STOP MAKING PRETTY PROPOSALS, START MAKING LOCKED-IN SCOPES OF WORK
If you caught Episode 160 with Renee Biery, you already know she came in hot with a truth bomb: designers are spending way too much time making their proposals gorgeous… and not nearly enough time making them useful. And listen, as designers we love a beautiful document. But a sexy proposal can’t save you from a sloppy scope of work.
We recorded with Renee a few weeks ago, and since then I’ve been deep in refining my own scopes of work — and let me tell you, it’s been a humbling little journey! I always struggle with making it engaging, but not overwhelming. Every time I drafted a new scope of work that I thought had every detail, I’d realize that I forgot to specify a meeting, or an approval milestone, or that tiny-but-crucial note like “I’m out of office for 10 days in January.” Creating a solid scope hasn’t been about aesthetics; I’ve been trying to create more clarity and boundaries, while making sure my client understands exactly what they’re signing up for, and what they’re not.
Renee’s advice hit home: your proposal should function like a project roadmap. It should clearly define the phases, the deliverables, when decisions are due, when you are working, and when they are paying. Whether you’re outlining design development, procurement timelines, construction support, or that all-important reminder like “we need to start placing orders by March 2 to maintain this timeline” the goal is precision. A good scope clarifies expectations, reduces client confusion, protects your profit, and ultimately cuts down on those avoidable “I thought that was included…” conversations that steal my joy (and eat into my billable hours).
A new format for Scopes of Work
I’ve been fine tuning this new Scope of Work template, and I’m essentially just writing it up as a list in Google Docs. Then I import that into a Dubsado proposal template I use. I’m not making this fancy anymore. It’s really straight-forward. I’m currently working on a remodeling and decorating project that had a large scope of work, so here’s a single room from that as an example:
Example Scope of Work
DINING ROOM
Hard and soft finishes.
- Hard finish selections, lighting, and space or furniture plan
- Up to two (2) construction drawing elevations for the proposed built-in and room divider
- Soft finish selections like upholstery, furniture, seating, rugs, accessories, artwork, etc.
- 3D renderings, up to two (2) views/perspectives
- Up to two (2) rounds of revisions, if needed
Then under the Scope of Work section of the Proposal is where I add the Design Phases & Timelines which also lists the deliverables and payment milestones. For example:
Example Design Phases & Timelines
CONCEPT DESIGN
Oct 1 – Nov 7 (5 weeks)
- Develop preliminary layouts for each space
- Mood boards for hard & soft finishes
- Initial finish palettes for cabinetry, flooring, tile, trim, etc.
- First pass at furnishings and lighting concepts
- Identify 3D rendering angles
DELIVERABLES
- Concept Presentation (mood boards & layouts)
- 1st round of renderings in progress
PAYMENT MILESTONES
- 40% Retainer ($XX,000) due at signing to secure Oct-1 start date
- 30% ($XX,000) due before Conceptual Design Presentation, by Nov-7
So know I can use the Scope of Work to create a roadmap for deliverables and I can use those milestones to plan my business and projects further out. At least, that’s the goal I’m building up to. I’ll likely be talking about this again on the podcast and in the Patreon community.
It doesn't have to be pretty to be powerful
I used to think that the beautifully designed proposal was showing my clients what a professional service I was offering, but now I’m starting to see how a well-organized, detail-rich, crystal-clear scope is the luxury. When clients feel guided, informed, and confident in the process, everything flows smoothly. And maybe I can stop spending hours on graphics and the design of a proposal and instead spend that time tightening my deliverables? Or more time for rest?
So here’s your HYDC homework: pull out your last proposal, pretend you’ve never seen it before, and ask yourself — “If I were the client, would I know what’s included? What’s not? What I owe? When I owe it? And what the actual heck happens next?” If not… it might be time to channel your inner Renee Biery and create scopes of work that work for you.
Fizzles & Sizzles
Rebecca's Fizzle
Months of travel, as fun as it was, took its toll on me. I’m paying the price catching up on work and staving off burnout. Final 2025 push!
Rebecca's Sizzle
But the travel was worth it! Finally captured photos of my Texas beachhouse project. Will share soon!!
Shaun's Fizzle
I didn’t enjoy Wicked: For Good as much as I enjoyed the first movie. Another situation where the book did it better I guess. Is it just me?
Shaun's Sizzle
Do you ever have an entire home’s design come to you as you work on a single room? That’s pretty much what happened when I started on the foyer design for one of my clients.
