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Revisions and acceptance clause, explained
A revisions-and-acceptance clause sets how many change rounds sit in the fee, what counts as a revision, and when the work is accepted.
Last updated 28 October 2026
What does a revisions and acceptance clause do?
A revisions-and-acceptance clause sets how many change rounds sit in the fee, and when the work is accepted. Business services already carry reasonable care and skill under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 s.13; consumer contracts do so under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.49. We write the rounds and the sign-off on one page.
How many revision rounds should sit in the fee?
Name a number. Two or three rounds on a design or film job is the usual shape; a website build often ties rounds to a named milestoneA milestone is a defined point in a project, often tied to a deliverable and a payment.More in the glossary. A ‘reasonable revisions’ line with no number is how a job never ends. Extra rounds are a change, priced before they start. See revision limit.
What counts as a revision rather than a change of scope?
A revision adjusts work already shown, inside the written spec. A new page, a new product shot, or a change of brief is extra scope. Write that split. Rock Advertising Ltd v MWB [2018] UKSC 24 gives effect to a variation clauseA variation clause says how the signed contract can be changed. In England and Wales, if the clause requires changes to be in writing and signed, an oral variation is not effective: Rock Advertising Ltd v MWB Business Exchange Centres Ltd [2018] UKSC 24. The usual commercial form is a no-oral-modification line.More in the glossary clause: a Slack ‘can we also’ does not rewrite the job if the paper says changes must be signed.
When is work accepted?
On written sign-off, or after a named number of days with no written rejection. Silence with no clock leaves both sides guessing. Acceptance is not a waiverA waiver is a choice not to enforce a right this time, without rewriting the contract. Accepting late work once does not, by itself, kill a time-is-of-the-essence clause if a no-waiver line is present. Waiver is not a variation: Rock Advertising Ltd v MWB [2018] UKSC 24 still requires the agreed method for a change of terms.More in the glossary of the implied care-and-skill term in SGSA 1982 s.13, or of CRA 2015 s.49 on a consumer job. It is the point from which further edits are extra work. Put the notice window in the clause.
What if the client stays silent?
Deemed acceptance after [5] or [10] business days is the usual fix, with a duty on the client to give reasons if it rejects. A rejection that restates the brief as a new brief is a change request, not a free extra round. Tie payment of the next milestone to acceptance so a silent inbox cannot stall the fee.
Example wording
Example · our own drafting
The fee includes [two] rounds of revisions to each Deliverable, inside the written specification. A change of brief, extra pages or extra shots is extra scope and needs a signed change. The Client will accept or reject a Deliverable in writing within [5] business days of delivery. If the Client does not reject it in that time, with reasons, it is accepted. Further revisions after acceptance are charged as extra work.
In Plain English
The price includes two rounds of tweaks to each piece, inside the written brief. A new brief, extra pages or extra shots is extra work and needs a signed change. The client has five working days to accept or to reject with reasons. If it says nothing, the work is accepted. Edits after that are billed as extra.
What should you watch for?
| Point | Watch for | Push for |
|---|---|---|
| Rounds | ‘Reasonable revisions’ with no number, or unlimited rounds on a fixed fee. | A named number of rounds, per deliverable, inside the written spec. |
| Scope | A new brief treated as a free revision. | Extra pages, extra shots and a change of brief routed through change control. |
| Clock | No deadline to accept, so the next milestone never starts. | Written accept-or-reject in a named number of business days. |
| Silence | Work that sits in a shared folder with no sign-off rule. | Deemed acceptance if the client does not reject with reasons. |
| Quality | Acceptance treated as a waiver of care and skill. | Sign-off as the end of free rounds, with SGSA s.13 (and CRA s.49 on a consumer job) still sitting underneath. |
Which contracts include it?
Lex includes this clause in, among others:
- Graphic design contract
- Website build agreement
- Videography contract
What does the law say?
In a contract for the supply of a service where the supplier is acting in the course of a business, there is an implied term that the supplier will carry out the service with reasonable care and skill.
Source: Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, s.13Checked 28 October 2026Pending lawyer review
Every contract to supply a service is to be treated as including a term that the trader must perform the service with reasonable care and skill. Section 54 sets out the consumer’s rights if the trader is in breach of that term.
Source: Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49Checked 3 November 2026Pending lawyer review
Where a contract contains a clause that variation must be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the parties, an oral variation is not effective. The parties have bound themselves to a specified method of variation and the court gives effect to it.
Source: Rock Advertising Ltd v MWB Business Exchange Centres Ltd, [2018] UKSC 24Checked 28 October 2026Pending lawyer review
Draft a graphic design contract with this clause
Free for the other sideLex drafts it in Plain English beside the legal wording. Share one link; both sides agree and sign.
Frequently asked questions
What does a revisions-and-acceptance clause mean?
It sets how many change rounds sit in the fee, what counts as a revision rather than extra scope, and when the work is accepted — usually on written sign-off or after a named period of silence.
How many revision rounds should be included?
Name a number. Two or three rounds is common on design and film jobs. A ‘reasonable revisions’ line with no number is how a fixed-fee job never ends. Extra rounds are a change of scope.
What is the difference between a revision and a change of scope?
A revision adjusts work already shown, inside the written spec. A new page, a new shot or a change of brief is extra scope and should go through change control. See /clauses/change-control.
When is work accepted?
When the client signs it off in writing, or after a named number of days with no written rejection. Acceptance ends free rounds; it does not wipe the implied care-and-skill term in SGSA 1982 s.13.
What if the client does not reply?
Write deemed acceptance after a short number of business days, with a duty to give reasons if the client rejects. Tie the next milestone to that clock so a silent inbox cannot stall payment.
Sources
- Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, s.13Checked 28 October 2026Pending lawyer review
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49Checked 3 November 2026Pending lawyer review
- Rock Advertising Ltd v MWB Business Exchange Centres Ltd, [2018] UKSC 24Checked 28 October 2026Pending lawyer review
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The legal wording governsLast reviewed 28 October 2026Pending lawyer review