Act on the result
Define scope and overage rules before offering the retainer.
Educational only: Business decision support, not accounting, tax or legal advice.
Privacy: No account is required. Tool inputs and results stay in this browser. Anonymous categorical usage analytics send only governed page, tool, cluster and action identifiers; tool inputs and results are never sent. Error monitoring is disabled. Optional saved state stays only on this device.
Update policy: Reviewed when formulas or official dependencies change.
Scope: Market-neutral small-business planning using your own assumptions.
What this planner helps you decide
Best for
Agencies pricing recurring scope against included capacity, delivery burden and overage economics.
Outputs
Loaded delivery cost, required retainer, contribution, margin and overage effect.
Start here
Define included scope and realistic delivery hours before choosing a target margin.
Use a different tool when: Do not use this to measure unrecovered scope change; use Scope Creep Impact Planner for that decision. Use this tool to set an agency retainer from included capacity, delivery cost, overage and target margin.
Quote & capacity
Agency Retainer Margin: loaded delivery cost
Loaded delivery cost, required retainer, contribution, margin and overage effect.
Amounts use the same currency as your inputs. No currency conversion is performed.
Your industry scenario
Review a recurring agency retainer by role, planned and scope-creep hours, loaded delivery cost, available capacity, third-party cost and target margin.
Your numbers stay in this browser
Recurring client fee being reviewed. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Monthly hours scoped for strategy and account leadership.
Expected unscoped hours for this role group.
Salary, contractor and on-cost allocation per hour. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Monthly capacity available to this retainer.
Monthly production and delivery hours inside scope.
Expected unscoped production and delivery hours.
Salary, contractor and on-cost allocation per hour. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Monthly capacity available to this retainer.
Media, freelancers, production or tools paid specifically for delivery. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis.
Margin the retainer should protect after planned and scope-creep delivery cost.
Industry decision result
See the delivery margin, capacity load and repricing gap created by the actual account scope. Review every output on the same entered business basis.
- Planned labour cost
- 7,198.00
- Scope-creep labour cost
- 892.00
- Total retainer delivery cost
- 9,840.00
- Planned delivery hours
- 96 hours
- Scope-creep hours
- 12 hours
- Retainer capacity utilisation
- 76.1%
- Current retainer contribution
- 4,660.00
- Current retainer margin
- 32.1%
- Required monthly retainer
- 14,470.59
- Retainer repricing gap
- -29.41
Scenario comparison
Each row names the assumption axis changed from the baseline.
ScenarioResultDifference
Current industry scenario14,470.59Baseline
Lower Creative and delivery scope-creep hours14,395.29-75.29
Higher Creative and delivery scope-creep hours14,545.8875.29
Save these results, change an input, then compare the updated figures with this baseline.
The baseline is temporary in this tab and is not added to shared scenario links or generated reports.
Calculation details
View calculation detailsView the formulas and inputs used for these results.
Planned labour cost
Planned labour cost
sum(planned role hours * loaded role cost)7,198 , ex taxResult7,198.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Agency Retainer Margin Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Planned labour costMonthly Retainer Ex Tax
- 14,500
- Planned labour costStrategy Planned Hours
- 34
- Planned labour costStrategy Scope Creep Hours
- 4
- Planned labour costStrategy Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 95
- Planned labour costStrategy Available Hours
- 52
- Planned labour costDelivery Planned Hours
- 62
- Planned labour costDelivery Scope Creep Hours
- 8
- Planned labour costDelivery Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 64
- Planned labour costDelivery Available Hours
- 90
- Planned labour costThird Party Delivery Cost Ex Tax
- 1,750
- Planned labour costTarget Retainer Margin
- 0.32
Scope-creep labour cost
Scope-creep labour cost
sum(scope-creep role hours * loaded role cost)892 , ex taxResult892.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Agency Retainer Margin Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Scope-creep labour costMonthly Retainer Ex Tax
- 14,500
- Scope-creep labour costStrategy Planned Hours
- 34
- Scope-creep labour costStrategy Scope Creep Hours
- 4
- Scope-creep labour costStrategy Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 95
- Scope-creep labour costStrategy Available Hours
- 52
- Scope-creep labour costDelivery Planned Hours
- 62
- Scope-creep labour costDelivery Scope Creep Hours
- 8
- Scope-creep labour costDelivery Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 64
- Scope-creep labour costDelivery Available Hours
- 90
- Scope-creep labour costThird Party Delivery Cost Ex Tax
- 1,750
- Scope-creep labour costTarget Retainer Margin
- 0.32
Total retainer delivery cost
Total retainer delivery cost
planned labour + scope creep labour + third-party cost9,840 , ex taxResult9,840.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Agency Retainer Margin Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Total retainer delivery costMonthly Retainer Ex Tax
- 14,500
- Total retainer delivery costStrategy Planned Hours
- 34
- Total retainer delivery costStrategy Scope Creep Hours
- 4
- Total retainer delivery costStrategy Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 95
- Total retainer delivery costStrategy Available Hours
- 52
- Total retainer delivery costDelivery Planned Hours
- 62
- Total retainer delivery costDelivery Scope Creep Hours
- 8
- Total retainer delivery costDelivery Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 64
- Total retainer delivery costDelivery Available Hours
- 90
- Total retainer delivery costThird Party Delivery Cost Ex Tax
- 1,750
- Total retainer delivery costTarget Retainer Margin
- 0.32
Planned delivery hours
Planned delivery hours
sum planned role hours96 hoursResult96 hours
Uses the named industry records and reports this output in hours. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Agency Retainer Margin Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Planned delivery hoursMonthly Retainer Ex Tax
- 14,500
- Planned delivery hoursStrategy Planned Hours
- 34
- Planned delivery hoursStrategy Scope Creep Hours
- 4
- Planned delivery hoursStrategy Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 95
- Planned delivery hoursStrategy Available Hours
- 52
- Planned delivery hoursDelivery Planned Hours
- 62
- Planned delivery hoursDelivery Scope Creep Hours
- 8
- Planned delivery hoursDelivery Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 64
- Planned delivery hoursDelivery Available Hours
- 90
- Planned delivery hoursThird Party Delivery Cost Ex Tax
- 1,750
- Planned delivery hoursTarget Retainer Margin
- 0.32
Scope-creep hours
Scope-creep hours
sum unscoped role hours12 hoursResult12 hours
Uses the named industry records and reports this output in hours. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Agency Retainer Margin Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Scope-creep hoursMonthly Retainer Ex Tax
- 14,500
- Scope-creep hoursStrategy Planned Hours
- 34
- Scope-creep hoursStrategy Scope Creep Hours
- 4
- Scope-creep hoursStrategy Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 95
- Scope-creep hoursStrategy Available Hours
- 52
- Scope-creep hoursDelivery Planned Hours
- 62
- Scope-creep hoursDelivery Scope Creep Hours
- 8
- Scope-creep hoursDelivery Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 64
- Scope-creep hoursDelivery Available Hours
- 90
- Scope-creep hoursThird Party Delivery Cost Ex Tax
- 1,750
- Scope-creep hoursTarget Retainer Margin
- 0.32
Retainer capacity utilisation
Retainer capacity utilisation
(planned + scope-creep hours) / available role hours0.76 decimal rateResult76.1%
Uses the named industry records and reports this output in decimal rate. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Agency Retainer Margin Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Retainer capacity utilisationMonthly Retainer Ex Tax
- 14,500
- Retainer capacity utilisationStrategy Planned Hours
- 34
- Retainer capacity utilisationStrategy Scope Creep Hours
- 4
- Retainer capacity utilisationStrategy Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 95
- Retainer capacity utilisationStrategy Available Hours
- 52
- Retainer capacity utilisationDelivery Planned Hours
- 62
- Retainer capacity utilisationDelivery Scope Creep Hours
- 8
- Retainer capacity utilisationDelivery Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 64
- Retainer capacity utilisationDelivery Available Hours
- 90
- Retainer capacity utilisationThird Party Delivery Cost Ex Tax
- 1,750
- Retainer capacity utilisationTarget Retainer Margin
- 0.32
Current retainer contribution
Current retainer contribution
monthly retainer - total delivery cost4,660 , ex taxResult4,660.00
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Agency Retainer Margin Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Current retainer contributionMonthly Retainer Ex Tax
- 14,500
- Current retainer contributionStrategy Planned Hours
- 34
- Current retainer contributionStrategy Scope Creep Hours
- 4
- Current retainer contributionStrategy Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 95
- Current retainer contributionStrategy Available Hours
- 52
- Current retainer contributionDelivery Planned Hours
- 62
- Current retainer contributionDelivery Scope Creep Hours
- 8
- Current retainer contributionDelivery Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 64
- Current retainer contributionDelivery Available Hours
- 90
- Current retainer contributionThird Party Delivery Cost Ex Tax
- 1,750
- Current retainer contributionTarget Retainer Margin
- 0.32
Current retainer margin
Current retainer margin
contribution / monthly retainer0.32 decimal rateResult32.1%
Uses the named industry records and reports this output in decimal rate. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Agency Retainer Margin Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Current retainer marginMonthly Retainer Ex Tax
- 14,500
- Current retainer marginStrategy Planned Hours
- 34
- Current retainer marginStrategy Scope Creep Hours
- 4
- Current retainer marginStrategy Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 95
- Current retainer marginStrategy Available Hours
- 52
- Current retainer marginDelivery Planned Hours
- 62
- Current retainer marginDelivery Scope Creep Hours
- 8
- Current retainer marginDelivery Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 64
- Current retainer marginDelivery Available Hours
- 90
- Current retainer marginThird Party Delivery Cost Ex Tax
- 1,750
- Current retainer marginTarget Retainer Margin
- 0.32
Required monthly retainer
Required monthly retainer
total delivery cost / (1 - target margin)14,470.59 , ex taxResult14,470.59
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Agency Retainer Margin Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Required monthly retainerMonthly Retainer Ex Tax
- 14,500
- Required monthly retainerStrategy Planned Hours
- 34
- Required monthly retainerStrategy Scope Creep Hours
- 4
- Required monthly retainerStrategy Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 95
- Required monthly retainerStrategy Available Hours
- 52
- Required monthly retainerDelivery Planned Hours
- 62
- Required monthly retainerDelivery Scope Creep Hours
- 8
- Required monthly retainerDelivery Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 64
- Required monthly retainerDelivery Available Hours
- 90
- Required monthly retainerThird Party Delivery Cost Ex Tax
- 1,750
- Required monthly retainerTarget Retainer Margin
- 0.32
Retainer repricing gap
Retainer repricing gap
required retainer - current retainer-29.41 , ex taxResult-29.41
Uses the named industry records and reports this output, ex tax. The shared engine retains full precision; display rounding never feeds the calculation.
Agency Retainer Margin Planner formulas →Inputs used by these formula steps
- Retainer repricing gapMonthly Retainer Ex Tax
- 14,500
- Retainer repricing gapStrategy Planned Hours
- 34
- Retainer repricing gapStrategy Scope Creep Hours
- 4
- Retainer repricing gapStrategy Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 95
- Retainer repricing gapStrategy Available Hours
- 52
- Retainer repricing gapDelivery Planned Hours
- 62
- Retainer repricing gapDelivery Scope Creep Hours
- 8
- Retainer repricing gapDelivery Loaded Cost Per Hour Ex Tax
- 64
- Retainer repricing gapDelivery Available Hours
- 90
- Retainer repricing gapThird Party Delivery Cost Ex Tax
- 1,750
- Retainer repricing gapTarget Retainer Margin
- 0.32
Inputs used
- Current monthly retainer (/client/month, ex tax)
- 14,500
- Strategy and account planned hours (hours/client/month)
- 34
- Strategy and account scope-creep hours (hours/client/month)
- 4
- Strategy and account loaded cost per hour (/hour, ex tax)
- 95
- Strategy and account available hours (hours/client/month)
- 52
- Creative and delivery planned hours (hours/client/month)
- 62
- Creative and delivery scope-creep hours (hours/client/month)
- 8
- Creative and delivery loaded cost per hour (/hour, ex tax)
- 64
- Creative and delivery available hours (hours/client/month)
- 90
- Third-party delivery cost (/client/month, ex tax)
- 1,750
- Target retainer margin (decimal fraction of monthly retainer revenue)
- 0.32
Open this calculator with preset values
This calculator supports documented, shareable scenario URLs. Compatible assistants and applications can construct links using the parameters below.
Scenario links contain only allowlisted numeric and closed-choice inputs shown in the URL; Margin101 excludes free text and identifying fields. Anyone you share the URL with can read those numbers, so do not include private or identifying data.
| Parameter | Meaning | Unit | Allowed values | Presence | Default |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| deliveryAvailableHours | Monthly capacity available to this retainer. | hours/client/month | 0 to 100000 | Required | 90 |
| deliveryLoadedCostPerHourExTax | Salary, contractor and on-cost allocation per hour. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/hour, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 64 |
| deliveryPlannedHours | Monthly production and delivery hours inside scope. | hours/client/month | 0 to 100000 | Required | 62 |
| deliveryScopeCreepHours | Expected unscoped production and delivery hours. | hours/client/month | 0 to 100000 | Required | 8 |
| monthlyRetainerExTax | Recurring client fee being reviewed. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/client/month, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 14500 |
| strategyAvailableHours | Monthly capacity available to this retainer. | hours/client/month | 0 to 100000 | Required | 52 |
| strategyLoadedCostPerHourExTax | Salary, contractor and on-cost allocation per hour. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/hour, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 95 |
| strategyPlannedHours | Monthly hours scoped for strategy and account leadership. | hours/client/month | 0 to 100000 | Required | 34 |
| strategyScopeCreepHours | Expected unscoped hours for this role group. | hours/client/month | 0 to 100000 | Required | 4 |
| targetRetainerMargin | Margin the retainer should protect after planned and scope-creep delivery cost. | decimal fraction of monthly retainer revenue | 0 to 0.99 | Required | 0.32 |
| thirdPartyDeliveryCostExTax | Media, freelancers, production or tools paid specifically for delivery. Keep every amount on the same ex-tax currency basis. | currency units/client/month, ex tax | 0 to 10000000 | Required | 1750 |
Agency Retainer Margin: loaded delivery cost
The retainer is viable only if included scope and realistic delivery capacity fit the entered price.
Formula summary
- Primary formula
- total delivery cost / (1 - target margin)
Data used here
- The estimate uses your inputs and the general business formula documented in the methodology.
Decision checks
Stress-test the decision
Retest scope creep, lower utilisation and higher loaded delivery cost.
When this estimate can be misleading
- Industry costs, tax, contract terms, capacity and targets are entered by the user; no market benchmark is embedded.
- Use records from one consistent period and one ex-tax currency basis where money applies.
- This is educational business decision support, not accounting, tax, legal or financial advice.
- The retainer is viable only if included scope and realistic delivery capacity fit the entered price.
Educational estimate, not advice. See all assumptions & limitations →
Related reading
Guides to interpret the decision and its assumptions.
- How to Build a Retainer Price From Capacity
Define the reserved-capacity promise, delivery boundary and review triggers before calculating a retainer fee.
Read guide
Frequently asked questions
How do I set an agency retainer from included capacity, delivery cost, overage and target margin?
Define scope and overage rules before offering the retainer.
Which planning assumptions should I stress-test?
Compare a plausible alternative scenario and verify the decision-critical assumption that changes the plan most.