BUSINESS TOOL / 35

Price the retainer.
Protect the capacity.

Work out a monthly service package from the hours included, your effective rate, operating costs, and a buffer for communication and revisions.

Included hours / month

Base hourly rate

Monthly operating costs

Communication buffer (%)

Commitment discount (%)

Currency

Base service value$750.00

Price before discount$977.50

Suggested monthly retainer$977.50

This is a planning model. Define included work, response times, rollover rules, and overage pricing in the final agreement.

QUICK ANSWERS

Why add a communication buffer?

A retainer includes coordination, status updates, and small revisions. A buffer prevents those tasks from silently consuming all delivery hours.

Should unused hours roll over?

Choose a clear policy before sending the offer. You can allow limited rollover, set an expiry, or keep the retainer focused on reserved capacity.

Price the retainer.Protect the capacity.