The client asks you for a TikTok video, a new logo for their second business, and for you to answer weekend comments. All of it "because it's included in the plan." You don't remember ever saying that. They swear you did.
Without a written scope, whoever has the better memory wins. And it's almost never you.
A contract isn't the same as a long-term commitment
Before we go on, one clarification. A contract or service agreement doesn't have to lock the client in for a year. Its main job is to make it clear what gets delivered, when, how, and at what price. At Blides we don't use long-term contracts, but we do make it very clear what each service includes.
Your agency can work month to month and still have an airtight written agreement.
What your agreement should say
| Section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Service | The plan name and a plain-language description |
| Deliverables | Which pieces or tasks, how many, and how often |
| What's not included | The extras clients ask for most |
| Timelines | When you deliver and how long the client has to approve |
| Revisions | How many rounds of changes are included per piece |
| Payments | Amount, date, payment method, what happens if it's late |
| Client materials | What they need to send and by when |
| Ownership | Who owns the designs, the website, the accounts |
| Cancellation | How much notice is needed to end the agreement |
The section that protects you most: what's not included
Spell out what's not covered. For example, in a social media plan:
- Ad spend is not included (it's paid to Meta separately).
- In-person photo or video shoots are not included.
- Replying to messages outside the agreed hours is not included.
- Other brands or businesses owned by the same person are not included.
- Platforms that aren't in the plan are not included.
That list prevents most arguments. Not because the client is taking advantage, but because each side imagines something different.
Revisions: where you lose the most money
If you don't set a limit, a design can go back and forth ten times. Define how many rounds each piece includes and what counts as a change. A tweak to a color or the text is a revision; changing the whole idea is a new piece. We go deep on this in revisions and changes without losing money.
Timelines that depend on both sides
Many delays aren't on you. They're on the client who doesn't send photos or doesn't approve. Put it in writing:
- When you deliver.
- How much time the client has to approve.
- What happens if they don't approve on time (for example, the posting date moves).
If you're going to promise deadlines, make them ones your production actually meets. We help you with that in turnaround times to promise your client.
If you want to offer more services without carrying the production, message us on WhatsApp and we'll send you the agency price list.
How to handle requests outside the scope
It's going to happen. The client will ask for something extra. You have three possible answers:
- "Happy to. That costs X and we'll deliver it in Y days."
- "That isn't in your current plan, but the next plan up includes it."
- "This month I'll do it as a courtesy; starting next month it's billed separately."
All three are friendly, and none of them means working for free without saying so. The worst response is doing it quietly and complaining about it later.
Expectations from the first meeting
The contract confirms what you already discussed. Expectations get set earlier, during the sale and at the first meeting:
- How long it takes to see results.
- What will be measured and how often it's reported.
- Which channel you'll use to communicate and during what hours.
- Who approves on the client's side.
This starts with the proposal. If you don't have a clear structure yet, check out how to present a proposal that closes.
If you produce with a team behind you
Your agreement with the client has to match what your production team can deliver. If you sell unlimited designs, confirm your production covers them. If you promise posting Monday through Sunday, make sure someone posts Monday through Sunday. With white label, the scope you agree on with your client is the same brief you send us.
Do you have an agency or work on your own? We are your production team.
You sell and bill under your brand; we handle social media, ads, websites, AI and support at agency pricing. Your client never knows we are behind it.
Review your agreements this week
Open the agreement for your most difficult client and look for the section on what's not included. If it doesn't exist, write it and share it with them. If you want to offer more services without carrying the production, message us on WhatsApp and we'll send you the agency price list.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a contract if I work month to month with my clients?
Yes, even if it's not a long-term commitment. A written agreement makes clear what gets delivered, when, how many revisions there are, and how payment works.
What do I do when a client asks for something that isn't in their plan?
Tell them kindly and give them options: bill it separately, move up to a higher plan, or do it once as a courtesy while letting them know it will be billed after that.
How many revisions should I include per design?
One to two rounds per piece is common. What matters is putting it in writing and making clear that changing the whole idea counts as a new piece.
