The short answer
Write down exactly what's included, say what isn't, and agree anything extra in writing, with a price and a date, before you do it. Then the extra becomes part of the job, and so does the fee.
Define the scope properly
- The deliverables, as specific as you can make them: "a five-page website", not "a website".
- How many rounds of revisions are included, and what counts as one.
- What the client has to provide, and by when: content, logins, feedback, approvals.
- That deadlines move if the client's input is late.
- A short "not included" list: copywriting, hosting, extra sizes, rush work, whatever you're usually asked for.
A simple change process
- The client asks for something newThank them, and say it's outside the agreed work.
- You price itSend a short quote: what, how much, and how it moves the deadline.
- They agree in writingA signed quote is clearest. A reply email saying "yes, go ahead" to your price is better than nothing.
- Then you startNever before. Work done first is the hardest kind to get paid for.
Fixed price or day rate?
On a day or hourly rate, extra work costs the client more automatically, so scope creep mainly hurts your schedule. On a fixed price it comes straight out of your earnings, so the scope needs to be tighter and the change process stricter. Our Freelance Services Agreement lets you choose a fixed fee, a day rate, an hourly rate or a price for each piece of work, and has an optional clause saying extra work is agreed in writing first.
What to say
Keep it friendly and matter-of-fact: "Happy to add that. It's outside what we agreed, so I've sent a quick quote: £300, and it moves delivery by two days. Sign it and I'll get started." Most clients respect a clear process; it's the vague ones who keep asking.
Questions people ask
Does an email count as agreeing in writing?
Usually, yes, if it clearly agrees the work and the price. A signed quote is better evidence because it sets out exactly what was agreed in one place.
I did extra work without agreeing a price. Can I still charge?
Possibly. If the client asked for the work and accepted it, you may be able to claim a reasonable price for it, but it's much harder to prove than an agreed fee.
How many revision rounds should I include?
Two or three is common. Whatever you choose, define what a round is, for example one consolidated set of feedback.
This guide explains the general position in the UK as we understand it on 22 October 2026. The law differs between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and it changes. If something important turns on it, talk to a solicitor or an accountant.
Templates and tools for this
Send your first agreement free
Send a quote for the extra work and have your client sign to accept it before you start.
Free for 3 documents a month, no card needed. AgreeVia works in your browser and is live on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.