Retainers

Three retainers.Built for the work that compounds after launch.

The engagement acquires the account. The retainer is where most clients see compounding return. Each tier bundles managed hosting, monitoring, AI search visibility, content, the AI agent, and the Cardinal operating stack at a flat monthly fee. No hourly billing. No mystery invoices. No junior account managers handing off to junior account managers.

01 · Foundation$1,400–$2,200 / mo

Foundation

Hosting, monitoring, and a site that stays working

ForNew businesses, post-Vibe Rescue clients, post-Signature Site clients

Managed cloud hosting, SSL, CDN, daily backups
Pulse health monitoring on your stack
Bug Catcher widget live on your site
Up to 5 hours of edits per month
Local SEO and Google Business Profile management
Scout Basic: FAQ resolution and lead capture
ADA WCAG 2.1 AA monitoring (add-on)
Starter content engine (1 blog per week, 8 social posts)

Annual commitment: 10% off and locked pricing for 12 months.

02 · Accelerator$5,200–$7,800 / mo

Accelerator

AI search visibility, sales-capable agent, content that compounds

ForEstablished SMBs and regulated firms ready to grow market share

Everything in Foundation
SEO with AIO and GEO regional coverage
Scout Mid: CRM-integrated, sales-qualifying, multi-channel
Growth content engine (3 blogs per week, 16–20 social posts, 3 platforms, custom graphics)
Triage feedback management
Quarterly performance review with the Cardinal strategy team

Annual commitment: 10% off and locked pricing for 12 months.

03 · Apex$11,000–$18,000 / mo

Apex

Category leadership through content velocity and AI search dominance

ForEstablished SMBs and regulated firms competing for category leadership

Everything in Accelerator
SEO with AIO and GEO national / competitive coverage
Scout Enterprise: omnichannel, custom workflow automation, compliance-aware (HIPAA, attorney-client where required)
Authority content engine (7 blogs per week, 30+ social posts, video script snippets)
Editorial publication campaign (op-eds, contributor pieces, podcast placements)
Dedicated strategist, weekly check-in cadence
Custom monitoring dashboard

Annual commitment: 10% off and locked pricing for 12 months.

Annual commitment earns its keep.

10% off and locked pricing on every annual commitment.
One free month when you tier up (Foundation to Accelerator, or Accelerator to Apex) inside your first 12 months.
Net-30 invoicing on annual commitments.
All retainers include the full Cardinal operating stack (Pulse, Triage, Redactor, Worktree, Bug Catcher, Scout).

Start a retainer

Talk to us about your retainer. Written answer in 48 hours.

Foundation, Accelerator, or Apex. Send the project, the goals, and the timeline. We write back with the tier we'd run and what the first 90 days look like. No call required.

Talk to us about your retainer See the build engagements