{
  "name": "Client Inquiry Priority Score For Freelancers",
  "url": "https://gozen-ai.com/en/client-inquiry-priority-score/",
  "updated": "2026-09-11",
  "max_score": 24,
  "purpose": "Help freelancers and solo service businesses decide which new client inquiry should be answered first without storing private client details.",
  "privacy_boundary": "Use anonymous inquiry labels only. Do not include client names, email addresses, phone numbers, account details, contract text, payment details, legal notes, medical notes, login details, private files, or other sensitive information.",
  "criteria": [
    {
      "criterion": "client_fit",
      "label": "Client fit",
      "zero_points": "The work is outside the service, capacity, or risk comfort.",
      "two_points": "The client might fit, but the offer match is not obvious yet.",
      "four_points": "The problem clearly matches work that can be delivered well."
    },
    {
      "criterion": "urgency",
      "label": "Urgency",
      "zero_points": "No timeline, weak priority, or vague curiosity.",
      "two_points": "Timing matters, but the decision window is still soft.",
      "four_points": "There is a real deadline or current business pressure."
    },
    {
      "criterion": "budget_clarity",
      "label": "Budget clarity",
      "zero_points": "No budget signal and no constraint to guide scope.",
      "two_points": "A rough range, constraint, or tradeoff is visible.",
      "four_points": "The budget or decision constraint supports a realistic next step."
    },
    {
      "criterion": "decision_access",
      "label": "Decision access",
      "zero_points": "The sender cannot approve or identify who decides.",
      "two_points": "The decision path exists but needs confirmation.",
      "four_points": "The owner or approval route is clear enough for a proposal path."
    },
    {
      "criterion": "scope_clarity",
      "label": "Scope clarity",
      "zero_points": "The request lacks outcome, deliverable, or boundaries.",
      "two_points": "The core problem is visible, but details are missing.",
      "four_points": "The expected outcome, main deliverable, and constraints are clear."
    },
    {
      "criterion": "next_step_readiness",
      "label": "Next-step readiness",
      "zero_points": "A reply would create more vague back-and-forth.",
      "two_points": "One targeted clarification could unlock the next action.",
      "four_points": "The next reply can propose a call, proposal, small scope, or close decision."
    }
  ],
  "score_bands": [
    {
      "range": "18-24",
      "label": "reply_first",
      "next_action": "Handle this inquiry before lower-scoring items and set a clear next action today."
    },
    {
      "range": "12-17",
      "label": "clarify",
      "next_action": "Ask one or two targeted questions before writing a proposal or scheduling deep work."
    },
    {
      "range": "7-11",
      "label": "qualify_briefly",
      "next_action": "Send a short reply that checks fit, timeline, and budget before investing more attention."
    },
    {
      "range": "0-6",
      "label": "close_or_park",
      "next_action": "Close politely, refer to a lighter route, or park the item unless it has learning value."
    }
  ],
  "example_inquiries": [
    {
      "anonymous_label": "retainer-fit-014",
      "scores": {
        "client_fit": 4,
        "urgency": 4,
        "budget_clarity": 3,
        "decision_access": 4,
        "scope_clarity": 3,
        "next_step_readiness": 4
      },
      "total": 22,
      "action": "Reply first with a concise proposal path."
    },
    {
      "anonymous_label": "project-unclear-009",
      "scores": {
        "client_fit": 3,
        "urgency": 2,
        "budget_clarity": 1,
        "decision_access": 2,
        "scope_clarity": 2,
        "next_step_readiness": 2
      },
      "total": 12,
      "action": "Ask for budget range, decision owner, and success criteria."
    },
    {
      "anonymous_label": "broad-help-021",
      "scores": {
        "client_fit": 1,
        "urgency": 1,
        "budget_clarity": 0,
        "decision_access": 1,
        "scope_clarity": 1,
        "next_step_readiness": 1
      },
      "total": 5,
      "action": "Close politely or send a lightweight self-qualification route."
    }
  ],
  "related_pages": [
    "https://gozen-ai.com/en/client-inquiry-tracker-lite/",
    "https://gozen-ai.com/en/client-intake-question-template/",
    "https://gozen-ai.com/en/proposal-readiness-checklist/",
    "https://gozen-ai.com/en/follow-up-email-decision-template/",
    "https://gozen-ai.com/en/lead-source-quality-score/",
    "https://gozen-ai.com/methodology/client-pipeline-software/"
  ]
}