Buyer guide
Fixed price, hourly or retainer? How automation agencies charge
Updated 2026-10-22
Short answer: Agencies usually charge a fixed price for a defined project, an hourly or daily rate for open-ended work, or a monthly retainer for ongoing improvements and support. Many combine them: fixed price to build, then a monthly retainer.
Fixed price
- Best when the scope is clear.
- Ask exactly what is included and how changes are priced.
Hourly or daily rate
- Best for discovery, small fixes or unclear scope.
- Ask for a cap or weekly reports.
Monthly retainer
- Best for ongoing changes, monitoring and support.
- Ask what response times are included.
What we see in this directory
148 of 980 agencies publish a starting price and 41 publish an hourly rate. You can see them on the published prices page.
Agencies to look at
- Automation Consulting Services (United States)
- Atomic Actions (United States)
- Goodspeed (United Kingdom)
- Makeitfuture (Romania)
- Connex Digital (United States)
Browse further
Questions
Which is safest for a first project?
A small fixed-price first phase lets you test working together with limited risk.
Are platform fees included?
Usually not. Platform and AI usage fees are normally billed to your own accounts.