Hourly Retainer Agreement Template for United States

Create a bespoke document in minutes,  or upload and review your own.

4.6 / 5
4.8 / 5

Let's create your Hourly Retainer Agreement

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get your first 2 documents free

Your data doesn't train Genie's AI

You keep IP ownership of your information

Key Requirements PROMPT example:

Hourly Retainer Agreement

"I need an Hourly Retainer Agreement for my consulting firm to engage with a tech startup, with monthly billing cycles and a $5,000 retainer amount, starting January 2025, with specific provisions for intellectual property protection and confidentiality."

Document background
The Hourly Retainer Agreement serves as a fundamental document for establishing professional service relationships in the United States. This contract type is particularly useful when services are needed on an ongoing basis but with varying intensity or frequency. It provides a structured framework for billing professional time while maintaining a retained amount as security. The agreement typically includes detailed provisions for service scope, billing rates, payment terms, and professional obligations, while ensuring compliance with both federal and state-specific regulations governing professional services.
Suggested Sections

1. Parties: Identification of the service provider and client, including full legal names and addresses

2. Background: Brief context of why the agreement is being entered into

3. Definitions: Key terms used throughout the agreement

4. Scope of Services: Detailed description of services to be provided under the retainer

5. Fees and Payment Terms: Hourly rates, billing increments, payment schedule, and payment methods

6. Term and Termination: Duration of agreement and conditions for termination

7. Confidentiality: Protection of confidential information shared during service provision

Optional Sections

1. Insurance: Professional liability insurance requirements when services involve significant risk or regulatory requirements

2. Intellectual Property: Ownership and rights to work product when services involve creation of intellectual property

3. Non-Compete: Restrictions on competitive activities when protecting business interests is crucial

4. Force Majeure: Provisions for unforeseeable circumstances when long-term or high-value services are involved

Suggested Schedules

1. Schedule A - Rate Card: Detailed breakdown of hourly rates for different service levels or personnel

2. Schedule B - Service Description: Detailed scope of services and deliverables

3. Schedule C - Key Personnel: List of key team members and their roles for larger service engagements

4. Schedule D - Service Levels: Performance metrics and standards for technical or specialized services

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Genie AI | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Industries

Labor Laws: Including Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), state-specific labor laws, and independent contractor vs. employee classification rules. Essential for determining proper worker classification and compliance with wage and hour regulations.

Contract Law: Encompasses state-specific contract laws, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) principles, and Statute of Frauds requirements. These form the fundamental legal basis for the agreement's enforceability.

Professional Services Regulations: Covers state-specific professional licensing requirements, professional conduct rules, and industry-specific regulations that may apply to the service provider.

Tax Laws: Includes IRS regulations, state tax requirements, and Form 1099 reporting obligations for independent contractors and service providers.

Consumer Protection Laws: Encompasses state consumer protection acts, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations, and truth in billing requirements to ensure fair treatment of clients.

Privacy Laws: Includes HIPAA (if healthcare-related), state privacy laws, and data protection requirements to ensure proper handling of sensitive information.

Dispute Resolution: Covers state-specific arbitration laws, Federal Arbitration Act, and jurisdiction and venue requirements for handling potential conflicts.

Payment Regulations: Includes electronic payment laws, state-specific billing requirements, and regulations regarding interest and late payment penalties.

Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

Find the exact document you need

Standard Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-compliant legal document establishing terms for ongoing attorney-client relationships and professional services.

find out more

Real Estate Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-compliant agreement establishing terms between a real estate professional and client for ongoing real estate services.

find out more

Basic Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-compliant contract establishing terms for ongoing professional services with regular retainer payments.

find out more

Simple Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-compliant contract establishing terms for ongoing professional services with retainer payment structure.

find out more

Retainer Letters

A U.S.-compliant legal document establishing the attorney-client relationship, defining services scope, fees, and mutual obligations under applicable state and federal laws.

find out more

Design Retainer Contract

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing design services between a design professional/agency and a client, including scope, fees, and deliverables.

find out more

Retainership Contract

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing professional services provided on a retained basis, including scope, fees, and mutual obligations.

find out more

Joint Retainer Agreement

A U.S. legal document establishing terms for multiple-client representation by an attorney or law firm, governed by state and ABA rules.

find out more

Creative Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing creative services between a provider and client.

find out more

Marketing Consultant Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing marketing consulting services, including scope, fees, and obligations.

find out more

General Contractor Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing an ongoing relationship between a general contractor and client, defining service terms and payment structure.

find out more

Client Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-compliant agreement establishing the terms of legal representation between an attorney and client.

find out more

Monthly Retainer Fee Agreement

A U.S.-compliant agreement establishing terms for ongoing professional services provided on a fixed monthly fee basis.

find out more

Limited Retainer Agreement

A U.S. legal document defining a limited scope attorney-client relationship and specific legal services to be provided.

find out more

Hourly Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-compliant legal agreement establishing terms for hourly professional services against a retained amount.

find out more

Graphic Design Retainer Contract

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing graphic design services between a design provider and client, including service scope, fees, and intellectual property rights.

find out more

Expert Retainer Agreement

A U.S. legal agreement establishing terms and conditions for expert professional services and testimony.

find out more

Construction Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-compliant legal agreement establishing terms for ongoing construction services between a contractor and client.

find out more

Flat Fee Retainer Agreement

A U.S. legal contract establishing a fixed-price arrangement between attorneys and clients for specified legal services.

find out more

Independent Contractor Retainer Agreement

A U.S. legal agreement establishing terms for ongoing services between a client and independent contractor, including scope, payment, and contractor status.

find out more

General Retainer Agreement

A U.S. legal contract establishing an ongoing attorney-client relationship with regular retainer payments for guaranteed legal service availability.

find out more

Retainer Letter

A U.S. legal document establishing the terms of engagement between a law firm and client, including scope of services and fee arrangements.

find out more

Accounting Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing professional accounting services between an accounting firm and client.

find out more

Photography Retainer Contract

U.S.-governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing professional photography services through a retainer arrangement, including service scope, payment terms, and rights management.

find out more

Monthly Retainer Consulting Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing monthly consulting services between a consultant and client.

find out more

Monthly Retainer Contract

A U.S.-compliant agreement establishing terms for ongoing professional services in exchange for a fixed monthly fee.

find out more

Consultant Retainer Agreement

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing consulting services between a client and professional consultant.

find out more

Freelance Retainer Contract

A U.S.-governed agreement establishing terms for ongoing freelance services with regular retainer payments.

find out more

Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal

By providing your email address you are consenting to our Privacy Notice.
Thank you for downloading our whitepaper. This should arrive in your inbox shortly. In the meantime, why not jump straight to a section that interests you here: https://www.genieai.co/our-research
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Genie’s Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your documents are private:

We do not train on your data; Genie’s AI improves independently

All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation

Your documents are protected:

Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption

Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security

You retain IP ownership of your documents

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it

Innovation in privacy:

Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London

Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts

Want to know more?

Visit our Trust Centre for more details and real-time security updates.