A freelance retainer agreement sets the terms of a working relationship where a client prepays to reserve the professional services of a freelancer. With the advance payment (known as a “retainer fee”), the client is guaranteed to receive a certain amount of work within a designated period. The retainer fee amount will be specified in the agreement, as well as details concerning the services being retained, billing, work permits, licensing, and confidentiality requirements.

CONTENTS Retainer Fee What’s Included in the Retainer Agreement Party Identification Services Effective Date Term Compensation Expenses Termination When Freelancers Should use a Retainer Benefits of Using a Retainer

Retainer Fee

The retainer fee is an initial expense the client must pay to guarantee accessibility to the freelancer’s professional services. It contributes to the total cost of services, but must be paid before any work is actually performed.

Important Notes:

• Retainer fees are typically held by the freelancer in a separate bank account.
• If the retainer fee doesn’t cover the entire service charge, the freelancer will bill the client for the unpaid amount.
• The fee can either be refundable or non-refundable.

What’s Included in the Retainer Agreement

Party Identification

Freelance retainer agreements will identify the individual or entity requesting services (the client) and the person hired to provide those services (the freelancer).

Effective Date

The “effective date” refers to the time both parties become legally bound to obligations established under the retainer agreement.

Services

A service description is an essential feature of a retainer agreement. It provides the parties the ability to clearly define the role of the freelancer and detail their responsibilities in advance to eliminate uncertainty.

Term

The term is the period in which the freelancer agrees to provide services. This section will specify the commencement date (i.e., when the freelancer starts working) and the date or other circumstance upon which the freelancer’s service obligations end.

When Freelancers Should use a Retainer

Generally speaking, retainer agreements should be used if the freelancer wants a predictable workflow with a reliable source of recurring income. Retainers are often used when a freelancer renders services on an ongoing basis, typically over a period of several months to one year.

Benefits of Using a Retainer

There are a variety of reasons why freelancers might find a retainer more beneficial than a traditional, one-off service contract. Some of the benefits of a retainer include:

• Financial Stability: Because the retainer fee is an assured source of regular income, the freelancer can worry less about finding new clients to make ends meet.
• Better Client Experience: Retainer agreements typically last longer than standard service contracts. As a consequence, the freelancer can devote more time to each client and provide better service.
• Effective Planning: A retainer agreement allows freelancers to accurately predict and budget monthly expenses. It also enables them to arrange their work schedule more effectively.