Monthly Retainer Packages with iThemes

special WebDesign.com presentation

Overview

1. How do you know how much to charge?

2. Surviving the slow months.

3. What is the Retainer concept?

4. Tools of the Trade

What is this about...

Burn Rate

Burn Rate

How much do you need to survive?

How many hours do you need to work?

This is your burn rate.

Happy Life Rate

How much do you need to live how you want to live?

How many hours do you need to work?

This is your happy life rate.

Two ways to get Work Rates

Take the average of your burn rate and your happy life rate.

Add 35% Markup

You now have your working rate. (first way)

Two ways to get Work Rates

Take your Happy Life Rate (modified) - Take your hours needed to get Happy Life Rate and cut the hours by 35%

Add 25% Markup

You now have your happy working rate.

What are people REALLY buying

You are the Product

How much are YOU worth?What is YOUR time worth?What is YOUR knowledge worth?

Are you undercharging because of your own view of your own selfworth?

Surviving the Slow Months

There will ALWAYS be slow months

Survival

Sometimes all you can do is hold on… but did you prepare?

● Do you have a cash reserve that can cover your burn rate?

● Do you have a fallback - work is always available option?

Ideas to Drum up Business

● Develop and sell a site on Flippa● Give a talk on websites at your Library● Setup a “goto” Fiverr account that can churn

out tiny things● Mine your past clients for ideas (bonus

referrals)● Attend a WordCamp

Number 1 Rule for...

Rule for Finding Clients

Do not be afraid of the word NO

or to use the word NO

So what is a Retainer

So what is a Retainer

Retainer Concept

Remember that the product is REALLY YOU

What is the most expensive part of any business?

A good retainer setup would cover the entire cost of the burn rate!

Multiple Billing Options

Monthly / Quarterly / Annual - This is all up to you.

But remember that while the retainer fee might cover SOME services, you STILL need to bill for project work and development

How to get started...

BackupBuddy

iThemes Sync

iThemes Security Pro

These are great but what about….

Display Buddy

Builder

Unbranded Tutorials

Or...

The Goal

Remember...

● YOU are the product

● Know your needs

● A sale should not be a one-time event

● Survival is not the goal