Flexible Monthly Retainers

Author:

Lisa Lavis

Lisa co-founded Glow in 2000 and built it into a thriving agency. A former national marketing manager for global professional services firm Deloitte, Lisa combines strong, hands-on leadership skills with strategic marketing and business acumen. She has over 25 years’ experience of developing powerful creative campaigns and strategies.

Posted:

02/01/2025

How do monthly retainers’ work?

Hi there. I have been running Glow for a mountain of years (is a mountain of years even a thing); anyway, for a while … and I’ve accumulated a lot of knowledge on how best to deliver supreme creative results, in the most cost-efficient way for our clients.

Glow’s Web Design & Marketing Monthly Retainer Packages allow you to access our expertise and services with a single flexible monthly fee, eliminating the hassle of requesting multiple quotes. You’ll feel confident and supported, knowing you’re building a strong, impactful brand with ease.

Time and Cost Efficiency with Our Monthly Retainers

Signing up for our monthly retainers can save substantial time and costs, streamlining your processes, reducing administrative burdens, and providing consistent support to ensure maximum efficiency and seamless project management. Here’s a breakdown of what works for time savings in different areas:

Strategy Development

Without Retainer:

Companies spend time briefing us, waiting for quotations, reviewing quotations and revising strategies. 5-10 hours/month.

With Retainer:

A retainer eliminates the need for quote sign offs and ensures we are already familiar with the brand and have a continuous strategy in place.

Savings: 5-10 hours/month

Execution of Marketing & Creative Tasks

Without Retainer:

A company might need to manage multiple service providers, approve every individual task, and coordinate frequently. This takes 10-15 hours/month.

With Retainer:

We operate more autonomously under the retainer agreement, starting projects as soon as we get the green light.

Typical savings: 5–10 hours/month.

Reporting & Analytics

Without Retainer:

Companies often need to request reports, consolidate data from different tools, or interpret analytics themselves. This can take 5–10 hours/month.

With Retainer:

Pre-agreed reporting is delivered automatically.

Savings: 3–8 hours/month.

Communication & Administration

Without Retainer:

Onboarding and managing relationships for each project requires dedicated administration time (5–8 hours/month).

With Retainer:

Regular check-ins replace constant re-alignments.

Savings: 5–10 hours/month.

Miscellaneous/Ad-Hoc Tasks

Without Retainer:

Ad-hoc requests still require quotes, approvals and project set up time, leading to delays and extra coordination. 3–7 hours/month might be spent here.

With Retainer:

Many ad-hoc requests fall under the scope of the retainer.

Savings: 3–5 hours/month.

Total Estimated Time Saved with Monthly Retainer Contracts:

22–45 hours/month

This can obviously vary based on the complexity of the company’s marketing needs and the scope of work included in the monthly retainer contracts. A business with more intricate requirements may require more extensive support, while a simpler setup might focus on a narrower range of tasks.

But for sure, signing up for a monthly retainer significantly reduces overheads, allowing the client to focus on their own high priority activities like, sales, operations, product development, or strategy.

The Benefits of Our Monthly Retainer Agreements

Rollover of Hours: Unused hours? No problem—20% rolls over to the next month.
Less Paperwork: Skip the admin—no quotes, just one invoice on a monthly basis for streamlined processes.
No Commitment: No lengthy contracts—customise and adjust your plan as needed.
Affordable: Set your budget, track spend and keep it simple.
No Limits: Request projects as they arise without being confined to defined scopes.
Accountability: Stay on track with monthly action lists, ensuring tasks are completed.
Mental Clarity: We manage deliverables and reminders, so you can focus on priorities.
Simplicity: One supplier, one solution, one retainer fee, utilising all our expert resources — no need to juggle multiple vendors.

Would you like a breakdown of our monthly retainer agreements tailored to your own marketing set up? Reach out to us through our Contact Form. We would love to improve your marketing efficiency and costs. Afterall, that is what we are all working towards hey!