Free retainer agreement template for freelancers (Word)

RETAINER AGREEMENT

This Retainer Agreement is made on [Effective date] between [Provider name], [Provider address] (the "Provider"), and [Client name], [Client address] (the "Client").

1. Services

Each month the Provider will be available to provide the following services (the "Services"):

Work outside the Services, such as new projects, will be quoted separately before it starts.

2. Retainer fee

The Client will pay a monthly retainer of [Monthly fee], which covers up to [Included hours] hours of work each month. The retainer is invoiced at the start of each month, in advance, and is payable within [Payment days] days.

Unused hours carry over to the following month only, and then expire.Unused hours do not carry over to the following month. Extra hours are charged at [Overage rate] per hour and need the Client's approval before the work starts.

The Provider may pause work while an invoice is more than [Suspension days] days overdue. Overdue invoices carry interest at [Interest rate] per year from the due date until paid.

The Provider may change the retainer fee once a year by giving [Fee notice days] days' written notice.

3. Availability

The Provider will reply to requests within [Response hours] business hours and aims to complete routine requests within [Turnaround days] business days. The Provider will send a short monthly report of the work done and the hours used.

4. Term

This Agreement starts on [Start date] and runs for a minimum of [Minimum term months] months. After that, eitherEither party may end it with [Notice days] days' written notice. The retainer for the notice period remains payable.

5. Ownership

Work the Provider creates for the Client belongs to the Client once it has been paid for. The Provider keeps its own tools, methods and pre-existing materials, and grants the Client a licence to use any that are part of the work. The Provider may show the work in its portfolio once it is public.

6. Confidentiality

Each party will keep the other's non-public information confidential, during this Agreement and for [Confidentiality years] years afterwards.

7. Independent contractor

The Provider is an independent business, not an employee of the Client, and is responsible for its own taxes, equipment and insurance. The Provider may work for other clients.

8. Governing law

This Agreement is governed by the laws of [Governing law].

[Provider name]: ____________________________

[Client name]: ____________________________