Scope Creep Examples — SEO & marketing
White-label reporting rights the agreement doesn't cover
The client, a reseller of SEO services, asks for reports rebranded entirely under their own name with no mention of the agency doing the work — never discussed in the retainer.
A marketing consultancy hired this team to execute SEO work for one of their end clients, intending to present the results as their own service. The monthly reports currently go out with the agency's own branding and logo, and the reseller asks for everything — reports, any client-facing communication — to be rebranded under their name with no mention of who's actually doing the work. It's a standard white-label ask; it's just never been formalized in the retainer.
Clause typically implicated
Clause typically implicated
Confidentiality clause→ — White-label reseller relationships are usually formalized here — keeping the subcontracting arrangement and the agency's identity confidential from the reseller's end client.
Suggested change-order wording
Suggested change-order wording (illustrative, not legal advice)
White-labeling the reports is no problem — I'll switch report branding to your company going forward. I'd like to add a short amendment to our agreement formalizing this, covering that we won't contact your end client directly and will keep the subcontracting relationship confidential. I'll send over draft language for you to review.
How this usually resolves
This is usually a smooth, low-cost accommodation once formalized — most agencies handle white-label reporting through a report template swap, which is minimal ongoing work compared to the value of a good reseller relationship.
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