Been working with a client for over a year now. Started with project-based billing, but it’s getting messy with constant changes and additions. Thinking about switching to a retainer model or maybe value-based pricing.
Anyone made a similar transition? Curious how it affected your workflow and client relationship.
I just bill for the work I do. No fancy stuff. If they pay upfront, I knock it off the final bill. Simple works for me and the customers.
Never done that stuff. I just show up do the job and get paid.
Retainers work, but you gotta be careful. Set clear limits on what’s included. Anything extra? That’s billed separately. No exceptions.
Keep it simple. Monthly fee covers X hours or specific tasks. Anything beyond that, they pay more. Period.
Review the agreement every few months. Make sure it’s still working for both sides. If not, adjust.
Don’t let scope creep eat your profits. It’s easy to say yes to little extras, but those add up fast. Stick to your guns on what’s covered and what’s not.
Remember, you’re running a business, not a charity. Charge what you’re worth and don’t apologize for it.
I keep it straightforward. Monthly flat rate for regular work. Anything extra gets billed separately.
Review the agreement every few months to make sure it’s still fair. Adjust if needed.
Track your hours even with a flat rate. Helps you see if you’re actually making money or losing it.
Don’t overthink it. Just make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth.
I’ve been there. Started with hourly billing, then moved to a mix of retainer and project-based.
For long-term clients, I do a base monthly retainer. It covers regular work we know will happen. Anything extra, we discuss and bill separately.
I review the agreement every 6 months. Sometimes the work changes, so we adjust.
One thing that helped - I keep a log of hours spent on their work. Even with a retainer, it’s good to know where your time goes. Helps when it’s time to renegotiate.
Make sure you’re clear on what’s included in the retainer. Write it down. Saves headaches later.
It took some trial and error, but now it’s smoother for everyone. Less invoicing drama, more focus on the actual work.
Made that switch a couple years back. Definitely smoothed things out. Here’s what worked for me:
Took some adjustment, but now it’s way less stressful. No more constant back-and-forth about billing.
Client actually prefers it too. They know exactly what they’re getting and what it costs each month.
One tip: start with a 3-month trial period. Gives both sides a chance to see if it works without a long-term commitment.
Just make sure you’re not undervaluing your time. Easy to do when you first switch to a retainer model.