A Social Media Manager 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 social media managers actually work — around a monthly content-calendar and community-management engagement, the familiar headache of arguments over account access and content ownership after the contract ends, and getting paid on a recurring monthly fee, with ad spend billed and reconciled separately. 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 — SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
1. PARTIES
This Retainer Agreement ("Agreement") is made on ____________ between ____________ ("Client") and ____________ (the "Provider"), a Social Media Manager. Together they are the "Parties".
2. MONTHLY SCOPE
Each month the Provider will deliver the following for the Social Media Manager 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 Social Media Manager are a recurring monthly fee, with ad spend billed and reconciled separately.
4. HOURS / DELIVERABLES
The retainer covers ____________ hours or the deliverables listed above each month. Typical support for a Social Media Manager includes scheduled content and a monthly performance report.
5. ROLLOVER & OVERAGE
Unused hours do not roll over unless agreed in writing. Work beyond the monthly block — for example extra platforms, more posts or unplanned campaign work added mid-month — 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; accounts and admin access revert to the client on termination with notice.
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 Social Media Manager especially covers ownership of created content and, critically, who keeps the account logins if the deal ends.
8. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement is governed by the laws of ____________, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of ____________.
9. ACCOUNT ACCESS & HANDOVER
The Client owns all social accounts and admin access at all times. On termination the Provider hands back full access promptly — this prevents arguments over account access and content ownership after the contract ends.
10. CONTENT OWNERSHIP
Content created for the Client is owned by the Client on payment. The Provider may show anonymised results in a portfolio.
11. AD SPEND
Advertising spend is separate from the management fee, billed to the Client and reconciled monthly with receipts.
12. RESULTS
The Provider will use reasonable skill but does not guarantee specific reach, followers or sales, which depend on factors outside its control.
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 Social Media Manager. Together they are the "Parties".
Each month the Provider will deliver the following for the Social Media Manager 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 Social Media Manager are a recurring monthly fee, with ad spend billed and reconciled separately.
The retainer covers ____________ hours or the deliverables listed above each month. Typical support for a Social Media Manager includes scheduled content and a monthly performance report.
Unused hours do not roll over unless agreed in writing. Work beyond the monthly block — for example extra platforms, more posts or unplanned campaign work added mid-month — is billed at $____________ per hour with prior approval.
This retainer runs month to month and renews automatically. Either Party may cancel with ____________ days' notice; accounts and admin access revert to the client on termination with notice.
The Client owns the deliverables produced under this retainer once paid. Both Parties keep each other's information confidential, which for a Social Media Manager especially covers ownership of created content and, critically, who keeps the account logins if the deal ends.
This Agreement is governed by the laws of ____________, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of ____________.
The Client owns all social accounts and admin access at all times. On termination the Provider hands back full access promptly — this prevents arguments over account access and content ownership after the contract ends.
Content created for the Client is owned by the Client on payment. The Provider may show anonymised results in a portfolio.
Advertising spend is separate from the management fee, billed to the Client and reconciled monthly with receipts.
The Provider will use reasonable skill but does not guarantee specific reach, followers or sales, which depend on factors outside its control.
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 platforms, more posts or unplanned campaign work added mid-month 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 social media managers.
Set the notice to cancel so a client cannot drop a Social Media Manager mid-month, and confirm accounts and admin access revert to the client on termination with notice.
When the work repeats every month rather than being a monthly content-calendar and community-management engagement with a clear finish line.
On a monthly cycle, commonly a recurring monthly fee, with ad spend billed and reconciled separately. 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 platforms, more posts or unplanned campaign work added mid-month 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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