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Monthly Design Retainer

Your brand, handled.

A monthly design retainer gives you dedicated creative support without the overhead of hiring in-house. Your designer knows your brand, your standards, and your business. Every project moves faster because you're not starting from scratch with someone new each time.

Consistent creative support for growing businesses.

Retainers are ideal for brands needing regular design work each month. Whether you require pitch decks, brochures, social content, presentations, or marketing campaigns, a retainer offers dependable support and flexibility as your business evolves.

Essential

20 Hours/Month

  • Solo entrepreneurs or small teams (1-3 people) who need:

    • 8-12 social graphics per month

    • 2-3 email campaigns or newsletters

    • Occasional presentation updates

    • Small collateral refreshes

    Example clients: Real estate agents, coaches, consultants, small studios

    • Reserved monthly hours

    • Approx. 5 hours/week of dedicated support

    • Priority turnaround

    • Monthly creative check-in

    • Access to your client portal

    • Transparent hour reporting

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Growth

30 Hours/Month

  • Growing teams (4-10 people) who need:

    • Weekly content batches (12-16 graphics/month)

    • Monthly campaign materials

    • Regular presentation decks

    • Print collateral for events/launches

    Example clients: Real estate teams, boutique agencies, wellness centers, professional services firms

    • Reserved monthly hours

    • Approx. 7.5 hours/week of ongoing design

    • Priority turnaround

    • Monthly creative check-in

    • Access to your client portal

    • Transparent hour reporting

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Premium

40 Hours/Month

  • Established businesses (10+ people) who need:

    • Daily/weekly design support

    • Multi-channel campaigns

    • High-volume property/project marketing

    • Near-immediate turnaround

    Example clients: Large brokerages, growing agencies, hospitality groups, enterprise service providers

    • Reserved monthly hours

    • Approx. 10 hours/week of dedicated creative partnership

    • VIP priority in the project queue

    • Weekly or bi-weekly check-ins

    • Access to your client portal

    • Transparent hour reporting

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Why choose a monthly retainer?

A monthly retainer streamlines your creative workflow and keeps your brand consistent. You receive:

  • Guaranteed hours reserved exclusively for you

  • Consistent quality + brand alignment

  • Predictable monthly investment

  • Faster turnaround times

  • A creative partner who anticipates your needs

This model suits brands seeking alignment, agility, and visual consistency without the expense or commitment of a full-time designer.

You're a great fit for a monthly retainer if:

✓ You have projects every month and want consistent support

✓ You’re tired of juggling different designers for different projects

✓ You often need collateral updated, refreshed, or redesigned

✓ You have launch cycles, campaigns, or ongoing content needs

✓ You value fast, reliable turnaround

✓ You want a design partner who understands your brand deeply

Limited monthly retainer availability.

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What’s included in every retainer:

  • Reserved hours each month

  • Priority turnaround

  • Project management through your client portal

  • Monthly or weekly check-ins as needed

  • Source files delivered upon request

  • Strategic design guidance and support

  • Transparent reporting on hours used

  • “Working with Janelle on a monthly retainer completely changed how we approach marketing. She doesn’t just execute — she thinks strategically about every asset and how it fits into the bigger picture. Having someone this consistent, responsive, and detail-oriented has been invaluable to our team.”

    Managing Director, Commercial Real Estate

  • "The retainer model is a game-changer. We’re able to move quickly without sacrificing quality, and everything feels cohesive across platforms. Janelle understands our brand instinctively and delivers polished work that’s ready to use — often faster than expected.”

    Founder & Principal

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Common retainer projects.

Retainers are flexible and tailored to your needs. Common projects include:

  • Social media graphics + content batches

  • Brochures, flyers, and print collateral

  • Pitch decks + presentations

  • Email graphics + newsletters

  • Branding collateral + marketing materials

  • Property marketing (for real estate clients)

  • Templates + recurring content

  • Website graphics + updates

  • Print materials

The Process

How retainers work.

  • You’ll fill out a quick project form in your client portal, outlining the priority, details, and deadline.

  • You’ll receive confirmation, recommended turnaround, and any follow-up questions.

  • Your project is added to the queue and completed within the estimated timeframe.

  • You’ll receive proofs for feedback, followed by clean revisions.

  • Files are delivered in all formats you need — print, digital, and web-ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No—hours don't roll over. The retainer model reserves your dedicated time each month and maintains consistent creative momentum. This structure also helps you stay on top of marketing, rather than letting projects pile up.

  • Yes. You can adjust your retainer package at the end of each 3-month commitment to better match your current needs.

  • Absolutely! Subject to availability, you can purchase additional hours at the standard hourly rate.

  • Yes, there’s a 3-month minimum for all retainer packages. This allows for proper onboarding, consistent workflow, and strong creative momentum—and ensures we both invest in building an effective partnership.

  • After your initial commitment, you can continue month-to-month, upgrade, downgrade, or pause with 14 days’ notice before your next billing cycle.

  • Billing is monthly and processed automatically on the 1st of each month. You’ll receive an invoice via email and can view your billing history in your client portal.

  • Your retainer spot is secured once your first month’s payment is received. Retainer spots typically book 2–3 weeks in advance, so if you need support by a specific date, it’s best to reach out early.

  • Retainer clients receive priority scheduling. Most standard projects (social graphics, email templates, one-sheets) are completed within 1–3 business days. Larger projects, like pitch decks or more complex presentations, typically take 3–5 business days depending on scope.

Not sure where to start?

I’d love to learn more about your vision and explore how we can bring it to life.

Schedule a free consultation →

Not ready to talk?

Submit a project inquiry →