Wisconsin Contractor Deposit Rules (2026): Written Contract for Any Prepayment
Wisconsin sets no cap, but any payment before the work is done needs a written contract with dates, can be spent only on that job, and is refunded if a deadline is missed. From ATCP 110.
Not legal advice. General information from each state's statutes, checked Oct 20, 2026. Local rules and the facts of your contract can change the answer; for a specific contract, ask a lawyer licensed in your state.
Set the deposit
Every payment tied to a stage
The deposit and payment schedule in the Clamp app: a $1,000 deposit due when the customer signs, then every other payment tied to a stage of the job. $1,000 on this $17,699 bathroom is under every state's cap. Sample data.
What the law says
“Contracts requiring any payment of money or other consideration by the buyer prior to completion”
The maximum deposit, worked
| Contract price | How it works out | Maximum deposit |
|---|---|---|
| $8,000 | No cap; a written contract with dates is required | No cap |
| $25,000 | No cap; a written contract with dates is required | No cap |
| $60,000 | No cap; a written contract with dates is required | No cap |
What the rules require
Only on that job
No seller may use a payment received before completion for anything other than that home improvement (ATCP 110.02(10)).
Missed deadline
If the seller misses a deadline in the contract, the buyer may cancel and demand return of all payments not yet spent on the job, due within 15 calendar days of the demand (ATCP 110.07).
Trust fund
Construction payments are a trust fund; using them for other purposes before claims are paid is theft (Wis. Stat. 779.02(5)).
Wisconsin deposit questions
Is there a limit on how much a Wisconsin contractor can ask for up front?
No percentage limit, but any prepayment requires a written contract with dates, and the money can only go to your job.
Compare other states
How we checked
We read each state's statute or licensing rule on the official legislature or agency site and quote it as written. Where the official site would not load, the row says so and names the copy we read. A state stays "still being checked" until we have read the full rule; we never mark it "no cap" before then. Last checked .
This guide explains what the statutes say. It is not legal advice; for a specific contract, ask a lawyer licensed in your state.