Custom Orders and Scope Creep: Charging for Design and Material Changes

Customer asks for a custom dining table. You quote $2,000. They request different wood, then different dimensions, then "can you add a leaf?" Three hours of design work later, you're building a $2,500 table for $2,000. This guide teaches you to charge for custom work and changes.

Three-Part Custom Order Pricing

Part 1: Design Consultation Fee ($100-$300)

Charge upfront for initial design work, sketches, material samples. Refund 50-100% toward final invoice if they move forward.

Benefit: Filters out tire-kickers. Serious customers don't mind. Covers your design time.

Part 2: Base Construction Price

Standard price for the agreed-upon design and materials. Use your normal markup (40-50%).

Key: Lock in design and materials BEFORE quoting base price.

Part 3: Change Order Fee ($50-$150/change)

Any design change, material change, or dimension revision incurs a change order fee. This covers your time and material recalculation.

Examples: "Can you use walnut instead of oak?" = $75 change order (material recalc + potential design impact)

Example contract language: "Base price includes initial design and finalized specs. Any changes requested after quote incur a $75 change order fee plus actual material difference cost."

Limiting Revisions in Initial Design

During the design phase, limit free revisions:

Revision Limits

"Design fee ($200) includes up to 2 rounds of revisions. Additional revisions: $50 each."

Scope Boundaries

Clarify what's included: "Design consultation covers table size, wood type, and finish. Custom joinery or structural changes require separate fee estimate."

Timeline

"Design revisions must be requested within 7 days. Changes after this deadline are billed at $50/hour."

Key Takeaways

✓ Charge design consultation fee upfront ($100-$300), refundable toward final invoice

✓ Lock in design and materials BEFORE quoting base price

✓ Charge $50-$150 per change order for design/material revisions

✓ Limit free revisions (2 rounds) during design phase

✓ Document scope boundaries in writing before starting work

Protect Margins. Set Clear Boundaries.

TrueCraft tracks custom project scope and change orders.

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