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Advertising and media
Project fee vs retainer
| Criterion | Project fee | Retainer |
|---|---|---|
| Income predictability | Low: each month starts from zero | High: a known monthly fee |
| Ease of selling | Easy: clear scope and price | Harder without a shared track record |
| Scope control | Clear if the scope is written precisely | Needs rules for extra requests |
| Depth of relationship | Short, often tactical | Long-term, part of the client's team |
| Team planning | Workload is hard to forecast | Possible to plan and hire |
| Main risk | Scope creep and gaps in income | Invisible value and routine |
| Best for | New clients and one-off jobs | Ongoing work after a successful project |
| Criterion | Project fee | Retainer |
|---|---|---|
| Income predictability | Low: each month starts from zero | High: a known monthly fee |
| Ease of selling | Easy: clear scope and price | Harder without a shared track record |
| Scope control | Clear if the scope is written precisely | Needs rules for extra requests |
| Depth of relationship | Short, often tactical | Long-term, part of the client's team |
| Team planning | Workload is hard to forecast | Possible to plan and hire |
| Main risk | Scope creep and gaps in income | Invisible value and routine |
| Best for | New clients and one-off jobs | Ongoing work after a successful project |