How to Switch from Hourly to Retainer Pricing

The Trap of the Hourly Rate

Trading time for money inherently caps your earning potential. There are only so many hours in a week. To escape this, freelancers must transition to Value-Based Pricing and Retainers.

What is a Retainer?

A retainer is a monthly recurring fee your client pays you to guarantee a set amount of availability, deliverables, or access to your expertise.

Structuring Your First Package

1. Identify the Value: What problem are you solving continuously?
2. Determine Scope: Is it a bucket of hours or a bucket of deliverables? Always choose deliverables.
3. Discount for Loyalty: Give a 10% discount compared to one-off project pricing in exchange for a 6-month commitment.

Don't guess the numbers. Use our Retainer Fee Builder to instantly calculate your optimal MRR packages.