Retainer Services Agreement Templates
This Retainer Services Agreements subfolder includes a number of forms of agreement catering for a supplier of services who wishes to provide services to a client under a retainer arrangement.
For the supplier, a retainer arrangement can provide a suitable level of remuneration and/or guaranteed minimum amount of remuneration. For its client, such an arrangement ensures that the supplier will meet the client’s orders for services up to any stated maximum number of hours of work.
A supplier can structure a retainer arrangement agreement to suit both parties by selecting the appropriate template, inserting a suitable amount for the periodic retainer fee and hourly fee rate, and inserting suitable limits on the number of hours of work to be made available to the client in each period.
For an explanation and discussion of retainer arrangements generally, please see our Guidance Note: Retainer Arrangements in this subfolder.
Retainer Services Agreement Templates is part of Business . Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Business for 1 year.
Frequently Asked Questions
I provide services and want a client to pay a regular fee to keep me available. What agreement is that? +
A retainer services agreement. Under it the client pays a periodic retainer fee, and sometimes a guaranteed minimum, in return for your services up to a set number of hours each period. It gives you steadier income and the client priority access to you. This subfolder provides forms of retainer agreement you tailor with the retainer fee, the hourly rate and the hours cap.
How do I structure the retainer fee and the hours it covers? +
Set a periodic retainer fee, an hourly rate for work done and a cap on the hours you will make available each period, with what happens to unused hours and to work beyond the cap. Clear limits stop a retainer becoming unlimited work for a fixed fee. The templates let you insert each of these figures, and a guidance note explains retainer arrangements generally.
What happens if the client does not use the hours they paid for? +
Whatever the agreement says, so decide it up front. Retainer hours usually do not roll over unless you allow it, and the retainer fee is typically payable whether or not the hours are used, because the client is paying for your availability. Spell this out to avoid disputes at renewal. The templates and guidance note cover these choices so the position is clear from the start.
Is a retainer different from being paid by the hour or per project? +
Yes. Hourly or project billing pays only for work actually done, whereas a retainer pays a regular fee to secure your availability and a minimum commitment, with work drawn down against it. A retainer suits ongoing, unpredictable needs; project or hourly terms suit defined one-off work. Choose the model that matches how the relationship actually runs.
My retainer client is a consumer. Do consumer rules apply? +
Yes. If the client is a consumer, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires the service to be performed with reasonable care and skill and the terms to be fair, and cancellation rights may apply if the deal was made at a distance or off-premises. A business client is governed by the contract and general law. Use terms appropriate to whether your client is a consumer or a business.
