Free calculator
What should each retainer client pay?
Work out the monthly retainer that covers your income target — and what happens when you add clients.
The formula
Retainer per client = (income target + business expenses) ÷ number of clients · Implied hourly rate = retainer ÷ hours per client
Worked example
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly income you want to take home | $8,000.00 |
| Monthly business expenses | $1,500.00 |
| Number of retainer clients | $4.00 |
| Hours you commit per client per month | $20.00 |
| Output | Value |
|---|---|
| Total you must cover | $9,500.00 |
| Implied hourly rate | $118.75/h |
| Hours committed per month | 80 |
| If you had 3 clients | $3,166.67 each |
| If you had 6 clients | $1,583.33 each |
| If you had 10 clients | $950.00 each |
Things worth knowing
- If the implied hourly rate is below your hourly rate calculator result, the retainer is priced wrong — not the client.
- Fewer clients means a higher price each, and more exposure if one leaves. Four is usually the stability point for a solo business.
Related
These are arithmetic tools, not financial advice. Currency symbols are for display only — the maths is currency-agnostic. Last reviewed: 2026-10-27.