Your Next Client Should Pay You $3,000/Month (Even When You Sleep)
The Retainer Revolution: How to 3X Your Income Without 3X the Work
Hey there, Wealth Builder!
Let’s play spot the difference:
Freelancer A:
- Chases new projects every month
- Makes $5,000 (but works 60 hours/week)
- Always anxious about "what’s next"
Freelancer B:
- Has 3 clients paying $3,000/month each
- Works 25 hours/week
- Takes vacations without income dips
The secret? Retainers aren’t just for agencies. Here’s how any freelancer can make the shift:
💡 The 3-Tier Retainer Ladder
1. The "Gateway" Retainer ($500 − $1,500/month)
1. The "Gateway" Retainer ($500 − $1,500/month)
- What: Small, predictable work
- Example Offers:
- "Content Safety Net" (2 blog posts + edits)
- "Design On-Call" (10 hours of quick fixes)
- Script to Convert Clients:
"Many clients prefer having me ‘on retainer’ for consistent results. Would you like to explore reserving 5 hours/week at a 15% discount?"
2. The "Results" Retainer ($2,000 − $5,000/month)
- What: Outcome-based packages
- Example:
- "SEO Growth Engine" (3 posts + optimizations + traffic reporting)
- "Conversion Boost" (2 landing pages/month + A/B testing)
- Psychological Hack:
- Price below their customer lifetime value
"This typically drives 15K + in annual revenue—your investment is just is just2,400."
3. The "Partner" Retainer ($5,000 − $10,000/month)
- What: Embedded team member
- Example:
- "Fractional CMO" (strategy + execution)
- "Tech Lead Retainer" (systems oversight)
Key: Tie fees to business metrics (revenue, traffic, etc.)
🛠️ Your 7-Day Retainer Upgrade Plan
Day 1: Identify 2 clients getting consistent work
Day 3: Draft a "peace of mind" offer (ex: "Never wait for fixes again")
Day 7: Send this email:
"I’m reserving retainer slots for priority clients. Would you like first access to [specific benefit]?"
👉 Reply "RETAINER" for:
- Done-For-You Proposal Templates
- Price Justification Scripts
- Client Conversion Roadmap
Keep thriving,
The Wealth Blueprint
P.S. The best retainer clients are already working with you. Who’s first on your upgrade list?