CMS Development Guide 2026
📋 Discovery & Scoping
Defining the scope
Write a Scope of Work
After the call, write a Scope of Work that includes:
- List of all pages to be built
- Functionality included (contact form, blog, booking, store, etc.)
- Platform you'll build on
- Number of revision rounds
- What is NOT included (copywriting, photography, SEO strategy, etc.)
- Timeline and payment terms
Never start without a signed scope
Scope creep is how freelance projects lose money. It happens when a client keeps adding "can you just add this one thing?" requests outside the original agreement. Each ask seems small, but together they can double the workload with no extra pay.
operator note
when scope creep happens, respond professionally — "That's outside the original scope but I can add it. Here's what that looks like cost and timeline wise." No guilt. No free work.