Klaviyo agency pricing models explained.
Klaviyo agencies usually charge by monthly retainer, by fixed project or by a share of attributed revenue. A retainer suits ongoing work, a project suits a defined build such as a flow set, and revenue share can align interests but needs a clear definition of what counts. Always ask what is included before comparing fees.
Monthly retainer.
A retainer pays for a set amount of capacity each month, often covering campaigns, flow upkeep and reporting. It suits stores that email regularly and want a steady team.
The risk is vague scope. Ask what a month includes, how many campaigns, which flows and what happens when you want more than the agreed amount.
Fixed project.
A project has a defined deliverable, such as building a welcome and abandoned cart flow, a migration from another platform or a design refresh. It suits stores that want a clear start and finish.
The risk is the gap afterwards. Flows need tuning after launch, so ask whether review time is included or sold separately.
Revenue share.
Some agencies take a percentage of revenue attributed to email. It can align incentives, but attribution is contestable, and a share of revenue that would have arrived anyway rewards the agency for very little.
If you consider this model, define the attribution window, the baseline and what happens when sales fall for reasons that have nothing to do with email.
Comparing quotes fairly.
Two quotes that look similar can cover very different work. Compare the number of flows, the design hours, the testing, the reporting and the people involved, not the headline fee.
We quote after the free audit rather than publish a price, because the right scope depends on what is already in your account.
In practice.
Suppose a store wants a welcome flow, an abandoned cart flow and four campaigns a month. One quote is a fixed project for the flows plus a retainer for campaigns. Another is a single retainer covering everything. Neither is wrong, but they carry different risks: the first leaves a gap after launch, the second can blur what is included. Writing the scope down removes most of the difference.
Checklist.
- Is the scope written down in plain words?
- What is included each month, and what costs extra?
- How is attribution defined if revenue share is involved?
- Is review time after launch included?
- What does it cost to stop?
Common mistakes.
- Comparing fees without comparing what is included
- Agreeing to revenue share with no baseline
- Signing a long term with no review point
Questions people ask.
Why do many agencies not publish prices?
Scope depends on what is already in the account, the number of flows and the volume of sends. Quoting after an audit is more accurate than a price list that fits nobody.
Is revenue share a good idea?
It can be, if attribution and the baseline are defined clearly in advance. Without those, it can reward the agency for sales that would have happened anyway.
Should I pay for a trial month?
A short initial term with a review point works well. It lets both sides test the relationship without a long commitment.
Inferno Emails is an agency, so we have an interest in you hiring one. This guide is written to help you choose well, including choosing someone else or doing the work yourself.
Want a straight answer on your own account? Our free audit lists what is missing and what to fix first, with no obligation. See the klaviyo email marketing service or book your free audit.
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