Retainer Form Letter

A design retainer is a recurring agreement which a client signs, for a specific duration of time, to retain the availability of the designer with details about the arrangement including; the agreed rate per month, terms and conditions, scope of the engagement and area for signed approval. Make sure you retain a signed and dated copy.

A design retainer is a recurring agreement which a client signs to retain the availability of the designer for a specific duration of time. It can include details about the arrangement including: the agreed rate per month, terms and conditions, scope of the engagement and area for signed approval.

When to use this form

This form is a useful tool to establish an ongoing relationship between the designer/firm and client. The agreement may or may not require a monthly invoice, depending on the specifics of the client relationship and the requirements of the Accounts Payable/Receivable department.

Special considerations

For Freelancers

When negotiating a retainer, you may want to consider including additional details such as the type of work included in the parameters of the contract, conditions for completing rush work, minimum/maximum hours per pay period, conditions regarding unused hours and copyright licensing or ownership terms.