Statement of Work (SOW)
You’ve probably heard of the term SOW (Statement of Work) before. What does it mean exactly?
What Is a Statement of Work?
A statement of work is a document used by clients and contractors when they hire freelancers to perform specific tasks. It’s also known as a contract or task list.
In short, it’s a formal agreement between two parties that outlines what needs to be done and how much it costs.
SOW stands for Statement of Work. This document describes the project scope and details the deliverables required to complete the project. It also outlines the responsibilities of each team member.
A statement of work is a contract between two parties. The client provides the requirements and the freelancer agrees to fulfill them. In this case, the client is the business owner who needs help with their website design. And the freelancer is the web designer who will create the site based on the client’s requirements.
The good thing about a statement of work is that it can be used as an example when discussing pricing with potential clients. You can use it to show how much time you spent working on the project and what the final cost was.
What are the sections of SOW?
The statement of work is usually divided into three sections: 1 . Scope 2. Deliverables 3. Responsibilities
1. Scope
This section defines the project objectives and includes all the information needed to understand the project. For example, if the client wants a new logo created, they would include the following information :
• Client name
• Company name
• Logotype (vector vs. raster)
• Color scheme
• Font style
• Size
• File format (.jpg,.png, etc.)
• URL
• Additional text
• Any additional notes
2. Deliverables
In this section, the client specifies the exact content they require. They may specify different types of pages such as home page, contact us page, blog posts, etc.
3. Responsibilities
Here, the client lists the tasks they expect the freelancer to perform. These could include things like creating a homepage, adding social media buttons, editing images, etc.
It’s important to note that the statement of work doesn’t have to be lengthy. However, it should contain enough detail to communicate the project objectives.
If you’re interested in learning more about freelancing, check out our article on the best freelancing platforms.
How to write a good statement of work for your business and partners?
Writing a statement of work (SOW) is one of the most important parts of any project. This document serves as an agreement between both parties involved in the project. Here are some tips on how to write a good SOW for your business and partners:
• Be clear about the project goals. Make sure everyone understands the purpose of the project.
• Include all relevant information. Don’t forget to add anything that might affect the project outcome.
• Specify the deliverable items. Remember that the client is paying for these services. Therefore, make sure you list everything that you plan to provide.
• Provide a timeline. This helps the client know exactly when the project will be completed.
• Add a budget. This gives the client a better idea of how much money he/she is spending.
• Keep the tone professional. Avoid using slang words and phrases. Also, avoid using profanity.
• Use bullet points whenever possible. It makes reading easier.
• Proofread before sending. Even though you proofread your documents, it never hurts to double-check.
To learn more about how to write a statement of work for a PR agency, visit our guide here.
Statement of Work shouldn’t be confused with a scope of work.
The scope of work is a detailed description of the project. It provides details regarding the project requirements. On the other hand, a statement of work is a summary of the project. It explains the main project objectives.
The difference between a scope of work and a statement of work is quite simple. The scope of work contains all the details required to complete a project. On the other hand, a statement of work only describes the project objectives.
