Say No To Scope Creep!
Ever had a prospect who keeps asking for more before they’ve even signed the contract?
“Can we hop on one more quick call?”
“Just a few small tweaks before we move forward…”
“Could you map out the strategy so we know exactly what we’re getting?”
If a client is pushing boundaries before the engagement even begins, guess what happens when you actually start working together?
🫠 Delays, scope creep, and endless revisions
🫠 Client churn and the constant need for new business development
🫠 Team fatigue and churn—and a hit to your margins
It’s a pattern that can seriously impact your agency’s operations, productivity, and morale.
Setting Strong Financial Foundations—Including Knowing When to Walk Away
At Le Chéile, we help agencies set strong financial foundations, and part of that is knowing when to walk away from a client who doesn’t respect your time or boundaries.
A client who isn’t respecting your time during the sales process will likely push boundaries once you’re engaged. You don’t want to start your relationship with a client on shaky ground, and here’s how you can stop scope creep before it begins:
✅ Clear Proposals: Make sure your proposals have firm deliverables and clear limits. This sets expectations from the start and makes it easy to refer back to when scope creep rears its head.
✅ Paid Discovery: Charge for discovery sessions and mapping out a strategy. If you’re putting in the time and effort to create a thoughtful strategy, it should be compensated. This also signals that your expertise is valuable, and you’re not giving away work for free.
✅ Confident Boundaries: Stand firm on your boundaries. The right clients will respect them, and that makes for a much smoother and more productive working relationship in the long run.
The Best Way to Avoid Scope Creep? Don’t Take on the Bad-Fit Clients in the First Place.
The most effective way to avoid these problems is to not take on clients who aren’t a good fit from the beginning. If something doesn’t feel right in the sales process, it’s likely only going to get worse once the work begins. Trust your instincts and stick to clients who truly value your time, expertise, and boundaries.
