Setup fee vs monthly retainer: what each pays for

Every Leverwork engagement has two parts: a one-time setup fee to build and deploy your AI workers, and a monthly retainer to run and improve them. Same structure for every sector and every tier. Owners usually ask the same question before the assessment: which part pays for what? Here is the plain answer.

The setup fee builds and ships the worker

• Architecture: mapping the role, the rules you set, and where the worker escalates.
• Integrations: connecting the systems the role already uses (500+ tools with APIs, e.g. QuickBooks, NetSuite, HubSpot, Gmail, Slack; RPA where there is no API).
• Documentation, QA, and go-live.
• Target go-live: about 30 days from kickoff, set in your SOW; 45 days to full deployment on Complex.
• The setup fee is due at kickoff.

The retainer runs and improves it

• Ongoing optimization of the worker after go-live.
• Monthly performance reports.
• Maintenance when your tools or rules change.
• On-call support with a 24–48h response — this is ops response, not an uptime SLA.
• Quarterly reviews.
• The retainer starts at go-live, not at kickoff.

What you never pay for

• No per-seat fees.
• No software license fees.
• No hourly consulting meter or strategy-deck deliverable.

Three clocks people mix up

• Post-launch hypercare: an included delivery and optimization window right after go-live.
• Retainer on-call (24–48h): ongoing ops response for as long as the retainer runs.
• 90-day fee/work pause: if the agreed metric in your SOW is not met within 90 days of go-live, Leverwork pauses the fees and work listed in that SOW until the metric is met or the SOW end condition applies. It applies only where an SOW defines the fees, work, metric, and end condition, and it is not a warranty of savings, revenue, or business results.

How tier changes the numbers (not the structure)

• Standard: 1–2 agents, up to 2 FTE roles. Target go-live: about 30 days from kickoff. Your timeline is set in your SOW.
• Complex: 2–3 agents, 3 FTE roles, 45 days to full deployment, priority support channel.
• Enterprise: 4+ agents, 4+ FTE roles, custom fine-tuning, dedicated success manager.
• The structure stays two-part at every tier; scope sets the figures, and the assessment gives you yours.

What you keep either way

• You own your data, accounts, and tools. No vendor lock-in on your systems.
• Leverwork retains its platform and AI intellectual property.
• Client-specific customizations transfer only if assigned in a signed SOW schedule.
• Workflows and integrations are handed over with documentation on your systems.

The setup fee gets a worker into production. The retainer keeps it accurate as your business changes. If you own a 20–80 person shop and want figures for your role, book a 20-minute assessment → /book/

Frequently Asked Questions