CSLM LLC | Small-business AI consultant proposal checklist
Prepared and substantively reviewed September 15, 2026
https://ai.cslmllc.com/services/ai-consulting-small-business

Use this with any provider. It is a buyer worksheet, not a CSLM quote, client outcome, or guarantee.

1. WORKFLOW AND BASELINE
What exact request starts the work? Where does it end? Who owns it today? How many cases occur, how much total time is spent, and what correction or waiting burden exists?

2. SMALLEST ALTERNATIVE
What can be fixed by clearer instructions, required fields, ordinary rules, or connecting existing software? Why would AI be necessary for any remaining step?

3. SCOPE AND DELIVERABLES
Which systems, data, and permissions are required? What will be delivered: workflow map, prototype, tested integration, documentation, training, monitoring, or support? What is explicitly excluded?

4. HUMAN AND FAILURE CONTROLS
Who approves customer commitments, prices, payments, access, deletion, and sensitive decisions? Where do missing data, wrong drafts, duplicate actions, vendor outages, and unusual cases go?

5. TEST AND ACCEPTANCE
Which representative and exception cases will be tested? What baseline and after-test metrics will be compared? Who sets acceptance and stop criteria? Will a manual path remain available?

6. TOTAL COST AND EXIT
What are the professional-service fees, software subscriptions, usage charges, staff review effort, training, maintenance and support costs? Who owns the records and configuration? Can the business export its work and stop safely?

7. EVIDENCE
Which examples are synthetic demonstrations and which are permissioned customer results? Ask for the measurement method behind any claimed return or time saving. Do not assume a polished demo proves production safety.

First CSLM step: a free 20-minute review of one workflow. Any showcase is conditional, and implementation or ongoing support is quoted and approved separately.
https://ai.cslmllc.com/free-ai-workflow-review

Do not send credentials, payment data, regulated records or confidential customer information through a public request form.