Compare the operating commitments
| Item | Project agreement | Retainer agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Work boundary | Named workflows and deliverables | Included activities, access, and monthly capacity |
| Completion | Acceptance and handover conditions | Review, renewal, and termination conditions |
| Change control | Treatment of additional scope | Treatment of work beyond reserved capacity |
| Availability | Milestone and working-session commitments | Response expectations and coverage limits |
| Continuity | Who maintains the result after exit | What happens if ongoing support ends |
When a project is a sensible start
Use a project when the problem is sufficiently bounded to define outputs and an acceptance test. A CRM cleanup, an onboarding redesign, or a limited SOP library can have a clear completion point. Keep discovery separate where the evidence is not yet strong enough to specify implementation responsibly.
When ongoing support may fit
A retainer can fit a business with a continuing review cadence, a changing improvement backlog, or a need for structured implementation support over time. State who prioritizes the queue and how unused or excess capacity is treated. Access to advice is different from ownership of delivery tasks.
Illustrative sequencing
A firm starts with a project to define its weekly operating dashboard and train the manager. After handover it may need occasional revision support as locations change. That could be a small recurring agreement, a future project, or internal maintenance. The next arrangement should follow the actual work rather than automatic renewal.
Require a visible record of work
For either model, keep a short log of decisions, completed outputs, open issues, and next actions. Review whether the arrangement is increasing internal capability or leaving the same questions permanently dependent on outside help.
Questions to resolve in writing
- What is included and explicitly excluded?
- Who provides internal information and approval?
- How is extra scope or demand handled?
- What response and availability expectations apply?
- Who owns editable materials and configuration access?
- What are the handover, renewal, and exit conditions?
Related implementation resources
Discuss the operating problem
Elixir consulting starts at $5,000 per month, with final pricing based on scope. Bring a recent example, the current workflow, and the person who owns the result to define the appropriate implementation scope.