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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryAgency & IndustryScope Creep

Agency & Industry

Scope Creep

The gradual expansion of a project's work beyond what was agreed, without matching changes to budget or timeline.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Scope creep is the gradual expansion of a project's work beyond what was originally agreed, without matching changes to budget or timeline. It often results from small, informal requests that accumulate. In agency relationships, it erodes profitability and strains trust, so clear statements of work and change-order processes help control it.