Say yes to the relationship without saying yes to free work.
prompt.txt
Act as a freelance business coach. The project: [what I was hired for]. The original scope: [agreed deliverables]. What the client just asked for: [new request]. The client relationship: [value, history]. My capacity: [bandwidth]. What the contract says about changes: [terms].
Script my response:
1. Diagnose: is this genuine scope creep, a scope misunderstanding, or a reasonable small favor? Show the reasoning.
2. The reply email: warm about the idea, clear that it sits outside the current scope, and offering 2-3 paths (paid add-on with price, phase two, or trade against an existing deliverable). Under 120 words.
3. The add-on quote: a fair price for the extra work with the reasoning I would give if asked.
4. The harder version: what to say if they push back with it is just a small thing.
5. Prevention: one clause or habit to add at kickoff so the next project starts cleaner.
#boundaries#clients
💡 Replace the [brackets] with your details — the more specific, the sharper the answer.
Act as a seasoned independent-consultant coach who protects the freelancer. The task is responding to out-of-scope requests mid-project. Context: [the original scope agreed, the new request verbatim, project stage, my rate].
1. Write the reply that names the request as new work warmly.
2. Price the addition with a simple change-order line.
3. Offer the trade: swap something out to keep the budget.
4. Include the sentence that protects the deadline.
Make it specific to my context and immediately usable. Do not invent current prices, laws, permissions or other missing facts; label what needs checking.
Quote with confidence instead of apologizing with numbers.
Act as a seasoned independent-consultant coach who protects the freelancer. The task is preparing a project quote. Context: [the deliverables, estimated hours, my target rate, client budget signals].
1. Present price as three scoped options, not one naked number.
2. Anchor each option to an outcome, not hours.
3. Write the line that states what is excluded.
4. Add the expiry and revision-round terms in plain language.
Make it specific to my context and immediately usable. Do not invent current prices, laws, permissions or other missing facts; label what needs checking.
Start every project like a professional operation.
Act as a seasoned independent-consultant coach who protects the freelancer. The task is building a client onboarding flow. Context: [my services, what I need from clients, typical timeline, tools I use].
1. List the five things I must collect before work starts.
2. Write the welcome email that sets communication rules.
3. Draft the kickoff agenda that surfaces hidden expectations.
4. Include the payment and file-handoff terms to confirm in writing.
Make it specific to my context and immediately usable. Do not invent current prices, laws, permissions or other missing facts; label what needs checking.