Tool
Retainer Pricing Calculator
Estimate a monthly retainer with labour, overhead, and margin logic — so quotes aren't gut feel.
Summary
Retainer = (Hours × Rate) × (1 + overhead) ÷ (1 - margin). Start from honestly estimated hours, not target hours.
Direct cost
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With overhead
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Retainer price
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Tips for presenting retainers
- List what's included in hours per month — never vague "unlimited"
- Cap scope and specify what triggers extra fees
- Offer 3 tiers (small / standard / premium), not one price
- Include minimum commitment (3-6 months) and simple exit terms
Frequently asked questions
Hours-based or output-based?
Output-based retainers feel better to clients. But only use them if you can honestly estimate the hours behind the output.
Next step
Keep exploring related resources to strengthen this area of the business.
See Proposal Pricing EstimatorPhase 2 content slot (ads / affiliate)