Practical examples of scope of work for web development contracts that actually protect you

Real‑world examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts

Most articles start with theory. Let’s skip that and go straight into real examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts you can lift and adapt.

Example of a basic brochure‑style website SOW

This is the kind of scope you’d use for a small business site with a few key pages and minimal custom functionality.

Project overview
Developer will design and build a marketing website for Client to promote [Client Business]. The site will present core services, company information, and a contact method, optimized for desktop and mobile devices.

Deliverables
• Custom design for up to 6 unique page layouts (Home, About, Services, Service Detail, Blog Listing, Contact).
• Development of up to 15 total pages based on the approved layouts.
• Responsive front‑end implementation for current versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.
• Basic on‑page SEO setup: title tags, meta descriptions, heading structure, and XML sitemap.
• Contact form integrated with Client’s existing email address.
• One round of content placement using text and images provided by Client.

Timeline
Total estimated duration: 6 weeks from contract signature and receipt of initial deposit and content.

Out of scope
• Ongoing SEO campaigns or link building.
• Copywriting beyond minor text tweaks.
• Custom web application development or integrations not listed above.

This is one of the best examples to start from if you do small business work. Notice how it caps page counts, defines browsers, and separates “basic SEO” from ongoing marketing. Those details remove a lot of the ambiguity that usually turns into scope creep.

Example of an e‑commerce web development SOW

For online stores, the examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts need to cover product structure, payments, and compliance.

Project overview
Developer will design and implement a new e‑commerce website for Client using Shopify. The site will support online sales of physical products to customers in the United States.

Deliverables
• Custom theme design based on Client’s brand guidelines.
• Store setup with up to 100 simple products and 10 product categories.
• Configuration of one payment gateway (Shopify Payments) and one alternative method (PayPal).
• Tax and shipping configuration for U.S.‑based customers only.
• Cart, checkout, order confirmation, and account pages configured with Client‑provided policies (privacy, returns, shipping).
• Basic analytics setup using Google Analytics 4 and Shopify’s native reporting.

Compliance and security
Developer will configure SSL within Shopify and follow Shopify’s standard security practices. Client is responsible for ongoing PCI compliance, data privacy compliance, and legal review of store policies.

Out of scope
• Custom payment gateway development.
• Complex product types (subscriptions, bundles, multi‑currency) unless specifically listed.
• Legal review of terms, policies, or regulatory requirements.

You can see how this example of a scope of work draws a clear line between what the developer configures and what the client’s legal or compliance team must own. That distinction matters more every year as privacy regulations expand.

Example of a web app or SaaS MVP SOW

As web apps and SaaS tools have exploded, more freelancers and small studios are being asked to build MVPs. These projects go off the rails fast without a very specific SOW.

Project overview
Developer will design and build a minimum viable product (MVP) for Client’s web‑based application. The MVP will allow registered users to create accounts, perform [core action], and view results via a browser.

Core features
• User registration and login using email and password.
• Password reset via email.
• User dashboard displaying [up to 5] key metrics.
• Ability for users to perform [one primary action] per session.
• Admin panel with basic user search and account deactivation.

Technical stack
Front‑end: React.
Back‑end: Node.js with Express.
Database: PostgreSQL hosted on [cloud provider].
Hosting: Client’s account on [cloud provider], configured by Developer.

Performance
Application will be developed to reasonably support up to 1,000 monthly active users and 50 concurrent sessions. Scaling beyond this will require a separate agreement.

Out of scope
• Native mobile apps.
• Advanced analytics, reporting exports, or custom dashboards not listed above.
• Integration with third‑party APIs beyond [API names] specifically listed in this SOW.

This is one of the more detailed examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts because it sets expectations around performance, stack, and limits. That performance line (“up to 1,000 monthly active users”) is a lifesaver when a client’s product unexpectedly goes viral.

Example of a website redesign and migration SOW

Redesigns are risky because there’s an existing site, existing traffic, and often existing technical debt.

Project overview
Developer will redesign and rebuild Client’s existing website currently hosted at [URL]. The project includes design, development, and migration of existing content to a new WordPress installation.

Deliverables
• UX and UI redesign for up to 8 key templates (Home, About, Services, Service Detail, Blog Listing, Blog Post, Resources, Contact).
• Implementation of a custom WordPress theme using the block editor.
• Migration of up to 200 existing blog posts and 50 static pages.
• Redirect mapping for all legacy URLs to preserve SEO value.
• Core Web Vitals optimization targeting “Good” scores for Largest Contentful Paint and Cumulative Layout Shift on desktop, as defined by Google’s guidelines.

Content responsibilities
Developer will migrate existing content “as is.” Client is responsible for content rewrites, new photography, and new video assets.

Out of scope
• Ongoing SEO strategy, backlink building, or content marketing.
• Copywriting or content editing beyond formatting migrated content.
• Management of hosting provider support beyond launch week.

Because Google continues to emphasize performance and Core Web Vitals in 2024–2025, calling that out directly in your SOW is smart. It gives you a measurable target and a shared definition of “fast enough.”

Example of a maintenance and support SOW

Ongoing support is where many freelancers bleed unpaid hours. The best examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts spell out support in almost painful detail.

Services included
• Up to 5 hours per month of maintenance tasks: plugin updates, CMS updates, minor CSS fixes, and security patches.
• Uptime monitoring and basic incident response during business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday–Friday).
• Monthly backup verification and restoration testing.

Response times
• Critical issues (site down, checkout failing): first response within 4 business hours.
• Non‑critical issues: first response within 2 business days.

Out of scope
• New feature development (new templates, complex functionality).
• Marketing changes (campaign landing pages, A/B tests) unless counted against monthly hours.
• 24/7 emergency coverage.

These real examples show how to define maintenance in terms of hours, categories of work, and response times. Without that, “quick fixes” quietly become unpaid mini‑projects.

Example of an accessibility‑focused SOW (WCAG 2.1/2.2)

Accessibility has moved from “nice to have” to a standard expectation, especially for public sector, education, and larger organizations.

Accessibility goals
Developer will build the site to conform to WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines (or latest version in effect at project start), as interpreted by W3C guidance.

Deliverables
• Semantic HTML structure for all templates.
• Keyboard‑navigable menus and forms.
• Color contrast meeting AA standards for text and interactive elements.
• ARIA attributes where appropriate to support assistive technologies.
• One round of accessibility testing using automated tools and manual keyboard testing.

Client responsibilities
Client will provide alt text, transcripts, and captions for all media assets. Developer will implement these assets as provided.

Here, the example of a scope of work doesn’t just say “accessible.” It names the standard (WCAG), points to an external authority, and divides responsibilities.

Example of an AI‑assisted content and SEO SOW

In 2024–2025, more clients expect AI‑assisted content generation, but that needs to be framed carefully.

Content support
Developer/Consultant will assist Client in generating draft website copy for up to 10 pages using AI tools. Drafts will be treated as starting points only.

Responsibilities
• Developer will prompt and refine AI‑generated drafts based on Client’s brand guidelines.
• Client is responsible for legal review, factual accuracy, and final approval of all content.
• Developer will not be liable for any inaccuracies in AI‑generated content approved by Client.

SEO setup
• On‑page optimization for target keywords supplied by Client or Client’s SEO provider.
• Basic performance optimization to support search visibility following public guidance from Google Search Central.

This is one of the more modern examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts. It acknowledges AI, but clearly hands final responsibility back to the client.

Key sections every strong web development SOW should include

Looking across these examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts, certain sections show up over and over:

Clear project overview

You don’t need a novel. You need two or three tight sentences that say:

• What you’re building (marketing site, e‑commerce store, MVP, portal, etc.).
• Who it’s for (internal teams, consumers, students, patients, etc.).
• The primary outcome (generate leads, sell products, reduce support tickets).

This gives context for every decision that follows.

Detailed deliverables and boundaries

The best examples spell out:

• Page types and approximate counts.
• Platforms and stacks (WordPress, Shopify, custom React app).
• Third‑party tools you’ll integrate (email marketing, CRM, analytics).
• What “basic SEO” or “performance optimization” actually includes.

Then they draw a hard line: “Out of scope” with concrete examples. That’s what protects you when stakeholders change or new ideas appear mid‑project.

Timelines, milestones, and dependencies

A modern SOW needs more than a single launch date. It should include:

• Milestones tied to deliverables (wireframes, designs, development, QA, launch).
• Review windows (for example, “Client will provide feedback within 5 business days”).
• Dependencies (content, access to accounts, brand assets) that can delay the timeline.

This isn’t just project management best practice; it’s risk management. If the client drags their feet, your SOW gives you cover to shift dates without penalty.

Performance, security, and compliance expectations

Clients in 2024–2025 are more aware of performance, privacy, and security, even if they can’t articulate them well. Strong examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts now often reference:

• Performance targets using language from Google’s Core Web Vitals.
• Basic security practices (HTTPS, regular updates, limited admin access).
• Data privacy responsibilities, especially if user data is involved.

For security and privacy best practices, you can point clients to neutral, authoritative resources like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for general cybersecurity frameworks.

Testing, QA, and acceptance criteria

A scope of work lives or dies on how you define “done.” Helpful patterns include:

• Listing which devices and browsers you’ll test.
• Describing your QA process (functional testing, regression testing, basic accessibility checks).
• Setting an acceptance window (for example, “Client will report defects within 10 business days of launch”).

Without this, you can end up “fixing” things months later that were never part of the original agreement.

How to adapt these examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts to your own practice

You don’t need to copy any single example word‑for‑word. The real value is learning the patterns you can reuse.

Match the SOW to your pricing model

If you charge flat project fees, your SOW should be extremely specific about deliverables and out‑of‑scope work, because anything fuzzy becomes free work. If you work on retainers or time‑and‑materials, your examples of scope of work can lean more on categories of work and hourly estimates, with language like “estimated range” instead of hard caps.

Use ranges where details are uncertain

Early‑stage projects often start before every requirement is nailed down. In those cases, you can:

• Set ranges (“10–15 pages,” “2–3 iterations of design”).
• Add change‑request language (“Changes beyond this range will be estimated and approved in writing before work proceeds”).

This keeps the SOW honest without pretending you know every detail on day one.

Align with external standards where possible

Referencing external standards makes your SOW feel less like “your opinion” and more like shared best practice. For example:

• Accessibility: WCAG via W3C.
• Security: NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
• SEO basics: Google Search Central’s public documentation.

You’re not turning your contract into a research paper; you’re just grounding expectations in something bigger than the two of you.

Update your SOW language annually

Web development norms shift fast. In 2024–2025, many freelancers are:

• Calling out Core Web Vitals and mobile performance explicitly.
• Addressing AI‑assisted content and who owns final accuracy.
• Being clearer about privacy, cookies, and data handling responsibilities.

Review your go‑to examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts at least once a year and update them to reflect new tools, regulations, and client expectations.

FAQ: Common questions about scope of work examples for web development

What is an example of a good scope of work for a small website?
A good example for a small marketing site clearly states page counts, layout limits, basic SEO setup, and what counts as a “revision.” For instance, “up to 6 unique layouts and 15 total pages, with two rounds of design revisions and basic on‑page SEO” is far better than “small website with a few pages.”

Do I need different examples of scope of work for design and development?
Often, yes. Many freelancers keep one SOW template for design‑only work (wireframes, UI, brand integration) and another for full development. If you do both, your SOW should separate design deliverables (mockups, prototypes) from development deliverables (templates, CMS setup, integrations) so you can price and schedule them accurately.

How detailed should my SOW be for a fixed‑price web project?
For fixed‑price work, your SOW should be very specific. The best examples include clear page counts, feature lists, supported devices, and out‑of‑scope items. Anything left vague tends to become unpaid work later. If something is a “maybe,” either put it in a later phase or label it as a potential change request.

Can I use one example of a scope of work for every client?
You can absolutely start from one master template, but you should customize it every time. Swap in the right platform (WordPress vs. Shopify), adjust page counts, and tailor the performance, accessibility, and support sections to match the client’s size and risk profile.

Where can I learn more about accessibility and standards to reference in my SOW?
For accessibility, the W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative is the gold standard. For broader digital skills and standards, universities often publish public guidance; for example, you can explore web and digital design resources from institutions like Harvard University to understand how large organizations structure accessibility expectations.

If you treat these as living examples of scope of work examples for web development contracts rather than one‑off documents, you’ll find each new project gets easier to price, easier to manage, and a lot less stressful to deliver.