How to write a construction contract with your client
A practical guide to protecting your work and your payments
A contract with your client does not have to be a complicated document. One or two clear pages that put the scope, the price, the payment schedule, the dates, how change orders get handled and the warranty in writing will do the job. It keeps you out of arguments, it gets you paid on time and it makes the client comfortable. Here is what it should cover.
The clauses that matter
| Clause | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| The parties | Who is hiring and who is building, with legal names, contact details and your license number where the state requires it |
| Scope of work | Spells out what is included and what is not, which is where most disputes are won or lost |
| Price and payment schedule | The total price and how it is paid: deposit, progress draws and final payment |
| Dates | Start and substantial completion dates, and what happens when weather or material lead times move them |
| Change orders | States that anything outside the scope is priced and signed before the crew builds it |
| Warranty | How long you stand behind your workmanship and what that covers |
| Signatures from both parties | Closes the deal. Without signatures there is no record of what was agreed |
This table is a practical guide, not legal advice. Contract requirements for residential work vary by state, including required notices and your license number. On large jobs, have an attorney review it.
How to set the payment schedule
A payment schedule tied to milestones protects your cash flow and gives the client a clear picture. A common structure on a mid-size job looks like this:
Deposit at signing
30% to buy materials and get started
Progress draw
40% when the structure and rough-in are complete
Finishes
20% when fixtures and finish work are done
Final payment
10% on the punch list being signed off by the client
Reference percentages. Adjust them for the type of job, the duration and what you agreed with the client. Some states cap the deposit on residential work.
Common mistakes in a contract
A vague scope
If the contract does not spell out what is included, the client will assume everything is, and you will build it for free.
Change orders on a handshake
Every extra and every surprise gets priced and signed before it is built. Skip that and you are giving away hours.
Everything paid at the end
With no deposit and no draws you are financing the job yourself and you are exposed if the client stops paying.
No dates and no warranty
Without dates you get blamed for delays, and without a defined warranty you never know when you stop being on the hook.
The accepted quote as your backup
Even before the formal contract is signed, a quote accepted in writing already puts the scope and the price on record. When the client approves your quote through an acceptance link, you have a record of who accepted, what they accepted and when. That digital record pairs well with a signed contract and is exactly what backs you up at billing time.
Get the client to accept with one link
ObraMaestra builds the quote and sends an acceptance link. The client approves the scope and the price in writing before you start.
Create free quote