A pay for access retainer on the other hand gives clients freedom to access a professional or firm at will with prior agreements on the amount to be paid for the access granted. Customers need to make a monthly payment to remain at the top of the service provider’s availability so that when they need him or her, they are attended to immediately. 

Fixed-price retainers involve an understanding of the client and the service provider that the price paid is a fixed retainer to be paid for the project. This fee embodies all the effort and inputs that are involved in the completion of a specific project irrespective of the amount of time that is taken or resources utilized.

The payment arrangement in a time-based retainer involves the client paying a certain equivalent of the service provider’s time. This payment structure can be done on a monthly, quarterly or probably on an annual basis. The services are paid in advance, and the clients receive a certain amount of time of the provider’s service to be used as and when required. Such retainer arrangement is prevalent in consultancy, law, and creative production businesses.

A lump sum retainer is another option where the client pays for a fixed amount of work at a certain fee, for a predefined number of contractual periods. This type of retainer will be appropriate for a client who requires consistent services but does not wish to keep being invoiced on regular intervals.