Retainer or hourly: which costs you less?
This uses only the prices on my pricing page. Sometimes hourly comes out cheaper, and if it does, the calculator will say so.
Your best guess. Calls, working sessions and the work itself all count. Between 1 and 60.
Between 1 and 12.
For 10 hours a month over 3 months
Hourly
$6,300
10 h × $210 × 3 months
Working Partner retainer
$10,200
$3,400/month × 3 months
At 10 hours a month, the retainer works out to $340 an hour.
Hourly costs $3,900 less. At this level, that's the sensible choice, and there's nothing wrong with it.
show when the covering tier is Working Partner or Fractional CMO and (lower tier price + (hours − lower cap) × 185) is less than the covering tier's price. For example, 10 hours gives Sounding Board + 2 × $185 = $2,020 against Working Partner at $3,400.
The retainer includes things hourly doesn't: calls on a fixed schedule, a set reply time, a month-one deliverable and a monthly report. Hourly is prepaid, with a 1-hour minimum.
Unused retainer hours: up to 25% roll into the next month only, then lapse.
Prices in CAD, before applicable taxes.
Want to check the estimate against your actual month?
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