A retainer sounds like stability, but if the hours creep up it can pay less than your hourly rate. Enter the hours, rate, and retainer to see the effective hourly — then price it right.
Price retainers that respect your time — with the effective hourly built in.
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It depends on the details. Retainers give you predictable income and clients predictable access, which is valuable to both sides. The risk is scope creep: if the hours you put in each month grow beyond what the retainer assumed, your effective hourly rate quietly falls. A good retainer is priced with an hours cap or a clear scope, so the effective hourly stays close to (or above) your normal rate. This calculator makes that effective hourly visible.
Start from the hours you expect the work to take each month and your target hourly rate — multiply them for a baseline, then consider a small premium for the commitment and priority access, or a small discount in exchange for guaranteed monthly income. Crucially, set an hours cap or defined scope so extra work is billed separately. The tool lets you test a retainer price against the hours to see the effective rate before you commit.
A ready-to-use spreadsheet (Excel & Google Sheets): the effective hourly rate of a retainer, a comparison against hourly billing, and a retainer-price finder for your target rate — delivered instantly after checkout. AI-assisted, human-built; not financial advice.
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