How Pricing Works
Support retainer pricing is a fixed monthly fee for a defined allocation of development time. You get a predictable cost each month, and that time is used for whatever your system needs: new features, bug fixes, integrations, performance improvements, security updates, or system changes as your business evolves.
Retainers run on a fixed monthly fee agreed upfront, not hourly billing dressed up differently. You know what you are paying before the month starts, and we report on what was delivered at the end.
What Is Included
Every retainer tier includes:
- Development time: a set monthly allocation used for feature work, fixes, integrations, and improvements
- Priority access: your work is prioritised over ad-hoc requests from non-retainer clients
- Maintenance and security: dependency updates, framework patches, and security monitoring are included, not charged as extras
- Direct communication: a dedicated channel to the team working on your system, with same-day response for urgent issues
- Monthly reporting: a summary of what was delivered, what is coming next, and any risks or recommendations
- Rollover flexibility: if you do not use your full allocation one month, we can flex it into the next (within reason)
What Affects the Price
Retainer pricing is based on the level of ongoing development your system needs. The main variables:
- Monthly hours: more development capacity costs more. We offer retainers at several tiers to match different levels of ongoing demand.
- System complexity: systems with more integrations, more users, and more moving parts typically need more maintenance and support time.
- Number of systems: if you have multiple systems we maintain, a higher tier may be appropriate.
There is no minimum term. Retainers run month to month. Most clients stay for years because the value compounds. You can stop any time.
What Is Not Included
- Major new builds: if you need a significant new system built from scratch, that is scoped as a project engagement. Retainers are for ongoing evolution of existing systems, not greenfield development.
- Third-party costs: hosting, API subscriptions, and platform fees are your responsibility.
- Emergency out-of-hours work: same-day response is included during business hours. Genuinely urgent out-of-hours work can be accommodated but may incur additional charges.
Next Steps
The best way to determine the right retainer tier is to talk through what your system needs on an ongoing basis. We will recommend a tier based on the complexity of your system and the volume of changes you anticipate. For context on the broader support retainers service or the range of services we offer, those pages cover the full picture. The pricing overview also explains how retainers fit alongside project work.
Start a Retainer
Get in touch to discuss your system’s ongoing needs. We will recommend a tier and start with a month-to-month commitment with no long-term lock-in.
