2. When does a project beat an annual retainer?

Why it matters: recurring fees need recurring work, not just an initial list of opportunities.

Good-answer framing: identify event-driven versus continuing needs, define monitoring obligations and explain how the engagement shrinks after a major project. Ask for the renewal calculation and what would trigger an increase or decrease in scope.

Follow-up: “Which deliverables disappear in year two, and why would the fee remain the same?”

Evidence request: a redacted year-one scope and subsequent renewal schedule.

Expert quote: ____________________ Speaker/date/permission: ____________________