Retainer Agreement
A contract where a client pays a recurring fee to secure ongoing access to a service provider's time and expertise.
Why It Matters
Retainers provide predictable costs for the client and predictable revenue for the provider, enabling deeper collaboration than one-off projects.
How It Works
The agreement specifies a monthly fee, included hours or deliverables, scope of work, and terms for overages. The provider reserves capacity each month, and unused hours may or may not roll over depending on the contract terms.
Real-World Example
A brand signs a $5,000/month retainer with a creative strategist for 40 hours of ad creative production, strategy calls, and performance reviews.
Common Mistakes
Not defining what is and is not included in the retainer scope
Letting retainers auto-renew without reviewing performance
Related Terms
A detailed description of the tasks, deliverables, timeline, and boundaries for a specific project or engagement.
A formal contract document that defines the full terms of an engagement including scope, deliverables, timeline, pricing, and acceptance criteria.
Time & materials bills for actual hours worked plus expenses, while fixed price charges a set fee for a defined scope of work.
Retainer Agreement FAQs
Do unused retainer hours roll over?
It depends on the contract — some retainers roll over unused hours, while others operate on a use-it-or-lose-it basis each month.
What is a typical retainer term?
Most retainers start with a 3-month minimum commitment, renewing monthly thereafter with 30-day cancellation notice.
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