What belongs in your contract (and why handshakes fail the people who keep them)

The core clauses, in the order disputes happen

1. Parties and identity. Your legal business name (the LLC if you formed one— signing personally defeats its purpose), the customer’s name, and the job-site address.
2. Scope by reference. Attach the itemized quoteand incorporate it. The quote’s inclusions, allowances, and exclusions become contract terms — one source of truth, not two documents that can disagree.
3. Price and payment schedule.Total, deposit, and progress payments tied to visible milestones (“on delivery of materials,” “at rough-in inspection”), with final payment on completion. Kentucky doesn’t cap residential deposits by statute, but oversized deposits are the #1 consumer complaint pattern — 10–33% depending on custom-material exposure is the defensible norm.
4. Change orders in writing.The clause that saves the most money: no scope change happens without a signed (or e-signed) change order stating the price and schedule impact. Verbal “while you’re at it” additions are where profitable jobs go to die.
5. Start window and duration— a start range and estimated duration with a weather/permit delay provision, so “late” has a definition.
6. Warranty terms. What you warrant (workmanship, for how long), and that manufacturer warranties pass through on materials.
7. Cancellation rights.If the deal was solicited at the customer’s home — door-knocking, storm-chasing season — the FTC Cooling-Off Rule generally gives a 3-business-day cancellation right, and your contract must disclose it. Building the notice in keeps a good sale from becoming a violation.
8. Dispute path. A simple escalation (talk → written notice and cure period → mediation/court) keeps small disagreements from jumping straight to lawyers.

Kentucky context worth knowing

Kentucky’s Consumer Protection Act (KRS 367) prohibits unfair or deceptive practices, and the Attorney General does pursue contractor complaints — clear written agreements are your best defense as much as the customer’s. Mechanics’ liens exist in Kentucky with strict notice deadlines; if a job is big enough that a lien might matter, get the deadlines from an attorney before the job starts.

The signing itself is evidence

E-signatures are legally recognized (federal E-SIGN Act and Kentucky’s UETA). What varies is evidentiary strength: AllContraX e-signing is free for every contractor, and Informed Signing adds a recorded verbal acknowledgment — the customer heard the key terms and said so, on the record — for jobs where a signature alone feels thin.

This guide is education, not legal advice.The platform’s generated contracts carry the same notice: have an attorney review your template once, then reuse it with confidence.