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Retainer Calculator

Price a monthly retainer in seconds. Enter the hours you'll reserve, your rate, and an optional commitment discount — and see the monthly price, your effective hourly rate, and the annual value of the contract.

A small discount rewards the client for committing — just keep your effective rate above your floor.

Monthly retainer

$2,700

Effective hourly rate
$135
Undiscounted value
$3,000
Annual value
$32,400

Bill retainers on autopilot.

Tillage turns a retainer into a recurring invoice that sends itself every month — set it once and get paid on schedule.

Try Tillage free

Why retainers beat one-off projects

Retainers turn unpredictable project income into recurring, forecastable revenue. Price one off your true hourly rate, confirm the margin holds after the discount, then automate the billing. Tillage turns a retainer into a recurring invoice that sends itself every month.

Retainer FAQ

Common questions about retainers

How to price, discount, and bill a monthly retainer.

Put your retainers on autopilot

Tillage sends recurring retainer invoices automatically every month, so you get paid on schedule. Start free — no credit card required.