Situation
Restate the client's problem in their own words, including what it costs them per month or quarter. If you can quantify the cost, your fee stops sounding like an expense.
Consulting · free template
Consulting proposal template
Consulting proposals are bought on confidence, not detail. The buyer is deciding whether you understand their problem better than they do. This template leads with the problem in their language, then makes the engagement feel low-risk and clearly bounded.
What the client is really deciding: "Does this person understand my situation, and what will change?"
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Section-by-section structure
Objectives
Three outcomes the engagement is accountable for, written so both sides can tell whether they happened.
Approach
Three to five phases with what you do and what the client receives at the end of each. Include the decisions the client must make, and when.
Deliverables
Named artefacts: diagnostic report, prioritised roadmap, operating model, workshop facilitation, implementation support hours.
Roles and access
Who you need time with, how much, and which sponsor owns decisions. Consulting engagements stall on access, not analysis.
Timeline
Weeks rather than dates where possible: week 1–2 diagnostic, week 3 readout, week 4–8 implementation support.
Investment
Fixed fee per phase, with phase one small enough to be an easy yes. Offer a larger option that includes implementation.
Next step
Accept online to start phase one, with the diagnostic kickoff booked within two weeks.
How to price this work
| Pricing model | Best when | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed fee per phase | Nearly all engagements | Phase 1 kept deliberately small |
| Value-based | Quantifiable financial outcome | 5 – 15% of first-year value |
| Day rate | Advisory and facilitation | $800 – $5,000/day |
Ranges are general market guidance, not a quote — price against the outcome for your client.
Mistakes to avoid
- Selling hours, which caps your fee at your calendar.
- One large phase, when a small paid diagnostic would have closed immediately.
- No named sponsor, so nobody can make the decisions your work depends on.
- Objectives written so vaguely that success is unprovable.
- Leading with your credentials instead of their problem.
Frequently asked questions
Should a consulting proposal include hourly rates?
Avoid it. Price the phase or the outcome — hourly invites scrutiny of your speed rather than your judgement.
How long should a consulting proposal be?
Two to five pages. Senior buyers read the situation, objectives, and investment; the rest is there to answer objections.
What if the client wants to start smaller?
Design for that. A paid diagnostic phase priced as an easy yes converts far better than one large engagement, and it usually leads to the bigger scope anyway.
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Answer a few questions about the client and the project. LogicVanta drafts every section above, then gives you a shareable link your client can accept in one click.
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