6 Consulting Proposal Examples to Win Deals (+Templates)

Learn how to write a winning consulting proposal. Get expert tips, inspiring examples to guide you, and consulting proposal templates to make your best one yet.

Consulting proposal examples

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Short answer

What is a consulting proposal?

A consulting proposal is a detailed plan offered by a consultant to a potential client. It clearly outlines the project's goals, strategies, timeline, and cost, aiming to persuade the client by showcasing the consultant's expertise and approach to solving their specific problems.

Your consulting proposal needs a winning edge to seal the deal

You've had the meetings, shaken hands, and outlined a plan. It should be simple: put it on paper, get a signature, and start the project.

Yet, this is where many consultants stumble. What seems like a straightforward task often turns into a complex challenge, leading to lost clients and missed opportunities.

A poorly executed proposal can overshadow your expertise and undermine the trust you've built. But it doesn't have to be this way.

This guide demystifies the proposal process. I’ll teach you how to write consulting proposals that turn those discussions into successful partnerships, and follow up with ready-to-use templates so you can put those skills to work right away.

Let's ensure your proposals are as effective as your consulting skills!

What to include in a consulting proposal?

Crafting a consulting proposal is more than just putting your discussions on paper; it's about creating a roadmap for success.

A well-structured proposal can be the deciding factor in winning a client's trust and business. Here's what you need to include to make your proposal stand out.


9 slides of a winning consulting proposal:

  1. Executive summary: Start with a clear and concise summary that encapsulates the client's challenges and how you plan to address them.

  2. Your unique approach: Explain why you're the best fit for the job. Highlight your experience and how it aligns with the client's goals.

  3. Project scope: Detail the specific actions and strategies you'll employ to achieve the desired outcomes.

  4. Objectives: Clearly outline the goals and results you aim to achieve through your consulting services.

  5. Deliverables: Specify the tangible outcomes the client can expect from the project.

  6. Timeline: Provide a realistic timeline for each phase of the project, setting clear expectations.

  7. Costs and Investment: Be transparent about your fees, including any payment structures or conditions.

  8. Terms and conditions: Outline the terms of your service, ensuring both parties have a clear understanding of the agreement.

  9. Next steps: The last slide of your presentation should guide the client on how to proceed after reviewing the proposal, facilitating a smooth transition into the project's execution phase.

What is the best consulting proposal format?

When it comes to crafting consulting proposals, the format you choose is key. Traditionally, consultants have relied on formats like Word documents or PDFs.

These are familiar and straightforward, making them a safe choice. They're great for detailed, text-heavy proposals and are easily printable, which can be handy for in-person meetings.

But traditional legacy formats don't work anymore. There's a growing trend towards more dynamic formats, like interactive decks.


These are becoming the go-to choice for several reasons:

  1. Engagement: Interactive decks turn a proposal into an interactive experience. They allow for clickable elements, embedded videos, and animations that keep the client engaged and interested.

  2. Visual appeal: They offer a visually appealing way to present complex data through charts and infographics, making your proposal not just informative but also visually captivating.

  3. Customization: With interactive decks, you can tailor each proposal to reflect the client's brand and specific needs, making it feel more personalized.

  4. Accessibility: These decks are easily shareable and accessible on various devices, which is great in our increasingly mobile world.


You can see what a fully interactive consulting proposal looks like below:

Consulting proposal examples that boost your win rate

The right proposal can open doors to new opportunities and forge lasting client relationships. It's your chance to shine, to show that you understand not just the 'what' of the project, but the 'why' and the 'how'.

In the following examples, we'll explore how a well-crafted proposal can align perfectly with your main goal, whether it's winning a new client, solving a complex problem, or showcasing your unique approach.

Consultancy proposal

This consultancy proposal is designed to transform businesses with innovative solutions. It's a compelling tool for agencies wanting to showcase their ability to enhance operational efficiency and drive strategic growth.

What makes this consulting proposal great:

  • Strategic insights: Offers actionable strategies for success in dynamic markets, showcasing the agency's deep understanding of business challenges.

  • Custom solutions: Presents tailored consulting approaches, demonstrating the agency's adaptability to specific business needs.

  • Proven impact: Shares impressive statistics on revenue growth, market share, and client satisfaction, providing concrete evidence of the agency's effectiveness.

HR consulting proposal

Designed for HR leaders seeking transformative strategies, this proposal deck is a comprehensive guide to elevating HR functions. It combines seasoned expertise with tailored solutions, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and addressing unique organizational challenges.

What makes this consulting proposal great:

  • Tailored strategic solutions: The deck offers customized strategies that are specifically designed to address the unique challenges and needs of each organization's HR functions.

  • Expertise and insight: It showcases a deep understanding of HR management, backed by years of experience and a track record of enhancing operational efficiency.

  • Focus on impactful results: It emphasizes delivering measurable improvements in HR processes, ensuring both efficiency and effectiveness in human resources management.

Marketing consulting proposal

Tailored for dynamic marketing teams, this proposal deck is a roadmap to marketing excellence. It emphasizes leveraging modern strategies and innovative technologies to optimize marketing processes, enhance decision-making, and secure a competitive edge.

What makes this consulting proposal great:

  • Innovative marketing strategies: The proposal presents cutting-edge marketing solutions that combine the latest technologies with creative approaches to drive business growth.

  • Data-driven decision making: It highlights the use of actionable data insights to inform marketing strategies, ensuring campaigns are both targeted and effective.

  • Competitive edge focus: It aims to provide businesses with a significant competitive advantage through optimized marketing processes and enhanced decision-making capabilities.

Business consulting proposal

This consulting proposal is a powerful tool for showcasing how consulting expertise can revolutionize business operations. It effectively communicates the ability to transform inefficiencies into opportunities for growth, making it an essential asset for potential clients.

What makes this consulting proposal great:

  • User-friendly navigation: The deck is structured for easy navigation, allowing viewers to move through the content seamlessly, which is crucial for maintaining engagement.

  • Multimedia integration: The inclusion of multimedia elements, like short clips or animations, adds a dynamic layer to the proposal.

  • Customizable sections: The proposal is designed to be easily customizable, allowing for quick updates or changes tailored to specific client presentations.

IT consulting proposal

Ideal for tech-driven companies and technology consulting services, this IT consulting proposal deck focuses on providing comprehensive, tailored IT solutions, integrating innovative features, and offering scalable solutions to meet evolving business needs.

What makes this consulting proposal great:

  • Interactive data displays: It features running numbers, and has the option to add interactive charts and graphs, allowing viewers to engage with the data in a more meaningful way.

  • The option to integrate video content: You can embed and play video elements directly from the deck, providing an immersive experience and a break from traditional text-heavy slides.

  • Strategic call-to-action placement: A smart CTA at the end encourages viewer interaction and facilitates the next steps in the client engagement process.

Consulting proposal

This consulting proposal deck is a versatile and comprehensive tool for presenting consulting services. It's structured to provide a clear overview of services, project details, and the value proposition.

What makes this consulting proposal great:

  • Timeline and budget breakdowns: Includes detailed sections for project timelines and budgeting, providing a clear and transparent overview of project logistics.

  • Comprehensive project summary: Offers a complete summary section, providing a quick overview of the project's scope, budget, and duration.

  • Visual elements for engagement: Uses visual elements like icons and graphics to enhance the appeal and readability of the proposal.

How to write a consulting proposal?

Crafting a proposal for consulting services is like building a bridge between your expertise and your client's needs.

It's not just about listing services; it's about creating a story where you are the solution to their challenges. Here’s how to do it in a few simple steps.

9 steps to write a consulting proposal:


1) Understand the client’s needs

Before drafting your proposal, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of the client's challenges, goals, and expectations.

Engage in detailed discussions, ask open-ended questions, and take notes. This understanding will help you tailor your proposal to address the client's specific needs effectively.


2) Create a clear value proposition

Your proposal should clearly articulate the value you bring to the table. Avoid generic statements and focus on specific, measurable outcomes that you can deliver.

For instance, instead of just promising improved efficiency, specify how your services will increase productivity by a certain percentage.

Here's an example of a good value proposition slide:

Value proposition slide example

3) Define the project scope and deliverables

Detail the specific services you will provide, including the scope of work and the deliverables. Be precise in outlining what is included in your services and what isn't, to avoid scope creep.

For example, if you're offering marketing consulting, specify the number of marketing strategies you will develop and the types of campaigns you will oversee.

Here's an example of a project scope slide:

Project scope slide example

4) Set a realistic timeline

Provide a clear timeline for the project, including start and end dates, and key milestones. This helps in setting realistic expectations and ensures that both you and the client are on the same page regarding the project's duration.

Here's an example of a project timeline slide:

Project timeline slide example

5) Outline fees and payment terms

Be transparent about your consulting fees and include detailed payment terms. Specify whether you charge a flat rate, hourly rate, or have a different pricing structure.

Also, include any additional costs that the client might incur, such as expenses for third-party services or travel.

Here's an example of a pricing slide:

Pricing slide example

6) Highlight your qualifications and experience

Use your proposal to showcase your expertise and past successes. Include brief case studies or examples of similar projects you've completed successfully. This not only builds credibility but also gives the client confidence in your ability to deliver results.

Here's a great example of a slide containing a case study:

Case study slide example

7) Include terms and conditions

If your proposal also serves as a contract, include necessary terms and conditions. This might cover aspects like confidentiality, cancellation policies, and any other legal stipulations relevant to the project.


8) Add a personal touch

While it's important to maintain professionalism, adding a personal touch can make your proposal stand out. Tailor each proposal to the specific client, reflecting your understanding of their unique challenges and how you can address them.

Using an interactive proposal creator, you can connect it to your CRM to extract basic information about your prospect, such as their name or company name.

You can also embed live data in a ROI calculator or select the most relevant slide from a dropdown menu. This way, your proposal will feel tailor-made for your reader in just a few clicks.


9) Conclude with a clear next step

End your proposal with a clear call to action. Whether it’s to schedule a meeting, sign a contract, or simply get in touch for more details, make it clear what the next step is and how the client can take it.

For a modern and efficient approach, consider embedding your calendar directly into the deck. This allows clients to easily schedule a follow-up meeting or consultation, streamlining the process and demonstrating your commitment to accessibility and efficiency.

With interactive proposal creators, you can also add a button that will allow your clients to sign the proposal right after viewing it.

Here's an example of a next step slide:

Next step slide example

Adding an 'Accept' button to your proposals can also offer a clear, hassle-free way for clients to say 'yes' to your expertise. This small but impactful feature can significantly reduce friction between you and your clients and speed up the acceptance process.

Here's an example of a deck with an accept button:

Accept button example

How to design a consulting proposal?

Designing a consulting proposal is about much more than just putting words on a page. It's about creating an engaging, informative, and visually appealing document that captures the essence of your services and persuades the client.

A well-designed proposal can set you apart in a crowded field, showcasing your professionalism and attention to detail. Here are some tips to help you achieve that.

7 consulting proposal design tips:


1) Use scrollytelling to boost engagement

Narrated design, or the practice of telling a story through a scrolling web page, can be a game-changer for digital consulting proposals.

This approach allows you to guide the reader through your proposal in a narrative, interactive manner. Use a mix of text, images, and animations that unfold as the reader scrolls, creating a dynamic and memorable experience.

Here's an example of scrollytelling:

Consulting proposal scrollytelling example

2) Ensure responsive design for accessibility

In today's mobile-first world, your proposal must look great on any device. A responsive design ensures that your proposal adapts to different screen sizes, from desktops to smartphones.

This not only improves readability but also shows your tech-savviness and consideration for the client’s convenience.

Here's an example of a mobile-responsive deck:

Responsive deck example

3) Incorporate interactive elements

Interactivity can transform a static proposal into an engaging experience. Include elements like clickable tabs, expandable sections, and interactive timelines.

This not only makes the proposal more engaging but also allows clients to explore the information at their own pace, focusing on what interests them the most.

Here's a great example of an interactive slide:

Consulting proposal interactive slide

4) Visualize your data

Data visualization is a powerful tool in a consulting proposal. Use charts, graphs, and infographics to present complex data in an easily digestible format.

This not only helps to convey your points more clearly but also adds a visual appeal to your proposal, making it more likely to be remembered and understood.

Here's a great example of a data visualization slide:

Consulting proposal data visualization

5) Pay attention to branding and aesthetics

Your proposal should reflect your brand's identity and values. Use your brand colors, fonts, and logo consistently throughout the document. A well-branded proposal not only looks professional but also helps in building brand recognition and trust with the client.

Alternatively, you can plug in your client’s website to automatically extract their branding information into your deck for more advanced personalization.

Here's an example of a branded deck:

Branded deck example

6) Keep it clean and organized

A cluttered proposal can be overwhelming and hard to follow. Use a clean layout with plenty of white space.

Organize the content logically, with clear headings and subheadings, bullet points, and short paragraphs. This makes the proposal easier to scan and understand at a glance.


7) Show, don’t tell

Embrace the principle of "show, don't tell" in your proposal design. Instead of just stating your capabilities, demonstrate them through the proposal itself.

Use elements like interactive graphs to showcase your analytical skills or embed a short, well-produced video that illustrates your past projects.

This approach not only tells but shows the client your expertise and the quality of work they can expect, making your proposal a reflection of your professional standards.

Here's a slide that uses a video to introduce the agency:

Consulting proposal show don't tell example

Interactive consulting proposal templates

Crafting a consulting proposal that ticks all the boxes requires time, design skills, and a deep understanding of what makes content compelling.

Interactive consulting proposal templates provide a structured, visually appealing foundation that you can easily customize to suit your specific needs and brand identity.

With these templates, you're not starting from a blank page; you're building on a professionally designed, interactive framework that's already optimized for engagement and impact.

Grab one and see for yourself.

No templates found
Dominika Krukowska

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

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