Ask What does scope creep look like in a freelancing project and how do you stop it early?

[Brendan]

Scope creep is something that starts small and grows before you even notice it. A client asks for one small change, then another, and suddenly the project looks nothing like what was agreed. It can eat up your time without any extra pay, and it can leave you feeling resentful toward work you once enjoyed. Some freelancers say clear contracts fix this, while others say it comes down to setting firm expectations from the first conversation. What has actually worked for you when a project starts going beyond what was agreed?