A Turtle Sundae Taught Me About Scope Creep

 And 5 ways to stop it from devouring your side hustle

Image by Kim Morris Creative. Sundae recreated for this post.

Before I understood the term scope creep, I lived it.

Picture this: I was a college student waiting tables at a casual restaurant. One day, a woman asked if she could order just one scoop of vanilla and one scoop of chocolate ice cream, but served in the same fancy glass as our Turtle Sundae. You know, the one with four scoops of ice cream, toffee bits, roasted pecans, chocolate syrup, caramel, whipped cream, and a cherry.

I said, "Sure!" and brought her exactly what she ordered—just the two scoops in the goblet. She looked at me with confusion and said, “This doesn’t look like the Turtle Sundae.”

And in my most polite-but-sassy college voice, I replied, “Well, you didn’t order the Turtle Sundae—you ordered ice cream in a glass. And that’s what you got.”

That was my first taste of scope creep: when someone asks for something different (or more) than what they paid for—but still expects the full experience.

Fast forward to running a business and… oof. Saying “no” gets harder. You want to please your clients. You want to overdeliver. You want to be nice. But scope creep? It will drain your time, energy, and profits fast—especially if you're starting a side hustle while working full-time.

So how do you protect your peace, time, and pricing?

Here are 5 project-manager-approved ways to keep scope creep in check:

1. Document the Details

Always—always—write down the original request. Whether it’s a photography package, a content strategy, or a full brand shoot, document exactly what’s included. Use clear language and avoid jargon. If you offer something like "3 final edited images," make sure that’s spelled out—don’t assume they’ll remember or understand what that means.

2. Set Fixed Pricing for Set Packages

Offer set pricing for set services with no substitutions or swaps. Think of it like a prix fixe menu—no edits, no changes. You can always offer custom pricing for custom needs (and you should!), but your base packages should have boundaries.

3. Repeat the Plan Back

After the agreement is signed, go over it again out loud. Confirm what they’re getting and what they’re not. This helps align expectations before the work begins. Clients feel reassured, and you stay protected.

Reviewing what is NOT included is a must.  You know what they say about assumptions don’t you? The client may assume some items are part of the plan, so be DIRECT and say you get XYZ, not ABC*.  Explain ABC could be a different package.

4. Terms & Conditions Are Your Best Friend

This is where you set the rules. Your terms should outline what happens if the client wants to make changes mid-project. Include timelines, costs, and approval processes. Bonus tip: put your most common change requests into an a la carte menu with pricing—so you're never scrambling when they say, “Can we just add one more thing?”

5. Be Crystal Clear on the First Call

Set the tone early. On your discovery call or consult, let them know what’s included in each offer and that customizations require a custom quote. You’re not being inflexible—you’re being professional. This helps clients understand your value and how to work with you.

Final Scoop:

Scope creep doesn’t make you a better business owner—it just makes your business harder to manage. You can be kind and have boundaries. The real magic happens when your clients know exactly what to expect—and you have the structure in place to deliver it with ease.

So the next time someone asks for a Turtle Sundae but only wants to pay for two scoops, smile and remember: ice cream in a fancy glass is not the same thing.   ~ cheers Kim