A Copywriter 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 copywriters actually work — around website copy, a sales page or a batch of articles, the familiar headache of rewrites requested because the brief changed after work began, and getting paid on 50% to reserve the slot and 50% on delivery of the first full draft. 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 — COPYWRITER
1. PARTIES
This Retainer Agreement ("Agreement") is made on ____________ between ____________ ("Client") and ____________ (the "Provider"), a Copywriter. Together they are the "Parties".
2. MONTHLY SCOPE
Each month the Provider will deliver the following for the Copywriter 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 Copywriter are 50% to reserve the slot and 50% on delivery of the first full draft.
4. HOURS / DELIVERABLES
The retainer covers ____________ hours or the deliverables listed above each month. Typical support for a Copywriter includes finished written copy in the agreed word count and format.
5. ROLLOVER & OVERAGE
Unused hours do not roll over unless agreed in writing. Work beyond the monthly block — for example extra rounds of edits or added pages beyond the quoted word count — 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; work delivered to date is invoiced and the kill fee applies if cancelled mid-draft.
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 Copywriter especially covers copyright assigning to the client on payment, and whether the writer may cite the work as a sample.
8. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement is governed by the laws of ____________, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of ____________.
9. WORD COUNT & SCOPE
The fee covers up to ____________ words on the agreed brief. Added pages or a changed brief are quoted separately.
10. REVISION ROUNDS
The fee includes ____________ rounds of revisions on the agreed scope. Extra rounds are billed at $____________ each.
11. BYLINE & PORTFOLIO
Unless agreed otherwise, the Client owns the copy on payment and the writer may reference the project as a sample without revealing confidential details.
12. KILL FEE
If the Client cancels mid-project, a kill fee of ____________% of the total, plus payment for work delivered, is due.
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 Copywriter. Together they are the "Parties".
Each month the Provider will deliver the following for the Copywriter 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 Copywriter are 50% to reserve the slot and 50% on delivery of the first full draft.
The retainer covers ____________ hours or the deliverables listed above each month. Typical support for a Copywriter includes finished written copy in the agreed word count and format.
Unused hours do not roll over unless agreed in writing. Work beyond the monthly block — for example extra rounds of edits or added pages beyond the quoted word count — is billed at $____________ per hour with prior approval.
This retainer runs month to month and renews automatically. Either Party may cancel with ____________ days' notice; work delivered to date is invoiced and the kill fee applies if cancelled mid-draft.
The Client owns the deliverables produced under this retainer once paid. Both Parties keep each other's information confidential, which for a Copywriter especially covers copyright assigning to the client on payment, and whether the writer may cite the work as a sample.
This Agreement is governed by the laws of ____________, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of ____________.
The fee covers up to ____________ words on the agreed brief. Added pages or a changed brief are quoted separately.
The fee includes ____________ rounds of revisions on the agreed scope. Extra rounds are billed at $____________ each.
Unless agreed otherwise, the Client owns the copy on payment and the writer may reference the project as a sample without revealing confidential details.
If the Client cancels mid-project, a kill fee of ____________% of the total, plus payment for work delivered, is due.
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 rounds of edits or added pages beyond the quoted word count 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 copywriters.
Set the notice to cancel so a client cannot drop a Copywriter mid-month, and confirm work delivered to date is invoiced and the kill fee applies if cancelled mid-draft.
When the work repeats every month rather than being website copy, a sales page or a batch of articles with a clear finish line.
On a monthly cycle, commonly 50% to reserve the slot and 50% on delivery of the first full draft. 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 rounds of edits or added pages beyond the quoted word count 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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