# Where to put consultancy work for clients **URL:** \ **Category:** Small Business System\ **Created:** [October 15, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/t/where-to-put-consultancy-work-for-clients/2815 "2025-10-15T13:54:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![petrichor](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/user_avatar/forum.johnnydecimal.com/petrichor/32/1627_2.png) [@petrichor](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/u/petrichor)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/t/where-to-put-consultancy-work-for-clients/2815/1 "2025-10-15T13:54:04Z")
I am starting up a small consulting business with a few fellow travellers, so I’m trying to figure out how best to structure our various working files. We’re expecting to be doing work including the following: - One-off research, analysis, policy recommendations, etc. for clients - Building and possibly maintaining community websites, forums, etc. - Developing & delivering bespoke training packages - Developing “off-the-shelf” training offerings to deliver to clients - Funded R&D projects, i.e. where we have an idea and apply for funding to do it, rather than being commissioned by a client - Larger projects combining multiple instances of the above (possibly being subcontracted or subcontracting to others) My initial thought was that most of this would go under [50-59 Portfolio of creative outputs - Johnny.Decimal forum](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/c/small-business/50-59-portfolio-of-creative-outputs/48) but I see that’s more intended for creative outputs for marketing & running the business (e.g. our own website, logo, etc). There are also **21 Products and services** , **33 Customers & clients** , and **34 Orders & jobs**. I note this is also somewhat similar to [Folder structure ideas for multiple clients with recurring deliverables (accounting firm)](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/t/folder-structure-ideas-for-multiple-clients-with-recurring-deliverables-accounting-firm/2219) . At the end of the day we get to choose how we organise our files, but I’m interested in schemes others have come up with for this type of work and your experiences, pros & cons, etc. ---
**Author:** ![petrichor](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/user_avatar/forum.johnnydecimal.com/petrichor/32/1627_2.png) [@petrichor](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/u/petrichor)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/t/where-to-put-consultancy-work-for-clients/2815/2 "2025-10-15T14:00:07Z")
I’m currently thinking focusing on 33 and a templated layout based on the freelance designer example in [13.21 Expand an area • Johnny.Decimal](https://johnnydecimal.com/10-19-concepts/13-system-expansion/13.21-expand-an-area/) for commissioned work, and building up a portfolio of off-the-shelf offerings under 21. ---
**Author:** ![johnnydecimal](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/user_avatar/forum.johnnydecimal.com/johnnydecimal/32/1759_2.png) [@johnnydecimal](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/u/johnnydecimal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 7:53am UTC](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/t/where-to-put-consultancy-work-for-clients/2815/3 "2025-10-16T07:53:15Z")
You’ve got a bunch of stuff here and I think some will end up in some places and some in others. But you’ve got the right idea. `21 Products…` is the place for actual products or services that you offer. This is your off-the-shelf stuff. I also store my product research here, because that’s what it relates directly to. Whereas I’d be inclined to store some of those one-offs at `34 Orders & jobs`. Including the larger jobs like ‘funded R&D projects’. You’re right in realising that this _isn’t_ what the 50s is for. This is handy, I needed a blog post for today! Give me 20 mins and I’ll post a link here. ---
**Author:** ![johnnydecimal](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/user_avatar/forum.johnnydecimal.com/johnnydecimal/32/1759_2.png) [@johnnydecimal](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/u/johnnydecimal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 8:23am UTC](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/t/where-to-put-consultancy-work-for-clients/2815/4 "2025-10-16T08:23:23Z")
> **[22.00.0145 'Creative outputs' should link back to an ID](https://johnnydecimal.com/20-29-communication/22-blog/22.00.0145-creative-outputs-link-to-an-id/)** > > They aren't standalone things. What was the job for? Link it back there. ---
**Author:** ![petrichor](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/user_avatar/forum.johnnydecimal.com/petrichor/32/1627_2.png) [@petrichor](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/u/petrichor)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/t/where-to-put-consultancy-work-for-clients/2815/5 "2025-10-16T10:00:12Z")
Ok, this makes sense to me, especially the workshop/shed analogy, and kinda solves the analogous problem I was having working out where to put creative projects in my personal system. I’m even tempted to rename 50-59 The Workshop! 😂 Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![johnnydecimal](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/user_avatar/forum.johnnydecimal.com/johnnydecimal/32/1759_2.png) [@johnnydecimal](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/u/johnnydecimal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://forum.johnnydecimal.com/t/where-to-put-consultancy-work-for-clients/2815/6 "2025-10-16T21:43:00Z")
Ha, do it!