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Monthly Retainer

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Retainer agreement · tuned for monthly retainer

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Monthly Retainer

1. Scope of Services

(a) Services. ("Provider") agrees to perform the following services for ("Client") in accordance with the terms of this Agreement: Provider will make professional services available to the Client each month under this retainer arrangement, performing tasks and delivering outputs within the agreed monthly scope in exchange for the fixed monthly fee. (b) Exclusions. The following items and activities are expressly excluded from the Services and are not covered by the fees set out in this Agreement unless the Parties agree otherwise in a written change order: For the avoidance of doubt, any work not described in subsection (a) above is out of scope. Client may request additional work through the change-order process, and Provider may agree to perform it at additional cost. (c) Assumptions. Provider's scope and pricing are based on the following assumptions: If any assumption proves incorrect or if Client's requirements differ materially from those described, Provider will notify Client promptly and the Parties will agree in writing to any adjustments to scope, timeline, or fees before Provider proceeds with affected work. (d) Standard of Performance. Provider will perform the Services in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with applicable industry standards, using personnel with the skills and qualifications reasonably necessary to perform the work. (e) No Other Obligations. Provider has no obligation to perform services beyond those described in subsection (a). The Parties acknowledge that this Agreement, together with any attached statements of work, constitutes the complete description of Provider's obligations.

2. Payment Terms and Invoicing

(a) Fees. Client agrees to pay ("Provider") the following fees for the Services: (b) Invoicing. Provider will issue invoices in accordance with the fee schedule described in subsection (a). Each invoice will describe the work or milestone to which it relates in reasonable detail. (c) Payment Due Date. Client will pay each invoice within 30 days of the invoice date ("Due Date"). Payments must be made in US dollars unless the Parties agree otherwise in writing. (d) Late Payment Interest. If Client fails to pay any amount by the Due Date, the overdue balance will accrue interest at the rate of 1.5% per month (or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is lower) from the Due Date until paid in full. Interest accrues daily and compounds monthly. (e) Right to Suspend. If any invoice remains unpaid for more than 10 days after its Due Date, Provider may, after giving 10 days' prior written notice to ("Client") and provided the invoice has not been paid during that notice period, suspend all work under this Agreement without liability until all overdue amounts (including accrued interest) are paid in full. Any deadlines, milestones, or delivery dates affected by a suspension will be extended by the duration of the suspension plus a reasonable remobilization period. (f) Disputed Invoices. If Client disputes any portion of an invoice in good faith, Client must (i) pay the undisputed portion by the Due Date and (ii) notify Provider in writing of the disputed amount and the basis for the dispute within 30 days of the invoice date. The Parties will work together in good faith to resolve disputes promptly. (g) Expenses. Unless otherwise stated, fees do not include out-of-pocket expenses. Reasonable pre-approved expenses will be invoiced at cost with supporting documentation.

3. Client Responsibilities and Cooperation

(a) General Cooperation Obligation. Client agrees to: (i) provide timely responses to Provider's reasonable requests for information, decisions, approvals, and clarifications within 5 business days of Provider's request; (ii) designate a primary point of contact with authority to make decisions and provide approvals; (iii) provide Provider with necessary access to environments, systems, credentials, and facilities reasonably required for Provider's performance; and (iv) cooperate with Provider in good faith to facilitate Provider's performance of the Services. (b) Delay Consequences. If Client's failure to fulfill any responsibility or provide required information, access, approvals, or materials causes delay to Provider's performance: (i) the applicable delivery dates and milestones shall be extended by the duration of the delay plus any additional time reasonably required by Provider to resume performance; (ii) Provider may, in its sole discretion, suspend performance until Client cures such failure, provided Provider gives Client 5 business days' prior written notice; and (iii) Client shall pay Provider's additional fees and expenses incurred as a result of the delay, including without limitation standby time at the rate of $ per hour and costs to remobilize resources.

4. Intellectual Property Ownership, Work-for-Hire Designation & Assignment

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP (a) Background IP. Each party retains all right, title, and interest in its Background IP. "Background IP" means all intellectual property owned or licensed by a party prior to the Effective Date or developed independently of this Agreement. Each party grants the other a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use its Background IP solely to the extent necessary to perform or receive the Services during the term of this Agreement. (b) Deliverables — Work-for-Hire Designation. To the extent that any Deliverable constitutes a "work made for hire" as defined in 17 U.S.C. § 101 (including as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, as an instructional text, as a test, as answer material for a test, or as an atlas), such Deliverable is a work made for hire for , and will be the author and owner of the copyright therein from the moment of creation. (c) Assignment. To the extent that any Deliverable does not qualify as a work made for hire, hereby irrevocably assigns to , effective upon receipt of full payment for such Deliverable, all right, title, and interest in and to such Deliverable, including all copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and other intellectual property rights worldwide, in perpetuity. (d) License for Partially-Paid Deliverables. If this Agreement terminates before has paid in full for a Deliverable, grants a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use that Deliverable solely for 's internal purposes until the outstanding balance is paid, at which point the assignment in Section (c) becomes effective. (e) Agency Portfolio License. grants a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to display the Deliverables (excluding any Confidential Information) in 's portfolio, case studies, and marketing materials, unless notifies in writing that a specific Deliverable is subject to confidentiality restrictions. (f) Third-Party Content. will obtain all necessary licenses for third-party content (stock images, fonts, music, software) incorporated into Deliverables, and will disclose to any third-party license restrictions that limit 's use of the Deliverables. (g) Moral Rights. To the extent permitted by applicable law, waives all moral rights in the Deliverables in favor of . (h) Agency Tools & Methodologies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, retains all right, title, and interest in its proprietary tools, templates, methodologies, know-how, and general processes used to create the Deliverables. 's rights are limited to the Deliverables themselves.

5. Confidentiality / Non-Disclosure Obligation

CONFIDENTIALITY (a) Definition. "Confidential Information" means all non-public information disclosed by one party ("Discloser") to the other ("Recipient") in connection with this Agreement that is designated as confidential at the time of disclosure, or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential given the nature of the information and circumstances of disclosure. Without limiting the foregoing, Confidential Information includes: business plans, financial data, pricing, fee structures, customer and prospect lists, proprietary methodologies, software, technical specifications, and personnel information. (b) Exclusions. Confidential Information does not include information that: (i) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of Recipient; (ii) Recipient already knew before receiving it from Discloser, as shown by written records; (iii) Recipient independently develops without use of or reference to the Confidential Information; or (iv) Recipient rightfully receives from a third party without restriction. (c) Obligations. Recipient will: (i) use Discloser's Confidential Information solely to perform or receive the Services under this Agreement; (ii) disclose it only to its employees, contractors, and advisors who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations no less protective than this clause; and (iii) protect it with at least the same degree of care it uses for its own confidential information of similar sensitivity, but in no event less than reasonable care. (d) Compelled Disclosure. Recipient may disclose Confidential Information if required by law, court order, or regulatory authority, provided that Recipient: (i) gives Discloser prompt prior written notice to the extent legally permitted; (ii) cooperates with Discloser in seeking a protective order or other appropriate relief; and (iii) discloses only what is legally required. (e) Trade Secrets. Obligations with respect to information that constitutes a trade secret under applicable law (including the Defend Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1836) will continue for as long as such information remains a trade secret, notwithstanding any shorter survival period stated below. (f) Subcontractors. may share 's Confidential Information with approved subcontractors solely to the extent necessary for them to perform work under this Agreement, provided each subcontractor is bound by written confidentiality obligations at least as protective as this clause. (g) Return or Destruction. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, or upon Discloser's written request, Recipient will promptly return or securely destroy all of Discloser's Confidential Information (including copies) and certify such return or destruction in writing, except as required by law or for legal-hold purposes. (h) Survival. This Section survives termination or expiration of this Agreement for a period of 3 years, except as provided in Section (e).

6. Representations & Warranties (Mutual Authority / Non-Infringement / Compliance)

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES (a) Mutual Representations. Each party represents and warrants to the other, as of the Effective Date and throughout the term of this Agreement, that: (i) Authority. It has the full legal right, power, and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; (ii) No Conflicts. Its execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement do not and will not: (A) violate any applicable law, regulation, or court order; or (B) conflict with or result in a breach of any agreement to which it is a party; (iii) Binding Obligation. This Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms; (iv) No Litigation. As of the Effective Date, there is no pending or, to its knowledge, threatened legal proceeding that would materially impair its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement; and (v) Compliance with Law. It will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in performing its obligations or exercising its rights under this Agreement. (b) Agency Representations. additionally represents and warrants that: (i) Professional Standards. It will perform the Services in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards; (ii) Non-Infringement. The materials, methodologies, and content created by (excluding Client-supplied content) will not, to 's knowledge, infringe or misappropriate any third party's copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other intellectual property right; (iii) Qualifications. It has the skills, experience, and qualifications necessary to perform the Services; and (iv) No Deceptive Practices. It will not engage in deceptive, unfair, or fraudulent practices in connection with the Services, including practices that violate the FTC Act or any analogous consumer-protection law. (c) Client Representations. additionally represents and warrants that: (i) Content Accuracy. All product descriptions, claims, pricing information, testimonials, and other materials supplied by to for publication or promotion are, to 's knowledge, truthful, accurate, and not misleading, and are substantiated by competent and reliable evidence where required by applicable law; (ii) Ownership and Licenses. owns or has obtained all necessary rights, licenses, and permissions for all content, assets, images, trademarks, and data that provides to for use in the Services, and 's provision of such materials to does not violate any third party's intellectual property rights; (iii) Regulatory Compliance. 's products, services, and business practices comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and is not aware of any pending or threatened regulatory investigation or enforcement action that would affect the permissibility of the Services; (iv) Account Authority. has or will obtain all necessary rights, consents, and authorities to grant access to 's systems, accounts, and platforms required to perform the Services; and (v) No Restricted Industry Violations. 's products and services do not violate the applicable policies of the platforms on which the Services will be performed. (d) Disclaimer. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED IN THIS SECTION, NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. DOES NOT WARRANT SPECIFIC BUSINESS OUTCOMES, REVENUE RESULTS, OR OTHER SPECIFIC RESULTS OR OUTCOMES FROM THE SERVICES.

7. Warranties (Express and Disclaimer)

WARRANTIES 1. Express Warranties — Provider. Provider warrants that: (a) Authority and Right to Contract. Provider has the full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid, and binding obligation of Provider, enforceable against Provider in accordance with its terms. (b) Professional Workmanship. The Services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner, consistent with generally accepted industry standards for similar services, by personnel with the requisite skill, experience, and qualifications. (c) Compliance with Laws. Provider's performance of the Services and Provider's provision of any Deliverables will comply in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations in effect as of the date of performance or delivery. (d) No Conflicting Obligations. Provider's execution of this Agreement and performance of its obligations hereunder do not and will not conflict with, violate, or result in a breach of any other agreement to which Provider is a party or by which Provider is bound. 2. Express Warranties — Client. Client warrants that: (a) Authority and Right to Contract. Client has the full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid, and binding obligation of Client, enforceable against Client in accordance with its terms. (b) Ownership of Client Materials. Client owns or has sufficient rights to provide to Provider all data, content, materials, credentials, and other information furnished by Client to Provider for use in performing the Services ("Client Materials"), and Provider's use of Client Materials as authorized under this Agreement will not infringe or misappropriate any third party's intellectual property or other proprietary rights. (c) Compliance with Laws. Client's use of the Services and any Deliverables will comply in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations. 3. Warranty Period and Remedy. The warranties in Sections 1(b) and 1(c) are effective as of the date of delivery or performance and continue for 90 days thereafter (the "Warranty Period"). Client must provide written notice of any breach of warranty within the Warranty Period, specifying the nature of the breach in reasonable detail. Provider's sole obligation, and Client's sole remedy, for breach of the warranties in Sections 1(b) and 1(c) is for Provider to re-perform the non-conforming Services or correct the non-conforming Deliverables at no additional charge to Client. If Provider is unable to re-perform or correct the non-conforming Services or Deliverables within 10 days after receipt of Client's written notice, Client may terminate the applicable Statement of Work and receive a refund of fees paid for the non-conforming Services or Deliverables, less any value received by Client from conforming portions of the Services or Deliverables. 4. Disclaimer of Implied Warranties. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION, PROVIDER MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. PROVIDER DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES OR DELIVERABLES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR COMPLETELY SECURE, OR THAT ALL ERRORS OR DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED. PROVIDER DOES NOT WARRANT ANY RESULTS, OUTCOMES, OR BENEFITS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM USE OF THE SERVICES OR DELIVERABLES. 5. Third-Party Products and Services. Provider disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to any third-party software, hardware, platforms, APIs, or services incorporated into or used in connection with the Services or Deliverables, except to the extent Provider has the right to pass through any warranty provided by the third-party vendor. Provider's sole obligation with respect to third-party products and services is to use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with Client in pursuing any warranty claims available from the applicable third-party vendor. 6. Limitation on Warranty Claims. The warranties in this Section are made solely for the benefit of Client and may not be assigned or transferred to any third party without Provider's prior written consent. No warranty extends beyond the Warranty Period. Client's failure to provide timely written notice of a warranty breach within the Warranty Period constitutes a waiver of any claim relating to that breach. 7. No Warranty for Client Modifications. The warranties in Sections 1(b) and 1(c) do not apply to, and Provider has no liability for, any defect, error, or non-conformity arising out of or related to: (a) modifications to the Services or Deliverables made by Client or any third party other than Provider; (b) Client's failure to implement updates, patches, or fixes provided by Provider; (c) use of the Services or Deliverables in a manner inconsistent with Provider's instructions or Documentation; (d) Client's combination or integration of the Services or Deliverables with any third-party product, service, or data not approved in writing by Provider; or (e) any breach of Client's obligations or warranties under this Agreement.

8. Limitation of Liability & Consequential Damages Exclusion

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY (a) Exclusion of Consequential Damages. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, neither party will be liable to the other for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages — including lost profits, lost revenue, loss of business opportunity, loss of data, or harm to reputation — arising out of or related to this Agreement, even if the party has been advised of the possibility of such damages and even if a limited remedy fails of its essential purpose. (b) Aggregate Cap. Each party's total aggregate liability to the other arising out of or related to this Agreement — whether in contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or otherwise — will not exceed the total fees actually paid or payable by to during the -month period immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or , whichever is greater. (c) Exceptions. The limitations in Sections (a) and (b) do not apply to: (i) a party's obligation to indemnify the other for third-party claims of intellectual property infringement under the Mutual Indemnification clause; (ii) liability arising from a party's gross negligence or willful misconduct; (iii) a party's obligations under the Data Protection and Confidentiality clauses with respect to a data breach caused by that party's failure to maintain reasonable security; or (iv) a party's obligation to pay amounts owed under this Agreement. (d) Basis of the Bargain. Each party acknowledges that the limitations in this Section reflect a reasonable allocation of risk, are an essential element of the basis of the bargain between the parties, and that would not have entered into this Agreement without these limitations.

9. Mutual Indemnification

MUTUAL INDEMNIFICATION (a) Agency Indemnification. will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless and its officers, directors, employees, and agents ("Client Indemnitees") from and against any third-party claims, suits, proceedings, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) ("Losses") arising out of or related to: (i) any material breach by of its representations, warranties, or obligations under this Agreement; (ii) 's infringement of a third party's intellectual property rights through materials created solely by and not based on Client-supplied content; (iii) 's violation of applicable law in performing the Services; or (iv) 's gross negligence or willful misconduct. (b) Client Indemnification. will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless and its officers, directors, employees, subcontractors, and agents ("Agency Indemnitees") from and against any Losses arising out of or related to: (i) any material breach by of its representations, warranties, or obligations under this Agreement; (ii) Client-supplied materials, content, product claims, pricing information, images, or data that infringe a third party's intellectual property rights or constitute false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims under applicable law; (iii) 's violation of applicable law; or (iv) 's gross negligence or willful misconduct. (c) Indemnification Procedure. The indemnified party will: (i) promptly notify the indemnifying party in writing of any claim for which indemnification is sought (provided that delay in notice reduces the indemnification obligation only to the extent the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by the delay); (ii) give the indemnifying party sole control of the defense and settlement of the claim, provided that no settlement that imposes any obligation, restriction, or liability on the indemnified party may be entered without the indemnified party's prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld; and (iii) provide reasonable cooperation and assistance at the indemnifying party's expense. (d) Interaction with Liability Cap. The indemnification obligations in this Section are subject to the aggregate liability cap set forth in the Limitation of Liability clause, except for claims arising from a party's gross negligence or willful misconduct, which are not subject to that cap.

10. Subcontractor / Approved Vendor Flow-Down

SUBCONTRACTORS (a) Right to Subcontract. may engage subcontractors and independent contractors ("Subcontractors") to assist in performing the Services, provided that remains responsible for the quality and timely delivery of all work performed by its Subcontractors and for any breach of this Agreement caused by a Subcontractor. (b) Approval for Platform Access. will not permit any Subcontractor to access 's software platforms, systems, accounts, or other third-party platform credentials without 's prior written approval (which may be given by email and will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). (c) Flow-Down Obligations. will, by written agreement with each Subcontractor, impose obligations on the Subcontractor that are at least as protective as those set forth in this Agreement with respect to: (i) Confidentiality — protecting 's Confidential Information to the same standard as required of ; (ii) Intellectual property — assigning to (for flow-through assignment to ) all work product and intellectual property created by the Subcontractor as part of the Services; (iii) Data protection — handling personal data in accordance with applicable privacy laws and the data-protection obligations in this Agreement, to the extent the Subcontractor processes personal data; (iv) Non-disclosure — prohibiting the Subcontractor from using 's Confidential Information or work product for any purpose other than performing the Services under this Agreement; and (v) Return of materials — returning or destroying 's Confidential Information and credentials upon completion of the subcontracted work or upon request. (d) No Additional Cost. Unless otherwise agreed, 's use of Subcontractors does not entitle it to charge additional fees beyond those stated in this Agreement. (e) Client Veto. If reasonably objects in writing to a specific Subcontractor (for example, due to a documented conflict of interest or security concern), will use commercially reasonable efforts to replace that Subcontractor within 15 business days without disrupting the Services. (f) Agency Liability. is liable to for the acts and omissions of its Subcontractors to the same extent as if had performed the relevant work itself.

11. Termination

(a) Termination for Material Breach. Either Party may terminate this Agreement upon written notice if the other Party commits a material breach of this Agreement and fails to cure that breach within 10 days after receiving written notice that specifically describes the breach and demands cure ("Cure Period"). If the breaching Party cures the breach within the Cure Period, the Agreement will continue in full force. Termination under this subsection does not limit any other remedy available to the non-breaching Party. (b) Termination for Convenience. Either Party may terminate this Agreement without cause by providing the other Party with at least 14 days' prior written notice. During the notice period, ("Provider") will continue to perform the Services and ("Client") will continue to pay for Services rendered, unless the Parties agree in writing to wind down work sooner. (c) Payment for Work Performed. Upon any termination of this Agreement, Client will pay Provider, within 30 days after the effective termination date, all fees and approved expenses for work performed and costs incurred through the termination date that have not yet been invoiced or paid. Provider will submit a final invoice within 10 days after the termination date. For fixed-price engagements, payment will be prorated based on the proportion of work completed relative to the total scope. (d) Return of Materials. Each Party will, promptly after termination, return or securely destroy the other Party's confidential information and materials in its possession, and will certify such return or destruction in writing upon request. (e) Survival. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination — including payment obligations, confidentiality, intellectual property ownership, limitation of liability, and governing law — will survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

12. Dispute Resolution — Escalation Ladder (Negotiation → Mediation → Arbitration/Litigation)

DISPUTE RESOLUTION (a) Good-Faith Negotiation. Before initiating any formal dispute proceeding, the parties will attempt to resolve any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement ("Dispute") through good-faith negotiation. Either party may initiate this step by delivering written notice to the other describing the Dispute in reasonable detail ("Dispute Notice"). Senior representatives of each party with authority to resolve the Dispute will meet (in person, by phone, or by videoconference) within 10 business days of the Dispute Notice and attempt to resolve the matter in good faith for a period of 30 business days from the date of the Dispute Notice (or longer, if agreed in writing). (b) Mediation. If the Dispute is not resolved through negotiation within the timeframe in Section (a), either party may submit it to non-binding mediation administered by (or, if the parties cannot agree on a provider, by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Mediation Procedures). The mediation will take place in , . The parties will share mediator fees equally. Each party will bear its own legal fees for the mediation. (c) Binding Arbitration. If the Dispute is not resolved through mediation within 60 days after the appointment of the mediator, either party may demand binding arbitration. Arbitration will be administered by under its then-current , before a single arbitrator. The arbitration will take place in , . The arbitrator's decision will be final and binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties agree that the arbitration — including its existence, proceedings, and any award — is confidential. (d) Exceptions to Arbitration. Either party may seek emergency injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction without first completing the negotiation or mediation steps, to prevent irreparable harm — including to protect Confidential Information or intellectual property — pending the outcome of arbitration. (e) Small Claims. Either party may bring a Dispute in small claims court if the amount in controversy falls within that court's jurisdictional limit. (f) Class Action Waiver. Each party waives any right to bring or participate in any class action, class arbitration, or representative proceeding relating to this Agreement. (g) Governing Law for Arbitration. The arbitration will be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §§ 1–16) and, where not preempted, by the laws of .

13. Governing Law, Jurisdiction & Venue

GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; VENUE (a) Governing Law. This Agreement and any dispute arising out of or related to it — including its formation, interpretation, performance, breach, or termination — will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions. (b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in County, for any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement that is not subject to arbitration under the Dispute Resolution clause (if any). (c) Venue. Each party waives any objection to the laying of venue in the courts identified in Section (b), and waives any claim that such courts are an inconvenient forum. (d) Service of Process. Service of process in any such action may be made by any method authorized by the applicable court rules or by mailing a copy of the summons and complaint by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the party's address set forth in this Agreement. (e) Prevailing Party. In any dispute arising under this Agreement, the prevailing party is entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs from the non-prevailing party, unless the parties have agreed to a different allocation in the Dispute Resolution clause.

14. Assignment

14.1 General Restriction. Neither Party may assign, delegate, or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, without the other Party's prior written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. 14.2 M&A Exception. Notwithstanding Section 14.1, either Party may assign this Agreement without consent in connection with a merger, acquisition, change of control, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets to which this Agreement relates, provided that: (a) the assignee assumes all obligations of the assigning Party under this Agreement; and (b) the assigning Party provides the other Party written notice within thirty (30) days of the assignment. 14.3 Void Assignment. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section is void. 14.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the Parties and their permitted successors and assigns.

15. Notices

15.1 Form. All notices, requests, demands, consents, and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement ("Notices") must be in writing. 15.2 Delivery Methods. Notices may be delivered by: (a) personal delivery; (b) nationally recognized overnight courier (e.g., FedEx, UPS); (c) certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (d) email to the address specified below, provided that the sender retains proof of transmission and does not receive an automated bounce or delivery-failure notification within twenty-four (24) hours. 15.3 Effectiveness. Notices are effective: (a) upon personal delivery; (b) one (1) business day after deposit with overnight courier; (c) three (3) business days after deposit in the mail; or (d) on the day of email transmission if sent by 5:00 PM recipient's local time on a business day, or on the next business day if sent after 5:00 PM or on a non-business day. 15.4 Addresses. To Provider: , , Email: To Customer: , , Email: Either Party may change its notice address by providing written notice to the other in accordance with this Section.

16. Amendments & Waiver

16.1 Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except by a written instrument signed by authorized representatives of both Parties. 16.2 No Waiver. No failure or delay by either Party in exercising any right, remedy, power, or privilege under this Agreement operates as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power, or privilege precludes any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power, or privilege. 16.3 Written Waivers Only. Any waiver of a provision of this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the waiving Party to be effective. A written waiver of any particular breach or right is effective only for the specific instance and purpose for which it was given.

17. Entire Agreement (Integration)

17.1 Integration. This Agreement, together with all SOWs, Change Orders, and exhibits executed hereunder, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, negotiations, representations, warranties, and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the same subject matter. 17.2 No Oral Modifications. No oral statement, prior course of dealing, trade usage, or conduct will be used to supplement, interpret, or contradict the written terms of this Agreement. 17.3 Purchase Orders. Any terms set forth in Customer's purchase orders, vendor registration forms, or similar documents are of no force or effect and do not modify this Agreement unless expressly incorporated into a signed SOW or Change Order. 17.4 Results Representations. Customer acknowledges that no employee, agent, or representative of Provider has authority to guarantee specific results or outcomes, and that any such representation made outside this Agreement is not binding on Provider.

18. Severability

If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable under applicable law, that provision will be: (a) modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal, and enforceable while preserving the Parties' original intent; or (b) if modification is not possible, severed from this Agreement. The validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired. The Parties agree to negotiate in good faith a replacement provision that, to the greatest extent possible, achieves the intended commercial purpose of the severed provision.

19. Electronic Signature & Counterparts

19.1 Electronic Signatures. This Agreement and any SOW or amendment may be signed by electronic signature, including signatures created through or any other electronic signature service compliant with the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN Act), 15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq., and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) as enacted in the applicable jurisdiction. Electronic signatures have the same legal effect as original handwritten signatures. 19.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart by electronic transmission (including PDF or electronic signature platform delivery) is equally effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart.

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Built for Recurring Engagements, Not One-Off Project Contracts

A standard project contract was not designed for ongoing work. Retainer arrangements have their own moving parts: recurring deliverables or hour banks, a monthly fee, a rollover rule for unused scope, and a clean way to exit with reasonable notice. Hacking a project template into that shape creates gaps. The ContractMaker retainer template accounts for all of it from the start.

Enter your monthly scope, fee, billing date, and 30-day notice clause. ContractMaker outputs a clean, professional retainer document with both party names in every relevant clause, ready to drop into your client onboarding or send directly for signature.

What Your Monthly Retainer Agreement Covers

Every field in the generator maps to a clause your client needs to read and sign.

  • Provider and client names, business addresses, and effective date
  • Monthly scope: recurring deliverables, services, or hours included each period
  • Monthly fee, billing date, and accepted payment method
  • Rollover rule stating what happens to unused scope at month end
  • Month-to-month term with 30-day written notice to terminate
  • Governing law for the jurisdiction both parties operate in
  • Signature block for provider and client

See your document before you send it

Fill the fields on the left and the full agreement builds on the right in real time. Read every clause, change any answer, and download a clean PDF when it looks right.

Customize any clause without legal training

A vetted base template handles the structure, so you are never starting from a blank page.

Change the scope, the payment schedule, or the terms by editing plain fields, not legalese.

The tool fills deterministic blanks and never invents clauses, so the document stays sound.

  • Plain-language fields instead of legal jargon
  • Deposit, milestone, or net-30 payment terms
  • Add scope, deliverables, and revision limits
  • Set who owns the work once it is paid for

One tool for every client document you send

ContractMaker covers the documents independent professionals send most:

  • Service agreements and freelance contracts
  • Project proposals and statements of work
  • Retainer agreements for ongoing work
  • Mutual NDAs and confidentiality terms
  • Change orders and deposit terms
  • Model, talent, and property releases

A document tool, not a law firm

Good client paperwork should not need a lawyer on call or an hour of your day.

ContractMaker gives you a clean, vetted document in about 90 seconds, built for the work you actually do.

Every document saved and ready to reuseComing soon

Nothing you create gets lost, since each document is saved to your account.

Reopen a past agreement, duplicate it for a new client, and change only what is different.

Your business details and favorite clauses are remembered for next time.

  • A library of every contract and proposal you make *
  • Duplicate and reuse in seconds for the next client *
  • Saved business profile and reusable clause libraries *
  • Branded documents with your name and logo

* In development, coming soon. Today you can fill the form and download your document.

Send, sign, and store in one placeComing soon

Take the document from draft to signed without leaving ContractMaker:

  • Download a clean PDF or copy the text
  • Collect a legally binding e-signature online *
  • Track when a client opens and signs *
  • Keep every signed copy in one client portal *

* In development, coming soon. Today you can download a clean PDF or copy the text.

Your next contract is one form away

Stop rewriting the same agreement for every client. Fill a few fields, download a polished document, and send it today. Free to start, no signup required.

Create yours free

Frequently asked questions

Is a monthly retainer agreement legally binding?

Once both parties sign, a clear written retainer agreement is generally enforceable as a contract. ContractMaker is a document tool, not legal advice. For high-value or long-term retainers, have a lawyer review the final document before sending it.

What happens if my client wants to cancel mid-month?

The retainer template includes a 30-day written notice clause. If your client cancels without the required notice, the document gives you a clear basis for collecting the final month's fee. You can adjust the notice period in the generator fields before downloading.

Is the document ready to send?

Yes. You get a clean, formatted document you can download, print, and send right away. No watermark, no signup.

Do I need a lawyer?

ContractMaker is a document tool, not legal advice. The base templates are vetted and openly licensed, but for high-stakes or unusual situations you should have a lawyer review your final document.

Is it really free?

Yes. Every document is free to generate and download, with no watermark and no signup. Fill the fields, download the file, and send it.

Can I edit the wording?

You control every field, so the scope, payment terms, and clauses always match how you work.