| name | scope-of-work |
| description | Scope of work document: deliverables, timeline, responsibilities, exclusions, payment terms, and change order policy — protection against scope creep and misaligned expectations |
Scope of Work Skill
When to activate
- Starting any new client engagement where ambiguity could cause problems later
- A client wants to move forward but hasn't defined what "done" looks like
- You've had a scope creep problem before and need a written contract around scope
- A project is complex enough that deliverables need to be enumerated (not just described)
- Before writing an invoice — the SOW defines what the invoice is for
- Any engagement over $2,000 or lasting more than 2 weeks
When NOT to use
- Very simple, one-time tasks with a clear single deliverable and no ambiguity — use an invoice with a brief description instead
- Legal service agreements requiring your jurisdiction's specific contract clauses — have your attorney review or draft
- Government or enterprise procurement where they supply the SOW template — adapt their format
Important
This skill generates professional SOW documents for freelancers and consultants. The output is a strong professional document but is not legal advice. For high-value engagements (>$10K), have the SOW reviewed by a contract attorney in your jurisdiction. Always include your governing law and dispute resolution clauses.
Instructions
Full scope of work prompt
Write a professional Scope of Work document.
PROJECT DETAILS:
- Project name: [name]
- Client: [company name]
- Freelancer/consultant: [your name or company]
- Project start date: [date]
- Project end date / delivery date: [date or range]
- Contract value: $[X] (total or monthly retainer: $[X]/month)
WHAT I AM PROVIDING (be specific — vague deliverables cause disputes):
[List each deliverable:]
1. [Deliverable 1 — be explicit: e.g., "5 blog posts of 1,200-1,500 words each, optimized for provided keywords, delivered as Google Docs with revisions incorporated within 48 hours"]
2. [Deliverable 2]
3. [Deliverable 3]
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED (exclusions prevent scope creep):
[List explicit exclusions:]
- [Exclusion 1 — e.g., "Paid media management, ad spend, or campaign execution"]
- [Exclusion 2]
- [Exclusion 3]
CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES (what you need from them):
[List what the client must provide:]
- [Requirement 1 — e.g., "Brand guidelines and logo assets within 3 business days of project start"]
- [Requirement 2 — e.g., "One designated point of contact who can approve deliverables"]
- [Requirement 3 — e.g., "Feedback on drafts within 5 business days"]
TIMELINE:
Phase 1 — [name]: [date range] — [deliverables in this phase]
Phase 2 — [name]: [date range] — [deliverables]
Phase 3 — [name]: [date range] — [deliverables]
Final delivery: [date]
REVISIONS POLICY:
Number of revision rounds included: [X]
What constitutes a revision vs. a new request: [describe]
Revision turnaround time: [X business days]
PAYMENT TERMS:
- Total: $[X]
- Structure: [50% upfront + 50% on delivery / monthly on the 1st / milestone-based]
- Invoicing: [when/how you'll invoice]
- Payment due: [Net 15 / Net 30 / on receipt]
- Late payment: [[X]% monthly fee on overdue balances]
CHANGE ORDER POLICY:
Any work outside this SOW requires a written change order before work begins.
Change orders will be quoted at $[X]/hour or $[X] per [unit].
Timeline extensions may apply.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:
[Choose: Upon receipt of full payment, all work product becomes client property / You retain rights to work until final payment / Portfolio usage rights retained by freelancer]
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Both parties agree to keep the terms and details of this project confidential.
[Add NDA clause if needed]
Generate a professional SOW document. Use clear section headers. Write in plain English — not legalese, but firm and specific. End with a signature block for both parties.
Project phases / milestone structure
For complex projects, use this to structure the timeline:
Help me define project phases and milestones for this project.
PROJECT: [description]
TOTAL DURATION: [X weeks/months]
TOTAL VALUE: $[X]
What I need to deliver (rough list): [your notes]
Organize into phases:
- Each phase should have: name, duration, key deliverables, milestone payment (if applicable)
- Phases should be sequential where dependencies exist
- Each phase should end with a clear client approval checkpoint
Client approval requirement: [yes/no — do they need to approve each phase before next begins?]
Kill clause: if client cancels after Phase [X], what do they owe?
Generate the milestone schedule and payment structure.
Revision policy templates
Choose the right revision policy for your work type:
For creative work (design, writing, branding):
REVISIONS
This project includes [two] rounds of revisions.
A revision is defined as adjustments to work already submitted — modifying copy direction, refining design elements, or changing the scope within the original brief.
A revision is NOT:
- A change to the original brief or project objectives
- Requesting new features, sections, or deliverables
- Returning to a previously rejected direction
Additional revisions are available at $[X]/hour, billed in 30-minute increments.
Revision requests must be submitted within [5] business days of delivery.
After [5] business days, work is considered approved.
For software/technical work:
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA AND REVISIONS
Deliverables will be tested against the acceptance criteria specified in Appendix A.
Bug fixes: defects that prevent the deliverable from functioning as specified are covered at no charge for [30] days post-delivery.
Change requests: modifications to specifications, new features, or enhancements are out of scope and require a change order.
For consulting/advisory:
REVISION POLICY
Consulting deliverables (recommendations, reports, strategy documents) include one round of revisions to address factual corrections and clarification requests.
Revisions that change the scope of analysis or require additional research are out of scope.
Additional sessions may be purchased at $[X]/hour.
Change order template
Generate a change order for additional work requested by my client.
ORIGINAL SOW DATE: [date]
CHANGE ORDER #: [number]
DATE REQUESTED: [date]
REQUESTED CHANGE:
[Describe what the client is asking for that is outside the original scope]
HOW THIS DIFFERS FROM ORIGINAL SCOPE:
[Explicitly connect to the exclusions or scope boundaries in the original SOW]
ADDITIONAL WORK REQUIRED:
- [Task 1]: [X hours estimated at $Y/hour]
- [Task 2]: [X hours estimated at $Y/hour]
ADDITIONAL COST: $[X]
TIMELINE IMPACT: [none / [X] days added to delivery date]
This change order becomes effective when signed by both parties. The original SOW terms apply to all work covered by this change order.
Generate the change order document with signature lines.
SOW red flag checklist
Review any SOW before signing — yours or a client's:
Review this Scope of Work for red flags before I sign it.
[Paste the SOW]
Check for:
[ ] Vague deliverables ("website" vs. specific page count, functionality, integrations)
[ ] Unlimited revisions clause — unlimited = unlimited liability
[ ] No payment schedule — payment only "on completion" creates leverage against you
[ ] No kill fee — what happens if they cancel halfway through?
[ ] Client owns IP before payment — you deliver everything, then they don't pay
[ ] No late payment clause — what's the consequence of them paying 90 days late?
[ ] No exclusions — what's explicitly NOT included?
[ ] No client responsibilities — what if they don't provide assets on time?
[ ] Governing law not specified — whose courts handle disputes?
[ ] Personal liability — are you signing as an individual or as a business entity?
Flag each red flag, explain the risk, and suggest replacement language.
Output format — full SOW document
# SCOPE OF WORK
**Project:** [Name]
**Client:** [Company Name]
**Contractor:** [Your Name / Company]
**Effective Date:** [Date]
---
## 1. Project Overview
[2-3 sentences describing what this project is and its business objective]
---
## 2. Scope of Services
The Contractor will deliver the following:
### 2.1 [Deliverable Category]
- [Specific deliverable with quantity, format, and quality standard]
- [Specific deliverable]
### 2.2 [Deliverable Category]
- [Specific deliverable]
---
## 3. Out of Scope
The following are expressly excluded from this engagement:
- [Exclusion 1]
- [Exclusion 2]
- [Exclusion 3]
Any work not listed in Section 2 requires a written Change Order (see Section 8).
---
## 4. Client Responsibilities
The Client agrees to provide:
- [Requirement 1] by [date or within X days of project start]
- [Requirement 2]
- [Requirement 3]
Delays in Client deliverables may extend the project timeline without penalty to the Contractor.
---
## 5. Timeline and Milestones
| Phase | Deliverables | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | [list] | [date] | [date] |
| Phase 2 | [list] | [date] | [date] |
| Final | [delivery] | [date] | [date] |
---
## 6. Revisions
[Revision policy appropriate to the work type]
---
## 7. Fees and Payment
**Total project fee:** $[X]
Payment schedule:
- [X]% ($[X]) due upon contract signing
- [X]% ($[X]) due upon [milestone]
- [X]% ($[X]) due upon final delivery
Invoices are due [Net 15 / Net 30] from receipt.
Overdue balances accrue a [1.5]% monthly late fee.
---
## 8. Change Order Policy
Work not covered by Section 2 requires a written Change Order signed by both parties before work begins. Changes are quoted at $[X]/hour unless otherwise agreed.
---
## 9. Intellectual Property
Upon receipt of full payment, all work product created under this agreement transfers to the Client. The Contractor retains the right to display the work in their portfolio.
---
Both parties agree to treat all non-public information exchanged under this agreement as confidential.
---
This agreement is governed by the laws of [State/Country].
---
_ Date: _
Name: [your name], [your company]
Example
User: I'm a freelance UX designer. Client wants a full redesign of their SaaS onboarding flow. 3-week project. I'll do discovery, wireframes, and high-fidelity Figma mockups. They haven't mentioned copywriting or dev handoff specs. $6,500 total, 50% upfront.
Expected output: Full SOW with Section 2 listing: discovery workshop (1 session, 90 min), user flow mapping (3 flows), wireframes (8 screens), high-fidelity Figma mockups (8 screens, desktop + mobile). Section 3 exclusions: copywriting and UX copy, development handoff documentation, usability testing, implementation. Section 4 client responsibilities: access to 3 current users for a 30-minute discovery call, existing brand guidelines within 2 business days. Revision policy: 2 rounds on wireframes, 2 rounds on high-fidelity. Payment: $3,250 on signing, $3,250 on final Figma delivery. Change order rate: $150/hour.
