Scope Creep
Agency glossary · Updated July 2026
Definition
Scope creep is the gradual expansion of a project beyond its agreed scope, as a client adds requests, revisions, or new deliverables without a matching increase in fee or timeline. Left unchecked, it quietly erases an agency’s margin on the work.
Why it matters
Scope creep is one of the biggest hidden drains on agency profitability, because the extra hours are real but unpaid, dragging down your effective rate and realization.
How to control it
Start from a precise scope of work, track hours against it, and use a change order to bill anything beyond the agreed deliverables instead of absorbing it.
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