Free template
Client brief template for freelancers
Fill this pre-scope intake with your client before you write a proposal or statement of work. Capture the goal, audience, must-haves, nice-to-haves, out of scope, timeline and success metrics in the browser, then copy or print. No signup, nothing stored.
Document preview
CLIENT BRIEF Date: [Date] Project / working title: Marketing site redesign Client / company: Northwind Studio Freelancer / business: Alex Rivera Primary goal (what success looks like) Launch a clearer marketing site that explains the product in under 30 seconds and books more demo calls. Audience / users Founders and marketing leads at B2B SaaS companies with 10–50 employees who already have a product but a weak homepage. Must-haves (in scope) Homepage + pricing + about pages Mobile-responsive layout in Figma and production HTML/CSS Two rounds of design revisions on the homepage Hand-off of source files and a short Loom walkthrough Nice-to-haves (optional — not promised) Custom illustration set Blog index page Light motion on the hero Out of scope / not included Copywriting from scratch CMS setup or content migration Paid ads creatives Ongoing retainer or SEO work after launch Timeline / target date: Kickoff week of March 3; soft launch by April 15 Budget range (optional): $4,000–$6,000 fixed Success metrics / acceptance signals Demo-request form submissions up vs current site baseline within 30 days of launch Client written sign-off that the three pages match the approved Figma Lighthouse performance score ≥ 90 on homepage (mobile) Open questions Do you already have brand guidelines and photography? Who is the single decision-maker for design feedback? Next step Alex Rivera will turn this brief into a proposal and/or statement of work for Northwind Studio to review before work starts. Nice-to-haves are not promised unless they are moved into must-haves and priced. This brief is pre-scope intake, not a contract, quote or legal document. Nothing here is stored on ScopeLine's servers.
Nothing is stored. Fill this in the browser with your client, then copy or print before you write the proposal or SOW.
How to use it
- Open this page on a discovery call (or send the link) before you write a proposal or SOW.
- Fill the working title, client, primary goal and audience together in plain language.
- List must-haves (in scope), nice-to-haves (optional) and out of scope as separate lists — this is the line that stops scope creep later.
- Add timeline, optional budget range, success metrics and any open questions still unanswered.
- Copy the finished brief or print / save as PDF, then turn it into a proposal and statement of work.
After the brief is locked, turn it into a freelance proposal and a one-page SOW. Mid-project asks belong on a change request form, not back into this brief. Unsure whether a later ask matches the brief? Run it through the free scope checker.
Turn every brief into a tracked deal
ScopeLine stores the original deal you agreed, logs every extra request against it and turns extras into change orders the client approves through a link — no login for them. Free for 3 active projects, no card.
Start free on ScopeLineFAQ
- What is a freelance client brief?
- A client brief is the pre-scope intake you fill with the client before you price or contract the work. It captures the goal, audience, must-haves, nice-to-haves, out of scope, timeline, budget signals and how success will be measured so the proposal and SOW are grounded in a shared understanding.
- How is a client brief different from a proposal or statement of work?
- A brief gathers requirements. A proposal sells the work (fee, timeline, terms). A statement of work contracts the work (deliverables, definition of done, change process). Fill this brief first, then use a proposal template and SOW template once both sides agree on the shape of the project.
- Should the client fill this form themselves?
- Either works. Many freelancers fill it live on a discovery call so they can ask follow-ups. Others send the link and ask the client to draft answers first. What matters is getting goals, must-haves and out-of-scope items in writing before you quote.
- Why separate must-haves from nice-to-haves?
- Must-haves are what the fee covers. Nice-to-haves are explicitly optional — they do not become unpaid extras later. Listing both up front makes it easier to say "that was a nice-to-have; here is a change order" if the client wants them mid-project.
- Is any of this data stored?
- No. The form runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is saved on ScopeLine's servers. Copy or print the document if you want to keep a record.
- Is this brief a legal document?
- No. It is plain-English intake wording, not a contract and not legal advice. Pair it with a signed proposal, SOW or contract before work starts, and check local law if you need binding terms.