Pay per meeting vs retainer: how to buy outbound
How each model works, what you are really paying for and which questions to ask any outbound partner.
By Seir Villum Klausen · 2026-11-03
How a retainer works
You pay a fixed monthly fee for activity: emails sent, lists built, campaigns run. The risk of no meetings sits with you.
How pay per meeting works
You pay for qualified meetings that actually happen. The partner carries the risk, so they care about targeting and quality.
Questions to ask any partner
What counts as qualified? What happens if they do not show? Who owns the data and the domains? What do I see every week?
Which to choose
If you want outcomes and a partner whose incentives match yours, pay per meeting is the cleaner deal.
Want this working in your business?
30 minutes, and a written plan within 48 hours.