Business

Freelance Retainer Calculator

Calculate monthly retainer pricing from reserved capacity, availability premium and discount. Everything runs in your browser, with no signup and no unnecessary steps.

Retainer result

Monthly retainer$2,090.00

Effective hourly/day rate: $104.50/hour
Monthly discount amount: $110.00
Availability premium amount: $200.00
Minimum contract value: $6,270.00
Annualized retainer value: $25,080.00
Cost of one unused reserved unit: $104.50/hour

This retainer reserves 20 hours per month and prices availability at $2,090.00 after premium and discount.

How retainers work

A retainer is a recurring payment for reserved capacity and priority availability. It is not simply a discounted package of hours. The client is paying for access to capacity whether or not every reserved unit is used.

Retainer vs hourly billing

Hourly billing charges for time after it is used. Retainers reserve time in advance, which can reduce scheduling risk for both freelancer and client. If you need a base rate first, start with the Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator.

Availability premium

The availability premium represents the value of keeping capacity open for the client. It is especially important when a retainer limits your ability to accept other work.

Should retainers include discounts?

Some retainers include a discount because the client commits to recurring work. Others include no discount because the freelancer is selling priority access. Make the assumption visible in the discount field.

If you are setting a consulting-style floor before adding premium or discount assumptions, compare the result with the Consulting Rate Calculator.

Unused hours and rollover policies

This calculator shows the cost of one unused reserved hour or day. It does not assume rollover. Rollover rules should be written clearly in the agreement.

For completed retainer work, the Project Profitability Calculator can help compare retained revenue with actual labor and expenses.

Example

At $100/hour for 20 reserved hours, the base value is $2,000. A 10% premium adds $200, and a 5% discount on the pre-discount value creates a $2,090 monthly retainer.

FAQ

Should unused hours roll over?

That is a business decision. Rollover can make a retainer feel safer for clients, but unlimited rollover can destroy capacity planning.

Can I price a retainer by day?

Yes. Use daily mode when the agreement reserves whole days instead of individual hours.

How does this connect to project work?

Use the Project Profitability Calculator after delivery to see whether retainer work stayed profitable.

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