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I called retainer clients lazy money for years, then I did the math on my own books
For about 4 years I turned down every retainer pitch. I figured recurring revenue made agency owners soft. You stop hunting, you stop growing, next thing you know you're just a vendor with a calendar invite.
Then last October I finally sat down with my accountant in Portland and added up what I made on project work in 2022 versus what I spent chasing it. Proposals, calls, the 6 week gap every January where nothing closes. I was making good money and feeling broke at the same time.
Signed my first real retainer in February, $4,500 a month, 12 months. Same client I'd done 3 one-off projects for. Nothing changed about the work. I just stopped re-selling myself every 90 days.
I was wrong. Not because retainers are magic, but because I was confusing busy with safe. The hunt felt like control. It wasn't.
Still think the 40 hour retainer trap is real though. Anyone else flip on this, or did you go the other way and hate it?
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tyler_baker19d ago
Retainers killed my drive. Did 3 years, hated every Monday.
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derekwalker19d ago
Dang, been there, switching to hourly gigs saved my sanity.
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