Why We Love Retainers

“We've been working with Storetasker for a really long time. Our expert’s been amazing and has become a real part of the team. Having somebody to go to when a problem pops up is a massive help.”
— Founder, Great Wrap

Overview

Retainers are one of the most effective ways for Storetasker freelancers ("members") to build long-term client relationships while creating predictable, reliable income.

This article explains:

Why retainers benefit both clients and members
How to position retainers with clients
What retainers typically look like on Storetasker
How retainer payments, start dates, and payouts work on the platform

This guide is designed to be clear, practical, and easy to reference.

Why Retainers Work (For Members and Clients)

Over time, we’ve seen that retainers consistently create better outcomes for everyone involved.

For members, retainers:

Provide predictable, recurring income
Make it easier to plan your workload and availability
Reduce time spent chasing new one-off projects
Enable deeper, longer-term client relationships

For clients, retainers:

Guarantee access to a trusted expert
Provide continuity and context (you already know their business)
Allow steady progress on a roadmap instead of reactive fixes
Feel like adding a team member without the overhead of hiring

Why Clients Often Start with Small Projects

Many new leads initially submit what looks like a one-off request (e.g., a bug fix or small feature).

This doesn’t usually mean they only need one thing done.

Most clients:

Already have a roadmap
Want to test working together first
Prefer to start with a low-risk project before committing long-term

Completing an initial project successfully builds trust. Once trust is established, many clients are open—and eager—to move to a retainer model.

Positioning Yourself as a Long-Term Partner

From the first interaction, your goal is to be seen as a partner, not just a one-time contractor.

One-time contractor mindset:

Delivers exactly what’s asked
Transactional communication
Relationship ends when the task is done

Partner mindset:

Treats the client’s business like their own
Anticipates needs and offers guidance
Thinks in terms of months and quarters, not tasks

Best Practice: Get on a Call

A short call early on helps:

Build trust faster
Clarify the client’s broader goals
Understand their roadmap

A simple question like:

“If you’re comfortable sharing, how does this fit into your broader roadmap or goals for the quarter?”

The answers often become the foundation for a retainer.

You can introduce the idea of a retainer:

On the initial call
During an early project
Toward the end of a successful one-off engagement

How to Explain Retainers to Clients

When proposing a retainer, emphasize the value to the client:

You set aside dedicated time for them
They can rely on your ongoing availability
You proactively work through their roadmap
They avoid repeatedly searching for new freelancers

Retainers are about consistency, trust, and momentum.

What Retainers Look Like on Storetasker

Retainers can be structured weekly or monthly, depending on your role and the client’s needs.

Common formats include:

A fixed number of hours per week or month
A defined set of ongoing services or deliverables
A combination of hours + scope description

Examples

E-commerce manager: 20 hours per week covering store operations and optimization
Marketer: Monthly email campaigns and flow optimization
Developer: Weekly hours allocated to a development roadmap (often linked to Asana, Notion, or a spreadsheet)

Tip: Retainers are often priced at a slightly discounted rate compared to one-off work.

If your retainer includes a fixed number of hours, align with the client upfront on:

What happens if you exceed the hours (e.g., separate one-off quote)
Whether unused hours roll over (typically they do not)

How Retainer Start Dates & Payments Work

This is a common point of confusion, so here’s the key rule:

The retainer start date is the date the client accepts and pays for the quote.

Members do not manually set the start date
The act of client acceptance + payment triggers the retainer
Payment is collected before work officially begins

Example

Client accepts your retainer quote on February 15
Client is billed in full on February 15
The retainer renews and bills again on March 15

This ensures you never begin retainer work without payment in place.

How Retainer Payouts Work (Important)

Retainers on Storetasker function as subscriptions.

That means:

They act like bills rather than milestone-based projects
Funds are released to the member immediately when the client pays

Additional notes:

Subscription payments can only be made by credit card
PayPal and invoice payments are not supported for subscriptions

This setup provides faster, more predictable payouts for members.

Real Retainer Examples

Below are examples of real retainers that have been successfully accepted on the platform.

Example 1 – Development Retainer

$10,000 / month

In-Scope Items:

Development
Consulting
Internal research
Planning
Documentation
Communications

Terms:

80-hour monthly retainer
Hours do not roll over
Monthly time allocation report provided
Out-of-scope work billed at $135/hour with prior approval
Overages billed separately
Auto-renews monthly
30-day written notice required to cancel

Example 2 – Shopify Custom Development Retainer

$7,500 / month

Deliverables:

Up to 60 hours per month (capped at 15 hours/week)

Services:

Shopify IT consulting
Theme customizations
Small ongoing tweaks

Notes:

Work is discussed and approved before starting
Hours are reserved in advance and do not roll over
Additional work requires a separate quote
Retainer does not cover third-party tools or subscriptions

Example 3 – Email Marketing Retainer

$4,500 / month

Monthly Services:

2 weekly mini-campaigns
Flow reviews and updates
Email events (launches, early access, giveaways)
Zoom consultations
Ad hoc Shopify tweaks