Each marketing consultant wants a go-to consulting proposal template as a result of proposals are an anticipated and important a part of the shopper acquisition course of. Whether or not you’re crafting a proposal for a particular challenge or trying to land a long-term shopper, the method of drafting a proposal can appear quite daunting, particularly in case you don’t have a consulting proposal pattern that you would be able to reference.
That’s precisely why we’re going to run you thru all the things you want to submit a proposal with confidence. We’ll discover the important thing elements of writing proposals, navigating the method along with your potential shoppers, instruments that may aid you acquire an edge on the competitors, and offer you a consulting proposal template.
Desk of Contents
What Is a Consulting Proposal?
How you can Use a Consulting Proposal Template
What to Do Earlier than You Create a Consulting Proposal
How you can Write a Consulting Proposal
The Greatest Consulting Proposal Instruments
Good Consulting Proposal Examples
High Tricks to Assist You Draft That Successful Proposal
Consulting Proposal Template FAQs
What Is a Consulting Proposal?
A consulting proposal is a doc that outlines all the things that you simply, as a marketing consultant, would ship for a possible challenge or shopper, whereas additionally working double obligation as a advertising proposal that showcases why your experiences and abilities would make you the best marketing consultant for the job.
How you can Use a Consulting Proposal Template
An exterior consulting proposal template, just like the one included on this information, may help you get began within the proposal course of. It’s at all times simpler to have a transparent imaginative and prescient of your endgame when you could have examples you’ll be able to reference.
After getting your first proposal created, you’ll need to save a model as your individual template. This pared-down model will have already got the weather of your proposal that keep the identical from shopper to shopper. That means you’ll have the ability to simply and rapidly spin up a brand new proposal anytime you want one, rising the ROI on the time and vitality you spend creating proposals for potential shoppers.
Don’t Skip: How you can Get a Consulting Job in 6 Steps
What to Do Earlier than You Create a Consulting Proposal
The consulting proposal comes in the direction of the top of the shopper acquisition course of. To efficiently flip a possible shopper into a brand new shopper, you need to comply with these steps earlier than you pull out your consulting proposal template.
1. Get Them on the Telephone or Meet in Particular person First
You need to do your greatest to get your prospect on the telephone, and even higher, meet them in individual earlier than you even discuss submitting a proposal. Listening to your voice or seeing your face will do wonders for constructing belief along with your potential shopper.
Timing is vital. Solely ship a consulting proposal after you’ve had a profitable preliminary telephone name or assembly with the prospect. If somebody’s asking you to submit proposals with out having spoken to you first, the possibilities of wowing them are very low. Whereas a consulting proposal is usually a highly effective software for profitable shoppers, it’s not the one one, or the primary one it’s best to attain for.
Observe: There are occasions when an organization will put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) throughout which anybody can submit a proposal with none contact with the corporate beforehand. Clearly, in these circumstances, competitors is fiercer and your possibilities of profitable are decrease.
2. Guarantee You Totally Perceive Your Potential Shopper’s Drawback, Desires, and Wants
You could perceive your prospect’s true needs. It’s not nearly what they let you know they need (a brand new web site). You could dig deeper to search out the motivation behind the challenge (a brand new web site for them to showcase and promote their paintings extra effectively).
Take notes so as to reference your shopper’s drawback and their needs within the proposal. This reveals you have been listening to them and that you simply perceive what’s essential to ensure that the work to achieve success. Doing so may aid you profit from a psychological phenomenon often known as the chameleon impact, the place one individual mimics the opposite to achieve empathy. It happens in social conditions the place persons are attempting to construct rapport and, apparently sufficient, is the rationale some individuals choose up the accents of the locations they journey to or stay in.
3. Create a Worth Proposition That’s as Particular as Doable
If you happen to haven’t already, take a while to develop your distinctive worth. The proper proposal will embrace a transparent, particular, and actionable worth proposition. Don’t make the error of stuffing your proposals with accolades and fluffy jargon that make your work sound necessary.
On the finish of the day, the shopper desires to know what you’ll do for them. So as a substitute of claiming, “Utilizing my patent-pending enterprise streamlining method, I’ll conduct a enterprise evaluation that generates your optimum productiveness and group workflow,” attempt, “After totally reviewing your small business, I’ll create a technique doc that may prevent 20 hours a month in misplaced productiveness.”
4. Correctly Consider the Challenge Scope/Timeline and the Worth You Present
Clearly outlined expectations will set you up for a productive shopper relationship and aid you keep away from challenge scope creep. It can additionally aid you to precisely present estimates in your consulting charges.
You may acquire a correct understanding of the scope of a challenge by first sending a questionnaire that addresses an summary of your potential shopper’s wants. When you’ve developed a broad understanding of what the challenge entails, the following step is to make sure you schedule a telephone name to achieve a extra nuanced understanding of what’s wanted and anticipated.
5. Be Open to Making Errors
If you happen to’re new to consulting or freelancing, you in all probability will make errors relating to evaluating scope and timeline. That’s a pure a part of the consulting studying curve. As you get your challenge reps, you’ll develop the expertise essential to precisely estimate how lengthy the work will take you.
The identical goes for the proposal creation course of. As you write extra proposals and collect extra information about your workflow, it’ll get sooner and extra correct every time. Be open to creating errors; you’ll study rapidly from them.
How you can Write a Consulting Proposal
A consulting proposal could make or break your budding relationship with a possible shopper. As you construct your consulting enterprise, you’ll be able to profit from making a consulting proposal template that you would be able to replace and regulate for every potential shopper.
Each nice consulting proposal ought to have the next parts:
- Cowl web page
- Govt abstract
- Challenge define/scope of labor
- Timeline
- Charges, billing, and fee Phrases
- Shopper necessities
- Expiration date
- Third-Celebration Value Disclaimer
- Contract Phrases
- Indemnities
Cowl Web page
A canopy web page is precisely that, a canopy in your proposal that shows your organization’s model, the shopper’s title, challenge, and date for reference.
Govt Abstract
An government abstract gives a one-page overview of the complete challenge. The chief abstract ought to broadly spotlight the shopper’s points and challenges, and the way you intend on tackling or addressing them. Consider it as a distillation of a very powerful data, a “too lengthy, didn’t learn” abstract for executives who won’t have the time or inclination to learn the complete proposal.
Challenge Define/Scope of Work
The challenge define states what you’ll (and won’t) do for the proposed payment. Clearly describe the scope of labor, together with the scope and amount of deliverables, time frames, and every other essential expectations for the work. You need to be ultra-specific as a result of in case you encounter scope creep, you’ll have this doc for reference.
If you happen to’re being employed to put in writing for a shopper’s weblog, make sure you define what number of phrases you’ll write, what number of revisions are included, and so on. If you happen to’re being employed as a life coach, specify what number of teaching calls are included, how lengthy every name will likely be, if there will likely be any e mail help allowed, and so on. You don’t need to depart any room for confusion right here otherwise you may lose out on money and time.
Deliverables
You may also discover it essential to stipulate deliverables. Deliverables are the identifiable finish merchandise you can be “delivering” to the shopper.
Whereas there could be loads of overlap between “deliverables” and “challenge define/scope of labor,” the distinction between the scope of labor and deliverables is perhaps greatest defined with an instance.
Let’s say you’re a contract copywriter being employed to put in writing an e-book to generate leads for an organization. Your scope of labor part may embrace issues like studying extra in regards to the firm’s model, researching opponents, writing the e-book, and revising it.
Your deliverable, nevertheless, is perhaps a ten,000-word e-book, totally formatted and delivered by way of Google Docs.
Timeline
A superb consulting proposal manages expectations so no undesirable surprises pop up. A part of that requires outlining whenever you anticipate to finish the challenge.
In your timeline part, reply the next questions:
- When does the challenge start?
- When does the challenge finish?
- Are there any milestones in between?
With lengthy initiatives, it may be useful to have checkpoints for accomplished work. This may help you handle your time and construct confidence within the shopper that issues are going as deliberate.
You can even use milestones to launch partial fee of funds. Simply be certain to not pin your self down with too many milestones, to permit some flexibility in your workflow.
Charges, Billing, and Fee Phrases
Make it clear what your charges are and what they embrace. Additionally, specify due dates, accepted fee strategies, and fee phrases. For instance, in case you require a 50 % preliminary fee, be sure you clearly state that you’ll not start work till the shopper has submitted the primary fee.
In a schedule/addendum to the contract, it’s advisable to at all times embrace:
- Billing milestones, due dates, and quantities
- Billing strategies
- Late payment coverage and assortment prices related to having to pursue late funds
- A top level view of your pricing construction, any quantity reductions, periodic rebates, and agreed
fee playing cards underneath the contract
Be taught Extra: Consulting Charges: How A lot Ought to You Cost as a Advisor?
Shopper Necessities
Many instances, when there are delays on consulting initiatives, the bottleneck lies with the shopper. For instance, each internet developer is aware of the ache of being stalled on a construct as a result of they’re ready on property from the shopper. If any a part of your job might be stalled on account of shopper delays, be sure to record it within the shopper necessities.
Expiration Date
Placing an expiration date on the proposal protects you from having a potential shopper come to you three months later wanting to just accept your proposal. By that point, you is perhaps totally booked or your costs is perhaps increased. A shopper can’t fairly anticipate you to drop all the things and fulfill the challenge in your proposal in the event that they don’t act rapidly. That’s why it’s strongly really helpful that you simply present the shopper with a proposal expiration date.
Third Celebration Value Disclaimer
You might usually end up in conditions the place you prescribe third celebration instruments for the shopper that your group makes use of to handle sure facets of their digital ecosystem resembling google adverts,
advertising automation, and so on.
You don’t need to get stung with having to be the license holder for his or her information, so it’s suggested you could have a clause to make sure the shopper is paying for these companies instantly, and that you’re not liable if the third celebration service fails.
In your third celebration disclaimer make it clear that:
- The shopper is chargeable for the fee of third celebration prices
- The shopper won’t be able to terminate the contract in case you didn’t ship as a result of the shopper
didn’t pay third celebration prices - The shopper’s prior approval is required of the instruments you intend and put ahead.
Contract Phrases
Some consultants will ship over a proposal for the shopper to signal and approve first, then will ship over a separate contract for the shopper to signal. Having your proposal work as a contract, too, can prevent time and vitality—two important commodities for any entrepreneur.
If you happen to select to make yours a proposal-contract mixture, add any phrases and circumstances right here. Widespread phrases embrace cancellation, fee phrases, and an unbiased contractor clause. If you happen to need assistance, use a proposal template from any of the companies talked about above.
We’ve created this helpful jargon-buster, which outlines a few of the commonest phrases that you could be encounter when negotiating an company contract
along with your prospects and is offered in alphabetical order.
Indemnities
Safety is a two means avenue, and guaranteeing the indemnities aren’t skewed to at least one celebration is vital. Indemnities shield one celebration from a contract from struggling monetary loss in relation to sure eventualities. Indemnity clauses are present in all kinds of authorized agreements, and that is one space that events usually spend quite a lot of time negotiating.
An indemnity clause is commonly the trigger for disputes and compromises of two key parts:
- The set off: an outline of the particular occasion or set of circumstances triggering
the indemnity. - Fee and an outline of the kinds of loss which the indemnifying celebration
needs to be chargeable for.
So, be sure you:
- Undertake a danger evaluation to completely perceive the dangers you’ll be assuming.
- Perceive what you might be anticipated to do.
- Perceive the results of breaching the indemnities you comply with.
- Test for any liabilities not lined by your insurance coverage supplier. Contact your dealer or
insurer on to double test.
Consulting Proposal Template
Comply with this template to rapidly draft your first consulting proposal.
Cowl Web page:
[Your company’s name/branding]
[Client’s name]
[Project name]
[Date of proposal]
Govt Abstract:
[Provide a brief overview of the proposed project. Highlight the client’s issues and challenges, along with how you plan to address them. Limit the summary to one page or less.]
Challenge Define/Scope of Work:
[Clearly state what you will and will not do for the proposed fee. Be as specific as possible.]
Deliverables:
[Outline the identifiable end products you will deliver to the client.]
Timeline:
[State when the project will begin and end, along with any important milestones in between.]
Charges and Fee Phrases:
[List your fees—and indicate what they do and do not include. Specify due dates, accepted payment methods, and the payment terms.]
Shopper Necessities:
[If any part of your job could be stalled due to client delays, make sure to list it here.]
Expiration Date:
[Provide the date when the proposal will expire.]
Contract Phrases (Elective):
[Add any terms and conditions here if you choose to make yours a proposal-contract combination.]
The Greatest Consulting Proposal Instruments
Whether or not you’re drafting a pattern proposal, proposal letter, or simply researching proposal software program, these instruments may help.
Eversign
Each proposal wants a signature and Eversign makes it simple to get your paperwork e-signed. You may both kind, draw, or add your signature to the service after which “stamp” your signature onto any doc.
If you happen to use the free model, you’ll be able to signal as much as 5 paperwork for signing each month. That restrict is lifted with their Primary plan which prices $9.99 a month, or $7.99 if billed yearly.
AND.CO
AND.CO lets you draft proposals and contracts (it has free templates for each), which you’ll then e mail to your shopper by way of its platform. As a bonus, you’ll get e mail notifications when your proposal is seen, and your shopper can e-sign and pay you on-line.
AND.CO provides a free plan which helps 1 shopper and their branding watermarked in your paperwork. Their PRO plan lifts the shopper restrict, removes watermarking, and lets you edit their contract templates for $18 a month.
Honeybook
Honeybook is a paid service that permits you to create proposals and contracts, ship them for e-sign, get notifications after they’ve been seen, and settle for funds on-line. It’s a bit of extra dear at $40 per thirty days or $400 yearly, however it actually is an all-in-one resolution.
Bonsai
Bonsai is one other paid all-in-one suite of companies with proposals, invoicing capabilities, contract signing, and shopper CRM options which might be just like Honeybook. With Bonsai, you’ll be able to create proposals, e mail them to be signed, obtain notifications after they’re seen, and receives a commission on-line. Their freelance service proposal templates are superbly designed, and there are a number of decisions.
Bonsai’s fundamental “Workflow” plan prices $19 a month and provides all the things you want to get going.
Higher Proposals
Easy but highly effective, Higher Proposals is a paid proposal writing software program that’s in style for its trackable proposals and delightful, trendy consulting template design. You’ll get notifications when your proposal is seen and e-signed, and you may get paid on-line.
Their Starter plan permits for 10 proposals a month at simply $19/mo. That restrict is elevated to 50 proposals of their Premium plan for $50 a month.
Any Phrase Processor
If you wish to maintain it low-cost and no-frills, you’ll be able to merely fireplace up Microsoft Phrase, Google Docs, or every other phrase processor, and sort up your consulting proposal. Google Docs really provides just a few actually nice challenge proposal templates of their Template Gallery.
From there, merely export it as a PDF and signal it in Eversign.
Good Consulting Proposal Examples
Now that we’ve gone over the steps to making a consulting proposal that’s stellar, it’ll be useful to see real-life examples. Evaluate these good consulting proposal examples to find what makes every of them particular.
PR Consulting Proposal Instance
This public relations proposal template from PandaDoc showcases a powerful cowl web page. It begins with addressing the shopper and their wants, outlines the PR marketing consultant’s distinctive expertise and the way that may assist the shopper, after which closes with expressing confidence within the marketing consultant’s talents. Get the complete PR proposal template right here.
Inside Design Consulting Proposal Instance
This inside design proposal from PandaDoc combines the Scope of Work and Timeline into one easy-to-read desk. Get the complete template right here.
Internet Design Consulting Proposal Instance
This internet design proposal template from Proposable shows the distinction between the Scope of Work part (right here, known as “Challenge Particulars”) and the deliverables part.
Whereas the scope of labor will embrace issues resembling figuring out the location hierarchy, creating web page mock-ups, and coding the location, the deliverables are a completely useful web site and a WordPress function that enables the shopper so as to add weblog posts.
You may get the free internet design proposal template right here.
website positioning Consulting Proposal Instance
This website positioning consulting proposal features a contract on the finish, whereupon signing binds the shopper to pay and units phrases for termination. You may get the free website positioning proposal template right here.
Content material Advertising and marketing Consulting Proposal Instance
That is an excerpt from a free template from Proposify. I like how they broke down the charges within the “Your Funding” part and clearly outlined the phrases of fee (“A deposit of $2,000 is due upon signing”). You will discover the free content material advertising proposal template right here.
High Tricks to Assist You Draft That Successful Proposal
Now that you simply’ve realized the weather of a profitable proposal and seen some examples, you may nonetheless have just a few hesitations as you start drafting your consulting proposal. If you happen to take nothing else, maintain these parting phrases of recommendation:
- When doubtful, maintain it easy: Lots of the examples on this information embrace colourful, high-design proposals. If that’s too overwhelming, maintain it easy with a phrase processor. Whereas design can actually be eye-catching, it is a enterprise proposal in the beginning. The content material of your proposal is a very powerful ingredient.
- Anticipate negotiation and requests for edits: It’s extraordinarily widespread for a shopper to need to ask questions in regards to the proposal and even edit it. That’s okay! Be open to negotiation, and don’t fear if the proposal must undergo a few rounds of edits.
- Comply with up, it doesn’t matter what: If you happen to ship the proposal and listen to crickets, don’t panic! Comply with up in an e mail to the shopper and ask if they’ve any questions or want to hop on a name. Typically, a shopper might want to rigorously assessment the proposal, share it with colleagues, and talk about its contents, so it’d take a while. That’s why, as we talked about earlier than, it’s best to put an expiration date in your proposal so issues don’t drag on for too lengthy.
Preserve Studying: Wish to Grow to be a Advertising and marketing Advisor? Right here’s How you can Do It
Consulting Proposal Template FAQs
How lengthy ought to a consulting proposal be?
There is no onerous and quick rule in regards to the size of a consulting proposal. Nevertheless, it wants to incorporate a canopy web page, government abstract, scope of labor, deliverables, timeline, charges and fee phrases, shopper necessities, and expiration date. We propose making a proposal that displays your model and, concurrently, is custom-made for a shopper. For instance, in case you’re serving to seek the advice of with a enterprise proprietor you have labored with earlier than, the proposal could be easy. Whereas in case you’re pitching an organization for the primary time, you may need to add some additional particulars.
What ought to I do if the shopper has questions or issues about my consulting proposal?
Most certainly, they’ll, and that is a superb factor. The extra you’ll be able to make clear your relationship earlier than beginning the work, the much less doubtless you should have mishaps throughout a consultancy. Be open, trustworthy, and clear about what you’ll be able to ship. If the potential shopper is not happy, you is perhaps higher off shifting on.
How ought to I current my funds in a consulting proposal?
As clear as you presumably can. No one likes working with a marketing consultant that sends an bill with an sudden payment. Embody due dates, fee strategies, and phrases. It is useful to incorporate case research of earlier work, so your potential shopper sees the whole value of your worth. For instance, for a similar-sized enterprise, I spent three months and helped 10x their promoting program. The full quantity of that consultancy was 30 hours at x {dollars} per hour.
Construct Your Consulting Company
When drafting your proposal, take into account the place your shopper is now and the place they need to be. Consider your proposal because the plan that outlines the way you’ll get them there. Do that, and also you’re one step nearer to touchdown your subsequent consulting shopper. To discover ways to begin and develop your digital company or consulting enterprise, watch our coaching on foundr+ for $1.
