← Freelance retainer calculator
A retainer price is not cash in the bank.
Freelancers often accept Net 30 on a monthly retainer, then work 30–60 days before the first payment lands. The cash you must float is a pricing decision, not a courtesy.
CASH YOU LEND THE CLIENT
| If they pay | Days | Cash to float |
|---|
How the float is calculated
Take the monthly revenue target — take-home plus business costs and taxes — and multiply by days until first cash divided by 30. That is the savings or other-client cash you need while this retainer is unpaid.
- Prepaid on kickoff: 0 days, no float.
- Invoice on kickoff, Net 15: about 15 days, half a month.
- Invoice on kickoff, Net 30: about 30 days, one month.
- Invoice at month-end, Net 15: about 45 days.
- Invoice at month-end, Net 30: about 60 days, two months.
If a $7,800 monthly target is billed at month-end plus Net 30, you float $15,600 before first cash. That is not a late fee. It is working capital you are lending the client.
What to put in the agreement
Write the payment trigger, not just “Net 30”. Prepaid on kickoff, or invoice on the first of each month due on receipt, removes the silent extra month. 50% on kickoff and 50% on the invoice date splits the float if the client will not prepay in full.
Price the block first, then check the float. Open the retainer calculator to pair this with usage. Retainer vs hourly is the one-month failure mode. Unused-hour rollover is the two-month version of the same gift.
This page is a planning aid, not financial or legal advice. Review the numbers and the contract before you send either. Hosted URLs, when they exist, carry no availability SLA.
Common questions
Should I accept Net 30 on a freelance retainer?
Only if you can float one monthly revenue target for the days until first cash. Month-end invoicing plus Net 30 is about 60 days. If you cannot float that amount, require prepaid or 50% on kickoff.
How much cash do I need to float a retainer?
Multiply the monthly take-home plus costs by days-until-cash divided by 30. Prepaid is zero. Kickoff plus Net 30 is one month. Month-end plus Net 30 is two months.