Scope
A retainer needs defined recurring outputs or reserved capacity. Avoid “unlimited” language.
Free monthly retainer tool
Price reserved monthly capacity without guessing.
Estimate a sustainable retainer from reserved hours, labor value, recurring costs, a utilization buffer, and your target profit margin.
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Methodology
How the retainer is calculated
The model prices reserved capacity and recurring delivery costs before applying the target margin.
Reserved labor value = reserved hours × hourly labor value.
Base monthly cost = reserved labor value + recurring monthly costs.
Buffered cost = base monthly cost × (1 + utilization buffer).
Recommended retainer = buffered cost ÷ (1 − target profit margin).
Retainer rules
What the number does not decide for you
Rollover
Unused capacity can expire, roll over within a cap, or convert to another deliverable. Pick one rule deliberately.
Overages
State how extra work is approved and priced before the monthly limit is exceeded.
Related retainer resources
Price the capacity, define the agreement, then test profitability.
Retainer strategy
Read How to Turn One AI Skill Into a Monthly Retainer for scope, capacity, renewal, and client-fit decisions.
Profit check
Use the Freelance Profit Margin Calculator to test the economics of the monthly price after costs.
One-off alternative
Use the AI Service Pricing Calculator when the work is a bounded project rather than reserved monthly capacity.
Pricing cluster
Compare the retainer with other pricing models.
Hourly, fixed project, discovery, usage, and value-based pricing solve different kinds of uncertainty.