Retainer
A retainer is an upfront payment that reserves a vendor's availability or ongoing services. It is often non-refundable and may be credited toward the final price or kept as a fee for holding the date. Contracts should say which, because a retainer and a deposit are not always treated the same.
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About retainer.
Also called: retainer fee, booking retainer, reservation fee.
Photographers, planners and DJs commonly ask for a retainer to take a date off the market. The vendor turns away other work to keep the date open.
Some people use the words deposit and retainer interchangeably. Check the contract to see whether it applies to the total and whether it is refundable.
Spell out the amount, the due date and what it secures so there is no surprise if plans change.
This is general information, not legal advice; check with your city, county or state office or an attorney for your situation.
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