A Consultant usually reaches for a Retainer Agreement when for continuing work billed on a repeating monthly cycle. This free template does one job well: it sets recurring fees, an agreed scope and notice terms for ongoing monthly work. It is written for how consultants actually work — around a fixed-scope advisory engagement or diagnostic review, the familiar headache of the client acting on advice and blaming the consultant for the business outcome, and getting paid on a day rate or fixed engagement fee, invoiced in arrears or on milestones. Use a Retainer Agreement rather than something looser, because for a single fixed-scope project — use a service agreement instead. Edit any line to fit your rates and terms, then send it for e-signature in a couple of minutes — no account for your client, and it is legally binding under the ESIGN Act and eIDAS.
RETAINER AGREEMENT — CONSULTANT
1. PARTIES
This Retainer Agreement ("Agreement") is made on ____________ between ____________ ("Client") and ____________ (the "Provider"), a Consultant. Together they are the "Parties".
2. MONTHLY SCOPE
Each month the Provider will deliver the following for the Consultant engagement: ____________. Work beyond this monthly scope is agreed in writing and billed separately.
3. FEES & BILLING CYCLE
The monthly fee is $____________, billed on the ____________ of each month. Standard terms for a Consultant are a day rate or fixed engagement fee, invoiced in arrears or on milestones.
4. HOURS / DELIVERABLES
The retainer covers ____________ hours or the deliverables listed above each month. Typical support for a Consultant includes advice, analysis and a written recommendations report.
5. ROLLOVER & OVERAGE
Unused hours do not roll over unless agreed in writing. Work beyond the monthly block — for example extra meetings, deliverables or implementation work beyond the diagnosis — is billed at $____________ per hour with prior approval.
6. TERM & NOTICE
This retainer runs month to month and renews automatically. Either Party may cancel with ____________ days' notice; fees for time already spent are payable and notice is required to end the engagement.
7. IP & CONFIDENTIALITY
The Client owns the deliverables produced under this retainer once paid. Both Parties keep each other's information confidential, which for a Consultant especially covers confidentiality of client information and clear limits on liability for advice given.
8. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement is governed by the laws of ____________, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of ____________.
9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The Provider's total liability is limited to the fees paid. The Provider is not liable for business outcomes from acting on its advice, which addresses the client acting on advice and blaming the consultant for the business outcome.
10. MUTUAL CONFIDENTIALITY
Both Parties keep each other's information confidential and use it only for this engagement.
11. NO GUARANTEE OF RESULTS
Advice is given in good faith using professional skill. The Provider does not guarantee any particular business result.
12. EXPENSES
Pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses are reimbursed at cost. Typical expenses for a Consultant engagement are listed here: ____________.
SIGNATURES
Signed by the Parties on the date first written above. Both Parties keep a copy. An electronic signature is legally binding under the ESIGN Act and eIDAS.
Client: ______________________ Date: __________
Provider: ____________________ Date: __________This Retainer Agreement ("Agreement") is made on ____________ between ____________ ("Client") and ____________ (the "Provider"), a Consultant. Together they are the "Parties".
Each month the Provider will deliver the following for the Consultant engagement: ____________. Work beyond this monthly scope is agreed in writing and billed separately.
The monthly fee is $____________, billed on the ____________ of each month. Standard terms for a Consultant are a day rate or fixed engagement fee, invoiced in arrears or on milestones.
The retainer covers ____________ hours or the deliverables listed above each month. Typical support for a Consultant includes advice, analysis and a written recommendations report.
Unused hours do not roll over unless agreed in writing. Work beyond the monthly block — for example extra meetings, deliverables or implementation work beyond the diagnosis — is billed at $____________ per hour with prior approval.
This retainer runs month to month and renews automatically. Either Party may cancel with ____________ days' notice; fees for time already spent are payable and notice is required to end the engagement.
The Client owns the deliverables produced under this retainer once paid. Both Parties keep each other's information confidential, which for a Consultant especially covers confidentiality of client information and clear limits on liability for advice given.
This Agreement is governed by the laws of ____________, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of ____________.
The Provider's total liability is limited to the fees paid. The Provider is not liable for business outcomes from acting on its advice, which addresses the client acting on advice and blaming the consultant for the business outcome.
Both Parties keep each other's information confidential and use it only for this engagement.
Advice is given in good faith using professional skill. The Provider does not guarantee any particular business result.
Pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses are reimbursed at cost. Typical expenses for a Consultant engagement are listed here: ____________.
Signed by the Parties on the date first written above. Both Parties keep a copy. An electronic signature is legally binding under the ESIGN Act and eIDAS.
Without one, extra meetings, deliverables or implementation work beyond the diagnosis eats the month for free. Price any work beyond the agreed block.
Decide up front whether unused hours carry over — silence is where arguments start for consultants.
Set the notice to cancel so a client cannot drop a Consultant mid-month, and confirm fees for time already spent are payable and notice is required to end the engagement.
When the work repeats every month rather than being a fixed-scope advisory engagement or diagnostic review with a clear finish line.
On a monthly cycle, commonly a day rate or fixed engagement fee, invoiced in arrears or on milestones. The template bills in advance so you are never working unpaid.
Yes. Once you and your client sign it — including with an electronic signature — this Retainer Agreement is a binding contract under the ESIGN Act, eIDAS and similar laws in most countries.
Point them back to the scope. Extra work such as extra meetings, deliverables or implementation work beyond the diagnosis is quoted separately — that is exactly what the written terms are for.
Yes. Paste it into Signr, drop the signature fields on, and send a link. Your client signs from any device with no account, and you both get a sealed, court-ready copy.
Paste the template into Signr, drop signature fields on, and send. Your client signs from any device, no account needed, and you both get a sealed, court-ready copy.
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