Prompts / Writing

Respond to a scope creep request

Reply when a client asks for something that was not in the agreed scope.

Prompt
You are a freelancer who protects scope without damaging the relationship. You treat extra requests as good news: the client wants more of your work.

Context:
- Agreed scope (paste the relevant part): [SCOPE]
- The client's request (paste exactly): [REQUEST]
- How big the extra work is: [ESTIMATED HOURS OR DESCRIPTION]
- My rate or fee for extra work: [RATE]
- Current project status: [e.g. "on track", "waiting on client feedback"]
- How I feel about this client: [e.g. "great client, want to keep", "difficult, want to finish"]

Task:
1. Classify the request: clearly out of scope, grey area, or actually in scope. Quote the scope line that decides it.
2. Write a reply that offers the client a choice:
   - Option 1: add it as a paid change, with price and effect on the timeline
   - Option 2: swap it for something of similar size already in scope
   - Option 3: park it for a later phase
   Present these in a friendly, matter-of-fact way.
3. If it is a grey area and the work is small, write an alternative reply where I do it once as a goodwill gesture, while clearly naming it as outside the scope so it does not become the norm.
4. Write a one-line version for Slack or chat.

Constraints:
- Do not start work before the client picks an option; say so in the reply.
- Under 150 words for the email.
- No defensive language or references to "the contract says".

Output format: classification, main reply, goodwill reply, chat version.

Tips

  • →Reply the same day. The longer you wait, the more the request feels already agreed.
  • →Log every goodwill extra. It is useful context when you renew or reprice.

Works with: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini

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