Retainer Agreement Template
Monthly retainer agreement for ongoing service work, including scope of services, hours, deliverables, and renewal terms.
A retainer agreement establishes ongoing service availability and support for a recurring monthly fee. This template is useful for service providers, consultants, and agencies that provide ongoing advisory services, support, or project work to clients on a recurring basis.
When To Use
Use this template when providing ongoing retainer-based services such as marketing, legal, accounting, IT support, design services, or strategic advisory. It is commonly used for monthly retainers with varying hour allocations or recurring deliverables.
Template
Example
RETAINER AGREEMENT Date: January 5, 2026 Service Provider: Name: Bright Marketing Solutions Client: Name: Eco Wellness Brands Inc. Services: Digital marketing support including content strategy, social media management, email marketing, and advertising campaign oversight. Retainer Fee: $2,500 per month Included Hours: 20 hours per month of strategic and tactical work Services Included: - Social media content calendar and posting (3x weekly) - Monthly email marketing campaign creation and management - Campaign performance reporting and analysis - 2 strategy meetings per month - Ad campaign monitoring and optimization - Slack workspace for ongoing communication Unused Hours Policy: Unused hours roll over to the following month (max 2 months accrual). Monthly Deliverables: - Performance report (due 1st of month) - Upcoming month social content calendar - Email campaign creative and deployment Additional Services: Hours beyond 20/month: $125 per hour Custom design or development: Quote separately Term: Initial Term: 12 months Start Date: February 1, 2026 Automatic Renewal: 12-month periods unless 30 days notice given Payment: Due on the 5th of each month via ACH transfer Late Fee: 1.5% per month on overdue amounts Termination: Either party may terminate with 30 days written notice No early termination penalty Service Provider Signature: Jennifer Lee Date: January 5, 2026 Client Signature: Michael Patel Date: January 5, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What if we don't use all the retainer hours in a month?
The agreement should specify whether unused hours roll over, expire, or can be refunded.
Can we cancel the retainer at any time?
Most retainers allow termination with notice (typically 30 days), though some charge early termination fees.
How are additional services charged if we exceed the retainer hours?
The agreement should define hourly rates or project rates for work beyond the included retainer allocation.
Does the retainer fee increase annually?
Some retainers include annual increases, while others keep fees fixed. This should be documented upfront.
How often should we review the retainer arrangement?
Regular monthly check-ins help track progress, and semi-annual or annual reviews allow for scope adjustments.
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