Freelance RateRush fees, extra revisions and scope creep
Speed and changes cost you time. If they are free, you lose money; if they are priced clearly, most clients accept them.
Why charge for rush work
A rush job means you move other work, give up evenings or weekends and carry more risk of mistakes. It is not the same product as a job with normal time. A rush fee tells the client the cost of speed and gives you a reason to say yes.
A way to set the percentage
Decide how much other work you would have to push back. If you would lose one day of other paid work to finish this job in two days instead of five, the rush fee should at least pay that day. Many freelancers use a flat percentage such as 25 or 50 percent of the price for very short notice and say so in their price list. In the project price calculator you can enter the percentage and see the total.
Revisions
- State how many rounds are included. Two is common, but it depends on the type of work.
- Define a round: one list of changes sent at the same time on the same brief.
- Charge extra rounds by the hour, and tell the client the hours before you start.
- A change to the brief is new work, not a revision.
Scope creep: the polite script
Thank you for the new idea. It is outside what we agreed, so it needs extra time. I estimate [hours] at [rate], which is [amount]. I can start as soon as you confirm, and the delivery date moves by [days]. If you prefer to keep to the original plan, I will deliver that as agreed.
When to waive a fee
A small favour for a client who sends steady work builds goodwill. Tell them it is a favour and write the value on the invoice so they see what they received. That keeps the habit of paying for work alive.
Common questions
Is it rude to charge a rush fee?
No. A rush fee is a normal business practice when the price is clear before work starts. Put it in your price list so clients see it early.
What if the client refuses to pay for extra revisions?
Return to the written scope. You can deliver what was agreed, offer the extra work at a price, or decline. Keeping to your written terms protects your income.
Keep going
Example figures on this site are made up to show the working. They are not market rates or averages. Tax, social-insurance, sales-tax and holiday rules differ by country and change, so this site does not state them: ask the tax authority of your country or an accountant. Checked 14 November 2026.