Your retainer allows you to obtain technical assistance and guidance on an as-needed basis (see “What can a retainer be used for?” below). As help is sought, time is deducted in fifteen (15) minute increments from your retainer balance. Retainers are available for purchase in (5) hour blocks of time. When all hours are used, additional blocks may be purchased without interruption of service. Blocks are valid for one (1) calendar year from invoice date.

It’s difficult to nail down a complete list, as there is a wide range of consultative tasks that can be completed as part of a retainer. Below are some examples:

• Web, creative, and technical strategy for your brand, art, projects, or products
• Usability and user experience analysis of your website or blog
• Ongoing website updates, maintenance, and support
• Creation of wireframes and mockups
• Software (commercial and open source) and infrastructure recommendations
• Content Management Systems or publishing platform support (e.g., WordPress, Statamic, Ghost, etc.)
• Providing technical representation in meetings or via email (e.g., emails or calls on your behalf)
• Business, technical, and web copy writing

All consulting is delivered by Jay Benfield. I may lean on my team for website maintenance and the delivery of other technical tasks. It really depends on my workload, availability, and the complexity of the task. Whether it’s me or a fellow nerd in my Circle of Trust, I make sure all work delivered is up to my, and more importantly your, expectations.

All of my web services are delivered under Benfield Creative, LLC – a Virginia-based company owned and operated by me and my wife.

Yes. Ten (10) blocks or 50 hours is the maximum balance that can be maintained at any time.

Not during the 50% launch promotion. However, once this promotion is concluded, the more blocks that are purchased will result in a lower hourly rate.

Unless we have a prior relationship, the Intro Call is required before we enter into a retainer agreement. It’s an opportunity to connect before you book  to ensure that we’re a good match for ongoing partnership.

When a retainer is established, you will be given a unique email address to use for making requests. You simply send an email with a summary of the work to be performed and the desired timeline for that work. After requesting service, you may receive a reply with clarifying questions and, if in-scope for the retainer (see “What can a retainer be used for?” above), you will be provided with an estimated level of effort in hours or blocks, an estimated completion date of the request.

Every request is unique and our team’s schedule varies day-by-day. The amount of time needed to implement your request will be determined on a case-by-case basis, based on request scope and complexity evaluated against other requests in the queue. You will receive an estimated delivery time following the request.

If your request is urgent and/or has a very short turnaround time, I will do my very best to accommodate. If moving your request to the front of the queue will adversely affect the delivery of another customer’s request, I will reach out to that customer to obtain their consent for a change to their request’s delivery date. If they approve the change, I will continue with your request at the emergency rate (2x). If they are not ok with the move, I will slot your request in as aggressively as possible.

Yes. You can expect complete transparency and a detailed accounting of work performed. All retainer activities are captured in my online billing system. You can login at anytime and view the time and activity logged on your retainer to date. This interface also provides account summary and invoice information.

Yep! If you are working on a project that requires formal legal protection due to intellectual property concerns or other sensitivity, I am happy to execute a mutual NDA. That said, I maintain strict confidentiality by default.