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This Consulting Retainer Agreement is made on [Contract Date] between [Company Name] ("Consultant") and [Client Name] ("Client").
1. Advisory Services
Consultant will be available to Client as an ongoing advisor on strategy, operations, and growth. This includes calls and video meetings, answers by email, review of plans and documents, and a monthly working session with Client's leadership team.
2. Retainer Fee and Included Hours
- The retainer is $4,000 per month, invoiced in advance on the 1st of each month and due within 15 days.
- It includes up to 20 hours of advisory time each month, recorded in quarter-hour increments.
- Consultant will send a summary of hours used with each invoice.
3. Unused Hours
The retainer reserves Consultant's availability each month. Hours not used in a month don't roll over to the next.
4. Additional Hours
Consultant will tell Client when 16 hours have been used in a month. Time beyond 20 hours is billed at $175 per hour, only with Client's approval first, and invoiced with the next month's retainer.
5. Response Times
- Emails and calls are answered within one business day.
- Urgent questions, marked as urgent, are answered the same business day.
- Meetings are scheduled within five business days of a request.
6. Projects Outside the Retainer
Defined projects, such as a diagnostic or a roadmap, aren't part of the retainer. Consultant will quote them separately in a statement of work, so they don't use up retainer hours.
7. Expenses
Client will reimburse reasonable expenses at cost, such as travel for on-site meetings. Any single expense over $250 needs Client's approval in advance.
8. Term and Notice
This agreement starts on the date above with a three-month minimum term, then continues month to month. After the minimum term, either party may end it with 30 days' written notice. The retainer is due for each month that starts during the notice period.
9. Confidentiality and Ownership
Each party will keep the other's confidential information private, during this agreement and for three years after it ends. Once paid for, materials Consultant creates for Client belong to Client. Consultant keeps its general methods, tools, and know-how.
10. Independent Contractor
Consultant is an independent contractor and is responsible for its own taxes, insurance, and equipment. Recommendations are advice, and Client remains responsible for its own business decisions.
11. Limitation of Liability
Each party's total liability under this agreement is limited to the fees Client paid in the 12 months before the claim. Neither party is liable for indirect or consequential losses.
12. General
This agreement is governed by the laws of [state or country]. It is the entire agreement between the parties on this subject, and may only be changed in writing signed by both.
By signing below, both parties agree to these terms.
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