Time & billing ·
How to Bill Retainer Clients: Models and Invoice Examples
How to bill retainer clients: fixed fee, hours bank and value retainers compared, what goes in the agreement, invoice examples and a monthly billing routine.
7 min read
Who it's for / Personal trainers
Personal trainers sell their time in a few shapes: a single session, a pack of 10 or 20 sessions paid up front, a monthly plan with a set number of sessions a week, or online coaching at a flat monthly fee. Small-group sessions split a price between clients, and sessions cancelled late are often charged under a policy. Tell Clodou what was agreed and it writes the invoice, prepares the monthly ones as drafts and keeps track of who has paid.
"Invoice Jordan Reyes for a 10-session pack at $70 a session" creates an invoice with one line of $700. Log each session on the client's project as non-billable time, and the Projects page shows the hours used against the pack.
Set up a client's monthly plan or online coaching fee once as a retainer. Clodou prepares one draft invoice a month for you to check and send, and you pause it when the client takes a break.
Record each payment when it arrives, after your approval. Ask "who owes me money?" and get every overdue invoice with what is still owed; Clodou can draft a polite reminder for you to send.
Many trainers charge per session, with a lower rate per session in a pack of 10 or 20 paid before the first one. A pack is one invoice with one line, such as 10 sessions at $70, $700. Clodou does not count sessions down for you, but you can log each session on the client's project as non-billable time and see the hours used. Single sessions can be invoiced as they happen, or once a month with the number of sessions as the quantity.
A monthly plan, such as two sessions a week for $320 a month, or online coaching with a program and check-ins at a flat fee, is a retainer in Clodou: the amount, the start date and a description that becomes the invoice line. Clodou prepares one draft a month and sends nothing on its own. Pause the retainer when a client takes a break, and resume it when they come back.
For small-group or partner training, invoice each person their share, or one person for the group if that is what you agreed: a group of 4 at $25 each is four invoices of $25 or one of $100. If your policy charges for a session cancelled late, write the policy in the invoice note and add each late cancellation as its own line at the amount the policy states. Clodou never adds a fee or a discount by itself. Gym or studio rent you pay can be logged as an expense.
Step 1
Invoice Jordan Reyes for a 10-session pack at $70 a session. Note: sessions are valid for 3 months, and a session cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice counts as used.
Adds Jordan Reyes as a client and creates draft invoice INV-0071 with one line: personal training, 10-session pack, 10 at $70, $700. No tax is set on this workspace, so the total is $700, and the note prints on the PDF.
Step 2
Set up a $320 monthly retainer for Sam Patel from November 1: personal training, 2 sessions a week. Then prepare this month's retainer invoices.
Finds Sam Patel and sets up the retainer: $320 a month with the line "Personal training, 2 sessions a week", starting November 1. Then creates draft invoice INV-0072 for Sam with that line, $320.00. Nothing is sent on its own.
Step 3
Invoice Mia Chen for October: 6 sessions at $80, plus the session on October 21 she cancelled two hours before, at $40. Put my policy in the note: sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice are charged at half price.
Finds Mia Chen and creates draft invoice INV-0073 with two lines: personal training, 6 sessions at $80, $480.00; late cancellation, October 21, $40.00. Total: $520.00, with your policy in the note.
Step 4
I sent all three. Jordan paid the $700 and Mia paid the $520; Sam hasn't paid yet.
Marks INV-0071, INV-0072 and INV-0073 as sent and shows two approval cards: $700.00 on INV-0071 and $520.00 on INV-0073. Once you approve them, both are marked paid, and INV-0072 stays open with $320.00 owed.
Invoice Jordan Reyes for a 10-session pack at $70 a session, paid before the first session
Set up a $320 monthly retainer for Sam Patel from November 1: personal training, 2 sessions a week
Invoice Mia Chen for October: 6 sessions at $80 and a late cancellation on October 21 at $40
Time & billing ·
How to bill retainer clients: fixed fee, hours bank and value retainers compared, what goes in the agreement, invoice examples and a monthly billing routine.
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