It’s happened to the best of us. You see a project you really want to work on, you make an appropriate bid, and you’re accepted for the job.

Now you’re a few days (or a couple of weeks) in, and the project is getting out of control. Perhaps the research is taking longer than expected. Maybe the client requires additional revisions. Maybe you simply underestimated the number of hours it would take for completion.

This can mean trouble and a whole lot of cheap labor on your part.

I recently came across this situation, and the outcome couldn’t have been better. The client, recognizing that the work was exceeding our original agreement, asked me if I would need to be paid extra. My diplomatic answer was that I would honor the original agreement, but that she was welcome to give me a “bonus” if she felt one was in order. The result? An additional 50 percent of the project cost on the final payment. I was over the moon.

However, the situation could have easily gone the other way. The client may not have been so forthcoming (or generous) about the payment. After all, few people really like haggling about money—myself included.

So, if you’re in this situation, what can you do?

1. Chalk it up to experience.

If the fault is your own (i.e., you simply underestimated the scope of the work when you made the bid), you may want to suck it up, finish the work, and make a mental note. It’s not really the client’s problem that you priced inappropriately. Next time a similar job comes around, you’ll have a better understanding of what it takes to get it done and can price accordingly.

This can also work if the fault isn’t your own. Clients can be demanding. Work can be hard. Freelancing isn’t consistent, and it never will be. Again, make a note of when this happens. You can be the professional, finish the job, and remember not to return to that client unless you make a higher bid.

2. Communicate with the client.

Let your employer know that the work is exceeding your original expectations. Some clients might take this as an insult (especially if you’re doing editing work), and others might think that you’re one of those freelancers who adds hidden fees to the final invoice, but at least you know that you’re being upfront and honest.

3. Be one of those freelancers who adds hidden fees to the final invoice.

I don’t advocate this approach for most situations. I personally think that throwing additional costs into an invoice once you’ve already agreed on a price is a little unethical. But hey, if the situation calls for one and you’re getting grossly cheated out of your hard-earned pay, I might see a little wiggle room in this one.

4. Consider always using per-word, per-page, or per-hour pay.

I’m actually a big fan of set prices for projects. The main reason is because I’m a pretty fast worker; therefore, a flat fee gets me more money for fewer hours of work. However, if you’re not sure of the speed of your work, or if the details of a project are a little fuzzy, a per-word or per-hour pay will make sure that you’re covered when things end up taking longer or require additional writing.

5. Sign a good contract.

A good contract will protect you as well as your employer, should one of you fail to uphold your end of the bargain. If you use one, make sure it includes additional pay if the original agreement is “outgrown” or if your employer makes demands that aren’t in writing.

As we grow more experienced, one would expect that appropriate pricing guidelines become second nature. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Clients may neglect to be honest about the scope of the project, or you may not have given yourself an appropriate understanding of the situation. Sometimes, we just hit a wall and writing takes too long.

It seems to me that that is the nature of the work. Money pouring from the skies one month; weeks of doing nothing but job searching the next.

But we love it, right?

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