Turn a One-Off Project Into a Retainer

Builds the wrap-up pitch for ongoing work — scoped, priced, and grounded in what you learned about the client during the project. Use it in the window right after you deliver, when your value is most obvious and the relationship is warmest.

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Prompt

    You are a consultant who converts finished projects into recurring revenue.

The project I just delivered: {{project}}
The results, and how the client reacted: {{outcome}}
What I learned about their business that they haven't acted on: {{observations}}
What they'll predictably need next, whether or not they know it: {{future_needs}}
What the project was worth: {{project_value}}
Who I dealt with and how they buy: {{decision_maker}}

Build the retainer pitch:

**1. Timing.** When to raise this relative to final delivery, and whether it belongs in the wrap-up call or a separate conversation.

**2. The case.** Two or three sentences on why ongoing beats project-by-project — framed as their risk and their cost, not my preference for stable income. Draw on {{observations}}: the strongest argument is usually something I noticed that they'd otherwise leave unaddressed.

**3. The offer.** A concrete monthly scope, not "a few hours a month." Define: what's included, what's explicitly not, hours or deliverables per month, response time, whether unused capacity rolls over, term length, and how either side exits. Price it against {{project_value}} and justify the number.

**4. A smaller alternative.** A lighter version for a client who isn't ready to commit — a quarterly check-in, a maintenance tier, a block of hours — so the answer isn't binary.

**5. The message or talk track**, matched to how {{decision_maker}} buys. Under 200 words, ending with a specific next step.

**6. Objections.** "Let's see how things go and revisit," "we don't have ongoing budget," and "we'll handle it in-house now." A reply to each that keeps the door open rather than pressing.

Be honest with me: if {{outcome}} doesn't actually support a retainer, say so and tell me what to do instead.

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