Complete Scope of Work Template for Full-Stack Developer Projects

• Scope creep: "Just one more feature" becomes 20 hours of uncompensated work
• Timeline disputes: Client expects delivery in 4 weeks, developer estimated 8 weeks
• Payment conflicts: Developer invoices for API integration, client assumed it was included
• Tech stack disagreements: Client wants React, developer built with Vue.js
• Post-launch confusion: Who fixes bugs? Who pays for hosting? Who handles security updates?

Complete SOW Checklist

1. Project Overview and Objectives: High-level description and business goals
2. Detailed Deliverables: Specific features, pages, and functionality
3. Technology Stack: Exact frameworks, libraries, and versions
4. Timeline and Milestones: Phased schedule with specific dates
5. Payment Terms: Amount, schedule, and payment method
6. Revision Policy: How many rounds, what qualifies as a revision
7. Change Management: Process for handling scope changes
8. Deployment and Hosting: Who handles what, credentials, access
9. Post-Launch Support: Bug fix warranty, maintenance options
10. Intellectual Property: Who owns the code and assets
11. Communication Protocol: Meeting cadence, response times
12. Acceptance Criteria: How deliverables are approved
13. Termination Clause: Conditions and process for early termination

• Business context: What problem does this application solve?
• Target users: Who will use this application?
• Core functionality: What are the 3-5 main features?
• Success metrics: How will you measure if the project succeeded?
• Project type: Is this an MVP, a complete product, or a module in an existing system?

Project Name: HandicraftHub - Artisan Marketplace Platform

Objective: Build a full-stack e-commerce platform connecting artisan sellers with buyers across the MENA region. The platform will enable sellers to create shops, list products, manage inventory, and process orders, while buyers can browse, search, purchase, and review products.

Target Users: Primary users are artisan sellers (small businesses, individual craftspeople) and buyers seeking handmade, locally-sourced products. Expected initial user base: 50 sellers, 2,000 buyers within 3 months of launch.

Core Features: Multi-vendor shop management, product catalog with categories and search, shopping cart and checkout, payment gateway integration (Stripe and local payment methods), order tracking, seller dashboard with analytics, buyer profiles with order history, rating and review system.

Success Criteria: Platform launches with full functionality, processes test transactions successfully, supports 100+ concurrent users, achieves 2-second page load time, and passes security audit.

User-Facing Pages and Components

• Homepage: Hero section, featured products carousel, category grid, testimonials section, newsletter signup
• Product Listing Page: Grid/list view toggle, filter sidebar (price, category, rating), sort options, pagination, 24 products per page
• Product Detail Page: Image gallery with zoom, product description, variant selector (size/color), quantity input, add to cart button, reviews section, related products
• Shopping Cart: Item list with thumbnails, quantity adjusters, remove item option, subtotal calculation, promo code input, proceed to checkout button
• Checkout Flow: Three-step process (shipping info, payment method, order review), address validation, payment form integration, order confirmation page
• User Dashboard: Profile editing, order history with status tracking, saved addresses, wishlist, notification preferences
• Authentication Pages: Login, registration with email verification, password reset, social login (Google, Facebook)

API Endpoints and Server Logic

• Authentication API: JWT-based auth, registration endpoint with email verification, login with rate limiting, password reset flow, token refresh mechanism
• User Management API: Get/update user profile, manage addresses, upload profile photo, notification preferences
• Product API: CRUD operations for products, image upload (max 5 images per product), category assignment, inventory management, variant handling
• Cart API: Add/remove items, update quantities, apply promo codes, calculate totals with tax and shipping
• Order API: Create order, process payment, send confirmation email, order status updates, order history retrieval
• Payment Integration: Stripe payment intent creation, webhook handling for payment confirmation, refund processing
• Admin API: Product management, order fulfillment workflow, user management, analytics data endpoints
• Search and Filter: Elasticsearch integration for product search, filter and sort logic with caching

• Database Schema: PostgreSQL database with tables for users, products, orders, payments, cart sessions, reviews, categories, addresses
• Database Indexes: Optimized indexes on frequently queried fields (product search, user lookup, order history)
• Migrations: All database changes managed through migration files for version control
• Seed Data: Sample products, categories, and test users for development and demo purposes
• File Storage: AWS S3 integration for product images, user avatars, with CDN for fast delivery
• Email Service: SendGrid integration for transactional emails (order confirmation, password reset, shipping updates)
• Caching: Redis for session storage, API response caching, and cart data

Total Project Cost: $18,000 USD

Payment Method: Bank transfer or PayPal. Invoices due within 7 business days. Late payments incur 5% penalty after 14 days.

Included Revisions:

• Design Phase: 3 rounds of revisions on mockups and wireframes
• Development Phase: 2 rounds of revisions per major feature/page
• Revisions must address existing deliverables, not add new functionality
• Developer provides revised work within 3-5 business days of feedback

What Qualifies as a Revision:

• Adjusting colors, fonts, spacing to match brand guidelines
• Refining copy or button placement on existing pages
• Fixing bugs or issues in delivered functionality
• Improving responsiveness on specific screen sizes

What Requires a Change Order:

• Adding new pages, features, or user roles
• Integrating additional third-party services
• Changing the core tech stack after development begins
• Expanding scope beyond the original deliverables list

1. Client submits change request: Written description via email or project management tool
2. Developer evaluates impact: Assess timeline and budget implications within 2 business days
3. Change order proposal: Developer provides written estimate for additional cost and time
4. Client approval: Client approves change order in writing before work begins
5. SOW amendment: Update scope of work document to reflect the change
6. Execution: Developer completes the change according to the new timeline

Bug Fix Warranty (60 Days):

• Critical bugs: (site down, payment processing broken, data loss) - fixed within 24 hours
• Major bugs: (broken features, security issues) - fixed within 3 business days
• Minor bugs: (UI inconsistencies, typos) - fixed within 7 business days
• Warranty covers bugs in developer's code, not issues from client modifications or third-party service failures

After Warranty Period:

• Optional monthly retainer: $800/month for up to 10 hours of maintenance, updates, and minor feature additions
• Hourly rate for additional work: $85/hour for ad-hoc fixes or enhancements
• Support response time: within 2 business days for non-emergency issues

Full-Stack Developer SOW Template Outline

Outcome: Project completed 1 week ahead of schedule. Client added 2 change orders totaling $3,500. Zero payment disputes.

Outcome: Project delivered on time. Client exercised 1 change order ($2,800). Client signed 6-month maintenance retainer post-launch.

1. Vague deliverables: "Build a responsive website" tells you nothing. Specify exact pages, features, and functionality. Ambiguity always favors the party who did not write the document.
2. No revision limits: Without defining how many revisions are included, you can end up in an endless loop of "just one more change." Cap it at 2-3 rounds and define what qualifies.
3. Unrealistic timelines: Developers often underestimate to win the project, then miss deadlines. Add a 20% buffer to your best-case estimate and be honest about dependencies that could cause delays.
4. Missing tech stack details: "Modern JavaScript framework" is not specific enough. State "React 18.2 with Next.js 14" so both parties agree on the tools before development starts.
5. No change management process: Scope changes are inevitable. Without a formal process, they become conflicts. Define how changes are requested, evaluated, priced, and approved.
6. Unclear payment terms: "Payment upon completion" is dangerous for developers. What defines "completion"? Use milestone-based payments with specific deliverables and acceptance criteria.
7. Ignoring post-launch responsibilities: Who fixes bugs? Who handles hosting? Who updates dependencies? Specify this upfront or face disputes after launch.
8. No intellectual property clause: Assume nothing about code ownership. State explicitly when ownership transfers (usually upon final payment) and what rights the developer retains.