… got an email from somebody I had hired.
She wanted me to know that our project had, “gone out of scope.” And she was asking if I would pay for that difference.
I said, “Sorry, but no.”
Billing flat fee, by the project, is way better than billing hourly.
But it requires creating – and maintaining – clear boundaries regarding what’s included and what isn’t.
It’s up to you (not your client) to manage the project.
In scope / out of scope is a continual problem when developing software, too. Where big companies have project managers to control scope creep, solo professionals need to control that themselves. A clear definition of responsibilities and requirements keep projects on track and reduce misunderstandings. Great reason to have standard templates in place defining the process flow and deliverables; not just price and schedule.