Verify the trigger against the agreement
Change control is the agreed process for evaluating and authorizing work that differs from the approved scope.
- You sell fixed-fee projects
- Clients may add deliverables after kickoff
- Changes affect dependencies or delivery dates
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
No purchase or email required.
Requests that change the Services, Deliverables, assumptions, or schedule require a written change order stating the added fee and timing impact. Contractor will begin changed work only after Client approval.
How to apply it
- 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
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?
- A change-control clause requires added or altered work to be described, priced, scheduled, and approved in writing before it begins.
- 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
Change requests and change control
A change process is what turns scope creep into billable, approved work. This pillar covers documenting requests, pricing them, getting approval, and controlling change over the life of a project.
Free editable artifactFreelance Change Order Form Template
A freelance change-order form records the original agreement, requested difference, added and removed work, price adjustment, revised milestones, dependencies, and authorized approval. Give each change an identifier so the client can approve a specific version.
Client script libraryHow to Tell a Client Extra Work Costs More
Connect the added fee to the changed work and its impact, then ask for explicit approval before starting.
Role-specific solutionFeature Requests Outside Scope for Web Developers
Web developers should describe the added feature’s build, integration, testing, and schedule impact rather than treating it as a quick code change.