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Budget and Cost Logic

EU Grant Budget Review for Stronger Cost Logic and Proposal Consistency

We review EU proposal budgets for credibility, alignment, and evaluator readability so the cost model supports the story instead of weakening it.

Why clients choose this support

Budget review that focuses on credibility, not spreadsheet cosmetics

A proposal budget is part of the scoring story. We review whether staffing, costs, subcontracting, equipment, and work-plan effort still make sense when read alongside the narrative.

Cost logic first

We review whether the resources make sense for the work being promised, not just whether the table is complete.

Evaluator-readable justification

Budgets weaken proposals when they look arbitrary or disconnected from delivery. We help make the rationale visible and easier to trust.

Narrative and budget alignment

A good budget review checks the story behind the numbers so implementation, staffing, and cost assumptions do not contradict each other.

Who We Support

Best fit for teams whose draft is moving but whose cost logic still feels exposed

  • Coordinators finalising partner budgets across a collaborative proposal
  • SMEs and single applicants who need clearer resource justification
  • Teams getting last-minute feedback that the budget does not match the work plan
  • Applicants who want an external check before the numbers go into the final submission
What You Get

What you get in a budget review

  • Budget review against tasks, deliverables, milestones, and staff effort
  • Checks on person-month logic, partner allocation, and workload credibility
  • Review of subcontracting, equipment, travel, and cost-justification weak points
  • Cross-check between budget assumptions and the written narrative
  • Revision priorities for the cost lines most likely to raise evaluator questions
  • Final consistency pass after the budget has been corrected
Our Process

How we review an EU grant budget

We check the budget against the work plan, identify the cost lines that weaken credibility, and help align financial logic with the written proposal before submission.

01

Budget intake and assumptions review

We read the budget in the context of the current draft so the review starts from the real work plan, not from the spreadsheet in isolation.

02

Cost logic and workload checks

We test person-months, partner allocations, and major cost lines against what the proposal is promising to deliver.

03

Narrative cross-check and revision guidance

We identify where the numbers need stronger explanation or different framing so the budget reinforces, rather than weakens, the submission.

04

Final recheck before submission

Once revisions are done, we confirm the corrected budget still aligns with the latest narrative and does not introduce fresh inconsistencies.

FAQ

Questions we hear before clients engage

Why do EU proposal budgets need an external review?

Because cost logic often breaks down where several contributors, partners, or work packages have been developed separately. An external review catches credibility problems that internal teams stop seeing.

Do you only review Horizon Europe budgets?

No. Horizon Europe is a common use case, but we also review budgets for LIFE, Erasmus+, Interreg, Digital Europe, and other EU instruments where resource logic and justification matter.

Can budget review be done without a complete draft?

Yes, but it is strongest when at least the work plan, core tasks, and proposed staffing model already exist. The more the narrative is available, the more useful the consistency check becomes.

Related Paths

Useful next steps around budget and draft quality

Need a direct assessment of your funding opportunity?

If the project is live and the submission window matters, the fastest next step is a consultation on fit, structure, and proposal risk.

Request budget review See full review support