Research Proposal Template for Professional Services

# Research Proposal Template - Professional Services

## Purpose
Use when proposing market research, feasibility studies, or internal investigations that require dedicated resources and budget.

## When to Use
A research proposal with background analysis, research questions, methodology, resource requirements, timeline, and expected deliverables.

## Instructions
1. Review the template below and familiarise yourself with the structure
2. Replace all [bracketed placeholders] with your professional services business details
3. Customise the tone and formatting to match your brand
4. Save in your preferred tool (Notion or Airtable)

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## Research Proposal

**Project Title:** [Research Project Title]
**Prepared for:** [Sponsor / Stakeholder Name]
**Prepared by:** [Your Name], [Your Role]
**Date:** [Date]
**Reference:** [RP-001]

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### Executive Summary

This proposal outlines a [duration] research project to [brief description of research purpose, e.g. assess the feasibility of expanding into the Queensland market / understand customer preferences for a new product line / evaluate the competitive landscape in the digital health sector]. The findings will inform [key decision, e.g. the board's expansion strategy / product development priorities / market positioning]. The total budget requested is $[Amount] + GST.

### Background & Context

[Provide 2-3 paragraphs of context explaining why this research is needed now.]

[Client Company / Your Business] is currently [situation description]. Recent developments include:

- [Development 1, e.g. Revenue growth has plateaued in the existing market]
- [Development 2, e.g. Competitors have begun entering adjacent markets]
- [Development 3, e.g. Customer feedback suggests demand for new capabilities]

Existing information is insufficient to make a confident decision because [reason, e.g. available data is anecdotal / the market has changed significantly since the last review / no formal research has been conducted in this area].

### Research Questions

This study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. **Primary:** [Main research question, e.g. Is there sufficient demand in [target market] to justify a $[Amount] investment in market entry?]
2. **Secondary:** [Supporting question, e.g. What are the key purchase drivers and barriers for our target customer segment?]
3. **Secondary:** [Supporting question, e.g. Who are the established players and what are their strengths and weaknesses?]
4. **Secondary:** [Supporting question, e.g. What pricing model and go-to-market approach would be most effective?]

### Research Methodology

| Method | Purpose | Sample/Scope | Timeline |
|--------|---------|-------------|----------|
| Desk research | Market sizing, industry trends, regulatory landscape | [X] industry reports, public data sources | Week 1-2 |
| Competitor analysis | Map competitive landscape and positioning | [X] competitors profiled | Week 2-3 |
| Stakeholder interviews | Internal perspectives and strategic context | [X] internal leaders | Week 1-2 |
| Customer surveys | Quantitative demand and preference data | [X] respondents, online survey | Week 3-5 |
| In-depth interviews | Qualitative insights from target customers | [X] interviews, [X] minutes each | Week 4-6 |
| Financial modelling | Revenue projections and scenario analysis | [X] scenarios modelled | Week 6-7 |

**Ethical Considerations:**
- All survey and interview participants will provide informed consent
- Data will be anonymised in reporting
- Findings stored securely and accessible only to project team

### Resource Requirements

| Resource | Detail | Cost |
|----------|--------|------|
| Lead researcher | [Name / Role], [X] hours over [X] weeks | $[Amount] (internal cost) |
| Research assistant | [Name / Role], [X] hours over [X] weeks | $[Amount] |
| Survey platform | [Tool, e.g. SurveyMonkey / Typeform] | $[Amount] |
| Interview incentives | Gift cards for [X] participants | $[Amount] |
| Industry reports | [X] purchased reports | $[Amount] |
| Travel (if applicable) | [X] trips to [location] | $[Amount] |
| External consultant (optional) | [Specialist input, e.g. industry expert review] | $[Amount] |

**Total Research Budget: $[Total] + GST**

### Timeline

| Phase | Duration | Activities | Deliverable |
|-------|----------|------------|-------------|
| Phase 1: Scoping | Week 1 | Finalise methodology, prepare instruments, identify participants | Research plan confirmed |
| Phase 2: Desk Research | Week 1-3 | Market analysis, competitor profiling, industry review | Desk research summary |
| Phase 3: Primary Research | Week 3-6 | Surveys distributed, interviews conducted | Raw data collected |
| Phase 4: Analysis | Week 6-7 | Data analysis, theme identification, financial modelling | Draft findings |
| Phase 5: Reporting | Week 8 | Final report, presentation preparation | Final report and presentation |

### Expected Deliverables

| # | Deliverable | Format | Audience |
|---|------------|--------|----------|
| 1 | Research Brief | 2-page summary | All stakeholders |
| 2 | Desk Research Summary | Written report with data tables | Project sponsor |
| 3 | Survey Results Report | Report with charts and statistical analysis | Project team |
| 4 | Interview Insights Summary | Thematic analysis report | Project team |
| 5 | Final Research Report | Comprehensive report (30-50 pages) | Leadership / Board |
| 6 | Executive Presentation | Slide deck (20-25 slides) | Leadership / Board |
| 7 | Recommendation Paper | 3-5 page decision paper with options | Decision-makers |

### Limitations & Risks

| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation |
|------|-----------|------------|
| Low survey response rate | Medium | Offer incentives, follow up twice, extend deadline if needed |
| Difficulty recruiting interviewees | Medium | Use multiple channels, leverage existing relationships |
| Data quality concerns | Low | Pilot test survey, validate against multiple sources |
| Scope expansion | Medium | Clearly defined research questions, change request process |
| Findings are inconclusive | Low | Multiple methodologies triangulate findings for confidence |

### Next Steps

1. Approve research scope and budget
2. Confirm project sponsor and key stakeholders
3. Kick-off meeting to finalise methodology and timeline
4. Research commences within 5 business days of approval

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**Approved by:**

Name: _______________
Title: _______________
Date: _______________
Signature: _______________

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**Complexity:** advanced | **Setup time:** 40 minutes | **Tools:** Notion, Airtable

Note: This template has been tailored for professional services businesses in Australia. Adjust terminology and compliance references to match your specific context.