How much can a Massachusetts contractor take up front?

Answers (1)

1. LE

   LokalMatch EditorialLokalMatch editorial

   Answered September 24, 2026

   Half is more than Massachusetts allows. The law caps the advance at the greater of one third of the total contract price or the actual cost of any materials or equipment of a special order or custom-made nature.

   That second limb is the one people misuse. It is not a license to ask for half because some of the material is ordered in — it is the actual cost of the genuinely custom items, which you are entitled to see an invoice for.

   The writing requirement starts low. Every agreement to perform residential contracting services for more than one thousand dollars must be in writing, and no work may begin before the contract is signed and a copy delivered to you.

   At the other end, no final payment may be demanded until the contract is completed to the satisfaction of both parties. Between those two rules there is very little room for the pattern that causes most of the trouble: money handed over early, work that trails off, and nothing left to withhold.

Answers come from pros and are reviewed by LokalMatch before they’re published. They’re general information — for regulated or safety-critical work, have a licensed professional assess your situation.

Sources

Where the facts on this page come from.

1. 1

   Massachusetts General Laws chapter 142A, section 2 — Massachusetts General Court (accessed September 24, 2026)

2. 2

   Massachusetts General Laws chapter 142A, section 5 — Massachusetts General Court (accessed September 24, 2026)