Budgeting for milestones and escrow

Tie each milestone to a tangible deliverable and acceptance check.

This makes budget approvals easier and keeps expectations aligned.

Use ranges when scope is fuzzy so both sides can align before committing.

Reserve a smaller discovery phase to reduce downstream changes.

Use escrow to protect both parties while scope is clarified.

End discovery with a prioritized backlog that makes the next steps obvious.

Release funds only when the milestone is reviewed and approved.

It keeps the workflow predictable and builds trust on both sides.

Set a short feedback window so approvals stay timely and momentum stays high.