Login

I’ve been working with a great client for about a year now, and they’ve just asked if I’d be open to a retainer agreement moving forward. Honestly, I’m a little torn because I like the flexibility of project-based work, but the steady income sounds really appealing. Has anyone else gone through this shift and found a good way to structure it without feeling locked in?

I moved to a monthly retainer with a clear cap on hours and kept project work as an add on. It gave predictability but left room for big one offs. Would a soft start help you test it?

Seems nice in theory but I felt boxed at times. The idea of a retainer felt heavy until we framed it as availability and advisory hours rather than endless coverage. Have you tried a small trial month?

We tried a hybrid model with core hours under a retainer and extras billed project style. Cash flow stayed steady and it still left space to grow.

I worry about scope creep and being locked in with a retainer. A clear sunset clause or revocable terms helped mine feel fair.

We did a three month pilot with a basic retainer and then reevaluated.

Sometimes I prefer project work for flexibility but a small retainer for availability made the client feel secure.

If the client is solid a core retainer plus a separate rate for extras can work but you need guardrails. What would you set up?

Login
Username:
Password:	Lost Password?
	Remember me