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Milestone Based Contracts vs Retainer Agreements

Developers should use Milestone Based Contracts when working on fixed-scope projects, freelance gigs, or client engagements to mitigate payment delays, manage expectations, and track progress transparently meets developers should learn about retainer agreements when working as freelancers, consultants, or in agencies to establish stable, long-term client relationships and manage recurring revenue streams. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Milestone Based Contracts

Developers should use Milestone Based Contracts when working on fixed-scope projects, freelance gigs, or client engagements to mitigate payment delays, manage expectations, and track progress transparently

Milestone Based Contracts

Nice Pick

Developers should use Milestone Based Contracts when working on fixed-scope projects, freelance gigs, or client engagements to mitigate payment delays, manage expectations, and track progress transparently

Pros

  • +It's particularly useful for complex or long-term projects where incremental delivery and validation help prevent scope creep and ensure both parties are satisfied with the outcomes
  • +Related to: project-management, agile-methodology

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Retainer Agreements

Developers should learn about retainer agreements when working as freelancers, consultants, or in agencies to establish stable, long-term client relationships and manage recurring revenue streams

Pros

  • +They are particularly useful for maintenance, support, or ongoing development projects where clients need regular access to expertise without the overhead of hiring full-time staff
  • +Related to: contract-law, freelancing

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Milestone Based Contracts if: You want it's particularly useful for complex or long-term projects where incremental delivery and validation help prevent scope creep and ensure both parties are satisfied with the outcomes and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Retainer Agreements if: You prioritize they are particularly useful for maintenance, support, or ongoing development projects where clients need regular access to expertise without the overhead of hiring full-time staff over what Milestone Based Contracts offers.

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The Bottom Line
Milestone Based Contracts wins

Developers should use Milestone Based Contracts when working on fixed-scope projects, freelance gigs, or client engagements to mitigate payment delays, manage expectations, and track progress transparently

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev