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Retainer Savings Calculator

Discover if a retainer agreement could save you money and provide better value for your projects

New to retainers? Learn more

What is a retainer? A retainer is a pre-paid agreement for services, typically offering better rates and priority access.

Benefits include:

  • Predictable monthly costs
  • Priority scheduling
  • Better rates than ad-hoc work
  • Dedicated resource allocation
  • Simplified billing process

Calculate Your Potential Savings

50 hrs
$150
$6,000
50%

About Rush Work & Priority Service

Priority service included: Retainer clients receive priority scheduling for urgent needs, helping avoid rush fees while ensuring quick turnaround.

Industry Benchmarks

Typical Rush Rates: 25-75% premium on standard rates

Common Retainer Discounts: 10-30% off hourly rates

Minimum Commitments: Usually 3-6 months

Hour Ranges: Most retainers start at 20-40 hours/month

Consider including rush rates if you frequently need:

  • Last-minute changes - Projects with 24-48 hours notice
  • After-hours support - Evenings, weekends, or holidays
  • Emergency response - Critical issues requiring immediate attention

Recommended Rush Rate Settings:

  • • 25-50%: Standard rush work during business hours
  • • 50-75%: After-hours or weekend work
  • • 75-100%: Holiday or emergency response

💡 Pro Tip: Retainer clients typically avoid rush rates entirely. Their work is pre-scheduled and prioritized, potentially saving significant costs on urgent needs.

Your Potential Value

Monthly Savings with Retainer

+$1,500

per month

Annual Impact

+$18,000

Cost Savings vs. Hourly

+20%

Hourly Rate Total

at $150/hour

$7,500/mo

Retainer Cost

Fixed Monthly Rate

$6,000/mo

Break-even Point

Hours needed to break even

40.0 hours

Priority Service Value

Standard Hours (35.0hrs) $5,250
Priority Hours (15hrs @ $225.0/hr) $3,375
Total Without Retainer $8,625

Additional Insights

Annual Projection

Estimated yearly impact

+$18,000/year

Flexibility Analysis
Minimum Hours Value 40.0 hrs
Effective Daily Capacity 2.5 hrs/day
Maximizing Your Retainer
  • Plan recurring tasks for consistent utilization
  • Bundle similar tasks for efficiency
  • Reserve capacity for unexpected needs

Recommendations

Save 20% on your total monthly costs with a retainer agreement

Your effective hourly rate under retainer: $120.0 (vs. standard rate: $150.0)

Include priority service and save 30% on work that would normally incur a 50% premium

Maximize value: After 40.0 hours, every additional hour increases your savings

Explore Retainer Options