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] ------------------------------------------------------------ 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.