Service Agreements & Contracts

Retainer agreement

Templates › Service Agreements & Contracts

A retainer agreement sets up an ongoing services relationship for a recurring fee — a defined amount of time or scope available each billing period, with clear terms for what happens if a client needs more than that.

When to use it

Use this for an ongoing relationship rather than a one-off project — a fixed number of hours or a defined scope made available every month or quarter, common for consultants, agencies, and freelancers with recurring clients.

What's typically included

• Services description
• Retainer fee and billing cycle
• Overage terms
• Unused-time policy
• Term and renewal
• Termination
• Independent contractor status
• Limitation of liability
• Governing law

This template is a general starting point, not legal advice — customize it and have it reviewed for your situation.