Why Does This Cost More? It's Just a Small Change!
Amadej Jerlah
Author
The Conversation Every Freelancer Dreads
Let's name the elephant in the room: You hire me to build something. We start. Halfway through, you realize what you asked for ≠ what you actually want. You ask for changes. I say "sure, but it'll cost more." You feel frustrated. I feel guilty. Nobody wins.
"But it's just a tiny tweak! Why are you charging me again?"
Here's the uncomfortable truth: Unclear specs → Unplanned work → Unhappy conversations. This isn't a "you" problem or a "me" problem. It's a "how we work together" problem.
The Blueprint That Keeps Changing
Imagine building a house where:
• The client says "3 bedrooms!" on Monday
• Changes to "4 bedrooms + yoga studio" on Tuesday
• Then asks "Why is this taking so long?!" on Wednesday
That's what coding with vague specs feels like. "Small changes" aren't small when they require:
• Ripping out existing work
• Testing new edge cases
• Documenting new rules
Why Rough Estimates Backfire
When I say "This could take 10-30 hours," clients hear:
"It'll take 10 hours. 30 is just his safety net."
Reality? The 10-hour estimate assumes:
• Zero changes to requirements
• No unforeseen technical hurdles
• Instant feedback from you
This is a very rare occasion.
How We Avoid the Trap
Step 1: The 'Good Enough' Blueprint
Before writing a single line of code, we:
• List must-have features (vs. nice-to-haves)
• Find 3 reference examples of what you like
• Agree on what "done" looks like
This takes 2-3 hours. Billed. Why? Because thinking is work.
Step 2: Build & Flag
As we work:
• I'll show you progress every [X days]
• You'll get 24 hours to request changes
• I'll warn you if a "tweak" impacts timeline/cost
Step 3: The Trade-Off Talk
When changes come up:
"We can do that! To keep your launch date, we'd need to:
A) Remove [X feature]
B) Add [$$$] to budget
C) Push deadline by [Y days]
Your call."
Why This Works for Adults
This isn't about control—it's about respecting reality:
• Changes cost time → Time costs money
• I can't predict the unpredictable
• You deserve to know risks before deciding
Clients who thrive with me:
• Understand that "I'll know it when I see it" has a price
• Want honesty over optimistic lies
• Treat my time as their investment, not an expense
The Bottom Line
I'll never say "no" to changes. But I'll always say:
"Let's do it your way—just don't be surprised when your changes show up on the invoice. No gotchas. No drama. Just real work."