Calculate recurring monthly retainer fees offering clients guaranteed availability at a volume discount.
Calculate the right monthly retainer fee based on committed hours and your hourly or day rate.
A retainer is a recurring payment where a client pays a fixed monthly fee for a set number of hours or deliverables each month. It gives the client priority access to your time and gives you predictable monthly income.
Retainers are common for ongoing content creation, marketing consulting, legal advice, and bookkeeping services.
Multiply the number of committed hours per month by your hourly rate. Add a premium for priority access and scheduling flexibility. Retainer rates are often slightly lower than project rates because of the income security they provide.
This calculator shows the retainer amount based on committed hours and rate.
Predictable income reduces financial stress. Fewer proposals to write. Stronger client relationships. Clients benefit from guaranteed availability without competing for your time.
Retainers are one of the best structures for freelancers seeking income stability.
Define the number of hours or deliverables per month, rollover policy for unused hours, notice period for cancellation, and scope of work.
Put everything in writing before the retainer starts to avoid scope disputes later.
Send a retainer invoice at the start of each month or before the month begins. Use the Tez Invoice free invoice generator to create a clean monthly retainer invoice with the agreed hours and amount.
Consistent invoicing signals professionalism and encourages prompt payment.
Tez Invoice is our free online invoice generator. No sign up. No watermark. Download clean PDF or JPEG invoices in seconds, right from your browser.
Common questions about Freelance Retainer Calculator: Price Your Monthly Retainer Correctly on Tez Invoice.
A retainer is a monthly fee paid by a client for a set number of hours or deliverables. It provides predictable income for the freelancer.
Multiply committed hours by your hourly rate. Consider a small discount for the security of recurring income.
Yes. Free with no sign up.
Hours per month, deliverables, rollover policy, cancellation notice, and payment terms.
Often slightly, because the income security justifies a small discount. This is a business decision.
Yes. Completely free with no sign up and no usage limits.
Yes. Fully responsive on all devices.
No. All processing is in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server.
Yes. Designed for freelancers and businesses.
Use the free Invoice Generator on Tez Invoice.