Retainer FAQ

Pssst. Want us to customize your theme for half the price?


Game Changers

What do you define as “a project”?

Each month we’ll work on a project that’s completely custom to you and will vary considerably as a result. Here are some examples of what we think we could complete each month:

  • Custom blocks ~4
  • Build out & test landing pages ~2
  • Set up additional tracking and reporting metrics based on provided questions, e.g. “hey, does X work?”, i.e. analytics goals, heat maps, AB tests
  • Weekly dedicated half-day co-working
  • A custom plugin (built through SP membership) with lifetime license

How does “no overages” really work?

On this plan, you won’t receive any hourly billing. Some months we’ll do bigger projects and some months we’ll do smaller ones. If we need to speed up our pace or take on multiple projects in a month, we recommend stacking subscriptions.

Can we work on more than one project each month?

Yes, when we want to work on more projects concurrently it’s possible to purchase multiple subscriptions. Alternatively, large-scale projects can be estimated flat-rate as-needed.

Are there other benefits to this plan?

Of course; you’ll receive a Small Plugins membership–if you don’t already have one–and up to 40% off any sites you move to the Creator theme, and–if you’re on a Creator theme–you’ll be part of our exclusive Creator Club!

Are there hidden fees?

Nope, each month you’ll pay your monthly subscription and receive no additional bills.

How many clients do you take on at one time?

As of July 2024, we’re starting with a small group and only onboarding 4 clients, including any stacked subscriptions. In the future, we foresee limiting this plan to a dozen or fewer clients at all times.

What are stacked subscriptions?

Just a fancy way of saying that one client has subscribed to a plan multiple times in order to increase the number of meetings, projects, and effort put into their site in partnership with our team.

Do you offer multisite or multiplan discounts?

We do not currently charge for additional sites, so no discount is needed! If you’re stacking subscriptions, we don’t have a discount currently. Our plans are already priced as competitively as we can.


Business Partners

How do you define a “quick request”?

Any task that can be completed in 15 minutes or less.

What does “unlimited” really mean?

Unlimited quick requests. Have a question? We got you. Need a change? We got you. Seriously, use Marker to submit any number of changes and we’ll carry it out all day long if needed.

Do I have a limit to the number of concurrent requests?

Nope! Even if they’re all related to the same creative concept where you’ve built a web of quick requests to create additional functionality… we’re good! However, if you hack our system in such a way, we need you for employee training purposes ASAP. You don’t need our technical prowess, you are an intellectual master.

How do I submit each request?

Each of our partners receives access to a tool called Marker. You’ll use the green “Ask OC” button on your site (which is visible on both mobile and desktop as long as you’re logged in!) or the Marker extension to submit requests.

Can I send you a big project & you break it down to small tasks?

No, creative work should be estimated and billed separately so we can ensure the larger project meets your needs and goals and adheres to whatever timelines you require. If you want to break the project down yourself, you’re definitely welcome to submit each of those and we’ll complete them!

Am I allowed to email in my requests?

No, we must insist that you use Marker to submit all questions and requests. This makes it easy for our team to see and assign tasks, keep relevant conversations inline, and close out each task to stay on track!

Are there other benefits to this plan?

Of course; you’ll receive a Small Plugins membership, if you don’t already have one, up to 20% off any sites you move to the Creator theme, and–if you’re on a Creator theme–you’ll be part of our exclusive Creator Club!

How am I billed for tasks over 15 minutes?

Anything we cannot complete in 15 minutes will be discussed with you, instead. You might choose to break the request down into smaller tasks or pursue a creative project with us separately, at our current hourly rate. This project and estimate will be discussed with you beforehand and approved prior to any work, or it’s free!

Are there hidden fees?

Nope, the only time you’ll receive a monthly invoice is if you’ve requested a creative project and we’ve all agreed on the hourly rate and project timelines.

What is Creator Club?

It’s our exclusive way of getting you a new, creative block each month! We’ll create a new block for everyone in the community, ask if you want us to customize it with your fonts and colors, and add it to your site’s patterns. Keep it fresh!

Returning Clients

Are there any recurring fees?

No, we’re simplifying our plans and removing all fees associated with plans that support clients with infrequent needs.

How am I billed for work?

After receiving an estimate, we’ll ask you to sign our business agreement which will outline the billing method. In 99% of the projects, we bill projects hours at the end each month, rounding hours to the nearest 15-minute increment to save you money.

When should I use this service?

There are two wonderful instances to work with us.

  • The first is whenever we email you a list of project ideas with flat-rate estimates. That’s creative work that we recommend and want to help you implement in a cost-effective way!
  • The second is after you’ve worked with your regular maintenance provider and they’ve recommended a change that they’re unable to take on.

Are there other benefits to this plan?

No, this is a simple plan for past clients that comes with no fees.

Are there hidden fees?

No, of course not. Send us a request, we’ll send you an estimate, and only with your approval will we get started.

All levels

Do you provide emergency, night, or weekend support?

No, we’re a strategic agency, not a maintenance program. We do not have any international or low-cost contractors that monitor our inbox outside of our normal business hours.

We’ve found that the majority of emergency issues can be addressed (or prevented!) in a timely manner by a great host or support team. Instead, we’ll focus our expertise on high-level problem-solving, writing amazing code, and building strong customer relationships.