1. Write the Introduction
Your introduction must begin with a salutation, something like "Dear," and must have a short paragraph or two containing the following: thanking the client for considering hiring you, stating your confidence in your abilities to help the client, and letting them know what to expect in the rest of the document.
2. Present Your Scope of Work
You can present the scope of your work by outlining what you will and will not do considering the proposed fee of the services. This is the part of the proposal outline where you must be specific in order to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts in the future.
3. Outline Your Deliverables
Similar to the previous item, scope of work, it is also necessary that you outline your deliverables to the client. Deliverables are basically the identifiable end products that you will be delivered to your customers.
4. Present the Timeline
You must manage the expectation of your client by presenting the schedule or the number of days that will take you to complete the project. To help you create a timeline, you may consider answering the following questions: When does the project start? When does the project end? Are there any milestones in between those dates? Milestones can be a marker of partial payments to be made by the client.
5. Specify Your Fees and Payment Terms
You must make it clear what your fees are and what they include. You must also clearly specify the due dates, modes of payment, payment schedules, and payment terms.
6. Present the Reason Why They Should Choose You
Reiterate the points why your potential client must choose you by presenting your strong points and advantage over the other service providers.
7. Set an Expiration Date
It is important that you set an expiration date for your professional proposal for there might come a time that you are already fully booked when the client would accept your proposal and you are no longer available to provide your services on time.
8. Write the Conclusion
In this section, you need to wrap up your consulting proposal format and make sure that you leave your potential client the feeling that they must hire you. Be sure to thank them again, restate your confidence in doing great work for them, let them know your planned steps, give them your contact number, and present your contract terms, which include cancellation terms and independent contractor clause.
9. Don't Forget the Signature Lines
This is the final section of the consulting business proposal where you and your client must sign to approve everything that is stated in the proposal.