Last updated: June 2026 ยท Pricing guide
Retainer formula
A practical retainer starts with expected monthly hours multiplied by your baseline hourly rate, then adds a buffer for priority access, admin, meetings, revisions, and unused availability.
Inputs to decide
- Expected delivery hours per month.
- Number of calls, reports, or deliverables included.
- Response-time expectation.
- Revision limits and out-of-scope rate.
- Minimum commitment period.
Example
If your baseline hourly rate is AED 300 and a client expects 15 hours per month, the raw value is AED 4,500. A healthier retainer may be AED 5,500 to AED 7,000 if it includes priority access and recurring planning.
Calculate your baseline freelance rate