Change Request
A change request is a formal ask to alter work that has already been agreed or delivered, such as adding a page, rewriting a section or changing a feature after launch. In web design, each change request is reviewed for its effect on cost and timeline before work begins, so extra work is approved and paid for.
What Counts as a Change Request
A change request is anything that changes the agreed scope, not just anything the client wants changed. Fixing a typo in copy you were supplied is a revision. Adding a pricing page that wasn’t in the plan is a change request.
- New pages, sections or features.
- Rework after the client has approved something.
- Requests that arrive after launch, outside any care plan.
- Requests that change the timeline, such as moving the launch date earlier.
How the Change Request Process Works
- The client describes the change, ideally in writing and in one place.
- You decide whether it’s in scope. If it isn’t, you reply with a price and how it affects the timeline.
- The client approves, and only then do you start.
- You do the work, mark it done, and the payment is collected.
Skipping step three is how scope creep starts. Approval doesn’t need to be formal paperwork; a written yes in the same thread as the request is usually enough.
Choose how you price them before the first one arrives. A fixed price works for changes you can estimate, like a new page built from an existing layout. Hourly works better for open-ended requests, like “make the homepage feel more modern,” where the work depends on rounds of feedback. Whichever you use, put the price in writing next to the request.
Change Requests on Squarespace Sites
Squarespace clients often see a change happen in seconds when they edit their own site, so they can underestimate requests that need design work. Writing a short note on what the change involves, such as layout on mobile, new images or updated navigation, helps the price make sense.
After launch, change requests are the main reason clients come back. A website care plan gives small, regular requests a home, with larger ones quoted separately.
In Bridge, a client can click “New request” on their client portal, or pin a task to the page from the editor widget. You set each task to No cost, Fixed cost or Hourly, and the client pays through your own Stripe account. Read more about getting paid for change requests.
Common Mistakes
- Starting work before the client agrees to the price.
- Pricing change requests verbally, then being unable to point to what was agreed.
- Letting requests arrive across email, text and calls, so some never get priced or done.
- Charging for changes that were really your mistake.
Common Questions
What is the difference between a change request and a revision?
A revision refines work inside the agreed scope. A change request adds to or alters that scope, so it usually comes with a new price or timeline.
Should web designers charge for change requests?
For work outside the agreed scope, yes, unless you choose to do it as a favor. Agree the price before you start.
How do you track change requests from clients?
Keep every request in one place with a status and a price, such as a task list or client portal, rather than in email.
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