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 outline 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 do 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 you might look to obtain one. 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 the 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

For companies developing products in phases or releasing new features regularly, a retainer allows for agile development and fast action on user feedback.

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

There is no in house development team

Businesses without internal technical staff can use a retainer to gain reliable access to a skilled development team without committing to full time hires. This is particularly relevant for start ups, non technical businesses with minimal development requirements and organisations that are focused on growth and need technical support to evolve their digital products without immediately building an internal team.

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

Reinforcements

Even with an in house team, there may be times when additional expertise or extra capacity is needed for a specific project or to meet a tight deadline - retainers are a solid way for organisations to get this without long term commitment.

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

Fast turnaround and/or priority response times

Retainer agreements quite often include priority access to developers and can also offer resources on specific days/times. This reduces wait times and allows for quicker resolution of issues.

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