Calculate the effective hourly revenue generated by a client retainer. Use it to turn your own business data into a clear result without building a spreadsheet.
Retainer Effective Hourly Rate Calculator
Test a different scenario
Change any scenario value below. Your original calculation stays unchanged.
Scenario calculations use the same formula and v2.5 validation rules as the main calculator. No scenario values are sent to Borkish.
Calculations and What-If scenarios run in your browser. Borkish does not require you to submit these values to calculate the result.
What the Retainer Effective Hourly Rate Calculator measures
This helps reveal retainers that consume more time than their fee supports. Price services, understand utilization and protect project profitability for agencies and independent professionals.
The result is most useful when every input uses the same definitions and reporting period. This keeps comparisons between campaigns, products, customers or time periods meaningful.
When to use this calculator
- Use the Retainer Effective Hourly Rate Calculator to price work with a clearer view of time, utilization and margin.
- Review whether a project or client is meeting profitability targets.
- Plan capacity before taking on additional work.
Formula
Use one currency consistently for every monetary input. The calculator changes the display symbol only; it does not perform foreign-exchange conversion.
How to use this calculator
- Monthly Retainer — enter the value from the same report, forecast or business period as the other inputs.
- Hours Spent — enter the value from the same report, forecast or business period as the other inputs.
- Select Calculate. The result updates immediately.
- Compare the output with a previous period, target or relevant internal benchmark before making a decision.
Worked example
Using the demonstration values — Monthly Retainer = 5000, Hours Spent = 60 — the calculator returns $83.33. This example exists only to show how the formula behaves. Replace every demonstration value with your own data before using the result for planning or analysis.
How to interpret the result
This helps reveal retainers that consume more time than their fee supports. Use these tools before quoting work, reviewing project performance or planning capacity.
A stronger or weaker result does not always mean the underlying business is healthier or worse. Check the definition of Monthly Retainer, Hours Spent, the attribution or accounting rules behind those inputs, and any costs or outcomes that the formula does not include.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using Monthly Retainer and Hours Spent from different reporting periods or definitions.
- Treating revenue as profit before labour and delivery costs.
- Using optimistic capacity assumptions that are not sustainable.
Frequently asked questions
What does this calculator do?
Calculate the effective hourly revenue generated by a client retainer.
Where should I get the input values?
Use your own advertising platform, ecommerce system, accounting report, CRM, analytics platform or forecast—whichever system is authoritative for the metric. Keep all inputs on the same basis and date range.
Is there one good result I should target?
Usually not. A useful target depends on your margins, acquisition model, operating costs, channel, market and business goals. Your own historical performance is often a better starting benchmark than a generic number.
Can I use this for forecasting?
Yes. Enter forecast values to model a scenario, but treat the output as an estimate based on those assumptions rather than a prediction of future performance.
Can I use a different currency?
Yes. Select a display currency in the calculator and keep every monetary input in that same currency. The calculator does not convert exchange rates.
For details about formulas, rounding and limitations, see our Calculator Methodology.