Freelance pricing · change orders
Scope creep calculator.
Show the cost of new requests while the details are fresh. Add extra hours, meetings, revisions and expenses, then produce a change-order number you can explain.
Scope creep is priced from the new work, not from how small the request sounds. This estimate separates direct cost from the buffer and price basis so the conversation stays factual.
Change order = (added labour + new expenses) × (1 + risk buffer) ÷ (1 − margin)Original scope and new work
Change order
What counts as scope creep?
New deliverables, extra feedback rounds, additional meetings, late content changes and unplanned production are all legitimate additions when they sit outside the agreed scope. Count the work while it is visible instead of arguing about whether it feels “small.”
How the change order works
The calculator prices the new hours at your working rate, adds new expenses, reserves a risk buffer, and then applies margin or markup. The original quote is shown only to put the change in context; it does not change the recommended price.
Added hours = extra work + (new meetings × meeting length) + (new revisions × revision time)Absorbed cost = added hours × rate + new expenses
Change order = price the absorbed cost plus risk
The margin and markup distinction follows AccountingTools’ accounting definitions. This page intentionally excludes tax.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge for a scope change if it only takes an hour?
If the request is outside the agreed scope, yes: price the work consistently. Small changes compound, and a clear change order protects both sides from a growing unpriced backlog.
What if the client says the request was implied?
Compare it with the written deliverables, rounds and assumptions in the agreement. Explain the difference in effort and offer the change order before starting it.
Does the result include tax?
No. Tax is not included because it depends on your location, registration and client situation.
Estimate only
Use the output as a discussion number and confirm the change in writing before doing the extra work.