A retainer agreement is a work-for-hire contract. It falls between a one-off contract and permanent employment, which may be full-time or part-time. Its distinguishing feature is that the client or customer pays in advance for professional work to be specified later.
Retainer agreements (also referred to as representation agreements) are a type of compensation agreement with lawyers either for reserving their employment or as compensation for future services. Also inside the agreement are details on the scope and procedure for the representation.
Traditional (Hawley) retainers have a piece of wire attached to plastic (or acrylic). Clear retainers (Essix) are also plastic but don't have any wires. Both are custom-made to fit your teeth.
Here's my advice: Pitch only to existing clients or clients you know well. Never pitch a retainer agreement to someone you've never worked with before. Present the retainer as a way to get “front of the line” status. Highlight the benefit of predictable budgeting. Include a small discount (maybe)
Agreement periods usually run up to five years, but initial retainer agreements are often reviewed and renewed annually—usually at the end of the financial year. Retainer hours are usually spent on recurring tasks that aren't major projects but are important to the client.