An editable project scope of work covering objectives, activities, deliverables, exclusions and acceptance, with a filled-in example. No email required.
Sitemap and wireframes; Designs for the homepage and inner-page templates.
02
Out of scope
Copywriting and photography; Domain, hosting and third-party subscriptions.
03
Client responsibilities
Final copy and images for every page.
04
Milestones
Discovery → Design → Build → Testing and launch.
What is a scope of work?
A scope of work defines exactly what a project will deliver and what it won’t. It’s the section of a project agreement people return to when something is disputed, so it needs to be specific: activities, deliverables, exclusions, assumptions, milestones and how work is accepted.
Be specific: “five-page website with a CMS blog” beats “website”.
Exclude out loud: list what isn’t included, especially what clients commonly assume is.
Write the assumptions: the client inputs and dates your plan depends on.
Define acceptance: who approves, how quickly, and what counts as approval.
Governing agreement: [Master service agreement dated … / terms attached]
1. Background and objectives
[Why the project exists and what success looks like.]
2. Scope of work
Discovery: [activities]
Design: [activities]
Build: [activities]
Testing and launch: [activities]
3. Deliverables
#
Deliverable
Description / format
Due
1
[Sitemap and wireframes]
[Detail]
[Date]
2
[Designs for the homepage and inner-page templates]
[Detail]
[Date]
3
[Built, tested website on the client’s hosting]
[Detail]
[Date]
4
[Editor training and a short how-to guide]
[Detail]
[Date]
4. Out of scope
[Copywriting and photography]
[Domain, hosting and third-party subscriptions]
[SEO beyond page titles and descriptions]
[Ongoing maintenance after launch]
5. Assumptions and client responsibilities
[Final copy and images for every page]
[Access to the domain, hosting and booking system by invitation]
[One approver for each design stage]
If these are late, dependent dates move by the same amount of time.
6. Milestones
Milestone
Target date
Depends on
Discovery
[Date]
[Approval or input]
Design
[Date]
[Approval or input]
Build
[Date]
[Approval or input]
Testing and launch
[Date]
[Approval or input]
7. Acceptance
The client’s named approver reviews each deliverable within [5] working days. Deliverables are accepted on written approval, or when the review period passes without material issues being raised.
8. Changes
Changes to scope, deliverables or timeline are agreed in writing, with the effect on fees and dates, before work begins.
9. Fees and payment
Fee: [Amount and basis]
Schedule: [Payment by milestone]
Expenses: [At cost with approval / included]
10. Sign-off
Client: [Name, title, signature, date]
Provider: [Name, title, signature, date]
How to fill it in
Reference the agreement the SOW sits under, so legal terms aren’t repeated.
State the objectives in a sentence or two.
List deliverables specifically enough that two people would agree whether they were delivered.
Write the exclusions and the client’s responsibilities, and link dates to them.
Set milestones, the acceptance process and how changes are handled.
Add fees by milestone and get it signed before work starts.
Use it in Word, Google Docs or PDF
Microsoft Word
Download the Word (.docx) file and open it. If Word opens it in Protected View, select Enable Editing.
Use Find (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) and search for “[” to jump between the placeholders you need to replace.
Save a clean copy as a Word template (File → Save As → Word Template) so every new document starts from it.
Google Docs
Upload the .docx file to Google Drive.
Right-click it and choose Open with → Google Docs, then File → Save as Google Docs to keep an editable copy.
Use File → Make a copy for each new client so your master stays clean.
PDF
Use Print or save as PDF in the template section above to print just the template, or fill it in Word or Google Docs first and export it (File → Save As → PDF in Word, File → Download → PDF document in Google Docs).
Example: Brightpath Web scope of work for Northfield Physio
Key sections for a five-page website with online booking. Both companies are fictional.
Deliverables
#
Deliverable
Phase
1
Sitemap and wireframes
Discovery
2
Designs for the homepage and inner-page templates
Design
3
Built, tested website on the client’s hosting
Build
4
Editor training and a short how-to guide
Testing and launch
Out of scope
Copywriting and photography
Domain, hosting and third-party subscriptions
SEO beyond page titles and descriptions
Ongoing maintenance after launch
Client responsibilities
Final copy and images for every page
Access to the domain, hosting and booking system by invitation
One approver for each design stage
Fees
Total: $7,150.00 excluding tax
Schedule: Invoiced at the end of each phase: Discovery, Design, Build, Testing and launch
Content and launch dates
Launch dates assume the client supplies final content by the agreed date. If content is late, the launch date moves by the same amount of time.
Send it for signature in Angelwood
Angelwood’s proposal software builds proposals and agreements from your own templates, shows when the client has opened them and collects e-signatures, with a countersignature to execute the agreement.
Pages and templates, features and integrations, who supplies content, browsers and devices tested, hosting responsibilities, the launch process, and what is excluded, such as copywriting or ongoing maintenance.
What’s the difference between a scope of work and a statement of work?+
People use them interchangeably. Strictly, a scope of work describes the work and deliverables, while a statement of work is the wider project document that also covers timeline, fees, acceptance and sign-off.
Who writes the scope of work?+
Usually the provider drafts it, because they know what the work involves, and the client reviews and signs it. Writing it together after discovery produces the fewest surprises.
Can I edit this template in Word or Google Docs?+
Yes. Download the Word (.docx) file and open it in Microsoft Word, or upload it to Google Drive and choose Open with → Google Docs. There’s also a Markdown version for any text editor. No account or email address is needed.
How do I save it as a PDF?+
Fill it in, then export it: File → Save As → PDF in Word, or File → Download → PDF document in Google Docs. On this page you can also print just the template or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print dialog.