Retainers or hourly: a worksheet for the first call
Questions to ask before you pick a pricing model, and what each answer points to.
By Nadia Brenner
Pricing
6 min read
Retainers give you predictable income. Hourly gives the client flexibility. The right answer depends on how predictable the work is.
Ask these three questions
Will the work happen every week, or in bursts?
Does the client need a fixed monthly number for its budget?
Who carries the risk if the scope grows?
A hybrid that works
A retainer that covers a set number of hours, with extra hours billed at the contract rate and reported every Friday, keeps both sides honest.
Billing
6 min read
Six minute increments: when rounding is fair and when it is not
Rounding is normal in professional services. The trouble starts when the client finds out from the invoice.
Invoicing
5 min read
What to put on an invoice so it gets paid in 10 days
Most late payments are not about money. They are about an invoice that is hard to approve.
Free for your first client, no card. Bring three years of Harvest or Toggl history across in about ten minutes.