Turn unanswered boxes into decisions
If the client has not chosen a platform, language count, or approval owner, record the uncertainty and the assumption used for pricing. Do not silently choose an unlimited interpretation.
Example: specify content responsibility
“Website content included” is ambiguous. Distinguish copywriting, editing supplied copy, migration, uploading, and image sourcing. Each can represent separate production and approval work.
Copy-and-customize preview
Free editable sample
No purchase or email required.
SCOPE REVIEW — [Project / agreement version] [ ] Business outcome and success conditions [ ] Deliverables: quantities, formats, platforms, languages [ ] Explicit exclusions [ ] Client inputs, owners, and due dates [ ] Assumptions and third-party dependencies [ ] Included concepts and revision rounds [ ] Single authorized approver [ ] Acceptance criteria and review window [ ] Milestones and payment triggers [ ] Change-request and extra-fee approval process [ ] Handoff contents and post-delivery support boundary Open questions: [question / owner / decision date] Ready for approval: [yes/no, owner, date]
| Field | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Deliverable definition | Makes estimation possible. | Five product descriptions, up to 150 words each. |
| Exclusions | Makes adjacent services visible. | Photography and uploading are excluded. |
| Acceptance | Defines completion. | Descriptions match the approved product facts and tone guide. |
Use it in four steps
- Review the checklist against the draft SOW
- Assign each unresolved item an owner
- Resolve commercial assumptions before quoting
- Attach the completed scope version to the approval record
Customization checklist
- Replace generic deliverables with measurable counts
- Name client-owned tasks rather than saying “client cooperation”
- Define any post-delivery support window
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating a checked box as a complete specification
- Leaving client dependencies undated
- Promising unlimited support in a handoff note
Frequently asked questions
- Is this a statement-of-work template?
- No. It checks whether your SOW covers the necessary decisions. Convert the resolved answers into the agreement’s scope section.
- When should I repeat the review?
- Before kickoff and whenever a change affects a deliverable, assumption, dependency, or acceptance condition.
Continue with the next decision
Project scoping for freelancers
Good scoping is the single highest-leverage way to prevent scope creep. This pillar covers discovery, deliverable definition, exclusions, estimates, and acceptance criteria.
Contract clause libraryAcceptance Criteria Clause for Freelance Deliverables
An acceptance-criteria clause defines the observable conditions a deliverable must meet and the window for reporting material nonconformity.
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.