
| Venture Exercise | Hours | Charge |
| Content material and Technical Audit | 30 | $900 |
| Usability Exams | N/A | $200 |
| Content material Plan Creation | 30 | $900 |
| Content material Creation | 100 | $3,000 |
| Web site Redesign | 100 | $3,000 |
| Whole | $8,000 |
Signature
Please signal beneath.
[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 possibly can ship me any questions and considerations at e mail@supplier.com. I stay up for working with you.
Now that you’ve an thought of what a pattern consulting proposal appears like, listed below are some instruments that may assist along with your subsequent draft.
Consulting Proposal Instance
For extra inspiration for how you can write your proposal, let’s check out this instance for an audio advertising and marketing firm.
This proposal is just two pages lengthy, but it surely covers quite a lot of floor regardless of its brevity. For starters, it’s obtained a pleasing greeting and introduction expressing thanks for the consumer’s consideration adopted by a one sentence undertaking 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 undertaking goal part (undertaking scope).
As an alternative of making a separate part for aims and deliverables, they’re mixed collectively. Every objective or deliverable is its personal bullet level. Beneath every of those objectives is the technique that can be applied to attain every objective.
The subsequent part clearly explains the seller’s charge and charges, with a signature wrapping issues up on the finish.
Whereas this proposal lacks a radical timeline, it is a glorious start line for smaller initiatives.
Consulting Proposal Instruments
1. DocuSign
This software program has many options that may support in consulting proposal creation. DocuSign can streamline settlement technology, analyze agreements, and retailer digital signatures in its cloud for paperless operations.
Whereas out there for a free trial, you’ll pay as little as $10 monthly and the worth can enhance relying on the size of your organization.
2. Fiverr Workspace
It can save you time drafting with the Fiverr platform. Made to create personalized proposals and contracts — with free templates to work with — you possibly can monitor the progress of a doc’s creation all the way in which to gathering deposits at signing.
Fiverr is free for a single consumer, in any other case its Limitless plan is $18 a month for a number of accounts, and offers you extra management when enhancing templates.
3. HelloSign
Identified for being simple to make use of for even probably the most un-tech savvy workers, HelloSign is a top quality instrument to gather and ship e-signatures. With quick implementation, it may be an ideal choice for smaller companies.
HelloSign begins on the value of $15 monthly for one consumer, or $25 for a number of customers.
4. Higher Proposals
Higher Proposals lives as much as its title with the provision of 160 lovely templates made for each desktop and cellular units. With built-in signature and fee choices, this platform is a useful gizmo for these seeking to impress new purchasers.
After a 14-day free trial, you can begin utilizing the software program for $19 monthly, or extra relying on the size of enterprise carried out.
Create a Consulting Proposal to Win Extra Shoppers
A well-written consulting proposal not solely serves as a guidepost for a consultant-client relationship, however it may well assist convert prospects into loyal, long-term purchasers. Implement these consulting proposal finest practices and begin growing profitable proposals on your consulting enterprise.
Editor’s notice: This publish was initially printed in December 2019 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
