Bill it or eat it
Don’t surprise them on the invoice.
Hi Alex — today’s work ran two hours past what I quoted. I can bill the extra at $45/hour, or I can eat it this time. Your call.
The job ran longer than the estimate
The clock went past what you priced. You already did the hours. This isn’t extra work you found and paused on — it’s overtime on the same job.
Name the extra time and let them choose whether you bill it.
Hours, then dollars
Estimate vs actual. One number for the overage.
The estimate was four hours. I was there six. Extra is $90 unless you want me to write it off.
Separate line, or cap it
They can see the overtime. They can also say no.
I stayed later than we priced. I’ll put the overtime as a separate line so you can see it. Tell me if you’d rather I cap it at the original number.