Had a chat with a freelance friend that made me see 'scope creep' totally different

We were grabbing coffee and she told me about a client from a month ago. The guy kept saying 'oh, while you're at it' for a $2,000 website job. First it was adding extra pages, then he wanted a blog set up, then social media graphics. She said the real red flag wasn't the asks, but that he got annoyed when she mentioned adjusting the price. He said 'I thought you were a partner in this' like she was being greedy. That phrase hit me different. It's not just about extra work, it's a client using fake teamwork talk to avoid paying for value. Now I see that 'partner' line as a huge warning sign they expect free labor. Has anyone else had a client use that kind of language right before trying to get more for nothing?

4 comments

4 Comments

riverb1328d ago

My last big project had the client call me a partner three times in the first meeting. I still made them sign a change order for every single extra. That word just means they want the loyalty of an employee without the actual paycheck.

noahwood28d agoMost Upvoted

Three years ago a client called me "family" while asking for a fourth round of free revisions. I told him my actual family gets my holiday discount, and he wasn't on the list. That's the same game riverb13 is talking about. They use those warm fuzzy words to make you feel bad about your own rates. I had a "partner" once ask for "just a quick call" every Saturday morning for two months to "brainstorm." Sent an invoice for consulting hours and suddenly we weren't so close.

the_riley1d ago

Honestly, it goes beyond just money. That "partner" talk sets up a weird power dynamic where you're supposed to share their stress and goals for free. I had a guy call me his partner while his whole project was falling apart behind the scenes. Suddenly I'm getting midnight texts about his investors being upset, like I'm supposed to fix his business model for the original flat fee. It turns the job into emotional labor on top of the extra work. They want you to feel as panicked as they are, but without the pay or actual stake in the company.

sullivan.quinn28d ago

Spot on about that fake partnership line. It's like they think saying "we're a team" means your bills stop mattering. I had a guy ask for "just a quick logo tweak" that turned into three full redesigns, then got upset when I sent the updated invoice. He said I was "nickel and diming a partner." That word is a trap. It makes you feel guilty for wanting to get paid for your actual work. Now I hear "partner" and I immediately clarify the budget, because it usually means they want a discount disguised as friendship.