Skip to content

Fixed Price Without Scope

Use this page when fixed price is being requested before the work is bounded.

This is not a pricing tactics page. It is a risk-gating page for projects where definition is weaker than the commitment being requested.

What This Risk Usually Looks Like

Quote requested before requirements are stable

Unclear revision limits

Several assumptions hidden inside one number

Pressure to “just estimate it now” before inputs are complete

Why This Becomes Dangerous Before Commitment

The loss path is built into the agreement

When scope is unclear but price is fixed, the contract can lock in uncertainty against you.

Scope negotiation gets replaced by expectation drift

Once a number is accepted, missing definition often returns as “included” work.

What Not to Do Next

  • do not use pricing to solve a definition problem
  • do not assume later clarifications are free
  • do not price the best-case version of an undefined project

Precheck Questions

What exactly is included?

What is explicitly excluded?

What triggers change?

Which assumptions depend on client-side input?