Guide
How to Sign a Retainer Agreement Online
Retainer agreements secure ongoing access to professional services for a fixed monthly fee.
Steps
- 1
Draft retainer terms with hours and rate
- 2
Send to client for signature
- 3
Client signs to confirm the retainer
- 4
Both parties receive signed agreement
- 5
Clear terms for ongoing service relationship
Try it with curl
curl -X POST https://signb.ee/api/send \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"content": "# Your Document\n\nContent here...",
"senderName": "Your Name",
"senderEmail": "you@email.com",
"recipientName": "Recipient",
"recipientEmail": "recipient@email.com"
}'Legal validity
Electronic signatures are legally binding under the ESIGN Act (US), eIDAS Regulation (EU), and Electronic Communications Act (UK). Every Signbee document includes a SHA-256 tamper-proof certificate.
More details
Retainer agreements are the foundation of predictable revenue for agencies, law firms, consultancies, and freelancers. Instead of project-by-project billing, a retainer locks in a monthly commitment — giving the provider stable income and the client guaranteed availability.
Types of retainer structures: - Hours-based: Client pays for X hours per month (unused hours may roll over or expire) - Fee-based: Fixed monthly fee for defined services (regardless of hours) - Hybrid: Base retainer fee plus hourly rate for work beyond the included scope - Access retainer: Client pays for priority access and availability, billed separately for actual work
What to include in a retainer agreement: - Monthly retainer fee and payment schedule - Included services and scope (be specific to avoid scope creep) - Hours included and overage rate - Rollover policy for unused hours - Minimum commitment period (3-12 months typical) - Cancellation terms and notice period (30-90 days) - Payment method and late payment penalties - Communication expectations (response times, meeting frequency)
For agencies managing multiple retainer clients: use the API to generate and send retainer agreements automatically when new clients complete onboarding. Include auto-renewal clauses so clients sign once and the retainer continues until cancelled.
Frequently asked questions
What's a typical retainer period?
Most retainer agreements run for 3-12 months with auto-renewal. Shorter periods (monthly) give clients flexibility but reduce revenue predictability. A 6-month minimum with 30-day cancellation notice is a common middle ground.
Should unused retainer hours roll over?
It depends on your business model. Rolling over hours is client-friendly but can create service spikes. Many providers cap rollover at 50% of monthly hours for one month.
Related resources
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