There are many, many ways to structure retainers. Here are some suggestions. If a client hires you to build a website – or a portion of a website – and they do not have an in-house designer to maintain it, then offer your client to place you on a monthly retainer with a reduced rate. For example, if you charge $40/hour for freelance work, suggest a retainer of 10 hours per month at $30/hour or $300 per month. Invoice them at the beginning of each month Net 30. If they use you, then great. If they don’t, the hours do not rollover. If they are close to you then suggest a meeting once monthly to go over any needs. You’ll want to be proactive and ensure that they use you or the relationship will end.
Contact all current and past clients now and suggest a phone call / meeting to discuss the potential of a retainer. If you have no retainers in place now then don’t reveal that fact…you are a busy and sought-after designer.
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So glad I found this article, I was struggling to find the best way to structure retainers.
This is a gread advice, thank you so much for sharing it! I will contact all of our clients this week and suggest a meeting to discuss the potential of a retainer.
Regards,
Anita from Munich
This is a solid strategy for taking retainers.
Just make sure that you don’t take on more than you can deliver against.
The upfront money is great, but when there is more work to do than time available, the strategy can back fire.