Small Retainer: 5 Hours/Month at $200/Hour
Calculate the monthly retainer fee for a small 5-hour advisory commitment at $200 per hour with no discount.
How to use this tool
- Enter the hours you commit to the client each month.
- Enter your standard hourly rate.
- Set a retainer discount for the guaranteed commitment (often 0–20%).
- Read the monthly fee, effective rate and annual value.
A small advisory retainer of just 5 hours per month at $200 per hour — this calculator shows the monthly invoice amount before and after any discount.
Frequently asked questions
- How much discount should I give on a retainer?
- Keep it modest — commonly 0–20%. The retainer already benefits you through predictable revenue and reserved capacity, so a large discount is rarely necessary. Watch the effective rate so it stays above what one-off work would earn.
- Do unused retainer hours roll over?
- That is a policy you set. Some freelancers let unused hours expire (the client pays for reserved capacity); others allow limited roll-over. Agree it up front, because it changes the value of the deal for both sides.
- Is a retainer better than project work?
- It trades a slightly lower rate for predictable, recurring income and less time spent on sales. If cash-flow stability matters to you, the discount is usually worth it; if you can fill your calendar with higher-rate projects, it may not be.