What Is a Change Order? A Simple Guide for Freelancers (With Example)

When you need one

Any time a client asks for work that isn't in the original agreement: a new page, an extra revision round, another video edit, a feature that wasn't discussed. If it changes cost or timing, it deserves a change order.

What a change order should include

1. A reference to the original project or contract. 2. A plain description of the change. 3. The added cost (or savings). 4. The new deadline, if it moves. 5. The updated project total. 6. A signature and date from the client.

Keep it short. A client should be able to read and approve it in under a minute.

Example change order

Here's a real-world style example for a website project:

“Project: Bakery website redesign. Change: add an online ordering page with a menu and contact form. Added cost: $600. Timeline: +5 days (new launch date: Nov 20). New project total: $4,100. Approved by: [client signature, date].”

Common mistakes

Starting work before it's signed. Leaving out the timeline impact. Writing vague descriptions like “updates to homepage.” And bundling many small changes for weeks until the bill feels like a surprise. Send them as they happen.

Doing it without the paperwork

Greenlit turns each client request into a change order automatically: it shows the before-and-after budget and deadline, collects an e-signature and bills the difference. Your client approves from a private link with no sign-up.