# CONSULTING PROPOSAL

> **Disclaimer — not legal advice.** This template is provided free of charge, as is and with no warranty of any kind, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. It is jurisdiction-neutral: you are responsible for adapting it, for your own legal and tax compliance, and for having a qualified professional in your jurisdiction review it before you rely on it. Full terms: https://trycolo.co/terms-of-use

**Prepared for:** [SPONSOR NAME], [SPONSOR TITLE], [CLIENT ORGANIZATION]
**Prepared by:** [YOUR NAME], [YOUR TITLE / FIRM NAME], [YOUR EMAIL]
**Date:** [DATE]  |  **Proposal ref:** [PROPOSAL NUMBER]  |  **Valid until:** [EXPIRY DATE]
**Engagement:** [SHORT ENGAGEMENT TITLE, E.G. MONTH-END CLOSE IMPROVEMENT]

## 1. Situation

[TWO OR THREE PARAGRAPHS IN THE CLIENT'S OWN WORDS. Example: "In our conversations on [DATES], you described a month-end close that now takes [NUMBER] working days, up from [NUMBER] two years ago. The finance team of [NUMBER] spends much of the final week reconciling data from [SYSTEM A] and [SYSTEM B] by hand. Leadership receives figures too late to act on them in the following month."]

[COST OF THE PROBLEM, ONLY IF THE CLIENT GAVE YOU A FIGURE. Example: "You estimated this costs the team around [NUMBER] hours each month and has delayed two pricing decisions this year."]

## 2. Objectives

1. [OBJECTIVE 1, E.G. SHORTEN THE MONTH-END CLOSE]
2. [OBJECTIVE 2, E.G. REMOVE MANUAL RECONCILIATION BETWEEN SYSTEM A AND SYSTEM B]
3. [OBJECTIVE 3, E.G. GIVE LEADERSHIP A RELIABLE MONTHLY PACK BY WORKING DAY [NUMBER]]

## 3. Measures of success

| Objective | Measure | Baseline | Target | Measured by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Working days to close | [NUMBER] | [NUMBER] | [WHO / HOW] |
| 2 | Hours of manual reconciliation per month | [NUMBER] | [NUMBER] | [WHO / HOW] |
| 3 | Day leadership pack issued | Day [NUMBER] | Day [NUMBER] | [WHO / HOW] |

Targets depend on the assumptions in section 8 and on decisions made by [CLIENT ORGANIZATION].

## 4. Approach

| Phase | What happens | Output |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Diagnose | Interviews with [NUMBER] people, process mapping, review of data and systems | Findings report and prioritized opportunities |
| 2. Design | Workshops to design the future process, roles and controls | Future-state process and implementation plan |
| 3. Implement | Support the team through changes, test and adjust | Updated process running for [NUMBER] cycles |
| 4. Handover | Documentation, training and a review of results | Playbook and results review |

[ONE PARAGRAPH ON WHY THIS APPROACH. Example: "Starting with a short diagnosis means we fix the steps that cause most of the delay first, rather than redesigning everything at once."]

## 5. Options

| | Option A: Diagnostic | Option B: Diagnose and design | Option C: Full engagement |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Phases | 1 | 1–2 | 1–4 |
| Duration | [NUMBER] weeks | [NUMBER] weeks | [NUMBER] weeks |
| Consultant time | ~[NUMBER] days | ~[NUMBER] days | ~[NUMBER] days |
| Main outcome | Clear findings and a plan your team can run | A designed future process ready to implement | New process in place and measured |
| Follow-up support | – | [NUMBER] check-in call | [NUMBER] weeks of follow-up |
| **Fixed fee** | **[CURRENCY] [AMOUNT]** | **[CURRENCY] [AMOUNT]** | **[CURRENCY] [AMOUNT]** |

**My recommendation:** [OPTION], because [REASON TIED TO THE OBJECTIVES].

## 6. Timeline (recommended option)

| Week | Activity | Milestone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [1] | Kickoff, interviews scheduled, data requests sent | Kickoff complete |
| [2–3] | Interviews and process mapping | – |
| [4] | Findings presented | Findings report |
| [5–6] | Design workshops | Future-state design approved |
| [7–10] | Implementation support | First close on new process |
| [11–12] | Second cycle, documentation, training | Results review |

## 7. Client responsibilities

- A named sponsor, [SPONSOR NAME], who makes decisions within [5] business days.
- A day-to-day contact, [CONTACT NAME], to schedule interviews and gather data.
- Access to [NUMBER] staff for interviews of up to [60] minutes each.
- Access to [SYSTEMS / REPORTS / DATA] by [DATE].
- Attendance by [ROLES] at design workshops.

## 8. Assumptions and exclusions

**Assumptions**

- Scope covers [TEAMS / ENTITIES / SITES]. Other parts of the organization are out of scope.
- Data needed for the diagnostic is available in usable form by [DATE].
- Changes to systems are carried out by [CLIENT'S IT TEAM / VENDOR]. I advise on requirements.
- If any assumption proves wrong, we will review scope, timeline and fee together before continuing.

**Exclusions**

- Software selection, licensing or configuration
- Recruitment or performance management of staff
- Legal, tax or audit opinions
- Anything not described in the chosen option

## 9. Investment and terms

| Item | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Fee | Fixed fee as per chosen option in section 5, excluding [TAX] where applicable |
| Payment | [PERCENT]% on acceptance, [PERCENT]% at [MILESTONE], [PERCENT]% on completion |
| Payment terms | Invoices due within [NUMBER] days |
| Expenses | Travel and accommodation outside [CITY] billed at cost with receipts, pre-approved |
| Changes | Additional work is quoted in writing before it starts |
| Contract | Full terms in the attached [CONSULTING AGREEMENT]; detailed tasks in a [STATEMENT OF WORK] issued on acceptance |

## 10. Why me

- [ONE LINE OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCE]
- [ONE SIMILAR ENGAGEMENT AND ITS RESULT, WITH PERMISSION]
- [ONE LINE ON WHY THIS ENGAGEMENT FITS]

## 11. Next steps

1. Choose an option and sign below.
2. I issue the statement of work and first invoice within [2] business days.
3. Kickoff on [PROPOSED KICKOFF DATE].

| Client | Consultant |
| --- | --- |
| Option chosen: [A / B / C] | |
| Signature: ____________________ | Signature: ____________________ |
| Name: [SPONSOR NAME] | Name: [YOUR NAME] |
| Organization: [CLIENT LEGAL NAME] | Business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] |
| Date: [DATE] | Date: [DATE] |

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### How to use this template

1. Write section 1 from your discovery notes, using the client's own numbers and phrases.
2. Only use measures in section 3 the client can track.
3. Price each option as a fixed fee and recommend one.
4. Keep the "if any assumption proves wrong" line in section 8.
5. Follow acceptance with a statement of work that details tasks and deliverables.

*Template provided by Colo (trycolo.co). Not legal advice — review with a qualified professional in your jurisdiction.*