Glossary/Agency & Industry/Scope 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 Mina·CEO, BrandPilot AI·Updated 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.