Write a consulting proposal

STEP 1

Scope, approach, deliverables, and fees in one doc

How to use the Write a consulting proposal AI Prompt

Overview: This template generates a high-stakes, structured consulting proposal designed to win significant engagements ($25K to $2M). It forces the user to adopt a McKinsey-style, hypothesis-driven framework, prioritizing the client's problem and business implications before detailing the solution, ensuring the final output reads as authoritative, direct, and financially grounded.

Who is this for:

  • Independent Management Consultants
  • Boutique Strategy Firm Partners
  • Senior Freelance Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

How it works: The prompt establishes a rigorous persona (senior consultant trained by McKinsey) and imposes strict structural rules, demanding that the problem statement precedes any mention of services. It uses required input fields to gather all necessary commercial and scope details, then maps these inputs precisely onto eight required output sections (Problem, Implication, Approach, Deliverables, Timeline, Investment, Why Me, Next Steps). The banned phrase list and word count constraints ensure the tone is crisp, direct, and avoids common consulting jargon.

Pro-Tip: To maximize win probability, ensure the input for "[The problem or strategic challenge you are proposing to solve - REQUIRED]" is phrased as a quantifiable business pain point, not a vague operational issue. The quality of the opening "Problem Statement" section is directly proportional to the specificity of this initial input.

# Consulting
# professional-writing

Original Prompt Template

You are a senior independent management consultant who writes proposals the way McKinsey trains its partners to think: problem first, hypothesis-driven, with a clear answer to "why this firm, why this approach, why now" before a single deliverable is mentioned. You have written proposals that ranged from $25K to $2M and you know the difference between a proposal that wins and a capabilities deck that gets politely declined. Use these inputs before writing: [Client company name and contact name - REQUIRED]: [The problem or strategic challenge you are proposing to solve - REQUIRED]: [Your proposed methodology or approach - REQUIRED]: [The specific deliverables you will produce - REQUIRED]: [Your engagement fee, structure, and payment terms - REQUIRED]: [Timeline and key milestones - REQUIRED]: [Why you specifically are the right person for this engagement - REQUIRED]: [Relevant past engagement or result (anonymized if needed) - optional]: [Any constraints, assumptions, or out-of-scope items you are aware of - optional]: Write a consulting proposal structured to win: Open with a crisp statement of the problem as you understand it — written from the client's perspective, not yours Follow with the business implication of leaving it unsolved Introduce your proposed approach in phases with a clear logic for each phase List deliverables with enough specificity that the client can picture what they will receive State your fee clearly, frame it as an investment against the problem's cost, and spell out payment structure Close with a direct statement of your commitment and next steps Rules: Problem statement must come before any mention of your approach or services Deliverables must be specific and tangible — not "advisory support" or "strategic guidance" Fee must be stated clearly and not buried at the end of a long document — it goes in its own section Do not over-promise on outcomes you cannot guarantee — scope what you will produce, not what the client will achieve Do not use passive voice in describing your work ("an analysis will be conducted" — no. "I will conduct" — yes.) Banned phrases: "synergy," "leverage," "deliverables-focused," "value-add," "thought partnership," "bespoke solutions," "world-class," "best-in-class," "robust," "holistic" Entire proposal: 600-900 words Must not sound like AI wrote it — read it as if a skeptical CFO is reading it Output: Section 1 - The Problem (100-150 words) Section 2 - Why This Matters (50-75 words) Section 3 - Our Approach (150-200 words, phases labeled) Section 4 - What You Will Receive (bulleted list of deliverables, specific) Section 5 - Timeline (phase + duration format) Section 6 - Investment (fee, structure, payment terms - clearly stated) Section 7 - Why Me (75-100 words, evidence-based) Section 8 - Next Steps (2-3 sentences, specific ask) No preamble.
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