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Change order generator
The client wants more than you agreed. Write down the change, its price and its impact on the timeline, and get it approved before you start.
Your change order
CHANGE ORDER CO-1: [Project] Client: [Client] Provider: [Provider] This change order amends the agreement dated [date]. 1. Change [Describe the added or changed work] 2. Reason Requested by the Client 3. Fee This change adds $800.00 to the project fee. The new project total is $5,800.00 (previously $5,000.00). $400.00 (50% of the change fee) is due on approval; the rest is invoiced with the final delivery. 4. Timeline The delivery date moves by 5 business days. Work on this change starts once this change order is signed and the approval payment is received. 5. Everything else All other terms of the original agreement remain unchanged. Approved: [Client] ______________ [Provider] ______________
Want the change signed from the client's phone, with the payment requested at signature? Clinch does both: start from the SOW template →
A starting point, not legal advice. For high-stakes deals, have a lawyer review it.
Why a change order beats "sure, no problem"
Scope creep rarely arrives as one big request. It arrives as ten small ones, each too small to argue about. A change order makes each one visible: what is being added, what it costs, and how it moves the deadline, signed before work begins. Clients rarely object; they just need to see that extra work has a price. It also protects the relationship, because nobody is surprised by the final invoice.
FAQ
What is a change order?
A short written amendment to a signed contract that describes added or changed work, its price, and its effect on the timeline. Both parties sign it before the new work starts.
Do I need a change order for small requests?
For anything that takes more than an hour or two, yes. Small requests add up, and a written record is what lets you bill for them.
Should I ask for payment on approval?
For larger changes, yes: 50% on approval is common. It confirms the client really wants the change and keeps you from financing the extra work.
What if my contract has no change clause?
You can still use a change order; signing it creates the amendment. Next time, use a contract that says out-of-scope work needs a written change request.
Contracts that price scope creep for you.
Clinch writes contracts with a clear scope and change-request clause, your client signs from their phone, and the deposit is requested at signature.
Draft the contract with Clinch