Change orders are how professional freelancers handle scope changes. If you're not using them, you're leaving money on the table.
What is a change order?
A change order is a formal amendment to the original scope of work. It describes the additional work requested, its price, and requires client approval before work begins.
When to issue a change order
Any time a client requests something not covered by the original agreement. This includes new deliverables, additional revision rounds, changes in project direction that require rework, increased complexity of existing deliverables, and timeline changes that require schedule adjustments.
How to write one
A good change order includes a title that describes the change, the specific additional work to be done, the price for the additional work, and a reference to the original deliverable if applicable.
Pricing strategies
Flat fee works best when you can estimate the additional work accurately. Hourly rate suits unpredictable additions. Tiered pricing offers multiple options, such as a simple version for one price and an enhanced version for another.
Getting approval
The easier you make it to approve, the more often clients say yes. ScopePilot generates a direct link where the client sees the change, the price, and can approve with one click — complete with a digital signature and audit trail.
Building change orders into your workflow
Don't wait until scope creep is happening to introduce change orders. Explain the process during onboarding, include the change order clause in your contract, and use the first small scope change as an opportunity to demonstrate the process. Once clients experience how smooth it is, they stop resisting.