How to scope a freelance proposal
Most unpaid work starts in the first email. This guide is the same process Propoflow walks you through: name the work, price it, and write down what is not included.
1. Paste the whole message
Do not rewrite the email first. Keep the client’s words. The vague parts—“include SEO,” “help with launch,” “until it feels right”—are the parts you need to catch.
2. Name the work
List what you will actually deliver: pages, designs, a store setup, a handoff. If the client named a result (“rank first on Google”) instead of a task, write the task you will do and leave the result out of scope.
3. Price the list, not the hope
Put a number next to each piece of work. A single lump sum with no line items makes it easy for the client to add “just one more thing” later.
4. Lock the usual leaks
- Revisions: two rounds per milestone, then hourly.
- SEO: on-page setup only, unless they bought a monthly plan.
- Dates: if their copy or files are late, the launch date moves.
5. Send a link they can accept
A short webpage is easier to approve than a long PDF. The client should see the work, the price, and a clear yes.