Understanding Our Partnership Models
Common Agency Pricing Structures
Most marketing agencies price their services in a handful of common ways. Each model is designed to solve a different problem and comes with its own incentives, tradeoffs, and risks. Understanding how agencies structure their fees helps clarify what you are actually paying for and how aligned your agency is with your goals.
Hourly Pricing
Agencies bill for the amount of time spent working on tasks, strategy, or execution, tracked by the hour.
Project-Based Pricing
A fixed price is set for a clearly defined scope of work with agreed-upon deliverables and timelines.
Monthly Retainers
Clients pay a recurring monthly fee in exchange for ongoing marketing services and continued access to the agency’s team.
Hourly Pricing
What it is
Hourly pricing is a model where an agency charges based on the amount of time spent working on your marketing. Time is tracked and billed at an agreed-upon hourly rate, typically covering tasks, execution, and limited strategy.
When we use it
At RBGS, we use hourly pricing for clearly defined, short-term needs where the scope is narrow and ongoing collaboration is not required.
Hourly pricing is most often used when a client comes to us needing small updates made to an existing website, wants a dedicated consulting or strategy session to work through a specific challenge, or needs short-term guidance without the need for an ongoing marketing relationship.
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Clean one to one exchange between time spent and work delivered
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No large scope definition or upfront complexity
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Simple, clearly defined deliverables
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Minimal setup, allowing work to begin quickly
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Becomes costly for sustained or strategic work that requires senior expertise
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Prioritizes time spent over long-term value or outcomes
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What it is
Project-based pricing is a model where a fixed price is set for a clearly defined scope of work, with specific deliverables, timelines, and expectations agreed upon before work begins. The project has a clear start and finish, and pricing is based on completing the agreed-upon work rather than time spent or ongoing involvement.
When we use it
At RBGS, we use project-based pricing when the work is easy to define, the scope is clearly outlined, and a client is looking for a specific outcome or deliverable to be completed. This model works best when expectations, timelines, and success criteria can be established in advance.
Project-based pricing is most often used when a client needs a specific task completed, such as building a defined website page or feature, completing a one-time campaign setup, or delivering a clearly scoped SEO campaign with a clear start and finish and/or clear recurring deliverables.
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Clear expectations around scope, timelines, and deliverables
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Predictable cost with no surprise billing
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Work is strictly limited to what is defined in the original scope, which can make adjustments or new ideas feel constrained
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Clients may find themselves hearing “that is outside the scope” when needs evolve mid-project
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Project-Based Pricing
Monthly Retainers
What it is
Monthly retainer pricing is a model where a client pays a recurring monthly fee in exchange for ongoing access to an agency’s team, strategy, and execution. Rather than paying for individual tasks or isolated deliverables, the retainer supports consistent collaboration, continuous improvement, and work that evolves over time as priorities change.
When we use it
At RBGS, we use monthly retainers when a client is focused on long-term growth and understands that meaningful marketing results come from consistency, iteration, and ongoing collaboration. This model works best when priorities may shift, strategies need to evolve, and success is measured over time rather than by a single deliverable.
Monthly retainers are typically used when a client wants ongoing marketing support rather than a one-time solution. This includes situations where a business needs consistent strategy and execution, regular optimization of existing efforts, or a trusted team to help guide decisions as the business grows and changes.
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Provides consistency, continuity, and long-term strategic alignment
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Allows work to adapt as priorities, data, and opportunities change
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Encourages collaboration rather than transactional interactions
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Requires a longer-term commitment compared to one-off work
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Can feel unclear if expectations, priorities, or accountability are not well defined
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Regardless of how we structure our partnership, the goal remains the same: driving a measurable return on your investment.
