# Decide whether to take on a prospective client

A go or no-go assessment of a new inquiry covering fit, budget, red flags, and the questions to ask before writing a proposal.

- Topic: Sales
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Sales, Finance, Plan, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/decide-whether-to-take-on-a-prospective-client

## Prompt

```text
Help me decide whether to pursue a new client inquiry before I spend time on a proposal.

**What they've asked for:** [THE REQUEST, in their words if possible]
**What I know about them:** [company, size, who contacted me, how they found me]
**Budget and timeline mentioned:** [DETAILS, or "not discussed"]
**My ideal client:** [the work I want more of, typical budget range, industries]
**My current capacity:** [how full I am over the next 3 months]
**Anything that felt off:** [e.g. urgency, vague scope, comments about past consultants]

Give me:
1. A fit score (1-5) on each of: strategic fit with my services, budget fit, capacity, likelihood they'll value the work, and learning or portfolio value. Explain each in one line.
2. Red flags to check, such as unclear decision-maker, "we just need a quick...", past provider blame, unpaid trial requests, or an unrealistic timeline. Say which ones apply here.
3. Five questions to ask on the next call that would settle the decision.
4. My recommendation: pursue, pursue with conditions (state them), or decline.
5. A short, gracious reply for whichever path you recommend, including a polite decline that leaves the door open or refers them elsewhere.

Base the assessment only on what I've shared and mark assumptions clearly.
```

## What to fill in

- THE REQUEST, in their words if possible
- company, size, who contacted me, how they found me
- DETAILS, or "not discussed"
- the work I want more of, typical budget range, industries
- how full I am over the next 3 months
- e.g. urgency, vague scope, comments about past consultants

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.