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Contract clause library

Additional Work Clause for Freelance Agreements

An additional-work clause separates helpful incidental discussion from billable services and requires approval before extras begin.

By ScopeShieldPublished Content reviewed Methodology & product disclosure

Direct answer

What you need to know

An additional-work clause separates helpful incidental discussion from billable services and requires approval before extras begin.

Definition: Additional work is any service, deliverable, quantity, channel, version, or implementation task not expressly included in the approved scope.

Verify the trigger against the agreement

Additional work is any service, deliverable, quantity, channel, version, or implementation task not expressly included in the approved scope.

  • Clients use “quick favor” language
  • Retainers gain new task categories
  • Advice expands into implementation

Complete the approval record

Attach this wording to project-specific quantities, deadlines, and approval roles. Match the wording to the rest of the agreement. Do not treat this sample as a jurisdiction-specific legal conclusion.

  • Replace placeholders with facts from the approved project
  • State fee and timing impact together
  • Name the person or reply that counts as approval
  • Record approval before changing the work plan

Copy-and-customize wording

Use this as a practical starting point. Replace every placeholder with a fact from the approved project.

Free editable sample

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Work not expressly included is additional work. Contractor will provide a written estimate or change order and will proceed only after Client approval.

How to apply it

  1. Replace placeholders with facts from the approved project
  2. State fee and timing impact together
  3. Name the person or reply that counts as approval
  4. Record approval before changing the work plan

Use with care

  • Match the wording to the rest of the agreement
  • Avoid promises that conflict with local law or existing terms
  • Have a qualified lawyer review contract language for your jurisdiction

Frequently asked questions

When should I use this clause?
An additional-work clause separates helpful incidental discussion from billable services and requires approval before extras begin.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is practical business wording, not legal advice. Adapt it to your agreement and ask a qualified lawyer about legal requirements in your jurisdiction.

Continue with the next decision

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How to Tell a Client a Request Is Out of Scope

Tell the client what the approved scope covers, identify the added request neutrally, and offer a priced or swapped next step instead of a blunt refusal.

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Connect the added fee to the changed work and its impact, then ask for explicit approval before starting.

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