Consultant
AI Prompts for Consulting Proposals
Written by PromptsByRole
Start with Step 1See an example
- Who it is for
- Independent consultants and small-firm consultants who have finished a discovery call and need to turn their notes into a proposal the client can approve.
- Outcome
- A restated problem in the client's own words, two or three scope options with deliverables and clear exclusions, a full proposal draft with fee and date placeholders you fill in, a skeptical-reader review, and a short cover email.
These prompts are plain text, so they work in whichever AI chat tool you use. Paste each step into the same chat so the AI keeps the context from earlier steps.
Step-by-step prompts
How to use it: replace the words in [brackets] with your details, paste Step 1 into your AI tool and answer any questions it asks, then paste the next steps into the same chat. Read and edit the result before you use it.
Step 1
Load your discovery notes
I'm writing a consulting proposal after a discovery call. Here are my notes, with anything the client hasn't cleared me to share removed: - The client's problem, in their words where I have them: [PASTE NOTES OR QUOTES] - What they want to be different afterwards: [GOALS] - Constraints: [E.G. TIMING, BUDGET SIGNALS THEY GAVE, TEAM AVAILABILITY, OR "NONE GIVEN"] - Who decides and by when: [DECISION MAKERS AND DATE, OR "UNKNOWN"] - What we already agreed on the call: [LIST, OR "NOTHING YET"] - My relevant experience I can stand behind: [SHORT FACTS ABOUT PAST WORK I'M ALLOWED TO MENTION] Use only these notes. Never invent results, client names, case studies, credentials, fees or dates. Where the proposal would need something I haven't given, write [NEEDED: what's missing]. First, restate the client's problem in two sentences using their words, then list the questions I should answer before writing the proposal.
Step 2
Shape two or three scope options
Suggest [2–3] scope options, from the smallest useful piece of work to the fullest. For each option give: - what problem it solves and what it leaves unsolved - deliverables, written as things the client will receive (e.g. "a 10-page current-state report"), not activities - what is not included - what the client needs to provide (people, data, access, decisions) - the assumptions it depends on Write the fee as [FEE: I set this] and the timeline as [TIMELINE: I set this] unless I gave them in Step 1. Don't suggest prices or estimate how long the work will take.
Step 3
Draft the proposal
I've chosen to present these options: [LIST OPTIONS, OR "ALL"]. Draft the proposal with these sections: Situation (in the client's words), What success looks like, Approach (phases), Deliverables, Options with fees and timeline, What we need from you, About me or my team (only facts from Step 1), Next steps. Write in plain business language with short paragraphs, under [900] words. Describe what I will deliver, not results I guarantee. Keep every [FEE], [TIMELINE] and [NEEDED] placeholder.
Step 4
Review it as the client's decision maker
Read the draft as [THE CLIENT'S DECISION MAKER, E.G. A COO WHO HAS HIRED CONSULTANTS BEFORE AND IS SKEPTICAL]. List: 1. Vague promises or phrases that could appear in any proposal 2. Any sentence that guarantees an outcome, a saving or a result 3. Jargon the reader may not use 4. Missing information they would need before saying yes 5. Questions they would likely ask in the review meeting Then rewrite the weakest three passages, and list the placeholders I still need to fill.
Step 5
Write the cover email and a one-paragraph summary
Write a cover email under [120] words that sends the proposal to [CLIENT CONTACT'S FIRST NAME], names the problem in their words, says which option I'd suggest and why in one sentence, and proposes a time to talk it through: [SUGGESTED TIMES]. Then write a five-line summary of the proposal they can forward to colleagues who weren't on the call.
Example of good output
Illustrative example, fictional client and engagement; not real model output:
Problem restated: "Store managers spend most of Monday building staff schedules by hand," and the client wants that work done in half a day without hiring.
Option A: Scheduling review (smallest)
- Deliverables: a written map of how schedules are built today at 3 stores, and a list of the 5 steps that take longest
- Not included: choosing or setting up scheduling software
- Client provides: one hour with each store manager
- Fee: [FEE: I set this] | Timeline: [TIMELINE: I set this]
Flag from the skeptical-reader review: "This will cut scheduling time in half" was rewritten as "We'll identify the steps that take longest and recommend changes you can test." No result is promised.
Tips and pitfalls
- Use the client's words for the problem. A proposal that describes the situation the way the client does shows you listened. Paste quotes from your notes rather than summarizing them.
- Write the exclusions down. Scope disputes often start with something nobody said was out of scope. Every option needs a "not included" line.
- Set your own fees and dates. The AI doesn't know your rates, your capacity or the client's budget. Fill those placeholders yourself after the draft is written.
- Promise deliverables, not results. You control what you hand over. Outcomes depend on the client too, so describe what success looks like without guaranteeing it.
- Keep contract terms separate. Payment terms, liability and confidentiality belong in your standard agreement, reviewed by whoever handles your contracts. These prompts write the proposal, not the contract.
FAQ
How is this different from the slide outlines playbook?
The slide outlines playbook turns findings into a deck storyline. This one comes earlier, turning a discovery call into the proposal that wins the work.
Can I paste the client's documents?
Only if your agreement with the client allows it and you're using an AI tool your firm approves. Remove names and confidential figures you don't need for the proposal.
What if the client asked for a single price?
Ask for one option in Step 2 instead of three, and add a short "what could change the fee" section so your assumptions are visible.