Just had a project scope creep from 5 pages to 15 without a new contract

A regular customer asked for a simple website update last month, which we agreed on for 5 pages. After I started, they kept adding 'just one more' page over email. It snowballed to 15 pages before I noticed. I stopped work and sent a formal change order for the extra 10 pages at my normal rate. They signed it, but it was a close call. Has anyone else had to shut down a 'just one more thing' situation mid-project?

3 comments

3 Comments

white.keith23d ago

Classic "just one more" death spiral. Good call slamming the brakes and getting that change order signed.

flores.mark23d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, wasn't the whole point that you don't get a change order signed in that situation? I mean, the death spiral is when they keep asking for "one more" small thing without paying for it. Slamming the brakes means you stop the work until they agree to pay for the new scope. Getting a change order signed is the fix, not the problem. Maybe I read the original post wrong.

beth_kelly23d ago

Last year a client asked for "quick" dashboard changes that ate three full days. I told them the next request, even a tiny font tweak, needed a signed change order before I touched a line of code. It felt harsh, but it stopped the drip feed of free work cold. Keith is right, that spiral is real. You have to make the paperwork part of the process, not the thing you avoid.