# Consulting Report Template: What to Include for Strategy, Audit, and Implementation Deliverables

> What to put in a consulting report: strategy, audit, implementation. Sections and how to structure each type.

Source: https://buildpdfs.com/guides/consulting-report-template
Published: 2025-02-13

> **What should a consulting report include?** **Strategy:** Context, objectives, approach, findings, recommendations, next steps. **Audit:** Scope, method, findings (by area), summary, recommendations. **Implementation:** Scope, plan (phases or milestones), roles, timeline, risks, success criteria. All need: clear title, executive summary, sections with headings, and a close (next steps or handoff). Length depends on engagement—often 10–30 pages. Client-ready = consistent layout, no placeholders, and a single PDF (and optional appendix).

Consulting reports come in types: strategy, audit, implementation. The **sections** change by type; the **disciplines** (summary, structure, clarity) stay the same.

This guide is a **template** for each—with must-haves and what to do next. For what "client-ready" means see [what client-ready means for PDFs](/guides/what-client-ready-means-pdfs). For the full guide see [whitepapers and consulting reports](/guides/whitepapers-and-consulting-reports).

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## Report types at a glance

| Type | Key sections | Typical length |
| ---- | ------------ | -------------- |
| **Strategy** | Context, approach, findings, recommendations, next steps | 10–20 pages |
| **Audit** | Scope, method, findings by area, summary, recommendations | 10–25 pages |
| **Implementation** | Scope, plan, roles, timeline, risks, success criteria | 10–20 pages |

For B2B format (report vs whitepaper vs playbook) see [B2B PDF format](/guides/b2b-pdf-format-whitepaper-vs-report).

## Strategy report

| Section | What to include |
| ------- | ---------------- |
| **Context** | Why this work was done. Client situation, objectives. |
| **Approach** | How you approached it (interviews, analysis, framework). |
| **Findings** | What you found. By theme or question. |
| **Recommendations** | What they should do. Prioritized if possible. |
| **Next steps** | Who does what, when. Optional: follow-on work. |

**Length:** Often 10–20 pages. Executive summary at the top. For structure see [whitepaper structure](/guides/whitepaper-structure).

## Audit report

| Section | What to include |
| ------- | ---------------- |
| **Scope** | What was in scope (and out of scope). |
| **Method** | How you audited (review, interviews, tools). |
| **Findings** | By area or criterion. What's working, what's not. |
| **Summary** | Overall assessment. Key gaps or risks. |
| **Recommendations** | What to fix or improve. Prioritized. |

**Length:** Often 10–25 pages. Executive summary at the top.

## Implementation report (or plan)

| Section | What to include |
| ------- | ---------------- |
| **Scope** | What's being implemented. |
| **Plan** | Phases or milestones. What happens when. |
| **Roles** | Who is responsible for what (client and you). |
| **Timeline** | Key dates. |
| **Risks** | What could go wrong; how to mitigate. |
| **Success criteria** | How you'll know it worked. |

**Length:** Often 10–20 pages. Can be a standalone deliverable or the "implementation" section of a larger report.

## All reports: must-haves

- **Title** — Clear. "Strategy Report: [Client] [Topic]" or "Audit: [Area]."
- **Executive summary** — 1–2 paragraphs. What they asked for, what you found, what you recommend. See [whitepaper structure](/guides/whitepaper-structure).
- **Headings** — Clear H2/H3. So they can scan.
- **No placeholders** — No "TBD" or "Insert here." Final copy only.
- **Close** — Next steps or handoff. One PDF (and optional appendix or separate data file).

For presenting to the client see [present report or whitepaper to client](/guides/present-report-whitepaper-to-client).

## Common mistakes

1. **No executive summary.** Stakeholders skim first. Add one. See [whitepaper structure](/guides/whitepaper-structure).
2. **Vague sections.** "Findings" with no structure. Break into clear headings and themes.
3. **No next steps.** Report ends without "who does what, when." Add a close. See [present report or whitepaper to client](/guides/present-report-whitepaper-to-client).
4. **Placeholders left in.** "TBD" or "Insert data." Final copy only before delivery. See [what client-ready means for PDFs](/guides/what-client-ready-means-pdfs).

## Our recommendation

**Pick the type (strategy, audit, implementation) and use the section template above.** Add title, executive summary, and a clear close (next steps). No placeholders. For structure and length see [whitepaper structure](/guides/whitepaper-structure). For creating the PDF without a design team see [whitepapers and consulting reports](/guides/whitepapers-and-consulting-reports) and [whitepaper and report design without a designer](/guides/whitepaper-report-design-without-designer).

## What to do with this information

1. **Choose the type** — Strategy, audit, or implementation. Use the "Report types at a glance" table and the section tables above.
2. **Outline** — List sections and what goes in each. For narrative see [how to write a whitepaper](/guides/how-to-write-whitepaper) (applies to reports too).
3. **Draft** — Write to the outline. Executive summary at the top; next steps at the end.
4. **Build the PDF** — Use a [long-form PDF tool](/guides/best-tool-for-ebooks-and-long-form-pdfs) for consistent layout and TOC. See [whitepapers and consulting reports](/guides/whitepapers-and-consulting-reports).
5. **Present and follow up** — See [present report or whitepaper to client](/guides/present-report-whitepaper-to-client).

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