Scope — say what you will actually do
The scope clause should read like the accepted estimate, not like a summary of it. Quantities, materials, locations, and the finish condition. If the estimate says 32 squares of architectural shingle on the main structure only, the contract should say that, not 'roof replacement'.
Scope is where the price is anchored. Everything else in the document is an argument about the scope.
Exclusions — say what you will not do
Exclusions carry more weight than most people give them, because disputes are almost never about what you said you would do. They are about what the customer assumed was included: decking replacement, permits, haul-away, landscaping repair, code upgrades, painting to match, moving furniture.
Write them as a standing list in the template and add job-specific ones during the estimate. An exclusion added after the customer has been surprised does nothing.
Payment terms — tie money to events
- State the total and what it covers.
- Tie each payment to an observable event: signing, material delivery, rough-in, substantial completion, final walkthrough.
- State the due window after each trigger, not just 'on completion'.
- State accepted payment methods and who to pay.
- State what happens if a payment is late — in wording your lawyer approves.
Change orders — the clause that pays for surprises
The change-order clause should define what counts as a change, who can authorize one, that it must be written and priced before the work happens, and how it affects the schedule and the total. Without it, discovered conditions become free work, because the crew is already on site and the conversation happens after the fact.
The operational half matters as much as the wording: if authorizing a change order takes a trip to the office, it will be skipped and the work will get done anyway.
The legal boundary
This page describes which clause groups service businesses need operationally and how they tend to fail in the field. It is not legal advice and does not tell you what your clauses should say. Required notices, cancellation rights, lien language and warranty limits differ by state and by trade — have your documents reviewed locally.