Legal names and effective date
Template · Retainer Agreement
Free Retainer Agreement Template for Independent Consultants
Download the editable Word template, replace the bracketed fields, and adapt the agreement to your consulting offer and jurisdiction.
When to use it
Use this when a client is paying for ongoing access, recurring delivery, a fixed number of sessions, or reserved monthly capacity. The template makes the commercial rules explicit before the work begins.
What to include
Included services, hours, sessions, or deliverables
Monthly fee, payment date, and payment method
Unused-capacity and rollover rules
Overage rate and approval process
Availability and response times
Confidentiality, data, and intellectual property
Termination, liability, governing law, and signatures
Starter draft
Retainer Agreement
This agreement is between [Consultant legal name / business] and [Client legal name / business], effective [date].
Services: The consultant will provide [ongoing advice, deliverables, sessions, reviews, or support].
Included capacity: The monthly retainer includes [hours / sessions / deliverables] during each billing period.
Fee: The client will pay [currency and amount] on [date or billing rule] by [payment method].
Unused capacity: [Expires each billing period / rolls over up to the stated limit].
Additional work: Approved work outside scope is charged at [rate / fixed fee].
Availability: Normal availability is [days, hours, and time zone], with a target response time of [number] business days.
Ending the agreement: Either side may end the engagement with [number] days’ written notice.
Signatures: Both parties sign and date the completed agreement.
Use it well
Replace every bracketed field and remove options that do not apply.
Make the scope, overage rate, rollover rule, and termination payment terms match the offer you actually sell.
This is a general starting point, not legal advice. Ask a qualified legal professional in the governing jurisdiction to review the final agreement.
Next step
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