Retainer

A retainer turns one-off freelance work into predictable monthly income. Clients pay a flat monthly fee for a defined scope — twenty hours of work, four blog posts, or unlimited Slack support — and you protect time on your calendar in return. Retainers benefit both sides: the client gets priority access and continuity, while the freelancer gains cash-flow stability and lower ongoing sales effort. Most retainers run on three or six-month terms with a notice period and a clear scope statement to prevent endless requests. Set the fee high enough to cover your worst-case month of work and review the scope every quarter.