A scope of work lists what you will deliver, what you will not, what you need from the client, when each part is due and when you are paid. One page is enough. It is the page you point to when a client asks for "one more thing". It is not a contract, and this is not legal advice.
| Section | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Deliverables | Numbered, each with a finish test, so you know when it is done |
| Not included | Named items, so extra work does not arrive free |
| Client inputs and dates | Content, and feedback within [N] days, so delays that are not yours are on the page |
13 scopes and lines you can copy
Four complete scopes, then the parts you can reuse and two replies for when a client disagrees. Fill the brackets and delete what does not fit. Replace every [BRACKET] with a real fact.
Jump to: A full scopeA fourth full scope, and the parts you reuseMoney, changes and sign-off
- A full scope: logo and brand sheetSubject: Scope of work: logo for [CLIENT]Deliverables 1. Two logo concepts. Done when the client has them as PDF on [DATE]. 2. One concept developed after feedback. Done when the final files (PNG, SVG, PDF) are sent. 3. A one-page brand sheet with colours and fonts. Done when sent as PDF. Not included: printing, packaging, a website. Client provides: the business name, three examples they like, feedback within [3] working days. Rounds of changes: [2]. Payment: [30]% to start, [70]% when final files are sent.
- A full scope: five-page websiteSubject: Scope of work: website for [CLIENT]Deliverables 1. Five pages: home, about, services, contact, [PAGE]. Done when each is live on the client's domain. 2. A contact form that sends to [EMAIL]. Done when a test message arrives. 3. Works on phone and computer. Done when checked on [DEVICES]. Not included: writing the text, photos, logo, hosting, ongoing updates. Client provides: text and photos for each page by [DATE]; access to the domain by [DATE]. If client items arrive late, the finish date moves by the same number of days.
- A full scope: four blog posts a monthSubject: Scope of work: blog writing for [CLIENT]Each month: four posts of [800] to [1,000] words on topics agreed by the [DATE] before. Each post is done when a clean draft is in the shared document, with a title and a short summary. Included: one round of changes per post, within [5] days of delivery. Not included: images, posting to the site, promotion, interviews. Client provides: topics, any facts or quotes to include, feedback within [5] days. Payment: £[AMOUNT] a month, invoiced on the first.
More examples, by situation
A fourth full scope, and the parts you reuse
- A full scope: bookkeeping clean-up for one monthSubject: Scope of work: bookkeeping clean-up, [MONTH]Deliverables 1. Every transaction for [MONTH] from [BANK AND CARD ACCOUNTS] matched to a category. Done when the unmatched list is empty or sent to the client. 2. A list of missing receipts. Done when sent by [DATE]. 3. A one-page summary of income and costs for the month. Not included: tax returns, VAT returns, advice on tax. Client provides: read access to the accounts and the receipts by [DATE]. Payment: £[AMOUNT], invoiced when the summary is sent.
- Finish tests for deliverablesDone when the client has the files in [FORMAT]. / Done when the page is live at [ADDRESS]. / Done when [NUMBER] posts are in the shared document. / Done when the client has had [NUMBER] working days to reply and has signed off in writing.
- Revision rules: three strengthsStrict: [ONE] round of changes. Extra rounds are £[AMOUNT] each. A round is one list of changes sent together. Normal: [TWO] rounds. A new idea after sign-off counts as new work. Loose: changes until the client is happy, for [NUMBER] weeks.
- Not included, by tradeDesign: printing, packaging, resizing for other uses. Web: text, photos, hosting, updates after launch. Writing: images, posting, interviews, promotion. Bookkeeping: tax returns, advice on tax.
- Client inputs, with datesThe client provides: the text by [DATE], the photos by [DATE], feedback within [NUMBER] working days of each delivery. If an input is late, the finish date moves by the same number of days.
Money, changes and sign-off
- Milestones with payment attachedMilestone 1, [WHAT IS DONE]: [30]% of the fee, due when work starts. Milestone 2, [WHAT IS DONE]: [40]%, due on [DATE]. Milestone 3, [WHAT IS DONE]: [30]%, due on delivery. The split is an example. Choose your own.
- The change request paragraphIf you ask for something not in this scope, I will tell you what it costs and how it moves the dates before I start. I start the extra work when you reply "agreed" to that message.
- The sign-off lineSubject: Scope of work for [PROJECT]: please confirmPlease read the scope above. Reply "agreed" to this email and I will send the first invoice and start on [DATE].
- When a client says "that was in the scope" and it was notThank you for asking. The scope we agreed on [DATE] lists [DELIVERABLES]. [WHAT THEY ASKED FOR] is not on it. I can add it for £[AMOUNT] and it would move the finish date to [DATE]. Shall I go ahead?
- When it was in the scope, and you missed itYou are right. [DELIVERABLE] is on the scope of [DATE], and I missed it. I will finish it by [DATE] at no extra charge. Sorry for the trouble.
Download these examples
The same text as this page, in one file, with the gaps ready to fill in.
What to avoid
- Legal wording about who owns the work, liability or ending the job. For a contract, see a lawyer.
- Telling the client what is "standard" for revisions or deposits. State your own terms.
- Treating a signed scope as a contract. It describes the work.
- Deliverables with no finish test. "Design the page" does not say when it is done.
- A scope that says nothing about what is not included.
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After the yes
The tool is free. It checks the invoice you send for the first stage.
Invoice Checker
What you give it: An invoice, yours or one you received, as text. It cannot read a picture or a scan.
What you get: Every line, the subtotal, the discount, the tax and the total worked out again, and every difference listed. It lists common fields that are missing and flags date, currency and rounding problems. No tax advice. Without a code tool it shows the sums by hand and says they need checking.
What should I put under not included?
Name the extras clients often ask for in your trade. The page lists examples for design, web, writing and bookkeeping.
How many rounds of changes should I allow?
That is your choice. The page shows three strengths: one, two, or changes for a set number of weeks. State yours before work starts.
What if the client ignores the dates?
Write into the scope that the finish date moves by the same number of days as a late input. Then point to it.
Do I need a scope of work for a small job?
A short one helps even then. Five lines that say what is done, what is not and when you are paid can save an argument.
Questions people ask
What do I do with the [BRACKETS]?
Replace each one with a real fact. If you cannot, delete the line. Never leave a bracket in what you send.
What is a scope of work?
The written list of the work you and the client agreed: what you deliver, what you do not, what the client provides, the dates and the payments.
What is the difference between a scope of work and a contract?
A scope describes the work. A contract holds the legal terms. We do not write contracts, and this is not legal advice.
How detailed should a scope of work be?
Detailed enough that a stranger could tell whether a deliverable is done. If you cannot write how you will know, add a finish test.
Is there a free scope of work template in Word?
Yes. The Download section on this page has the examples as a Word file. We do not offer a PDF of this page.
Can I use this for design, web or writing?
Yes. The full examples cover a logo, a five-page website, blog writing and a bookkeeping clean-up. Change the nouns for your trade.