The cost of redos is something every creative business owner faces. A client asks for “just one more revision,” and suddenly you’ve doubled your hours without doubling your pay. It’s not only exhausting — it’s the fastest way your profit margin disappears.
Creative work is subjective. Without boundaries, projects balloon. Redos may seem small, but here’s how they quietly erode your bottom line:
- More hours, same fee. Each “extra round” drops your effective hourly rate.
- Workflow jams. Overextended projects block space for new, better-paying clients.
- Energy drain. Instead of wrapping up cleanly, you’re stuck in an endless revision cycle.
Pro Tip: Use a simple spreadsheet or time-tracking app to log hours, even on flat-fee projects. I speak from experience and learned by doing exactly what I’m recommending here. You’ll be shocked at how much profit those “little extras” consume.
Where Scope Creep Sneaks In
Most redos trace back to weak spots in your systems:
- Contracts – If you don’t clearly define what’s included, you’ve left the door open.
- Client onboarding – Without education about boundaries, clients assume revisions are unlimited.
- Deliverables – If you don’t outline exactly what’s delivered (and what isn’t), every request feels negotiable.
My article The True Cost of Scope Creep: A Cost Reduction Strategy addresses this in a bit more detail.
Smart Ways to Rein In Scope Creep
Protecting your profit doesn’t mean being inflexible — it means being clear.
- Define deliverables. Spell out what’s included: “5-page website with homepage, about, contact, and two service pages.”
- Limit revisions. Add a clause: “2 rounds of revisions are included; additional revisions billed at $150/hr.”
- Educate upfront. Share a “what to expect” process guide during onboarding.
- Bill by milestones. Break projects into phases with payments attached. This keeps cash flowing. FreshBooks is absolutely GREAT at this, and the easiest I’ve found so far.
- Script your response. When asked for extras: “That’s outside our agreed scope. Happy to add it for $___.”
Pro Tip: Create a template that will help you set scope boundaries from the start. This saves time and helps with consistency. Automate proposals, contracts, and collecting signatures and payments with tools like Anchor. It’s only $5 per transaction – a bargain!
Why Scope = Business Health
Every redo has ripple effects:
- Cash flow stalls. If one project drags on, so does your income.
- Pricing gets skewed. Without tracking scope vs. hours, future quotes stay too low.
- Scaling becomes impossible. Growth requires predictable, repeatable systems — not chaos.
Want more perspective on how hidden costs drain profit? Check out Small Business Revenue vs Profit: Why Mixing Them Up Leads to Tax Surprises for a breakdown every creative should see.
Smooth Offboarding = Higher Profit
Clear scopes also make project wrap-ups easier. Invoices get paid faster, clients know exactly what to expect, and you avoid last-minute edits long after delivery.
The cost of redos is real, but preventable. Tight scopes, fair revision limits, and clear boundaries don’t make you “difficult” … they make you profitable. And THAT, of course, is what lets you keep doing the work you love, sustainably.
Pro Tip: Review your contract template today. Do deliverables, revisions, and extra-work fees show up clearly? If not, fix it before the next client signs.
Are you struggling with scope creep or projects that eat more than they pay? Let’s talk. Book a complimentary 20-minute “Let’s Get Acquainted” call here.
