The Vibe Consultant’s Guide to Building a Recurring Revenue Machine

Why maintenance, advisory, and productization are the keys to real freedom in 2026

January 24, 2026
Read Time: 8 minutes

Let’s get real: the biggest difference between consultants who are always hustling for the next deal and those who have real freedom is recurring revenue. If you want to wake up on the first of every month with money in the bank, without having to chase new projects every week, this is the playbook.

Why Recurring Revenue Changes Everything

Recurring revenue is the foundation of security. Most consulting businesses are built on one-off or short-term projects. You might have a three- or six-month engagement, but when it’s over, you’re back to square one. Even if you’re getting paid monthly, if it’s just a project, you’re always looking for the next thing.

But when you have true recurring revenue, maintenance contracts, advisory retainers, or even a platform, you’re not starting from zero every month. You have freedom. You can take risks, invest in growth, and actually enjoy your business.

I can’t overstate how much this changes your life. You’re not constantly chasing the dime. You’re building something that lasts.

The Main Recurring Revenue Models for Vibe Consultants

There are three main ways to build recurring revenue as an AI consultant:

1. Maintenance Contracts (Post-Implementation):
After you build and implement AI agents for a client, you offer to manage and maintain them. On the low end, that’s $1,000/month per agent. For more complex agents, it can be $5,000/month or more. If you’re managing a stack of agents, you could be making $10K+ per client just on maintenance.

2. Advisory Retainers:
This is where you get paid just to be in the client’s corner. For a few calls a month and ongoing access, you can charge $3,000–$10,000/month. The more value you deliver, the more you can charge. I’ve personally been put on retainer for $3,500/month just for advisory.

3. Platform Revenue:
If you go deep in a niche and build out a library of automations, you can turn your consulting business into a software business. Clients pay a monthly fee to access your platform and get ongoing value. This is the long-term play, but it’s where the biggest margins are.

How to Transition from One-Off to Recurring

The transition is actually very natural. The audit lays out the implementations. You deliver a killer proposal, build trust, and then implement the solutions.

But here’s the key: you make maintenance mandatory. AI is evolving faster than any technology before it. Models change, APIs break, and new solutions come out every month. If you want your client to keep getting results, you need to be there to maintain and upgrade their systems.

Here’s how I frame it:
“AI is evolving exponentially. To make sure you keep getting the results you paid for, we need to keep your systems up to date. That’s why we offer a maintenance retainer. We’ll handle updates, upgrades, and make sure you’re always ahead of the curve.”

Advisory can be bundled in, or offered separately. The best clients want both.

If you’re building a platform, the transition is even easier. “We’ve built out all the automations you need. Now you can access them through our platform for a monthly fee.”

How to Package and Price Recurring Services

Maintenance:

• $1,000/month per simple agent

• $5,000+/month for complex agents

• If you’re managing a stack, you can easily get to $10K+ per client

Advisory:

• $3,000–$10,000/month for a bundle of hours (e.g., 4 calls/month, ongoing access)

• Package it as “access to me and my team, ongoing strategy, and keeping you ahead of the AI curve”

Platform:

• Monthly or annual subscription, priced based on value delivered and number of users/agents

The key is to make maintenance mandatory for any implementation. If you build it, you maintain it. If you don’t, you’re setting yourself up for headaches and unhappy clients.

How to Pitch and Sell Recurring Services (Without Being Pushy)

This is the easiest part. Recurring services are the natural next step. You’re not being pushy, you’re being responsible.

Here’s how I say it:
“To make sure you keep getting results, we need to maintain and upgrade your AI systems. That’s why we offer a maintenance retainer. It’s not optional if you want to keep winning.”

For advisory:
“We can bundle in ongoing strategy and support, so you always have access to the latest AI solutions and best practices.”

If you’re building a platform:
“Everything we’ve built for you is now available in one place. You get updates, support, and new features every month.”

The Biggest Mistake: Trying to Build Recurring Revenue Too Fast

Don’t try to sell a retainer before you’ve delivered value. Start with audits and implementations. Get to know your niche. Build trust. Once you know what your clients need, you’ll know exactly what to offer on a recurring basis.

I see too many people trying to sell AI receptionists or other recurring services before they’ve done the work. The shortcut is the long way around. Do the work, build the relationship, and the recurring revenue will follow.

Real-World Examples from the Community

• Chris closed two audits for $8K, then landed $800/month in advisory retainers for those clients.

• I’ve been put on retainer for $3,500/month just for advisory, plus this month we built a property management invoice OCR agent that’s now on a $1,500/month maintenance contract.

• Didac finished his first audit and has a $100,000+ implementation pipeline, with maintenance and advisory built in.

The pattern is clear: deliver value, then make maintenance and advisory mandatory.

Action Plan: How to Add Recurring Revenue This Month

• If you’re doing implementations, make maintenance mandatory. Don’t let clients walk away without a plan to keep their systems running.

• Bundle advisory into your maintenance contracts. Offer ongoing strategy, support, and updates.

• If you’re in a niche, start building a library of automations you can turn into a platform.

• Focus on delivering value first. The recurring revenue will follow.

Final Thought:
Recurring revenue isn’t just about money. It’s about freedom, security, and building a business that lasts. The consultants who win in 2026 are the ones who make maintenance, advisory, and productization the core of their offer.

If you want help building your recurring revenue machine, book a call with me. Let’s make this your year.

See you next week,

– Andrew

P.S. Ready to build your own Vibe Consulting business? Book a 1:1 strategy call here to see if you're a good fit for my personal coaching program.