Written contract rules in Massachusetts
Contractors operating in Massachusetts are required by statute to provide a written contract for jobs valued over $1,000. The contract must include scope, total price, payment schedule, start and completion dates, and (where applicable) the contractor's license number.
Right-to-cancel notice
For home-improvement and door-to-door sales, Massachusetts requires the contract to include a written notice of the consumer\u2019s right to cancel within 72 hours. The notice must be conspicuously displayed and accompanied by a separate cancellation form.
Late fees on past-due invoices
The maximum late fee a contractor may charge in Massachusetts is 1.5% per month under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 271, §49. The fee must be disclosed in the contract or on the invoice itself before it can be enforced. Civil usury cap 20%/yr; criminal usury 20%+ requires registration.
Required invoice fields
- Contractor business name, address, and phone number
- Contractor license number (where state law or trade requires)
- Customer name and project address
- Itemized scope of work, materials, and labor
- Total price, payment schedule, and due date
- Late-fee disclosure (max 1.5% per month under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 271, §49)