When to Hire a Retainer vs Project Agency

One of the most common questions we get from prospective clients is whether they should engage us on a project basis or sign up for a monthly retainer. The honest answer depends on your stage and needs. If you have a specific, time-bound goal — like launching a product or running a seasonal campaign — a project engagement is usually the right fit. But if you need consistent output, ongoing strategy, and a team that understands your brand deeply over time, a retainer pays for itself many times over. Retainers also give you priority access to our team and lower per-hour rates. As a rule of thumb, once you are spending more than 15 hours a month with us on projects, a retainer is probably cheaper.