Many Tecology clients work with us on a recurring basis through monthly retainers or managed service plans. This approach provides flexibility, predictable billing, and clear visibility over how work is delivered and tracked over time.

What a retainer covers

A retainer is a recurring monthly allocation of time or services that Tecology provides on an ongoing basis. Retainers may include a mix of:

• Ongoing development or technical support
• Managed services and maintenance
• Advisory or consultancy work
• Continuous improvement tasks

Retainers are typically managed as ongoing projects within Tecology Workspace, allowing tasks and work items to be allocated as needed.

How recurring invoicing works

Retainers are billed automatically on a recurring monthly basis.

Invoices are generated in line with your billing cycle and are paid automatically via a Stripe subscription. This ensures:

• Consistent, predictable billing
• No need for manual payment each month
• Reduced administrative overhead

Invoices will appear in Tecology Workspace once issued, along with their payment status.

Using retainer time flexibly

Retainer time is designed to offer flexibility where needed.

Clients can use up to two months’ worth of future retainer time in advance. This means:

• A client on a 6-hour monthly retainer may use up to 18 hours in a single month
• This may result in a pause or reduced availability in subsequent months
• Work is planned transparently to avoid surprises

This flexibility allows work to progress when it matters most, while keeping billing predictable.

What happens if more time is needed

If work exceeds the available retainer allocation, several options are available depending on the situation:

• Charging additional time at an agreed hourly rate
• Creating a separate project for defined pieces of work
• Adjusting or increasing the retainer plan

Any changes are discussed in advance so expectations are clear on both sides.

Time tracking and transparency

All retainer work is tracked using timesheets within Tecology Workspace.

Depending on your permission level, you may be able to:

• View time entries against individual tasks
• See who logged the time
• Export or print timesheet reports

Tecology places a strong emphasis on transparency, ensuring clients have clear visibility over how retainer time is being used.

Why Tecology uses this model

Recurring retainers allow Tecology to:

• Respond more efficiently to ongoing needs
• Plan work proactively
• Provide consistent support without repeated approvals
• Maintain clear, auditable records of work delivered

For clients, this model offers flexibility, clarity, and confidence in how work is managed and billed.