What is a deliverable? Project deliverables explained

A deliverable is anything you hand over at the end of a piece of work: a logo file, a written report, a finished website, a set of photos, a trained team. Project deliverables are the full list of those outputs for one project, agreed with the client or your manager before the work starts. If a task is what you do, a deliverable is what you give.

Deliverables are how clients judge whether they got what they paid for, so being specific about them is one of the simplest ways to avoid disputes.

Why project deliverables matter for a small business

• Shared expectations. “Brand refresh” means different things to different people. “Logo in three formats, a colour palette and a one-page style guide” does not.
• Accurate pricing. Counting deliverables helps you estimate the work and quote with confidence.
• A clear finish line. When every deliverable is handed over and accepted, the project is done and the final invoice is due.
• Protection against scope creep. Anything not on the list is extra work and can be quoted separately.

How deliverables work: an example

Aisha is a freelance videographer in Birmingham. A local charity hires her to film its annual fundraiser. In her proposal she lists the project deliverables:

She adds: “One round of edits is included for each video. Further edits are charged at £50 an hour (about $65).” When the charity later asks for a fourth clip, nobody argues: it is simply not on the list, and Aisha quotes for it.

The idea works well beyond creative jobs. A bookkeeper’s deliverables might be monthly management accounts and a year-end pack. An IT support firm might deliver a set-up laptop, a written password policy and a one-hour training session. A cleaning company might deliver a completed checklist and before-and-after photos for each visit. Whatever you sell, naming the outputs makes the job easier to price and to finish.

Types of deliverables

• External deliverables go to the client: the report, the design files, the finished product.
• Internal deliverables stay inside your team but move the project forward: a research summary, a test plan, a draft for review.
• Tangible deliverables are physical or digital things you can hand over, such as a printed brochure or a file.
• Intangible deliverables are outcomes, such as a training session delivered or a process set up. Describe these by what will be true afterwards.

Deliverables vs milestones vs tasks

A task is the work: “edit the highlight video”. A deliverable is the result you hand over: “the 2-minute highlight video”. A project milestone marks a moment in the timeline, such as “all videos approved”. Tasks produce deliverables; accepted deliverables let you reach milestones.

Best practices and common mistakes

• Put them in writing. List deliverables in your proposal or statement of work, and get it signed.
• Say how many revisions are included. Unlimited changes can turn a profitable job into a loss.
• Agree how acceptance works. Who approves each deliverable, and how long do they have to reply?
• Do not list activities as deliverables. “Weekly calls” is an activity. “Weekly progress summary by email” is a deliverable.
• Keep a record of hand-overs. Note when each deliverable was sent and approved. It helps if payment is ever questioned.

For help writing the list, our free statement of work template includes a deliverables table.

Related terms

A statement of work lists a project’s deliverables alongside its timeline and price. A client portal is a private page where clients can see and approve deliverables. A project milestone is often reached when a set of deliverables is approved.

Deliverables in startbuddi

In startbuddi, you plan the work behind each deliverable as tasks and milestones in Work, and store the files themselves in Documents, linked to the project. Each project also has an Approvals view for reviewing tasks, deliverables, documents and sign-offs in one place.

To hand deliverables to a client, set up a client portal. It can include a Deliverables module, and you can share an item simply, or share it for approval. With approvals switched on, a shared deliverable cannot be marked done until the client approves it. Clients sign in with an email link, with no password and no seat.

You can set up and preview a portal on the Free plan; inviting clients needs a paid plan (Starter includes one portal, Growth ten and Business fifty). Your next step: take your next proposal and rewrite every deliverable so it states what, how many, what format and by when.