The Basics – Facts, Terms and Things We Can’t Do
ALEGNA CREATES RETAINER SERVICES. Reliability I Availability I Consistency.
Do You Need?:
- Emergency /on call services
- Strategy
- Content
- Fast Turnaround
Our Why.
When you’re trying to be an entrepreneur and make enough money to live things can get dicey. Starting out many of my clients–no all of my clients– were also small businesses which lead to always doing a lot of small projects with a few substantial ones here and there. It’s hard to live off that. There could be months where no one needed anything or where projects only equated to gas money or dinner out. One day you realize that getting out of bed to do one $40 flyer just isn’t worth it. No one’s budgets for design services seemed to be growing which meant my income wasn’t either.
So I quit being broke and trying to make this entrepreneur thing work. I kicked it all to the curb and all my clients with it. I realigned my mindset back to my prior career and only doing design if I loved it. Not being stressed or unappreciated. Not dealing with clients running off and not paying their bills but living their best lives on social media. Not wondering if enough orders would be placed in time to make that payment I needed to make. Hey, that was real life. Even if you cover your bills there were months you had nothing to do anything extra with without staring at your savings really hard. And for some you’re like “what savings?”. Let’s move on…
So back to my career I went. I focused on adding products to my online stores and trying niche services like book-cover design. I did not sell one book-cover but the mindset was different now because it was fun work and I wasn’t dependent on the money from it.
So fast forward to today. No clients stressing me out by being messy. No one flyer order every few days weeks. I now have 2 jobs ( 1 full-time and one part-time) and my side-hustle. I’ve gotten used to my schedule and feel like I can take on clients by retainer only to keep the bullshit in business down. And that’s it folks. That’s the goal. Do what you love and enjoy it. Know that every passion or purpose or whatever the coaches tell you may not be your “Oprah moment” or the thing that pays all your bills and you can retire from. Fix your own life to suit your needs and what’s working. So this is how the retainer service came to be. Basically I don’t have time for the nonsense and my B.S tolerance is so low that this is what works for me. I may not be breaking the internet but I’m also not breaking my spirit!
Now let’s see if it will work for you.
Are you new to AM? Retainer services are great for vendors and clients where a mutual business relationship and respect have already been established. For this reason we do not accept retainer proposals from NEW clients.
Clients must be organized and able to provide all necessary project specs, info etc. as well as feedback to not allow for project delays. Be clear in your vision or let us take the reins.
Both parties agree on the set amount of work agreed upon. Any additional projects outside of agreement will be billed at a regular rate and/or potentially denied.
Projects may include Digital or Print Ready files or logos, flyers, brochures and social media graphics, book-covers, on-going or seasonal campaigns, routine website updates, page additions and maintenance. Blog Graphics/Content and Photography (local clients – with 50 miles- only) is negotiable.
Unused time will not rollover.
Designer not responsible for printing. Client can maintain own select vendor for such and designer will direct copies of final files as needed/requested.
Client needs to be organized and available to communicate. We do not communicate with third-parties or those not familiar with the process and procedures or who seek to confuse the working agreement established. All consulting on YOUR END needs to be on your end prior to contract agreement. We do not do projects where you are not in control of the final outcome. Direct all group opinions to an alternate designer.
3 Month minimum commitment with reevaluation afterwards to determine if needs are being met and/or if my time is being utilized properly. The terms and length of commitments can be revised/extended at this time to 6- 12 months.
- Retainers with AM can range anywhere from $800 to $4000 month ($500 Mini Media Level also available – Flyers/Social Media Graphics/Basic Website Maintenance only)
- 30 Min Consults – $35
- One paperwork is compiled and contract signed, your first payment is due. All payments are due on or before the first of each month.
- Retainers with AM may be from 3-12 months based on vendor/client relationship. We recommend starting off with the lowest available until you determine your full business needs.
- Allow a minimum 7 day notice/turnaround on all projects.
- Rush orders or orders exceeding the agreement/retainer balance will be invoiced separately at a full regular rate.
Project Submission
Please provide monthly project details by the 22nd of every month for the following month as available. Send all others as need presents.
End of Contract Courtesy
15 Day Notice is respectfully requested prior to Ending/Lapsing Contract at end of term.
The preferred email for ALEGNA is info@alegnamediasuite.com
If you think you can benefit from our retainer services contact us!