# Retainers

> Bill a client the same amount every month, and sell packages of sessions up front.

A retainer is an invoice that repeats every month. You set it up once from a draft invoice, and Forge raises the next one on the day you chose.

Starting a retainer is part of the paid plans.

## Set up a retainer

1. Create a draft invoice for the client, with the line items you want to bill each month. See [Invoices and deposits](https://docs.forge.page/invoices).
2. On the draft, find **Repeats monthly** and switch it on.
3. Give it a **Retainer name**.
4. Choose **Bill on the**: any day from the 1st to the 28th.
5. Choose **Payment due**: 7, 14 or 30 days after billing.
6. Choose the **First bill**: now, or on the next billing day.
7. Leave **Send automatically** on to have each invoice emailed for you.

Retainers bill monthly. Other intervals are not available.

## What happens each month

On the billing day, in your timezone, Forge raises that month's invoice.

- With **Send automatically** on, it is emailed to the client with a link to pay.
- With it off, the invoice lands as a draft for you to check and send.
- If Stripe is not connected, it lands as a draft either way.

Nothing is ever taken from a client's card automatically. The client pays each invoice themselves.

## Pause, resume or cancel

Open **Invoices → Recurring** to see your retainers, each marked **Active**, **Paused** or **Cancelled**.

- **Pause** stops new invoices until you **Resume**. After resuming, the next invoice goes out on the next billing day.
- **Edit** changes its settings. A cancelled retainer can't be edited.
- **Cancel** ends it. The client is not billed again, invoices already raised are unaffected, and it can't be undone.

If your plan lapses, retainers you already have keep billing. You need a paid plan to start or resume one.

## Packages of sessions

A package is a block of sessions a client buys up front, such as ten coaching sessions.

1. Open the client and find **Packages**.
2. Choose **Sell a package**.
3. Set **How many sessions**, a **Name**, and the **Price per session**.
4. Under **What it covers**, choose **Any booking** or one event type.
5. Optionally set **Use it by**.
6. Under **How they're paying**, choose **Raise an invoice** or **Already paid me**.

When that client books a session the package covers, it is drawn from the package. If they have more than one, the one that expires soonest is used first.

A package shows as **Awaiting payment**, **Active**, **All used**, **Lapsed**, **Expired**, **Refunded** or **Cancelled**.

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Source: https://docs.forge.page/retainers