R is for Retainer

Written By Leah Weinberg
An AI generated image of a whimsical, red furred, anthropomorphic letter R. The R has googly eyes with curly eyelashes in the style of a Jim Henson Muppet.

In this reel, I talk about retainers (not deposits 😉).

Watch the Reel
Watch the Reel

Retainers, which can be nonRefundable...but that only works if your contract actually explains what the retainer is for:

🔹 It compensates you for committing to perform the services
🔹 It compensates you for turning down other work that would limit your capacity to perform
🔹 It reserves that specific date/time on your calendar

When your contract spells this out, it’s much easier to stand behind your retainer policy (and harder for a client to argue it should be refunded when they cancel).

If your client agreement just says “nonrefundable retainer” with no explanation, it’s time for a tweak. Schedule a free chat with me.

Leah Weinberg

Leah Weinberg – founder of Weinberg Legal – is an attorney, a recovering wedding planner, and the author of The Wedding Roller Coaster. She spent a decade planning weddings in and around New York City as the owner of Color Pop Events before returning to her roots as an attorney in 2023 so she could provide legal counsel for wedding and event professionals as well as other creative entrepreneurs who want to feel better equipped to weather the ups and downs of running a small business. Leah’s work and insights have been published online and in print with Vogue, the New York Times, People, CNN, CNBC, Bravo, Martha Stewart, and The Knot, among others.

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