Get paid on the job, not 30 days later

What rules apply to deposits on home service jobs?

Three sets, before you get to card network rules:

• The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule. For sales of $25 or more made at the customer's home, the buyer can cancel until midnight of the third business day, and payments go back within 10 business days of the cancellation notice (eCFR). The FTC's consumer guide says emergency work and repair or maintenance calls the customer asked for aren't covered, though anything you sell beyond that request is.
• State limits. California caps a home improvement down payment at $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less (CSLB). In Florida, a contractor who takes more than 10% up front on residential work has to apply for permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days after they're issued, unless there's just cause or the customer agrees in writing to a longer period (Florida Statutes).
• Long dispute windows. Mastercard's chargeback guide allows some service disputes to be filed within 120 calendar days of when the services ended, with an outer limit of 540 days. Keep the signed scope, change orders, dated photos and the customer's sign-off for every job.

These rules are current as of October 2026, and other states set their own, so check with your licensing board before you write a deposit policy.

Can a home service business add a card fee?

On credit cards, in most states. Visa caps a US surcharge at your merchant discount rate or 3%, whichever is lower, and Mastercard at your average effective rate or 4%; neither allows one on debit or prepaid cards. In the trades, disclosure means the fee belongs on the estimate, the invoice and the payment page as well as on any sign at the office. On a $1,200 repair, 3% is $36. Some states restrict surcharges, so read our surcharging rules by state first, and Clearo's surcharging program covers compliance, disclosure and setup.

Home services payments FAQ