← Remote Work Glossary

Retainer

An arrangement where a client pays a freelancer a set recurring fee for ongoing availability or work.

A retainer is a regular payment — often monthly — that secures a freelancer's time or a defined amount of work on an ongoing basis. It gives the freelancer predictable income and the client guaranteed access, replacing one-off project billing.

Retainers are prized by independent workers because they smooth out the feast-or-famine cycle. They are typically defined by a statement of work setting out exactly what the fee covers.