Software Developer Monthly Retainer | Monthly Retainer Development Support

What is a monthly retainer?

Software development is hectic, fast moving and packed with shifting priorities and that applies whether your software development is undertaken in house or externally. It is often the first measure to be cut or reduced when companies are tightening their budgets (you may already know this through experience!) but it is also one of the key areas through which growth can be achieved. Software development retainers offer you access to guaranteed resource, usually a set number or hours or days per month whereby you have developer resource 'on tap'. They can be used to cover all aspects of your softwares lifecycle including:

New Development
- For developing new features and functionality for your existing software or new software altogether
Bug Fixes
- For identifying and resolving bugs
Updates
- For performing software updates
Maintenance
- For keeping software in tip top shape

Characteristics of monthly retainer agreements

Every development company structures its retainers differently but most share a few key traits. Here’s what you can expect and indeed, why it might matter to you:

Characteristic	Benefit	Detail	Best for
Fixed costs	You'll have predictable outgoings each month/quarter/year which can be used for budgets and forecasting	A retainer agreement outlines the amount of developer resource you have to use throughout the time period (usually a month) along with the scope this development time can be used for - this will be agreed between you and the development company	Businesses that need consistent budgeting and want to avoid fluctuating development costs
Guaranteed Resource	You have access to guaranteed resource every month that is generally scheduled in advance and ringfenced for you and you alone	By paying a set, monthly fee, you're securing access to the agreed developer time. The development company will usually schedule this in advance of the month ahead ensuring this time cannot be used elsewhere	Companies that need regular support but can't justify hiring another FTE
Flexible Scope	You'll be able to use your developer time for a broad range of tasks to fit your specific needs	The retainer agreement will contain the pre-agreed scope that developer time can be used against. This could be maintenance, updates, bug fixes, new development etc	Agile environments and companies making continuous improvements to a product
*Rolling or Renewable Agreements*	Retainer agreements can usually be adjusted with little to no notice meaning they remain fit for purpose and can change alongside your priorities	Retainer agreements can usually be amended with little notice to match with your changing requirements. So if an original retainer agreement does not provide the level of resources actually required, it can be easily changed and rolled out the following period	Companies who know their needs will change regularly but need to maintain a minimum level of support
Performance Tracking & Reporting	You have full transparency from a progress and ROI perspective	Tracking and reporting comms form part of most retainer agreements. The type, frequency and format of the tracking and report is pre agreed with you, based on your needs.	Organisations who need to regularly report on progress, justify value for money or who simply want transparency over the impact the development resource is making

Why might I consider a monthly retainer agreement?

Monthly retainer agreements are crucial for some organisations today and there are many reasons as to why they might benefit your business specifically. Here, we look at some of the most common use cases:

Ongoing support and/or maintenance

When a product is live and therefore requires regular updates, bug fixes, performance monitoring or enhancements, a retainer can ensure all of this is covered if your organisation does not have it's own internal resources to do so or they lack the specific skills.

Use case - Post launch software that must stay functional and secure.

Iterative improvements

If your company develops products in phases or you release new features regularly, a retainer allows for agile development and fast action on your users feedback.

Use case - SaaS platforms or mobile apps in active growth and/or refinement stages.

There is no in house development team

Your business may not have it's own internal technical staff can and that is perfectly ok - you can use a retainer to gain reliable access to a skilled development team without committing to a full time hire. This is particularly relevant if you're a start up, non technical businesses with minimal development requirements or an organisation that is focused on growth that needs technical support to evolve your digital products without having to build an internal team.

Use case - Startups, agencies or small businesses needing on demand technical support.

Reinforcements

Even if you do have an internal development team, there may be times where you require additional expertise or extra capacity for a specific project or to meet a tight deadline. Retainers are a great way to make sure you have access to the right skills, at the right time without any long term commitment.

Use case - Enterprises running concurrent projects or requiring niche technical skills.

Fast turnaround and/or priority response times

Sometimes you need help and you need it quickly. Retainer agreements can be created to include priority access to development resource and can also offer resources on specific days/times. This reduces wait times and allows for quicker resolution of your issues as well as pre scheduled time slots for critical time periods.

Use case - Businesses running live digital platforms or client facing applications that are business critical.

Final Thoughts

Here at Cool Code Company, we offer flexible retainer agreements to suit your requirements. We charge a fixed fee per month depending on the days/hours required and you will also benefit from having any time not used 'roll over' into the following month.

Our UK based, full stack developers can undertake standard maintenance and bug fixes under these agreements, act as an extension of your team or be on hand when you need them to offer consultancy and guidance.

If you feel your company would benefit from such an agreement, get in touch today to discuss your requirements - we'd be delighted to help.

Monthly Retainer