Graphic design retainer packages and pricing
Alponi offers three monthly graphic design retainer packages: 40 hours for $3,500, 80 hours for $5,500, 120 hours for $8,500. Each is a block of dedicated senior design hours for brand, web and marketing work, starting with 90 days and then month-to-month.
Retainer packages
| Package | Hours / month | Price / month | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embedded 40h | 40 | $3,500 | $87.50/hour |
| Embedded 80h | 80 | $5,500 | $68.75/hour |
| Embedded 120h | 120 | $8,500 | $70.83/hour |
90-day initial commitment, then month-to-month. Every package includes the full Flex feature set.
How does a design retainer work?
You pick a monthly package of hours and send requests through a shared board or Slack. Each week you plan the priorities with the founder, dedicated designer time works through them, and several requests can run in parallel up to the hour cap. After the first 90 days the retainer continues month-to-month.
Retainer or subscription?
A retainer buys hours and parallel work. The Flex design subscription buys a queue: unlimited requests at a flat rate of $2,495 a month, one active at a time. Choose a retainer when the roadmap is steady and several things need to move at once; choose Flex when demand comes and goes.
What each monthly retainer includes
- 40h ($3,500/month): Dedicated designer; Weekly planning call; Sprint-based delivery; Full Flex feature set included; 90-day commitment, then month-to-month.
- 80h ($5,500/month): Dedicated designer + part-time second; Weekly planning call + Slack Connect; Sprint-based delivery; Full Flex feature set included; Quarterly review of throughput + scope.
- 120h ($8,500/month): Two dedicated designers; Twice-weekly syncs; Sprint-based delivery + design ops; Brand systems + roadmap planning; Quarterly commitment, then month-to-month.
Retainer terms
- Billed monthly
- 90-day initial commitment, then month-to-month
- Full Flex feature set included: 24-48 hour first versions, up to two revision rounds, replies under an hour during US business hours
- You own all finished work and Figma source files once paid
- How unused hours are handled is agreed in writing before you start
Frequently asked questions.
How much is a graphic design retainer?
US graphic design retainers commonly run $3,000 to $10,000 a month. Alponi's packages are $3,500 for 40 hours, $5,500 for 80 hours, $8,500 for 120 hours.
What are typical graphic designer retainer rates?
Hourly rates for US graphic designers commonly land between $50 and $150. Alponi's retainers work out to $87.50 an hour at 40 hours, $68.75 an hour at 80 hours, $70.83 an hour at 120 hours.
Is there a monthly graphic design package without a retainer?
Yes. Flex is a monthly graphic design package at a flat $2,495: unlimited requests, one at a time, pause or cancel at the end of any month. Fixed-price sprints cover single deliverables from $249.
Can I change packages?
Yes. Moving between retainer sizes, or from a retainer to Flex after the first 90 days, is agreed with the founder on the planning call.
Related
See if Alponi fits.
A 15-minute call. We'll tell you straight which plan fits, or if another option suits you better.
Or email info@alponi.com