After you launch, you often need ongoing support: bug fixes, small enhancements, and iteration as you learn from users and operations. A retainer gives you a dedicated slice of our capacity (e.g. one or two engineers, or a mix of engineering and product) so you can get work done without going through a new proposal every time. Typical range is $8K to $25K per month depending on the level of capacity and the type of work. Retainers are flexible: we align on priorities each sprint or month, and we deliver against a backlog that you own. This is ideal when you have already built something with us (or with another team) and you want continuity and speed without hiring full time.
What you get
You get a committed capacity and a single point of contact. We work from your backlog (in your tooling where possible, e.g. Jira, Linear) and we deliver in short cycles so you see progress regularly. We can do bug fixes, small features, integrations, and technical debt reduction. We can also support larger initiatives by combining retainer capacity with a defined project (e.g. a new phase of build). The retainer is not a substitute for a full-time team if you need 40+ hours a week of dedicated capacity; it is for ongoing support and iteration that does not justify a full-time hire or a large project.
Typical scope
A typical retainer includes: a defined number of hours or capacity per month; a rhythm (e.g. weekly sync, sprint planning); a backlog that you prioritize with our input; and clear communication so you know what is done and what is next. We do not use retainers to keep you locked in; we want the work to be valuable. If the backlog runs thin or your needs change, we can adjust or pause. We also offer retainer as a follow-on to a build: after we deliver, you can roll onto a retainer for support and enhancement so the same team that built the system maintains it.
Who this is for
This engagement is for organizations that have a live system (or are about to launch) and need ongoing support and iteration. You may not have enough work for a full-time hire, or you may want to avoid the overhead of recruiting and managing another employee. You may want the same team that built the system to maintain it so that context is preserved. Retainers work well when you have a clear product owner or stakeholder who can prioritize the backlog and when you want predictable monthly cost and capacity.
Next step
Book a discovery call. We will discuss your current state, your ongoing needs, and whether a retainer is the right fit. If it is, we will propose a capacity level, rate, and rhythm. We can also discuss a retainer as part of a build proposal (e.g. build plus 6 months retainer for support and iteration).