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After the job

Sign-Off

The short answer

Sign-off is the client agreeing in writing that a finished job matches what was asked for. A signature is optional. A plain reply that confirms the work is done is enough.

What it means

Every dispute that starts after a job traces back to a sign-off that never happened. Typical disputes sound like "that is not what I asked for" or "you never did that". Another is "I am not paying until". Getting a sign-off, in some form, turns work you did into money you can prove is owed.

A signature is one way to record it, but not the only one. A text back, an email, or a spoken yes that you write down yourself all count. The agreement must be in writing somewhere you can point to later. Silence does not count. No reply is not a yes.

For example

At the end of a rewire, you ask the client if anything needs a look before you invoice. An hour later they text back "all good, thanks". That reply is the sign-off, and you invoice against it.

The mistake to avoid

Treating a silent client as having agreed by default. Chase an actual reply, or give a stated deadline, before you invoice.

See also

HandoverSnag ListPractical Completion

Where this shows up

Guide

Close out the job — get the client to confirm before you invoice

A job is not finished when the work stops. It is finished when the client agrees, in writing, what was done. This guide walks the five-minute close-out and what to write down. It shows how to list a snag with a date on it. It also covers a client who will not confirm the work before you invoice.

 Templates

Finishing a job scripts, for closing out a job before you invoice

Six messages for the moment a job stops and the moment it is signed off. Send the all-done message. Confirm a snag list with a date against each item, and confirm a snag is cleared. Chase a sign-off that has not come. Tell a client the invoice waits for their confirmation. Hand over a job that someone else signs off. Fill in your details once at the top of this page, and every script below updates.

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