Question 1

What is a monthly retainer, and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

A monthly retainer is an ongoing agreement where you pay a fixed monthly fee for continued access to my services. It ensures priority access to design, branding, web, and social media management tasks over a set number of hours or deliverables.

Question 2

What are the benefits of hiring you on a retainer rather than on a project basis?

Accepted Answer

A retainer ensures that I’m fully invested in your business. You get priority access to my services, better consistency in your branding, and a more strategic approach to design and content development.

Question 3

What services are included in the monthly retainer?

Accepted Answer

Services typically include graphic design (for marketing materials, social posts, etc.), brand strategy consultation, web design and updates, and social media management (content creation, scheduling, and monitoring). View packages to see what is included

Question 4

How many hours of work does a retainer cover?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the package you choose. I offer different tiers—basic, standard, and premium—with varying levels of hours or specific deliverables each month. We can customize this based on your needs.

Question 5

How long is the commitment for a retainer?

Accepted Answer

Retainers have minimum 3-month commitment to allow time for impactful results. However, this can be customized depending on your specific goals and requirements.

Question 6

How do I get started with a retainer?

Accepted Answer

Once you decide on the package that best fits your needs, we’ll sign a contract outlining the scope of work, and then you will receive an invoice for the first month. From there, we’ll kick off with a strategy meeting.

Question 7

Can I roll over unused hours to the next month?

Accepted Answer

Unused hours do not roll over. The retainer is designed to ensure consistent work on your projects.

Question 8

How does payment work for a retainer?

Accepted Answer

Payment is due at the beginning of each month, before work begins. 
Invoices are sent out, and you can pay through Zelle, PayPal, Square

Question 9

What’s the biggest advantage of working with you on a retainer?

Accepted Answer

The biggest advantage is consistency, cheaper rates and a long-term partnership. Compared to individual paying per skill/expertise. We become an extension of your team, fully understanding your brand and its goals, which leads to more efficient and aligned results across all your design, branding, web, and social media needs.

Question 10

What if I need additional services outside the agreed scope?

Accepted Answer

If you require extra work beyond what’s covered by the retainer, we can either adjust the retainer or provide an estimate for additional tasks on a one-off basis.

Question 11

How do you communicate with clients during the retainer period?

Accepted Answer

I typically communicate via email, scheduled Zoom or phone meetings. We can also use project management tools like Trello or Asana if you prefer a more organized workflow.

Question 12

How often will we meet to review progress?

Accepted Answer

For most clients, we have monthly review meetings to go over progress, upcoming tasks, and any adjustments. However, we can meet more frequently depending on the retainer agreement.

Question 13

How do you track the hours or work completed each month?

Accepted Answer

I track all hours and tasks using time-tracking software and provide a detailed report at the end of each month to show exactly what has been accomplished.

Question 14

Will I own the designs and work created during the retainer period?

Accepted Answer

Yes, once the work is completed and paid for, you own the designs, content, and any other deliverables created during the retainer period.

Question 15

Can you work with my existing branding, or do you only create new brands?

Accepted Answer

We can work with your existing brand if you’re happy with it, or we can help refresh or rebrand if you’re looking for something new.

Question 16

How do you handle revisions?

Accepted Answer

Most retainers include a set number of revisions for each project. I always aim to make sure you’re happy with the final product, but additional revisions beyond the scope may incur additional charges.

Question 17

How do you handle changes in scope during a retainer agreement?

Accepted Answer

If your needs change, we’ll revisit the scope and adjust the retainer as needed. I’m flexible and happy to discuss any shifts in strategy or workload. Additional fees may occur when revising the scope

Question 18

How do you handle urgent requests outside the retainer?

Accepted Answer

Urgent requests can be accommodated, but they may incur additional fees if they fall outside the agreed-upon scope of work.

Question 19

Can you help design marketing materials like brochures or flyers under the retainer?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Your retainer can include graphic design for marketing materials like brochures, flyers, posters, and business cards. We can customize your package based on what you need.

Question 20

Can you help with paid social media advertising?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I can manage social media ad campaigns (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) for an additional fee or as part of a premium retainer package.

Question 21

What does your social media management include?

Accepted Answer

Social media management includes content creation, scheduling, engagement (likes, comments, etc.), and analytics reporting. I focus on making sure your brand’s message is clear and consistent across all platforms.

Question 22

Do you provide website maintenance as part of the retainer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, web design retainers can include ongoing maintenance, updates, and improvements to ensure your website stays current, functional, and aligned with your branding.

Question 23

Do you offer SEO services as part of the web design retainer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, basic on-page SEO can be included, such as optimizing your site for keywords, improving site speed, and ensuring mobile responsiveness. More advanced SEO services can be added as needed.

Question 24

How many social media posts will you create per month?

Accepted Answer

The number of posts depends on the retainer package you choose. We’ll discuss your social media needs upfront and create a consistent content calendar that fits your goals.

Question 25

Do you offer analytics and reporting for web and social media?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I provide monthly reports on web performance (traffic, user behavior, etc.) and social media engagement metrics to track progress and adjust strategy as needed.

Question 26

Will you help with email marketing as part of social media management?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I can help design and manage email campaigns alongside social media management to ensure a cohesive marketing strategy across platforms

Question 27

Can I upgrade or downgrade my retainer package?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can upgrade or downgrade your package at any time with a 30-day notice to adjust the workload and services accordingly.

Question 28

Can I cancel the retainer at any time?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately you can not cancel at anytime, however  you can cancel with 30 days written notice. This gives both of us time to wrap up any ongoing projects.

What happens if I need to pause the retainer?
You can pause the retainer if necessary, but I require a notice period of 30 days so that we can properly conclude any ongoing projects or tasks.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MONTHLY RETAINER FAQ