Client Intake & Discovery Form

1. Basic Information

Capture the essentials to get the ball rolling.

 

Full Name

First Name

Last Name

Title/Role

Email Address

Primary Phone Number

Secondary Phone Number

Company Name

Industry

Preferred Contact Method

How did you hear about my services?

2. Project Overview

This is the "What is the pain point?" section.

 

Current Challenge: Briefly describe the primary issue or opportunity you are facing.

Desired Outcome: What does "success" look like 6 months from now?

Scope of Work: What specific tasks or areas do you expect the consultant to handle? (e.g., Strategy, Implementation, Auditing, Training).

Previous Efforts: Have you tried to solve this before? If so, what were the results?

3. Business Context & Metrics

Numbers don't lie, and they help you quantify your eventual impact.

 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Which metrics will be used to measure the success of this project?

Target Audience: Who are your primary customers or internal stakeholders for this project?

Relevant Systems/Tools: What software or platforms are currently in use that relate to this project?

4. Logistics & Resources

Setting expectations early prevents "scope creep" later.

 

Timeline: What is your ideal start date and the projected deadline?

Budget Range: (Optional but recommended) Providing a range helps ensure the proposed solution aligns with your financial expectations.

Decision Makers: Who are the key stakeholders who will need to sign off on milestones?

Availability: How many hours per week is your team able to dedicate to this collaboration?

5. Culture & Fit

Soft skills are often the difference between a good project and a great one.

 

Communication Style: Do you prefer high-level summaries or granular, data-heavy reports?

High-Level Summaries: Just the "big picture," key takeaways, and major milestones. (Executive style)

Granular & Data-Heavy: Give me the raw data, technical details, and line-item progress. (Analyst style)

Hybrid: A brief summary at the top with detailed data attached below.

Urgency Level: Is this a "business as usual" improvement or a "critical fire" that needs immediate attention?

🟢 Business as Usual (Low): General improvements, non-urgent optimizations, or "nice-to-haves.

🟡 Priority (Medium): Important for upcoming deadlines or fixing recurring friction.

🔴 Critical Fire (High): System is down, revenue is being lost, or there is a total blocker.

Context & Considerations: Are there any additional factors, background information, or specific sensitivities we should keep in mind for this project?

 

Form Template Insights

Please remove this form template insight sections before publishing.

Form Insight: Client Intake & Discovery Form

 

1. The Power of "Problem Framing"

The way a client describes their struggle is often different from the actual root cause. By including open-ended questions about their "Current Challenge," the form allows you to analyze their perception of the problem.

  • Symptom vs. Cause: If a client lists "low sales," the form helps you dig into whether it’s a lead generation issue, a conversion issue, or a product-market fit issue.
  • Urgency Mapping: The language used in the form (e.g., "we need this fixed now" vs. "we are exploring options") tells you how to prioritize the lead in your pipeline.
 

2. Establishing "Project Boundaries"

A detailed form acts as a silent negotiator. By asking about Decision Makers and Resource Availability, you are setting the expectation that your time is valuable and that the project requires their active participation.

  • Filtering the "Tire Kickers": Asking for a budget range or specific deadlines acts as a natural filter. Those who aren't serious will often drop off at this stage, ensuring you only spend time on high-intent leads.
  • Identifying Blockers: If a respondent indicates they aren't the primary decision-maker, you know immediately that your next step is to get the actual stakeholder on the call.
 

3. The Efficiency Loop

For the form creator, the primary insight is Standardization. Without a template, every discovery phase is a custom build, which is impossible to scale.

  • Pre-Call Prep: Instead of spending the first 20 minutes of a meeting asking "What do you do?", you enter the room with a focused agenda.
  • Data Portability: Because the data is structured, it can easily be moved into a project management tool or a CRM, creating a seamless transition from "Lead" to "Active Project."
 

4. Understanding Response Patterns

The manner in which a form is completed provides as much insight as the content itself.

  • Completion Time: If a client spends significant time on the form, it shows high commitment.
  • Detail Density: High-detail responses suggest a client who values thoroughness and documentation. Low-detail responses suggest a "big picture" thinker who may need you to handle all the granular logistics.
 

Mandatory Questions Recommendation

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Mandatory questions & core rationale:

 

1. The Core Challenge ("What is the primary problem you are facing?")

Why it’s mandatory: You cannot provide a solution if the problem is poorly defined. This question forces the client to move beyond generalities. It reveals whether they are looking for a "band-aid" fix or a deep structural overhaul. Without this, the scope of your work has no anchor.

2. The Definition of Success ("What does a 'win' look like in 6 months?")

Why it’s mandatory: This establishes the finish line. If success isn't defined at the start, "scope creep" is inevitable. It allows you to align your efforts with their expectations and provides a benchmark for you to prove your value when the project concludes.

3. Decision-Making Authority ("Who has the final sign-off on this project?")

Why it’s mandatory: There is nothing more frustrating than reaching the end of a discovery process only to realize your contact doesn't have the power to say "Yes." Knowing the stakeholder hierarchy ensures you are communicating with the right people and prevents the project from stalling in a middle-management bottleneck.

4. Budget Range or Resource Allocation

Why it’s mandatory: This is the ultimate "fit" test. A client may have a million-dollar problem but a thousand-dollar budget. By making this mandatory, you ensure that the solution you design is financially viable for them. It saves both parties from wasting time on a proposal that will never be signed.

5. Timeline and Deadlines ("What is your ideal launch or completion date?")

Why it’s mandatory: Consulting is a game of capacity management. You need to know if their expectations align with your current workload. Furthermore, it identifies if the project is driven by an external factor (like a board meeting or a product launch), which dictates the intensity of the work.


 

Please remove this mandatory questions recommendation before publishing.

Mandatory questions & core rationale:

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