What retainer discount should I offer?

Common discounts are 5–15%. The idea is to give the client a reason to commit to a retainer while still protecting your income.

Should unused hours roll over?

That’s a contract choice. Some retainers are “use it or lose it”; others allow a cap on rollover. Define it clearly in the agreement.

Retainer Fee Calculator

Work out a monthly retainer from committed hours, hourly rate, and a retainer discount. See total contract value and how much the client saves compared to hourly billing.

Hours per month committed

Hourly rate ($)

Retainer discount (%)

Contract length (months)

How it works

Full monthly value is hours × hourly rate. The retainer discount (e.g. 10%) is applied so the client pays less in exchange for a committed engagement. Monthly retainer = full monthly × (1 − discount %).

Total contract value is monthly retainer × contract length. Savings vs. hourly is the difference between what they’d pay at full hourly and what they pay on the retainer.

Retainer Fee Calculator

How it works

Frequently asked questions

Stop estimating. Start invoicing.

Retainer Fee Calculator

How it works

Frequently asked questions

Stop estimating. Start invoicing.