Is a general retainer refundable?

A retainer fee is a payment made to a professional, often a lawyer, by a client for future services. Retainer fees do not guarantee an outcome or final product. Portions of retainer fees can be refunded if services end up costing less than originally planned.

Do you pay back a retainer?

When contracting a lawyer, a retainer fee will cover the various costs in a legal service. If the total costs are less than the retainer fee, you’ll receive any extra money back. If the cost is greater, you’ll need to pay the difference. The exceptions to getting the costs back is in a conditional agreement.

What does general retainer mean?

: a retainer of an attorney by a client to advise and represent the client for compensation and for a fixed time in all legal matters in which the client may seek legal assistance also : the retaining fee itself.

What is a reasonable retainer fee?

A good rule of thumb is to charge at least $3,000 per month for your retained clients because this way you’ll only need 3 clients to sign retainer agreements in order to earn a six-figure income. Your goal should be to develop high-income skills so that each client is paying a $10,000 per month retainer fee.

What does a retainer mean in law?

A fee that the client pays upfront to an attorney before the attorney has begun work for the client. As the lawyer performs work, he or she withdraws money from that trust account as payment for the work done. Any amount that is left over after legal representation has concluded must be refunded to the client.

Can a retainer be used as a refundable fee?

An attorney’s retainer can serve as a flat fee that is nonrefundable to secure services, or it can serve as a refundable retainer that serves as a deposit in which the lawyer deducts hourly fees when used, according to Ingenuity Law.

What happens to the retainer fee after termination?

Once the agreement is terminated, the client may claim the balance of the retainer fee after paying the attorney an amount equivalent to the number of hours worked. Therefore, clients should clarify with the attorney if they notice a “non-refundable” clause regarding retainer fees in the agreement.

How much should a consultant charge for a retainer?

For instance, a consultant who charges $50 an hour and expects to give a client 40 hours of time each month would set a monthly retainer fee at $2,000. Some consultants lower their normal rates for clients who sign retainer agreements; however, a consultant needs to calculate whether she will still be earning a profit if she offers a rate cut.

Do you get paid by the hour or by retainer?

Consultants generally charge clients by the hour, day or project, although some offer a retainer payment option. While working on retainer gives a consultant a more stable and predictable income, clients often benefit by receiving a discount. Many consultants give retainer clients a percentage off their normal fees.

What does a retainer fee cover?

A retainer fee is money paid in advance, usually to an attorney, for services that will be rendered. A retainer might be paid monthly based on an estimate of the amount of work to be done for the client in that month, but it often covers anticipated work on the entire case from start to finish.

What is a true retainer?

A true retainer compensates the attorney for his or her agreement to be available and for his or her agreement to forego the opportunity to represent other clients. A “true” retainer is a sum of money paid by a client to secure an attorney’s availability over a specified period of time. As such, it is earned on receipt…

What is a client retainer agreement?

A retainer agreement is one made between an attorney and a prospective client with regard to payment for legal services. The terms of the agreement can vary, but the one constant is that payment is generally required before the specified services are rendered.

What is a retainer fee agreement?

A retainer is a fee paid to a person (usually a lawyer) before any services have been performed. Most lawyers require a retainer agreement, which is also known as a “work for hire” contract. A retainer fee is an advance payment that a client makes to his or her lawyer before the lawyer performs any legal work for the client.