The Retainer Trap
Retainers trap both sides. You’re paying for hours you may not use. Your support professional is locked into a contract that doesn’t flex with your actual workload. And when priorities shift, which they always do, you’re stuck renegotiating or losing money.
The model was built for a different era. One where businesses operated on predictable monthly cycles. Where workloads stayed consistent. Where “strategic projects” happened on schedule. That’s not how modern operations work.
Why “No Retainer” Usually Goes Wrong
Here’s the problem: most alternatives to retainers create different problems.
Freelance platforms give you access without commitment. But they also give you no continuity. You’re constantly onboarding new people. Explaining your systems again. Managing quality control. Hoping someone follows through.
Then there are on-demand apps that promise speed and convenience. But you get whoever’s available. No specialization. No ownership of outcomes. No one who actually understands your business context or your team’s working style.
We recognized that businesses don’t need cheaper or faster; they need better matching without rigid lock-in.
Our Model: 60-Day Flexible Support Blocks
We replaced monthly retainers with 60-day time blocks.
Here’s how it works: You purchase a block of hours (5, 10, 20, 40, or custom package) that you use over a 60-day period. Your matched Virtual Support Specialist handles the work. You use hours as needed; some weeks heavy, some weeks light. No monthly minimum. No unused hours wasting away.
Why 60 Days?
Because real operational work doesn’t fit into monthly cycles. Email campaigns might take 6 weeks. Systems implementations could take 8 weeks. Client onboarding processes may span 45 days. We built our model around how work actually happens, not arbitrary calendar months.
Why Hours Instead of Contracts?
Because your workload fluctuates. Launch weeks are intense. Post-launch weeks are lighter. With time blocks, you’re not paying for support you don’t need. You’re also not scrambling when you need more. You simply use what you purchased when you need it.
Why Specialists?
Because “virtual assistant” is too broad to be useful. You don’t need someone who can do everything poorly or kind of good. You need someone who’s excellent at social media, email marketing, or client experience, or admin, with 3+ years of focused experience in that function.
Why This Works Better
You get continuity without commitment. You get specialization without payroll lock-in. You get flexibility without losing accountability. Your specialist learns your systems, your standards, and your style, but you’re not trapped in a 12-month contract when priorities change.
Who This Model Is Actually For
This isn’t for everyone. And that’s intentional.
This model is designed for:
This is not for:
If you have established workflows and specific functional needs, this model will serve you well. Need to build those systems first? Our Strategic Solutions service can help. Still figuring out if you need support at all? You’re probably not ready yet.
Why This Is Better Than Retainers
Let’s be direct about the business case.
Budgeting
With retainers, you’re locked into fixed monthly payments whether you use the hours or not. With time blocks, you purchase what you need when you need it. Your budget flexes with your actual workload, not arbitrary monthly commitments.
Flexibility
Retainers penalize you for variability. Busy month? You pay overage fees. Slow month? You lose unused hours. Time blocks let you use support when it makes sense, heavy during launches, lighter during planning phases, without financial waste.
Scaling
Need more support? Purchase another time block. Need less? Don’t renew. No contract negotiations. No awkward conversations about reducing hours. No being trapped in commitments that no longer fit your needs.
No Idle Time
The retainer model’s dirty secret? You’re often paying for availability, not productivity. Your specialist sits idle during your slow weeks, but you’re paying the same rate. With time blocks, you’re only paying when work is actually happening.
Accountability
Here’s what most people miss: retainers often reduce accountability. When someone’s paid regardless of results, urgency drops. With time blocks, both sides stay focused. Hours get used intentionally. Work gets done efficiently. We aim to meet the KPIs we’ve established. And if we haven’t proven ourselves? You simply don’t repurchase. You’re not stuck in a contract trying to get out.
Frequently Asked Questions
