Managing Scope Creep - 8 Warning Signs You Can't Afford to Ignore

Scope creep can infiltrate any business - going stealth mode (often right under your nose) to eat away at your profit, processes, and workflows.

So, how does scope creep occur and what should you be looking out for?

As a start, we recommend attaching a 'scope review' alarm bell to the below.

• Your client is expanding their team. Hello payroll process expansion!
• Your client is implementing new technology, systems or processes. Hello training and new workflows!
• Your client has introduced new reporting requirements. Hello data entry, processing and reporting!
• There have been changes in legislation that affect your clients. Hello training, workflows, processes, procedures, communication, compliance checks, etc, etc, etc.
• You come to understand that your client loves a last minute, adhoc request. Hello last minute, adhoc work.
• Your client's business is growing and new work requests keep sneaking their way in. Hello, hello!
• You've got a great team, though you haven't been keeping across their workflows, or time spent on each account, and before you know it, what they are actually working on is very different to the original scope. Hello unprofitable client!
• Your client simply likes to change their mind, or direction, or to pivot... a lot. Hello headache!

None of the above are necessarily a problem in themselves - many are in fact GREAT for business. Though they need to be identified, managed and monitored properly. And scope, fees and LOEs need to be adjusted to reflect any changes.

What do you find hardest to keep on top of in your business when it comes to managing scope creep?

Jump into the Academy to learn more about Managing Client Reviews, Scope Creep and Fee Increases in our Feature Topic of the same name.