Stacking Contracts, Not Overtime: How Retainers Replace Your Paycheck

🚔 Stacking Contracts, Not Overtime: How Retainers Replace Your Paycheck

“If you're still pulling overtime for grocery money… it’s time to flip the script.”

Most cops think the only way to make more money is more hours.

More shifts. More weekends. More wear on your body—and less time with your family.

But here's the truth:

🧨 You don’t need more gigs. You need more predictable income.

And the fastest way to get there?

Monthly retainers.

👮‍♂️ A Story from the Field

A buddy of mine—retired deputy out of Oklahoma—started a mobile security consulting business while he was still on the force.

At first, he charged per job. $200 for a risk assessment here. $500 for a training session there.

Problem was, every month felt like a new hustle.
No consistency. No peace of mind.

Then we built him a retainer model.

He pitched a local church network a flat monthly package:
✅ 1 site review/month
✅ On-call risk support
✅ Quarterly drills

They signed on for $1,000/month. Two more clients followed.

By the time he hit retirement, he was clearing $3K/month in recurring income—without adding new hours.

⚙ Tactical Application: How to Set Up Retainers as a Cop-Turned-Business Owner

Here’s how you do it—step by step.

🧱 1. Package What You Already Know

Retainers are not about working more—they’re about selling access and availability.

If you're a:

• Security consultant: Monthly walk-throughs, emergency plans, drills

• Mobile notary: Priority appointments, bulk discounts for volume clients

• Tactical trainer: Ongoing training sessions, emergency response support

Keep it simple. Offer:

• Tier 1: Basic support

• Tier 2: Premium + extra hours

• Tier 3: All-access / on-call

💵 2. Set Your Monthly Price

Don’t overthink this.

Start with:

• What’s your ideal hourly rate?

• How many hours will this retainer actually require?

Let’s say:

• You want $75/hr

• You expect to give 4-5 hours/month

That’s $375/month baseline. Add a buffer for availability, and quote $500–$750/month.

Retainers pay for peace of mind, not just hours worked.

🗣 3. Use This Script to Pitch a Client

Here’s what to say to a potential retainer client:

🧭 Intelligent Elevation: Why This Changes the Game

The job taught you to rely on a check.
But the business game? It rewards consistency over chaos.

Retainers are:

• Predictable (no chasing invoices)

• Scalable (stack three, four, five at a time)

• Stress-reducing (no feast-or-famine cycles)

You don't have to wake up wondering if this month’s gonna cover the bills.

Instead, you wake up knowing your time is spoken for—and paid for.

💬 Closing Insight

You’ve already learned to run toward chaos.
Now it’s time to build something that runs without it.

Retainers don’t just replace your overtime—they restore your sanity.

🔁 Repeatable Proverb

“The right clients don’t just pay you once. They pay you to stay.”

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See you next time,

Kevin St John
Business Strategist, Beatline Capital

beatlinecapital.co/