What is a retainer agreement?

A retainer agreement is a contract for ongoing, recurring work. Instead of quoting project by project, your client pays a set fee each month for an agreed number of hours or deliverables.

For freelancers, retainers are gold. They give you predictable income and save you from constantly chasing new work. For clients, they guarantee your availability and often come at a better rate than one-off projects.

When should you use one?

When a client needs your help regularly - monthly social media content, ongoing website maintenance, weekly copywriting, regular design support, or advisory work. If you've done a few projects for the same client and they keep coming back, it's time to suggest a retainer.

What's included

Retainer scope - what's covered each month. Be specific about the number of hours, deliverables, or tasks included.

Monthly fee and payment schedule - the fixed amount due each month, when it's due, and how to pay. Most retainers are billed at the start of each month.

Rollover policy - what happens to unused hours. Do they roll over, expire, or get credited? Spell it out to avoid confusion.

Additional work - how extra requests beyond the retainer scope are handled and billed.

Notice period - how much notice either party needs to give to end the retainer. Typically 30 days.

Review schedule - when you'll check in to see if the arrangement is still working for both sides. Quarterly reviews are common.