Scope Creep Explained (and How Your Contract Should Handle It)
Scope creep doesn't announce itself. It comes as a Slack message: "Quick thing — can we add a contact form to that page?" or "One small tweak — logo a bit bigger?" Individually nothing. Collectively, the reason freelancers work twice the hours they bill.
What It Is
Anything outside the original deliverable list. Doesn't matter how small or how politely asked. If it wasn't in scope, it's additional work.
The Change Order Clause
My contracts say: "Any work beyond the scope is treated as a Change requiring a written Change Order signed by both parties before work begins. Changes are billed at $X/hour or as a fixed fee." This isn't hostile. It's clarifying.
Revision Caps
Two rounds per deliverable is standard. Define "a round" explicitly: one consolidated set of feedback received within X business days.
Have a lease in front of you right now?
Upload it. Our AI flags every red flag mentioned in this guide — in under 10 seconds.
Decode My LeaseFrequently asked questions
What if they refuse to sign change orders?
Stop work until they do. The contract should explicitly allow this.