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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