Proposal software helps consultants create professional proposals, streamline approvals, and close deals faster.
Consultants need proposal tools that are easy to customize, support client collaboration, and reduce the back-and-forth typically involved in sending proposals.
Below are the best proposal software options for consultants, based on usability, flexibility, and suitability for solo consultants and small consulting teams.
Best proposal software for consultants (quick picks):
- Best overall proposal software for consultants: PandaDoc
- Best proposal software for solo consultants: Bonsai
- Best proposal software for small consulting teams: Better Proposals
- Best proposal software for client approvals: Qwilr
- Best budget-friendly proposal software for consultants: GetAccept
Best overall proposal software for consultants
PandaDoc is a strong all-around proposal tool for consultants who want to create polished proposals, manage approvals, and track engagement across multiple clients in one system.
PandaDoc
Why it’s the best overall: PandaDoc is strong across the full workflow—proposal creation, internal collaboration, sending, tracking, and e-signatures in one place. It works well whether you’re sending 3 proposals a month or 30, and it scales cleanly from solo to a small team.
What it’s good for
- Reusable building blocks: Create standard sections (about you, scope options, case studies, terms) and reuse them to keep proposals consistent.
- Approval and signature flow: Clients can review and sign without printing/scanning, and you keep an audit trail.
- Collaboration: Useful when proposals get reviewed by a partner, ops person, or another consultant before sending.
- Operational fit: Helpful if your proposals often become contracts/SOWs and you want one tool for multiple document types.
Best for
- Consultants who manage multiple proposals at once and want one system that supports creation → approval → signature, without stitching together separate tools.
Watch-outs
- If you only send a handful of simple proposals per year, it can be more tool than you need.
Best proposal software for solo consultants
Bonsai is a good fit for solo consultants who want an all-in-one solution for proposals, contracts, invoicing, and client management without juggling multiple tools.
Bonsai
Why it’s best for solo: Bonsai keeps the proposal process lightweight and practical for a one-person business. You can put a proposal in front of a client quickly, get approval, and keep moving—without spending time on complex setup.
What it’s good for
- Fast proposal creation: Start from templates and adjust scope/fees per client.
- Simple client approval: Clients can approve electronically, which reduces back-and-forth and “can you resend that PDF?” loops.
- Solo-friendly workflow: Designed for people who sell and deliver work themselves (not a full sales team).
Best for
- Independent consultants who want proposals and approvals to be straightforward and fast, with minimal operational overhead.
Watch-outs
- If you need deeper team permissions, complex internal approval chains, or heavy collaboration controls, a team-focused tool may fit better.
Best proposal software for small consulting teams
Better Proposals works well for small consulting teams that want to create polished, on-brand proposals quickly while keeping collaboration and approvals simple.
Better Proposals
Better Proposals is designed to help teams send proposals that look professional and convert well, without adding unnecessary complexity. It focuses on speed, consistency, and visibility—important when more than one person is involved in sales or proposal creation.
Why it’s best for small teams:
Team-friendly templates: Create reusable proposal templates so everyone on the team uses consistent language, pricing structures, and branding.
Real-time engagement tracking: See when clients open proposals, which sections they view, and where they spend time—helpful for follow-ups.
Simple collaboration: Multiple team members can work from shared templates without version confusion.
Fast approvals and signatures: Clients can accept and sign proposals online without friction.
Best for
Small consulting teams (2–15 people) that want professional-looking proposals, faster turnaround, and visibility into client engagement—without heavy process overhead.
Watch-outs
- If you need complex internal approval chains or deep CRM-style workflows, you may want a more enterprise-oriented platform.
Best proposal software for client approvals
Qwilr is designed for consultants who want a modern, interactive proposal experience that makes it easy for clients to review, approve, and move forward quickly.
Qwilr
Why it’s best for approvals: Qwilr is designed to reduce friction at the finish line—clients can accept and sign in a single flow, and you can capture sign-off from one or multiple stakeholders.
What it’s good for
- Clear accept-and-sign experience: The “accept” step is obvious for clients, which helps when approvals get stuck or decision-makers are busy.
- E-signature built in: Legally compliant e-signature and an audit trail to document who accepted what and when.
- Works well for multi-stakeholder approvals: Helpful when your buyer needs internal sign-off (procurement, finance, leadership).
Best for
- Consultants who regularly lose time at the approval stage and want clients to accept/sign without extra steps.
Watch-outs
- If you primarily need classic document-style proposals and less of a web-page experience, you may prefer a more traditional doc-first platform.
Best budget-friendly proposal software for consultants
GetAccept is a budget-friendly proposal tool for consultants who want digital proposals, client-friendly approvals, and engagement tracking without paying for enterprise-level features.
GetAccept
GetAccept balances affordability with modern proposal functionality. It supports interactive proposals, e-signatures, and basic analytics—making it a strong option when you want more than PDFs, but don’t need a full document automation suite.
Why it’s budget-friendly:
Interactive proposals: Create web-based proposals that are easier for clients to review than static PDFs.
Built-in e-signatures: Clients can accept and sign proposals digitally, with a clear audit trail.
Engagement insights: See when proposals are opened and viewed, which helps with follow-ups.
Affordable entry point: Lower-cost plans make it accessible for solo consultants and small firms.
Best for
- Professional, modern proposals without paying for advanced enterprise features
- Care about client experience and approval speed
- Need a step up from basic document tools, but not a full sales platform
Watch-outs
- Advanced customization and deeper integrations are available on higher plans, so very cost-sensitive users may need to stay within feature limits.
How to choose proposal software as a consultant
When comparing proposal tools, consultants should prioritize:
- Easy proposal creation and editing
- Client-friendly review and approval
- Version control and tracking
- Integration with CRM or invoicing tools
- Scalability as the business grows
Once proposals are approved, managing leads and client relationships becomes critical, so you may also want to review our guide to the best CRM software for consultants.
After closing deals, consultants often need a simple way to bill clients, so see our guide to the best invoicing software for consultants.
Frequently asked questions
Do consultants need proposal software?
Proposal software isn’t required, but it can save consultants significant time by standardizing proposals and reducing manual formatting. It’s especially useful for consultants who send proposals frequently or work with multiple clients at once.
What makes a good proposal tool for consultants?
A good proposal tool for consultants should be easy to customize, support clear scope and pricing, and offer a simple review and approval process for clients. Consultants also benefit from tools that track proposal status and reduce back-and-forth communication.
Can proposal software help close deals faster?
Yes. Proposal software can help close deals faster by making proposals easier to review, approve, and sign. Clear presentation and a streamlined approval process reduce delays during the decision stage.