What is the difference between a retainer fee and a fixed fee?

A retainer is like a deposit you place with the attorney...he or she will bill you against that deposit and usually request more if the task will require additional work. A fixed fee is simply a fixed amount, or a set price, for a service, say $1000 to file a bankruptcy case.

I agree with counsel that a retainer is like a deposit against future work whereas a "fixed fee" is simply a description of a discrete cost for a particular type of work. A fixed fee may be paid out of a retainer fee. Make sure to require a written retainer agreement (contract) that should explicitly describe the terms of the payment. Good luck.