Client Proposal Generator

A production-grade consulting proposal generator that transforms a brief description into a complete, professionally formatted proposal document. This skill researches the client company for personalization, structures the proposal using proven consulting frameworks, and produces a document ready to send to a prospect.

What This Produces

A single proposal.md (or proposal-{client-name}.md) file containing:

Cover page with client name, your firm name, date
Executive summary (personalized to client's situation)
Understanding of the client's challenges (demonstrates you listened)
Proposed approach and methodology
Scope of work with deliverables
Timeline with milestones
Team and qualifications
Investment (pricing in 3 tiers)
Terms and conditions
Next steps and call to action
Appendix (optional: case studies, team bios, references)

When to Use

After a discovery call when you need to follow up with a proposal
When a prospect asks "can you send me a proposal?"
When responding to an RFP or RFI
When creating proposals for internal project pitches
When templating proposals for repeated service offerings

Execution Protocol

Step 0: Gather Input

Collect from the user (or extract from conversation context):

Required inputs:

client_name -- The prospect company name
contact_name -- Primary contact (who receives the proposal)
problem_description -- What problem they need solved (even a vague description works)
your_company -- Your company/firm name (or default to what is in the user's context)

Optional inputs (will be inferred or defaulted if not provided):

rough_scope -- Any known scope details (timeline, budget range, team size)
your_services -- Description of your service offerings
pricing_model -- fixed | retainer | milestone | hourly | hybrid (default: 3-tier fixed)
proposal_tone -- consultative | enterprise | startup | technical (default: consultative)
include_case_studies -- boolean (default: false, since fabricated case studies are worse than none)
output_path -- Where to write the file (default: current directory)
currency -- USD | EUR | GBP | etc. (default: USD)

If the user gives a one-liner like "Write a proposal for Acme Corp about redesigning their data pipeline," extract what you can and infer the rest.

Step 1: Client Research

Research the client company to personalize the proposal. This is what separates a template from a real proposal.

1a. Web Research

Use WebSearch and Bash to gather:

Company overview -- What they do, industry, size, location, founding year
Recent news -- Funding, acquisitions, product launches, leadership changes (last 6 months)
Technology signals -- Job postings (indicate tech stack and pain points), GitHub repos, tech blog posts
Industry context -- Current trends and challenges in their sector
Competitors -- Who they compete with (positions your proposal in context)
Company values/culture -- From their about page, mission statement, LinkedIn

1b. Structure Research Findings

Organize findings into a research brief:

## Client Research Brief: [Client Name]

### Company Overview
- Industry: [industry]
- Size: [employee count, revenue if public]
- Founded: [year]
- HQ: [location]
- What they do: [1-2 sentence description]

### Recent Developments
- [Event 1 -- date, significance]
- [Event 2 -- date, significance]

### Industry Context
- [Trend 1 affecting their sector]
- [Trend 2 affecting their sector]
- [Challenge specific to their industry]

### Technology Signals
- [Hiring for X suggests need for Y]
- [Using tool Z based on job postings]

### Competitive Landscape
- [Competitor 1 -- what they do differently]
- [Competitor 2 -- market positioning]

### Personalization Hooks
- [Specific detail to reference in the executive summary]
- [Pain point to mirror in the problem statement]
- [Opportunity to connect your solution to their recent news]

If web research is unavailable or returns limited results, note this and proceed with what is available. A slightly less personalized proposal is better than no proposal.

Step 2: Problem Framing

Transform the user's problem description into a structured problem statement. Use the consulting standard of framing problems in terms of business impact.

2a. Problem Decomposition

Break the stated problem into:

Root problem -- The fundamental issue (e.g., "legacy data pipeline cannot scale")
Symptoms -- Observable manifestations (e.g., "reports take 6 hours to generate")
Business impact -- Revenue, cost, risk, opportunity cost (e.g., "delays decision-making by 24 hours")
Stakeholders affected -- Who feels the pain (e.g., "operations team, executive leadership, customers")
Urgency drivers -- Why now (e.g., "upcoming product launch requires real-time analytics")

2b. Challenge Articulation

Write 3-5 bullet points that demonstrate understanding of the client's situation. These will become the "Understanding Your Challenges" section. The tone should be: "We have listened, we understand the stakes, here is what we heard."

Step 3: Solution Design

Design the proposed approach based on the problem and your services.

3a. Methodology Selection

Choose or adapt a methodology framework:

Problem Type	Methodology	Structure
Technology modernization	Discovery -> Design -> Build -> Migrate -> Optimize	5-phase waterfall with agile sprints
Process improvement	Assess -> Map -> Redesign -> Implement -> Measure	Lean/Six Sigma influenced
Strategy / advisory	Research -> Analysis -> Recommendations -> Roadmap	Classic consulting engagement
Product development	Discovery -> Prototype -> Build -> Test -> Launch	Agile product development
Data / analytics	Audit -> Architecture -> Build -> Validate -> Deploy	Data engineering lifecycle
Organizational change	Assess -> Design -> Pilot -> Roll Out -> Sustain	Change management framework

3b. Phase Definition

For each phase, define:

Phase N: [Phase Name] -- [Duration]

Objective: [What this phase achieves]

Activities:
- [Activity 1]
- [Activity 2]
- [Activity 3]

Deliverables:
- [Deliverable 1 -- concrete, tangible]
- [Deliverable 2]

Milestone: [What marks the end of this phase]

Client involvement: [What you need from the client during this phase]

3c. Deliverables Inventory

Create a master list of all deliverables across all phases:

#	Deliverable	Phase	Format	Description
D1	Discovery Report	1	PDF/Presentation	Current state assessment with findings
D2	Solution Architecture	2	Technical Document	Proposed system design
D3	Implementation Plan	2	Project Plan	Detailed execution roadmap
...	...	...	...	...

Step 4: Timeline Construction

Build a realistic project timeline.

4a. Duration Estimation

Project Type	Typical Duration	Notes
Quick audit / assessment	2-4 weeks	Discovery + report
Strategy engagement	4-8 weeks	Research heavy, lighter implementation
Technology implementation	8-16 weeks	Build-heavy, requires testing
Full transformation	12-24 weeks	Multi-phase, organizational change
Ongoing advisory / retainer	3-12 months	Monthly cadence

4b. Timeline Format

## Timeline

### Overview
- Start date: [upon contract execution / specific date]
- End date: [estimated completion]
- Total duration: [X weeks/months]

### Phase Timeline

| Phase | Duration | Start | End | Key Milestone |
|-------|----------|-------|-----|---------------|
| 1. Discovery | 2 weeks | Week 1 | Week 2 | Discovery Report delivered |
| 2. Design | 3 weeks | Week 3 | Week 5 | Architecture approved |
| 3. Build | 6 weeks | Week 6 | Week 11 | MVP deployed to staging |
| 4. Test & Refine | 2 weeks | Week 12 | Week 13 | UAT sign-off |
| 5. Launch & Handoff | 1 week | Week 14 | Week 14 | Production deployment |

### Key Dates
- Kickoff meeting: [Week 1, Day 1]
- Mid-project review: [Week 7]
- Go/no-go decision: [Week 12]
- Final delivery: [Week 14]

### Dependencies and Assumptions
- Client provides access to systems and stakeholders within 5 business days of kickoff
- Client designates a project sponsor and day-to-day point of contact
- Feedback on deliverables provided within 3 business days
- Timeline may adjust based on discovery findings (Phase 1)

Step 5: Team Composition

Present the team that will deliver the work.

5a. Role Framework

Standard consulting team structure:

Role	Responsibility	Typical Allocation
Engagement Lead	Client relationship, strategy, quality	10-20%
Project Manager	Timeline, coordination, status reporting	25-50%
Senior Consultant	Analysis, recommendations, architecture	50-100%
Consultant	Research, implementation, documentation	100%
Analyst	Data gathering, support tasks, QA	50-100%
Subject Matter Expert	Domain expertise, reviews	10-25% (as needed)

5b. Team Section Format

## Your Team

We will staff this engagement with a focused team combining strategic vision and hands-on execution.

**[Name], Engagement Lead**
[Title at your company]. [X] years of experience in [relevant domain]. 
Previously led similar engagements for [types of companies]. 
Responsible for overall engagement quality and strategic alignment.
Allocation: [X]% throughout the engagement.

**[Name], Senior Consultant**
[Title]. Specializes in [relevant specialization].
[Brief relevant background].
Responsible for [key deliverables].
Allocation: [X]% during Phases [N-N].

[Continue for each team member]

Note: If the user has not provided team details, use placeholder names and roles. Never fabricate specific people or credentials.

Step 6: Pricing

Build the pricing section with 3 tiers. The 3-tier model is a proven approach: the middle tier is the target, the lower tier makes the middle look reasonable, the upper tier captures ambitious buyers.

6a. Pricing Model Selection

Model	When to Use	Structure
Fixed Fee (3 tiers)	Well-defined scope, predictable work	3 packages at set prices
Retainer	Ongoing advisory, fractional roles	Monthly fee for X hours/month
Milestone-Based	Long projects, client wants to de-risk	Payments tied to deliverable acceptance
Hourly/Daily Rate	Undefined scope, staff augmentation	Blended or role-based rates
Hybrid	Mix of defined deliverables + ongoing support	Fixed for phases + retainer for support

Default to 3-tier fixed fee unless the user specifies otherwise.

6b. Three-Tier Pricing Framework

## Investment

We have structured three engagement options to align with your priorities and budget.

### Option A: [Tier Name -- e.g., "Foundation"]
**[Price]**

Best for: [One sentence describing who this is for]

Includes:
- [Deliverable 1]
- [Deliverable 2]
- [Deliverable 3]

Duration: [X weeks]
Team: [Roles involved]

---

### Option B: [Tier Name -- e.g., "Accelerator"] (Recommended)
**[Price]**

Best for: [One sentence -- this should be the most compelling]

Everything in Foundation, plus:
- [Additional deliverable 1]
- [Additional deliverable 2]
- [Additional deliverable 3]
- [Additional deliverable 4]

Duration: [X weeks]
Team: [Roles involved]

---

### Option C: [Tier Name -- e.g., "Transformation"]
**[Price]**

Best for: [One sentence describing the full-scope option]

Everything in Accelerator, plus:
- [Premium deliverable 1]
- [Premium deliverable 2]
- [Premium deliverable 3]
- [Ongoing support component]

Duration: [X weeks]
Team: [Full team]

6c. Pricing Guidelines

Consulting rate benchmarks (adjust based on market, geography, and specialization):

Firm Size	Junior Rate	Senior Rate	Principal Rate
Solo / boutique	$150-250/hr	$250-400/hr	$400-600/hr
Mid-market firm	$200-350/hr	$350-500/hr	$500-800/hr
Big 4 / enterprise	$300-500/hr	$500-800/hr	$800-1500/hr

To calculate tier prices:

Estimate hours per role per phase
Apply blended rate
Tier 1: 60-70% of full scope price
Tier 2: 100% of target price (the one you want them to buy)
Tier 3: 140-160% of target price

If the user provides a budget range, reverse-engineer the tiers to bracket that range.

6d. Payment Terms

### Payment Terms

- 50% upon contract execution
- 25% at mid-project milestone ([specific milestone])
- 25% upon final delivery acceptance

OR (for retainer):
- Monthly invoicing, net 30
- 3-month minimum commitment
- 60-day cancellation notice

OR (for milestone):
- Payment upon acceptance of each phase deliverable
- Invoiced within 5 business days of milestone acceptance
- Net 30 payment terms

Step 7: Terms and Conditions

Standard consulting terms to include:

## Terms and Conditions

### Scope
This proposal covers the scope described herein. Work outside this scope will be addressed 
through a change order process with separate estimation and approval.

### Change Orders
Changes to scope, timeline, or deliverables will be documented in a written change order 
signed by both parties before work begins on the change.

### Intellectual Property
All deliverables become the property of [Client Name] upon final payment. 
[Your Company] retains the right to use general methodologies, frameworks, 
and non-proprietary tools developed during the engagement.

### Confidentiality
Both parties agree to keep confidential all proprietary information shared during 
the engagement. A separate NDA can be executed upon request.

### Assumptions
- Client will provide timely access to stakeholders, systems, and data as needed
- Client will designate a single point of contact for day-to-day coordination
- Feedback on deliverables will be provided within [3-5] business days
- Timeline estimates assume the above; delays in client inputs may extend the timeline

### Validity
This proposal is valid for 30 days from the date of submission.

### Limitation of Liability
[Your Company]'s total liability shall not exceed the total fees paid under this engagement.

Step 8: Assemble and Write the Proposal

Combine all sections into the final document. Apply professional formatting.

Document Structure

# [Proposal Title]

## [Your Company] | Proposal for [Client Name]

**Prepared for**: [Contact Name], [Contact Title]
**Prepared by**: [Your Name/Team], [Your Company]
**Date**: [Current Date]
**Proposal #**: [Auto-generated: PROP-{YYYY}-{NNN}]
**Valid through**: [Date + 30 days]

---

## Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary
2. Understanding Your Challenges
3. Proposed Approach
4. Scope and Deliverables
5. Timeline
6. Your Team
7. Investment
8. Terms and Conditions
9. Next Steps
10. Appendix (if applicable)

---

## 1. Executive Summary

[2-3 paragraphs. Personalized to the client. Reference their specific situation,
recent news, or industry challenges from the research phase. State the problem,
the proposed solution at a high level, and the expected outcome. End with a 
confidence statement.]

---

## 2. Understanding Your Challenges

[This section mirrors the client's pain points back to them, demonstrating that
you have listened and understand the stakes. Use the problem framing from Step 2.
3-5 bullet points or short paragraphs, each addressing a specific challenge.]

---

## 3. Proposed Approach

[Methodology overview. Explain your approach in terms the client can understand.
Avoid jargon. Focus on the "why" behind each phase. Include a visual timeline
or phase diagram if possible.]

### Phase 1: [Phase Name]
[Description, activities, deliverables]

### Phase 2: [Phase Name]
[Description, activities, deliverables]

[Continue for all phases]

---

## 4. Scope and Deliverables

### In Scope
[Bullet list of everything included]

### Out of Scope
[Explicit list of what is NOT included -- this prevents scope creep]

### Deliverables Summary
| # | Deliverable | Phase | Format |
|---|------------|-------|--------|
[Table from Step 3c]

---

## 5. Timeline

[Timeline from Step 4]

---

## 6. Your Team

[Team section from Step 5]

---

## 7. Investment

[Pricing section from Step 6]

---

## 8. Terms and Conditions

[Terms from Step 7]

---

## 9. Next Steps

To move forward:

1. **Select your preferred option** (A, B, or C)
2. **Schedule a follow-up call** to discuss any questions or adjustments
3. **Sign the agreement** -- We will send a formal engagement letter based on your selected option
4. **Kick off** -- We can begin within [X business days] of signed agreement

We are excited about the opportunity to partner with [Client Name] on this initiative.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions.

**[Your Name]**
[Your Title]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone]

---

## Appendix

### A. About [Your Company]
[Brief company overview -- 1 paragraph]

### B. Relevant Experience
[2-3 brief case study summaries, IF the user has provided real ones. 
NEVER fabricate case studies -- omit this section if no real examples are available.]

### C. Glossary
[Define any technical terms used in the proposal, if the audience is non-technical]

Step 9: Quality Check

Before delivering, verify:

Step 10: Deliver and Summarize

Write the file to the specified output path
Present a summary to the user:

## Proposal Generated

**File**: proposal-acme-corp.md
**Client**: Acme Corp (attention: Jane Smith)
**Type**: Technology modernization proposal
**Pricing tiers**: 
  - Foundation: $X
  - Accelerator: $Y (recommended)
  - Transformation: $Z
**Timeline**: 14 weeks (Accelerator tier)
**Word count**: ~3,200 words

### Personalization Applied
- Referenced their recent Series B funding
- Addressed industry-specific compliance requirements
- Tailored approach to their current tech stack (Node.js + PostgreSQL)

### Review Recommendations
- Verify team member names and bios before sending
- Confirm pricing aligns with your rate card
- Consider adding a case study if you have a relevant one
- The "Out of Scope" section may need adjustment based on your discovery call notes

Proposal Tone Variants

Consultative (Default)

Partner language ("we will work together to...")
Questions woven in ("have you considered...?")
Empathetic problem framing
Moderate formality

Enterprise

Formal language throughout
Risk mitigation emphasis
Governance and compliance focus
Reference to established methodologies by name
Higher perceived authority

Startup

Direct and energetic
Speed and iteration emphasis
Lean methodology references
Budget-conscious framing
Practical over polished

Technical

Architecture diagrams and system design
Technical trade-off analysis
Detailed technology recommendations
Less business context, more implementation detail
Aimed at technical decision-makers

Pricing Calibration by Engagement Type

Engagement Type	Tier 1 Range	Tier 2 Range	Tier 3 Range
Strategy / advisory (4-8 weeks)	$15K-30K	$30K-60K	$60K-100K
Technology assessment (2-4 weeks)	$10K-20K	$20K-40K	$40K-75K
Implementation (8-16 weeks)	$50K-100K	$100K-200K	$200K-400K
Full transformation (12-24 weeks)	$100K-200K	$200K-500K	$500K-1M+
Monthly retainer	$5K-10K/mo	$10K-20K/mo	$20K-50K/mo

These are calibration ranges, not fixed prices. Adjust based on:

Client company size and budget
Geographic market
Your firm's positioning and reputation
Complexity of the specific engagement
Competitive landscape for this deal

Error Handling

Issue	Response
No client name provided	Ask before proceeding -- this is the one required field
Minimal problem description	Generate a proposal with broader framing; flag sections that need client input
Web research returns nothing	Proceed without personalization, note it, suggest the user add details
User provides no pricing guidance	Use mid-market rates from the calibration table
Scope is extremely vague	Create a "Discovery Phase" as the first tier, full engagement as tiers 2-3
User asks for a one-page version	Generate an executive summary version (Section 1 + pricing + next steps)
User wants a different format (PDF, DOCX)	Generate the markdown and suggest using a PDF/DOCX conversion skill
Client is a competitor	Warn the user (in case it is accidental) but proceed if confirmed

client-proposal-generator