How do you tell a client work is out of scope?
Start with the commercial fact, not an accusation. Acknowledge that the request may be useful, identify what it adds beyond the agreement and offer a clear next step. The client should be choosing between a fee, an equivalent scope trade or a later phase—not defending their request.
Reference the boundary plainly
Name the deliverable, quantity or revision limit that changes. “The agreement includes two revision rounds; this would be a third” is clearer and calmer than saying the client is causing scope creep.
Show the decision before the work
A useful out-of-scope email makes the fee and timeline visible before delivery starts. Charging is only one valid response: an agency can preserve margin by trading equivalent deliverables or moving the request into a later phase.
Keep the evidence
Save the client request, the relevant scope boundary and the written acceptance together. This generator provides commercial drafting support, not legal advice; use your signed agreement and authorised approver.