I own a plumbing business in Florida; how do I create a contract for my clients stating that payment is rendered at completion of work and a percentage of the total bill is due prior to start?
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It makes perfect sense to want clear terms in writing, especially for remodels that require multiple visits and upfront materials. In Florida, you’re absolutely right—licensed contractors who aren’t paid have the right to file a construction lien (FL Stat § 713.901). Including that right in your contract helps protect your business and sets clear expectations with your clients.
Your agreement should include:
- Payment Terms:
Spell out that a specific percentage (e.g., 30–50%) is due before work begins, with the remaining balance due immediately upon completion. This helps ensure clients understand the financial expectations up front. - Scope of Work Section:
Leave a blank, fillable section for you to describe each specific job. This gives flexibility for different types of remodels while ensuring each agreement is job-specific. - Right to File a Lien:
You can include a clause stating that failure to pay may result in the filing of a construction lien on the property, as permitted by Florida law. - Signatures & Dates:
Add a space for both parties to sign and date the agreement to make it legally binding.
Here’s a sample statement you might include:
"Client agrees to pay a deposit of ___% prior to commencement of work, with the remaining balance due upon final completion. Non-payment may result in the filing of a construction lien in accordance with Florida Statute §713.001 et seq."
And I’ll be here for you if more questions come up along the way! Does that help?
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I own a plumbing business in FL and am looking to create a contract/agreement for my clients to sign stating that payment is rendered at completion of work and a percentage of the total bill is due prior to start. We do a lot of remodels and require a down payment to get started. Typically these take several visits for completion.
I understand the importance of having clear payment terms in your contracts. Are you looking to include any specific penalties for late payments in this agreement?
To my understanding, if a contractor is left unpaid, we have the right to put a lien on the property. I would like to state that in the contract.
Will this contract also outline the scope of work, timeline for completion, and any warranties or guarantees provided by your plumbing business?
No. Every job is different requiring different materials, so it is hard to state warranties. I would like to add an area that may be filled in for the scope of work being done for each job.
Is there anything else the Corporate Lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured, they’ll be able to help with customizing your contract to include a section for the scope of work for each job.
I would like to leave all personal information blank so it can be filled out later on.
Welcome and thank you for using AskaLawyer. My name is Gurney, and I'm the attorney who will be assisting with your question.
How do you currently handle situations where clients dispute the scope of work or the payment terms?
I use QuickBooks Online and each customer gets an estimate so they are aware of their upcoming bill. We've just recently started requiring a down payment. All customers have been very compliant with our request. I just want it in legal writing to avoid any situation that a customer may not be compliant.
Ok, thank you for clarifying.
It makes perfect sense to want clear terms in writing, especially for remodels that require multiple visits and upfront materials. In Florida, you’re absolutely right—licensed contractors who aren’t paid have the right to file a construction lien (FL Stat § 713.901). Including that right in your contract helps protect your business and sets clear expectations with your clients.
Your agreement should include:
- Payment Terms:
Spell out that a specific percentage (e.g., 30–50%) is due before work begins, with the remaining balance due immediately upon completion. This helps ensure clients understand the financial expectations up front. - Scope of Work Section:
Leave a blank, fillable section for you to describe each specific job. This gives flexibility for different types of remodels while ensuring each agreement is job-specific. - Right to File a Lien:
You can include a clause stating that failure to pay may result in the filing of a construction lien on the property, as permitted by Florida law. - Signatures & Dates:
Add a space for both parties to sign and date the agreement to make it legally binding.
Here’s a sample statement you might include:
"Client agrees to pay a deposit of ___% prior to commencement of work, with the remaining balance due upon final completion. Non-payment may result in the filing of a construction lien in accordance with Florida Statute §713.001 et seq."
And I’ll be here for you if more questions come up along the way! Does that help?
Can you guide me on where I can create this contract?
Sure thing. You can create a contract really anywhere—it’s just a piece of paper that you write up and sign and then they sign. The big issue isn’t writing it up; the big issue is writing up something they’re willing to sign.
