The main job price is rarely the problem. The problem is the extra work that happens in tiny pieces: “just one more thing”, “can you quickly…”. This guide shows how to protect your time while staying professional and calm.
Why “small extras” destroy profit
Extras feel harmless because they’re small. But they stack up: extra materials, extra trips, extra time, extra clean-up. If you don’t have a rule, you train clients to expect free changes.
The 1-sentence rule you should always use
Any changes to the scope will be priced and agreed in writing before work continues.
It’s not aggressive. It’s clarity. It protects you and the client.
How to price variations without arguments
- Name the change: “Add 2 extra sockets in bedroom.”
- Give a quick price: fixed add-on or extra hours/day-rate extension.
- Get a written “yes”: email or message is enough.
- Document it: add a variation line item to the quote/invoice.
Where scope creep hides (common examples)
- Prep that “looks small” but takes hours (patching, sanding, stain blocking).
- Extra disposal and clean-up (bags, trips, skip changes).
- Extra travel/collection (one missing part becomes two trips).
- Finish expectations changing mid-job (“can we make it perfect?”).