Contract template

Retainer agreement template

Turn a good client into recurring income. This retainer agreement sets the monthly scope, fee, and hours clearly — so a retainer stays predictable, not unlimited.

A retainer gives you predictable monthly income in exchange for a set amount of work or availability. The key to a retainer that works is a clear agreement — otherwise it slowly expands until you’re working far more than you’re paid for.

This template pins down what the client gets each month, what they pay, and what happens when they need more.

Quick-Fill Details

Enter your details here and click Apply to Template to automatically replace the bracketed placeholders.

Your Name / Business Name

Client Name / Company

Date

Fee / Amount

Project Title / Scope

Monthly Retainer AgreementKliv∞ Templates

MONTHLY RETAINER AGREEMENT

This Agreement is made on [DATE] between:
  Freelancer: [YOUR NAME / BUSINESS] ("Freelancer")
  Client: [CLIENT NAME] ("Client")

1. RETAINER SCOPE & PROJECT TITLE
Project: [PROJECT TITLE]
Each month, the Freelancer will provide:
  • [e.g. Up to 20 hours of design work] OR
  • [e.g. 4 SEO articles + ongoing site maintenance]
Work outside this scope is quoted and billed separately.

2. MONTHLY FEE & PAYMENT
Monthly retainer: ₹[AMOUNT], payable in advance by the [1st] of each month.

3. TERM & RENEWAL
This Agreement runs for [NUMBER] months from [DATE], then continues month-to-month unless cancelled with written notice.

4. UNUSED HOURS / DELIVERABLES
Unused hours/deliverables [do / do not] roll over to the subsequent month.

5. RESPONSE TIME & AVAILABILITY
The Freelancer will respond to requests within [X business days] and prioritize the Client's work during the retainer.

6. CANCELLATION
Either party may cancel with [NUMBER] days' written notice. The final month is paid in full.

7. EXTRA WORK & REVISIONS
Anything beyond the monthly scope is agreed in writing and billed at ₹[RATE] before work begins.

8. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement is governed by the laws of India.

Signed:
Freelancer: __________________________  Date: __________
Client:     __________________________  Date: __________

This is a plain-language starting template, not legal advice. Adapt it to your situation and, for high-value or unusual work, have a qualified professional review it under your local law before you rely on it.

How to use this template

1Copy the template and define the monthly scope precisely (hours or deliverables).
2Set the fee, payment date, and minimum term.
3Decide clearly whether unused hours roll over.
4Both parties sign; review the scope every few months as needs change.

Tips

Cap the monthly scope in writing — it’s the main defence against retainer creep.
Bill in advance; a retainer’s whole value is predictable, upfront income.
State a response time so the client feels the priority they’re paying for.

More free templates & tools

Freelance ContractFor one-off project contracts.

Invoice GeneratorRaise recurring monthly invoices.

Retainer agreement FAQs

A written monthly scope cap, tracking delivery against it, and an extra-work clause that bills anything beyond the scope separately.

Yes — the point of a retainer is predictable, upfront income. Bill at the start of each month.

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