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Out of Scope

Is a client-requested training session out of scope?

Yes — a structured training session is almost always out of scope. A handoff call to explain deliverables is usually in scope; a training session where the client learns to produce new work is a separate engagement.

Why this answer

Handoff and training are two different services. Handoff is the last step of delivery — you walk through what you made, explain how to use it, answer questions, and transfer files. The client ends that session able to use what you delivered. Training is the next step up: you teach the client's team to produce similar work themselves. The client ends that session with new capability, which is a different kind of value. Contracts usually include handoff implicitly (often as a single call or a Loom video) and rarely include training unless it's explicitly listed as a deliverable. A one-hour walkthrough of the Figma file is handoff; a four-hour workshop on how to use Figma to extend the design system is training.

When the answer flips

Training is In Scope when the contract explicitly lists 'training,' 'workshop,' 'onboarding session,' or 'team enablement' as a deliverable. Handoff remains In Scope in most cases; clients sometimes try to expand handoff into training by stretching the call ('can you stay on and walk the team through how to do this themselves?'). The flip toward Out of Scope happens as the session shifts from 'here's what I made' to 'here's how you make it.' If the client is taking notes to recreate your workflow, you're training. If they're taking notes to use what you delivered, you're handing off.

What to do next

Offer training as a separate engagement with its own structure: a defined agenda, materials you'd prepare, a number of attendees, a duration, and a fee. A common rate is $200–500/hour for live training, or a packaged rate for a half-day or full-day session. Name what's included in the handoff call you're already doing (typically 30–60 minutes: deliverable walkthrough, file organization, common-questions Q&A), and frame training as an upgrade rather than a redirect. Many clients don't realize the distinction and are genuinely fine paying for training once you explain it.

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Frequently asked questions

What if the handoff call keeps going past the scheduled time with training-style questions?+

Let it run a reasonable amount — 15–30 minutes of buffer is fine and builds goodwill. Past that, gently pivot: 'These are great questions and they're really about how to produce similar work going forward, which is what I'd cover in a training session. Want me to put together a proposal?' The transition is usually cleaner than you think.

Can I bundle a short training session into the project fee without naming it?+

You can, but don't. Unpriced training sets the expectation that training is part of your rate, and it compresses the value of the actual deliverable in the client's eyes. Either include a structured training package (priced into the total) or keep training as a separate engagement.

How long should a handoff call be by default?+

30–60 minutes is the common range. For simple deliverables (a logo, a single page), 30 is plenty. For complex systems (a design system, a codebase, a brand guidelines document), 60 with a follow-up Q&A window works better. Past 60 minutes, you're into training.

Is recorded training more defensible than live training?+

More defensible as a product, because the effort to make it is one-time. Many freelancers build a short 'using your [deliverable]' Loom or Notion doc, include it free, and sell live training on top. That's a clean model and clients rarely push back on it.

What's the difference between training and consulting?+

Training teaches a skill ('here's how to extend the design system'). Consulting gives advice ('here's what I'd do with your next project'). Both are separate engagements from production work. Consulting is usually more expensive per hour because it's higher-leverage for the client.

Related reading

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