RETAINERS
Considering a retainer for ongoing support?
Let’s explore your needs!
A retainer is a commitment to consistent support so we can plan ahead, stay aligned with your goals, and make real progress together. It’s ideal for clients who want to count on consistent access to strategic advising, support with execution, and refinement.
An additional benefit is a reduced hourly rate.
Are you prepared…. ? Plan ahead to get ahead.
Are you prepared…. ? Plan ahead to get ahead.
Need More Than Your Retainer Includes?
Additional hours beyond your prepaid retainer are billed at $175/hour.
We'll keep an eye on your hours and communicate before additional work puts you over your monthly allocation, so there are no surprises.
What You Get
A monthly block of strategic support and execution time at a preferred rate, with reserved calendar space and consistent planning so we can build momentum together.
Your retainer can be used for:
Strategy sessions and decision-making
Project execution and refinements
Reporting, analysis, and recommendations
Priority scheduling and planning
Ongoing marketing support and accountability
Unused hours: Up to 1 unused hour may roll over to the following month when your next month's time is booked in advance.
Pricing & Right-Sizing Your Retainer
From focused strategy to fully integrated support, the right retainer depends on where you are, what you need to accomplish, and how much partnership and execution will help you build momentum.
1 Hour — $150/month
Focused consulting: One strategy session each month for a specific question, decision, or challenge. Best for founders and leaders who need an experienced perspective but are handling execution internally. Does not include ongoing execution such as social media, events, or website updates.
5 Hours — $750/month
Ongoing support: A flexible block of time for focused execution and refinements—such as updating an existing website, writing a monthly newsletter, developing social media strategy, or tackling other defined priorities. Ideal for maintaining momentum without a significant monthly commitment.
10 Hours — $1,000/month
Consistent partnership: More room for strategy and execution across campaigns, social media, events, website updates, and other marketing priorities. This is the minimum retainer tier that includes weekly meetings and is a good fit for organizations ready for more consistent collaboration.
15–20 Hours — Request a custom quote
Fractional marketing support: A deeper partnership across strategy, execution, planning, and focused growth for organizations ready to build and scale with intention and consistency. Designed for teams that need experienced marketing leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire or the layers of a traditional agency.
RETAINERS ARE A MONTHLY PAID SUBSCRIPTION VIA STRIPE
Included with Your Retainer
Recurring meetings scheduled in advance
Shared documentation & project planning including agendas, priorities, and progress tracking
Execution time outside meetings for writing, design, edits, and launches.
Optional reporting summaries on analytics when connected.
Recorded walkthroughs/trainings available upon request.
Monthly Retainer Does NOT Include:
Third-party subscriptions or ad spend
New website builds (projects start separately)
Highly technical services outside marketing + strategy scope
Last-minute requests (meetings must be booked with 48+ hrs notice)
Not ready to start yet?
Join the waitlist.
I keep my retainer roster intentionally small so I can give each organization the attention, strategy, and follow-through it deserves.If you’re interested in working together but don’t need support just yet—or my current availability doesn’t line up with your timeline—join the waitlist.
I’ll reach out when a retainer opening becomes available or when the timing makes sense to connect.
No commitment. No pressure. Just a place in line.
THE ORIGIN STORY
“Some startup in Colorado?” I quipped.
That’s what I told people when I left a comfortable Marketing Director role after my employer of four years was successfully acquired. I was ready to build something new and returned to freelance consulting.
It’s a playful name, but a serious business. Five years later, I’m still at it.
I’m passionate about leveraging technology and marketing systems to simplify workflows and design systems that scale. Over the years, I’ve helped startups build strong brands and established companies execute thoughtful, strategic marketing campaigns, events, and PR.
Startups are often flying the plane while building it. I thrive when I can innovate and take calculated risks. I experiment, iterate, and move quickly when priorities shift. When others see chaos, I see opportunity.
In this world, you’re expected to fail forward but you don’t have to do it alone.
Let’s talk retainers!
“You are uniquely able to take on future-oriented challenges. You lead the way to visionary possibilities and create what others said couldn't be done. You'll say "Yes" before you even know the end of the question - then turn it into a productive adventure.”
— Kolbe A Index results for Ashley Dodge
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions?
Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.
-
Retainers are a good fit for:
• Founders who need an experienced marketing partner
• Small teams without a dedicated marketing leader
• Established orgs with more work than their internal team can absorb
• Organizations between marketing hires or with someone on leave
• Teams that need strategic direction but also execute
• Organizations looking for fractional marketing leadership -
Because momentum matters.
Retainers provide:
Predictable, ongoing support
Priority access to strategy and execution
Preferred rates compared to hourly work
Space to plan proactively instead of reacting to urgent tasks
Unlike one-off projects, a retainer allows us to design systems that scale and pursue intentional growth month over month.
If you’re serious about building something sustainable, consistency wins.
-
A marketing retainer is a monthly commitment that reserves a defined block of time for strategy, execution, revisions, and ongoing support. It is:
A prepaid set number of hours
A continuous service relationship
A structured way to plan and execute long-term goals
-
Unlike project-based work (such as a full website build), a retainer does not have a fixed start and end date. It is designed for ongoing growth and refinement.
I request 30 days written notice if you wish to reduce, pause, or cancel your subscription.
I do not require an exclusive Agency of Record agreement and am happy to collaborate with your internal team or other partners as needed.
If an NDA is required, rates may be adjusted to reflect added scope and confidentiality. I do not offer performance-based contracts.
-
Please follow these simple steps:
Book an introductory call to discuss deliverables, timeline, and scope.
Select the retainer tier that aligns with your goals (1 Hour, 5 Hours, 10 Hours, 15 Hours, or 20 Hours)
We schedule a kickoff call to establish meeting cadence, documentation, metrics, and expectations.
Budgets can be adjusted month-to-month with written notice.
If your goals include competitive SEO or significant growth in a crowded market, expect research, planning, and sustained execution. Sustainable results take intention.
Note: If your budget or priorities change, let’s discuss ASAP. Clients often need much more assistance in the early stages of starting up for the things they don’t know they needed until we chat. My goal is to help you save time and money. I don’t get paid for work I didn’t do.
Ex. If you’re looking to be on first page of Google’s Organic Search Results in a highly competitive or crowded industry, be prepared to invest hours of research, planning, and execution to make it happen. Don’t expect any overnight success or going viral on day one.
-
Examples include:
Website updates and refinements
SEO research and optimization
Analytics review and reporting
Newsletter strategy and drafting
LinkedIn content planning
Blog ghostwriting
Digital and print marketing collateral
Audience and competitor research
Testimonial collection and social proof strategy
Consistent collaboration produces stronger results because effective strategy requires research, execution, and iteration.
-
This allows us all to focus on progress.
It also reflects a commitment to be strategic about tackling your most pressing needs and staying on track with your marketing and overall business goals.
It allows you to budget predictable monthly support while enabling me to reserve dedicated time for your business.
Stripe also provides secure recurring billing and easy management of your subscription.
Unlike large agencies with rotating account managers, you work directly with me as your creative and strategic partner.
As a Marketing Director in a former life, this is how I hired out and paid for external marketing help, but at a much higher rate for a whole lot less. Most agencies charge a minimum of $1,000- $2,500 a month on retainer for a revolving door of staff members.
-
Retainers reserve time in advance.
30 days written notice is required to cancel.
No refunds are issued for unused monthly hours.
Up to 1 unused hour may carry over to the following month if scheduled in advance.
Carried-over time expires 30 days after cancellation.
It is your responsibility to attend scheduled meetings and respond to scheduling outreach.
Note: Refunds take 5–10 days to appear on a your statement. Stripe's fees for the original payment won't be returned, but there are no additional fees for the refund.
-
Before we begin, we define tangible outcomes and measurable goals.
Examples may include:
Website traffic growth and improved conversion rates
Enhanced brand visibility
Increased email open and click-through rates
Improved search performance
Lead generation and sales growth
I do not focus on vanity metrics. Our work is designed to increase awareness, strengthen trust, and drive meaningful business results. The goal is long-term value, not short-term spikes.
-
You can join the waitlist or consider the following one-time prepaid packages:
1 Consulting Hour
5 Hour Consulting Package
10 Hour Consulting Package
Note: Unlike monthly retainers, hours expire 30 days from the date of purchase and do not roll over.
Payments are non-refundable and additional time is billed at $175/hour.
-
No. But a lot of coaches send clients my way! I don’t question their advice but I also will ask the WHY behind some direction to make sure we’re not just building a tech stack you won’t use.
Subscription Terms
Monthly retainers renew automatically via Stripe until canceled.
To modify or cancel, provide 30 days notice in writing.
No refunds for unused hours within or across billing cycles.
Purchasing a retainer signals your understanding and acceptance of these terms.
Requirements
Consulting requires ongoing collaboration for momentum
Minimum two-month commitment, paid in advance
Credit card on file for recurring billing
Regular scheduling of sessions and planning time
Shared understanding of goals and priorities
Clear communication of expectations (See Disclaimer)
DISCLAIMER:
Billing and Subscriptions:
By subscribing via Stripe, you authorize recurring billing at the selected rate until canceled in writing.
Rates remain locked in while your subscription is active.
Annual rate increases for new clients will be applied to paused subscriptions once reactivated.
No refunds are issued for unused monthly hours.
Up to one (1) unused hour may carry over to the following month if scheduled in advance.
Unused time expires 30 days after cancellation.
Third-party software costs and management (Domains, Squarespace, Canva, Adobe, etc.) are not included.
Clear communication of expectations:
To ensure efficient use of our time together:
All requests must be submitted in writing via email or our shared project document.
Text messages should be reserved for urgent matters. (Ex. On my way! I’m running late.)
Time spent responding to texts, unscheduled calls, or out-of-scope requests will be applied toward your retainer hours.
Additional time beyond a retainer is billed at the standard hourly rate on the 15th of each month.
Please join scheduled meetings from a quiet, distraction-free environment. If connectivity or location limits productivity, we can reschedule to respect of everyone’s time.
Clear communication protects both of us and ensures we stay focused on meaningful progress.
Please reach out with any questions before subscribing so we can align expectations in advance.