Consulting Brief Template

What is a consulting brief template?

A consulting brief template helps you capture the essentials of a client engagement quickly, before you draft a full proposal. It clarifies the client’s context, goals, scope, and constraints, and it serves as a bridge from discovery conversations to a formal agreement. With a well-structured brief, you can align expectations right away and reduce back-and-forth later.

Definition and purpose of a consulting brief

A consulting brief is a concise, structured document that captures the client’s context, goals, scope, and constraints.

It standardizes how information is gathered, so consultants can align expectations, qualify opportunities, and design effective next steps. By detailing the client problem, success metrics, budget range, timeline, and any known risks, the team has a shared view of what success looks like. This consistency helps you move more confidently from discovery to planning.

A strong brief reduces misunderstandings and scope creep later by locking in boundaries early. When the brief is circulated to stakeholders during discovery, gaps are surfaced before drafting a formal proposal, saving time and avoiding rework.

How a consulting brief differs from a consulting proposal

A brief is not the same as a proposal; it serves a different purpose in the client journey.

The brief focuses on understanding the client and framing the problem, while the proposal outlines your solution, approach, pricing, and terms. It is usually internal or a shared working document used to inform the proposal, not a selling document. Here's a quick side-by-side of common elements.

• Elements typically found in a consulting brief: Client context, Goals and success metrics, Problem statement, Scope boundaries, Constraints, Stakeholders, Discovery notes, Assumptions.
• Elements typically found in a consulting proposal: Solution overview, Methodology/approach, Deliverables, Timeline, Pricing and payment terms, Terms and conditions, Client responsibilities, Acceptance criteria.

When to use a consulting brief template in your process

Describe the typical points in the client journey when a consulting brief is most useful: after initial discovery calls, when qualifying larger or complex projects, or when collaborating with a team on scoping. A template helps you capture decisions quickly and consistently at each of these stages.

Describe how using a template at these stages saves time, ensures consistency, and supports higher proposal win rates. In 2024-2025, teams that standardized briefs reported 20-40% faster kickoff times and 15-25% higher win rates, making the brief template a practical, data-backed tool for freelancers and small teams. Tools like HelloBonsai’s Consulting Brief Template, Google Docs, Notion, and Notion-integrated dashboards can keep your brief accessible and editable for the whole engagement.

Key components of a consulting brief

A concise Consulting Brief Template acts as a compact road map for a project. It captures who is involved, what will be done, and how success will be measured. In 2025, a well-structured brief helps both clients and consultants stay aligned across remote teams and changing priorities. This section breaks down the core sections you should include and why each one matters, drawing on common proposal structures like project overview, goals, scope, and terms.

Client information and project title

Start with the basics: who the client is, the organization, the primary contact, their role, and how to reach them, plus a clear project title. The template should include fields for client name, organization, primary contact, role, email, phone, and a working project name that everyone understands. A precise project title helps set expectations from day one and makes it easier to track progress in tools like Google Docs or Notion.

Write a title that signals outcome, scope, and audience. For example, instead of “Sales consulting,” use “Q3 sales funnel optimization for EU market.” This tells you what you’ll do (optimize the funnel), where (EU), and when (Q3). Keep it action-oriented and specific, and use it as a north star for the brief. Use the same template in a shared workspace like Notion or Airtable so everyone can review and update contact details and the project title as needed.

Background and project overview

Provide a short narrative that frames the client’s current situation, the context, and the problem or opportunity. Structure it like a mini-story: describe what’s happening now, why it matters, and what could change with help. The brief should capture what the client has already tried, relevant history, and any constraints. Write from the client’s perspective so the overview reads like a project summary in a consulting proposal, but aimed at guiding the first draft of the solution.

In this section, connect past actions to the opportunity. Mention a recent initiative, results, or failed attempts, and why they fell short. Note constraints such as budget limits, regulatory requirements, or data availability. Including one or two concrete numbers helps; for example, “lead-to-MQL conversion fell from 6% to 3.2% after the pilot, due to data gaps.” This narrative sets the stage for goals, success metrics, and scope decisions, and it stays aligned with the client’s voice so later sections stay credible.

Goals and desired outcomes

Document the client’s goals in a way that’s specific, measurable, and time-bound. Start by separating strategic goals from tactical ones, and show how each will be measured. For example, under Primary goals you might list “enter the EU market” and under Secondary goals “increase lead conversion by 5% within six months.” The brief template should nudge consultants to prioritize by clearly marking what’s most important and by when.

To keep it practical, use crisp headings like Primary goals and Secondary goals, and attach short success criteria to each. For strategic aims, connect them to a desired market move or capability, and for tactical aims, tie them to a concrete action or metric. By the end of this section you should have 3–5 concrete goals, each with a time target, so the team can design a focused approach. Tools like Google Sheets or Notion can help teams track these goals in real time.

Success metrics and return on investment

Define how success will be measured, both numerically and qualitatively, so the work can be assessed clearly. Include fields for key performance indicators (KPIs), baseline numbers, target numbers, and expected ROI ranges. For example, a KPI could be “monthly recurring revenue per user,” with a baseline of $120 and a target of $180 within 9 months. Qualitative success might include stakeholder satisfaction or faster decision cycles.

Frame ROI in concrete terms to guide solution design. Outline ROI ranges like 120–180% payback over 12 months, or a qualitative improvement such as “time-to-decide reduced by 40%.” Use familiar tools to track these metrics, such as Excel dashboards, Tableau, or Looker, and note data sources you’ll need (CRM, analytics, or financial systems). This helps both client and consultant stay focused on value delivered.

Scope, deliverables, and options

Describe the initial scope, including project boundaries, in-scope and out-of-scope activities, and high-level deliverables. The brief should outline what will be produced, such as audits, roadmaps, or training sessions, and how those deliverables relate to the goals. This clarity helps avoid scope creep and keeps everyone aligned on expected outcomes from the start.

Also include possible engagement options or phases, inspired by common consulting proposals. For example, a diagnostic phase to map current state in 2–3 weeks, followed by an implementation phase of 6–8 weeks, and optional training or handoff. Mention data needs, dependencies, and decision gates. Providing these options up front makes it easier to adjust scope later without derailing the project, and it helps the client compare scenarios side by side.

Roles, responsibilities, and stakeholders

Identify key client stakeholders, decision makers, and internal project owners, and outline their responsibilities and level of involvement. The template should prompt you to name roles (for example sponsor, product owner, data steward) and who does what. Clarify the distinction between consultant responsibilities (strategy, facilitation, delivery) and client responsibilities (data access, approvals, inputs) so expectations are clear from the start.

Consider adding a simple RACI outline in the notes section, even if it’s just a rough map. For instance, “R” for responsible, “A” for accountable, “C” for consulted, and “I” for informed. This helps prevent bottlenecks and miscommunications. In practice, you’ll often list names or roles in the header of this section and keep their duties aligned with project milestones, meetings, and decision points using tools like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace to share documents and track progress.

Constraints, risks, and assumptions

Use this section to capture known constraints, potential risks, and working assumptions. Keep each category concise with short bullet points or sentences to prevent long, unwieldy text. Typical constraints include budget limits, strict timelines, available resources, and technology compatibility, while risks cover data quality, stakeholder resistance, or integration challenges. Working assumptions might be access to clean data or timely sign-offs.

Documenting constraints and assumptions here helps reduce scope creep and unpleasant surprises later. As you draft, tie risks to mitigation ideas and assign owners for follow-up. For example, if data quality is a risk, note the plan to run a 2-week data cleansing sprint and who will oversee it. Keeping this section practical and up-to-date ensures the project remains on track even when priorities shift.

Budget, timeline, and payment expectations

Provide preliminary fields for the expected budget range, target start date, and desired end date. Also capture any payment expectations the client mentioned, such as milestones, retainers, or performance-based components. Remember that this isn’t a formal pricing page yet, but it gives structure for later proposal pricing and negotiation leverage.

Use concrete numbers and real dates when possible. For example, set a budget range of $40,000–$80,000 with a target start in May 2025 and a first milestone at 4 weeks. If there are multiple phases, note the anticipated costs for each phase and how payments will align with deliverables. Tools like Excel for budgeting, or Airtable for a simple budget tracker, can help you keep this section organized and transparent.

Approval, next steps, and sign-off

Even though the brief is usually internal, you can include an optional sign-off area so you can share it with the client for alignment. Include simple fields like “Reviewed by,” “Date,” and “Agreed next steps” so the brief can function as a lightweight sign-off document before the formal proposal or contract.

Use this section to summarize the agreement and align on next steps. After internal review, share the brief with the client for acknowledgment, then capture any changes in the formal proposal. If you want, you can add a quick approval checklist or a short action plan with deadlines, so both sides know exactly what happens next and when to reconvene, with tools like HelloSign or Acrobat for formal sign-off.

How to use a consulting brief template in your sales process

A consulting brief template acts as a compass that guides your sales workflow from discovery conversations through to closing deals. It helps you capture client goals, constraints, and success metrics in one place, so your proposals stay focused on outcomes. In 2025, leading firms report higher win rates when they start with a brief before drafting proposals, because the brief shapes scope, pricing options, and buyer value from the start, not after proposals are written.

To capture discovery call insights consistently

During or immediately after discovery calls, open the Consulting Brief Template to log client information while details are fresh. This practice keeps you close to the client’s language and priorities, making it easier to translate what you hear into concrete proposal elements. Log fields such as company, primary stakeholders, stated goals, constraints, timeline, budget range, decision criteria, and potential risks so nothing slips through the cracks.

Consistency matters because every lead uses the same structure. With uniform capture, you can compare opportunities side by side, qualify them quickly, and surface missing details that often derail proposals later. For example, if one client mentions a hard deadline and another emphasizes ROI, you’ll spot these differences early and tailor each brief accordingly. In practice, many teams find that logging 100% of discovery notes in the template reduces late-stage clarifications by a third and slashes back-and-forth email chatter by about 25%, keeping momentum strong between conversations.

To align internally before writing a proposal

Once the brief is complete, use it as the single source of truth to get the team aligned before drafting a full proposal. The completed brief becomes a living document that partners, account managers, and subject matter experts review to confirm client needs, clarify scope, and agree on engagement options and pricing strategies. This alignment helps you surface any gaps in capabilities, dependencies, or client expectations early, reducing rebuilds later in the process.

In practice, you can run a focused internal alignment with 60 minutes on the calendar, sharing the brief in a shared workspace (like HelloBonsai or Google Docs). Have each party confirm the proposed scope, agree on three engagement options (for example, project-based, time-and-materials, or a blended retainer), and finalize a high‑level pricing approach. By treating the brief as the agreement layer across partners, account managers, and SMEs, your team walks into proposals with clarity—and less room for misinterpretation or scope doubt.

To design proposals that focus on client outcomes

Link the brief’s goals, success metrics, and ROI notes directly to the proposal’s structure. Start with outcomes the client wants to achieve, and frame deliverables around these outcomes rather than a list of activities. This shift helps you follow best practices such as focusing on the buyer, highlighting ROI, and showing what the client will get, not just what you’ll do. The brief’s capacity to quantify success—through metrics like time saved, cost reduction, or revenue uplift—gives you concrete language to justify recommendations and pricing.

Use a standard proposal outline that mirrors the brief: an executive summary that foregrounds the client outcomes, a solution overview tied to measurable metrics, a timeline with milestones aligned to success criteria, and a return-on-investment section that projects tangible value. Leverage HelloBonsai proposal templates and integrate ROI calculations drawn from the brief to ensure consistency across opportunities. This approach tends to produce proposals that feel client-first and results-driven, increasing confidence and likelihood of sign-off.

To reduce proposal revisions and scope creep

Thorough use of the consulting brief upfront leads to fewer back-and-forth changes later. When client expectations, constraints, and responsibilities are captured and agreed in the brief, proposals become more accurate and aligned from the start. This reduces the risk of scope creep, change orders, and uncomfortable renegotiations because the boundaries are already defined and visible to all parties.

Adopt clear change-control practices to reinforce these benefits. Require sign-off on any scope shift, log all changes in the brief, and schedule short weekly check-ins to confirm that everyone still agrees on priorities and success criteria. Keep the brief as the living contract guide for the engagement, and reference it during proposal reviews. By coupling disciplined brief usage with standard proposal templates in HelloBonsai, you can cut revision cycles by a meaningful margin and keep projects on track from kickoff to close.

Best practices to complete a consultancy brief

Filling out the Consulting Brief Template with care helps you win higher-quality work and set up projects for success. This section gives practical, buyer-focused guidance that ties to common proposal mistakes. Expect to emphasize value, keep language simple, and treat the brief as a strategic tool rather than a formality.

To focus on the buyer, not your business

Let the client define the problem in their own words, and use their language in the brief. If they say, “we’re losing customers in the first 60 days,” capture that exact concern in the problem area and define success in measurable terms tied to that issue. This keeps the brief grounded in outcomes, not features. After you draft the problem statement, pause to confirm you understood it before moving to a solution. This helps prevent early self-promotion and keeps the focus on the buyer’s needs.

Next, summarize back to the client in their own words and add a couple of clarifying questions. Include quotes from the client where possible and a simple line like “Client success definition: reduce 60-day churn by 5 percentage points in 6 months.” Resist turning the brief into a capability statement; maintain a buyer-centric tone and show you listened first. Doing so builds trust and sets up a clear path to value from day one.

To keep the brief concise but complete

Balance brevity with enough detail to guide the work. Use short, clear bullet points and concrete metrics instead of long paragraphs. Each bullet should cover a distinct item, such as goals, success metrics, or constraints, so the client can scan and understand quickly. This approach helps both you and the client stay aligned as conversations move from discovery to proposal.

To make sure the brief is thorough without being bloated, include a short list of must-have fields that should always be completed. Other fields can stay blank if they’re not relevant yet, which keeps early conversations focused and efficient.

To clarify assumptions early

Use the assumptions and constraints section proactively to surface hidden gaps. Turn vague client statements into explicit assumptions in the brief, for example: “Assume internal team will implement recommendations within 60 days; Owner: Client PM; Date: Q3.” Writing clear assumptions helps you spot missing data, approvals, or dependencies before they become deal-killers or trigger scope creep.

This habit also creates a clear record of what is being assumed, who will verify it, and by when. When you and the client agree on assumptions up front, you reduce back-and-forth later and keep the project on a realistic track. Consider adding a few common templates to your brief so everyone knows what to expect.

To avoid legal jargon and complexity

Keep the brief free of heavy legal terms or contract language that should live in the final agreement. Use plain language so clients and internal teams can quickly understand and react to what’s captured. Save details like indemnities or detailed terms for the contract, not the brief, to keep the document readable and action-focused.

Plain language checks help here. Use shorter sentences, define any industry terms, and avoid unnecessary acronyms. If a term could be misinterpreted, add a quick parenthetical definition. This clarity prevents miscommunication and speeds up decisions during the proposal stage.

To anchor conversations around ROI and success metrics

Always complete the success metrics and ROI portions of the brief, even if you start with high-level entries. Concrete targets, timelines, and value ranges give both sides a clear picture of expected outcomes and how success will be measured. This makes it easier to justify pricing and to pursue value-based approaches later on.

Good ROI entries set a real target and a deadline, while weak entries are vague and hard to test. For example, a strong entry might read: “Increase annual recurring revenue by 12% within 9 months, equivalent to $1.2M in value; KPI: ARR growth, timeline: 9 months; method: optimization + quick-wins.” In contrast, a weak entry like “improve performance” offers no direction or payoff. Treat these metrics as a foundation for advanced strategies such as value-based pricing or performance incentives, where payment aligns with delivered value.

Common mistakes to avoid in a consulting brief

In 2025, a clear, well-structured consulting brief is a proven predictor of proposal win rates. Teams that rush to send proposals, make silent assumptions, or focus only on price tend to attract commoditized pitches and price pressure, not partnerships. By mapping common pitfalls to specific shortfalls at the brief stage, you can spot and fix problems before they derail a later proposal. Think of the brief as the first contract with clarity: it sets scope, signals client alignment, and frames value.

To avoid capturing needs superficially

When you fill the Goals and Overview sections with only high-level language, you miss the client’s real challenges, constraints, and decision criteria. This leads to generic proposals that fail to spark excitement. For example, a shallow entry like Goals: "Improve efficiency" or Overview: "Client wants to do more with less" leaves room for interpretation. In contrast, a detailed entry frames measurable targets and context, which makes your team’s work feel tailored and credible. Using the Consulting Brief Template in HelloBonsai helps teams standardize this depth and keeps everyone aligned from the start.

A concrete contrast helps teams see the difference. Shallow: Goals—“Reduce cycle time.” Overview—“Must work around a tight IT schedule.” Detailed: Goals—“Cut order-to-delivery from 7 days to 3 days within 120 days, with a 20% drop in rework, under a $120k budget; Constraints—IT clock, vendor sign-off within 10 days; Decision criteria—procurement approves changes by Q2; Stakeholders—Executive sponsor X, Ops lead Y.” When you capture this level of detail, the brief becomes a blueprint for the proposal, not a scattershot outline. Leverage tools like HelloBonsai’s Consulting Brief Template or a shared Notion page to capture these specifics consistently.

To stop making unspoken assumptions

Assumptions left unspoken create misaligned expectations and a fragile client–consultant relationship. Documenting assumptions in the brief reduces rework and builds trust by showing you heard the client correctly. Here is a quick comparison to illustrate the impact:

• Assumption left implicit — what you think is true isn’t tested, so scope, pricing, and timeline drift later.
• Assumption written in the brief and confirmed with the client — you capture it upfront and lock it in with a sign-off, preventing drift.

When assumptions are documented and confirmed, you protect scope, align pricing to reality, and strengthen trust. For example, clearly stating that the client will provide access to a key dataset within two weeks removes a potential delay and sets a concrete delivery plan. If you assume the client has authority to approve changes, you risk stalled work and messy negotiations. Instead, capture authority, budget authority, and decision criteria in the brief, and confirm with the client during a short kickoff call. This practice, supported by a written sign-off, dramatically reduces back-and-forth later in the process.

To not rush the brief before qualification

Rushing the brief or skipping it altogether ties directly to the mistake of sending proposals too early. Use the brief as a qualification gate to determine if the project is a fit before investing time in a full proposal. Think of the brief as the BANT framework—Budget, Authority, Need, Timing—applied upfront. If any element is uncertain, pause and complete a quick discovery to avoid wasted effort and overpromising.

Before drafting a full proposal, confirm four key items: Budget range and readiness (for example, is $50k–$150k realistic and approved?), Decision-maker identified (who signs off on funding and scope?), Need clarity (is there a defined problem with measurable impact?), and Timing viability (can the project start within the client’s procurement cycle and align with internal priorities?). Use a simple discovery sprint or a 30-minute stakeholder interview to validate these points. HelloBonsai’s Discovery Pack or a dedicated Brief Review workflow can help you capture these signals cleanly and keep the process under control.

To avoid centering only on price

Focusing the brief solely on budget questions—without deeply understanding value and outcomes—pushes engagement toward a price war. Instead, contextualize budget fields with ROI, success metrics, and strategic importance captured elsewhere in the brief. For example, pair a budget range with a concrete ROI target and a success metric: budget $75k–$125k; expected ROI 2.0x within 12 months; critical success metrics include a 15–20% productivity gain and a 6-month payback period. This approach reframes the purchase as an investment, not a race to the bottom on price.

To operationalize this, link the budget to value in a dedicated section of the brief (a Value Narrative or ROI section), and ensure the pricing discussion is anchored in outcomes rather than discounts. Invite the client to provide baseline metrics and targets so you can quantify the impact. Use tools like HelloBonsai’s Consulting Brief Template to maintain this structure, and train your team to refer back to the ROI prompts during discovery and proposal writing. By doing so, you preserve margin while demonstrating strategic alignment and delivering a compelling, outcome-focused proposal.

How to customize a consulting brief template for different services

One core consulting brief template can cover most project work by keeping the core sections—objective, scope, approach, timeline, and success metrics—consistent. For 2025, smart small firms adapt the same base template to strategy, marketing, IT, HR, and other services by adding targeted prompts in each project area. Look to competitor-style proposals for ideas on what tends to vary, such as market context or risk sections, while keeping the core structure intact so you can reuse language and deliverables across engagements.

To adapt the brief for strategy and business consulting

Strategy projects benefit from clear market context, competitive landscape insight, and long‑term goals wired into the brief.

In strategy and business projects, add fields for market context, competitive landscape, and long‑term organizational goals. Start by outlining the market size and growth projections, then map where the client sits among peers. For example, note a client with a 12% market share while the top competitor holds 28%, and set a target to grow revenue by 8‑12% over the next 12–24 months. Include 2–4 strategic options with estimated effects on earnings and capital needs, plus a high‑level risk and implementation view.

Finally, align success metrics to strategic impact—revenue growth, market share gains, and potential valuation uplift if the client pursues a sale or IPO within 3–5 years. Tie each option to a practical implementation plan and clear milestones, so the brief remains actionable and easy to reuse across engagements.

To adapt the brief for marketing and sales consulting

Marketing and sales projects need clear audience data, channel plans, and funnel performance to guide decisions.

In marketing work, prompt for target audiences (2–4 buyer personas), channel mix, and current funnel performance. Capture the brand position and recent campaign history, including performance before and after any major shifts. For instance, specify that 60% of spend goes to digital channels, two major personas drive 75% of conversions, and the current lead-to-MQL conversion rate sits at 18%. Include the last campaign’s results and learnings to inform the scope and approach.

Adjust the success metrics toward marketing and sales outcomes. Define targets such as a 15–20% increase in qualified leads, a 2–3 percentage point lift in conversion rate, a CAC around $120–$180, and a lifetime value (LTV) of $1,000–$2,000 per customer. Tie metrics to pipeline stages and revenue impact, and include a 90‑day plan with milestones so the client can see early wins while the longer‑term growth is pursued. In competitor briefs, you’ll often see a dedicated section mapping prior channel performance to proposed channels and a quick ROI estimate for each option.

To adapt the brief for IT and technology consulting

IT and technology projects require clear visibility into technical environments, data flows, and risk considerations to plan a secure, scalable solution.

Prompt for the current tech stack (cloud providers, languages, databases), number of integrations (systems and data sources), security requirements (encryption, IAM, MFA), and compliance constraints (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI). Include internal IT capabilities and staffing levels to assess implementation burden. For example, a client with 30 core systems and 40+ integrations will need a phased migration plan, while a smaller shop may rely on a single cloud environment with tight access controls. Also note migration dependencies and data quality issues that affect timeline.

Because IT projects hinge on dependencies, the constraints and risk sections should be prominent. Outline data migration timelines, security and regulatory reviews, and any vendor constraints. A typical timeline might span 8–16 weeks for a multi‑system migration, with up to 6 weeks for security and compliance approvals. Structure the brief to show a dependency map, a risk register, and a proposed timeline aligned to data move events, so the client understands the path and risk before signing off.

To adapt the brief for HR and organizational consulting

HR and organizational work benefits from workforce size, structure, key roles, culture assessment, policies, and regulatory requirements.

Capture the current organization: total employees, regional distribution, and core teams. For example, a firm with 1,200 employees across eight regions and 10 business units needs a detailed org chart and role profiles. Include top roles in the change program and any regulatory constraints that impact hiring or staffing, such as local labor laws or industry‑specific rules. Also document current culture signals and policy gaps to guide the change plan.

Detail change management considerations and stakeholder groups directly in roles and responsibilities. Map stakeholders to responsibilities (RACI) and outline training needs, adoption strategies, and sponsorship requirements. For instance, plan 40 hours of training per employee or 6 weeks of executive coaching for sponsors, with a target 75% adoption rate within six months. Frame success metrics around staffing efficiency, time‑to‑fill, engagement scores, and policy compliance progress to keep the project grounded and measurable.

How Bonsai helps manage consulting briefs

Bonsai turns static consulting brief templates into a living, powerful part of your client and proposal workflow. With Bonsai, you can create reusable consulting brief templates that capture every essential detail, link briefs to the right client and project records, and automate downstream actions like proposal creation, approvals, and notifications. In 2025, Bonsai continues to expand template libraries, tighten client data integration, and add smarter automation to keep your momentum from interest to signed engagements.

To create reusable consulting brief templates

Set up a consulting brief template once inside Bonsai, defining all essential sections such as client info, goals, success metrics, scope, and constraints, and then reuse that structure for every new lead or project.

In Bonsai, start with the Templates area and choose “Consulting Brief Template.” Build out 6 core sections—Client Info, Goals, Success Metrics, Scope, Constraints, and Timeline—and optionally add Budget and Stakeholders. Save the template to your library so it can be applied to any new lead with a single click, and enable dynamic fields that pre-fill client data from your records. This approach dramatically reduces drafting time; a brief created from scratch often takes 60–90 minutes, while a pre-built template can be filled in about 15–25 minutes.

Beyond speed, the real win is consistency. Whether you’re solo or part of a small team, a reusable template ensures every brief starts with the same structure and level of detail. That consistency speeds onboarding for new consultants and makes client handoffs smoother, since every briefing follows the same format and language. In practice, you’ll find fewer gaps in information and more predictable proposal quality across engagements.

To track and manage consulting briefs across clients

Bonsai stores all consulting briefs in one place, linked to client records and projects, so you can quickly find what you need and keep historical context.

Every brief attaches to its respective client profile and project, and you can filter or search by status (Draft, In Review, Approved), client name, or project. You’ll also see a complete version history with timestamps, so you can track changes over time and understand when key details were added or updated. This centralized approach reduces the chaos of scattered documents and helps you maintain a clean trail for audits or client reviews.

Collaboration is seamless: teammates can be assigned to briefs, leave comments, and view updates in real time. The system highlights completeness at a glance, so you know which opportunities have full briefs ready for proposal and which still need input before you proceed. With one click, you can pull up past briefs for a client to inform new proposals or reuse proven language in new projects.

To automate approvals, follow-ups, and next steps from briefs

Bonsai can trigger workflow automations whenever a consulting brief is created or updated, turning a static document into a proactive part of your process. Automations can notify stakeholders for review, set reminders to schedule proposal presentations, convert a brief into a proposal or contract draft, and log key dates like target start or decision deadlines. This automation saves time, reduces manual follow-ups, and helps consultants move from interest to signed engagements more reliably.

Here are common automations you can configure:

• Notify stakeholders for review (via email or Slack) with a link to the brief, so feedback starts quickly.
• Set reminders to schedule proposal presentations, such as 7–14 days before the client decision deadline.
• Automatically convert a brief into a proposal or contract draft, pre-filled with the brief’s details to speed up drafting.
• Log key dates like target start and decision deadlines, creating calendar events and an audit trail for accountability.