PROJECT SCOPING
A website scope that says what “done” means.
“A five-page website” sounds specific until the client expects copywriting, an online booking system, and three rounds of new concepts. A useful scope describes the result, the inputs, and the boundaries.
01Start with an explicit page list
List Home, About, Services, Work, and Contact. Define whether a page is a unique layout or a variation of an approved template. If Services includes ten separate service pages, write that down. Page counts alone do not describe the work.
02Turn features into completion checks
Instead of “contact form,” write: one form with name, email, and message fields; required-field validation; a confirmation state; and delivery to one client-supplied email address. Spam protection, CRM sync, file uploads, and complex routing need separate decisions.
03Define the review process
For an example four-week project, use a sitemap review in week one, visual direction review in week two, built-site review in week three, and a launch checklist in week four. The timetable depends on content and feedback arriving on time.
04Write the exclusions people usually assume
A practical sample: logo design, new copy, paid photography, paid plugins, hosting bills, domain registration, extra pages, and post-launch maintenance are outside the base fee. Move anything the client actually needs into a named deliverable and price it.
05Separate price inputs from the client result
Example only: 50 estimated hours at $65/hour is $3,250. A 15% planning buffer adds $487.50, producing a $3,737.50 project estimate before tax. At a 50% deposit, round the kickoff amount to $1,868.75 and leave the same balance. These are illustrative inputs, not recommended market rates.
06Use the scope to start a conversation
Send the scope before kickoff and invite questions about omissions. Agree service terms separately where required. A tidy proposal is useful, but it cannot substitute for a shared understanding of the work.
Put it into your next project.
Use the free builder to turn the details into a proposal and a separate quote for additional work.
Open the scope builder ↗