How Much Deposit Can a Contractor Ask For in Montana?
Montana's consumer protection and personal solicitation laws shape what a contractor may do, but neither sets a cap on a contractor's deposit.
Montana does not have a statute that fixes a dollar limit or percentage ceiling on the deposit a contractor may request before starting work. What the Montana Code Annotated does regulate is broader: unfair and deceptive trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act, and a cooling-off right that lets a buyer cancel certain in-person and telephone sales. Those rules can bear on a deposit taken through high-pressure or door-to-door sales, even though none of them caps the amount itself. The points below cite the operative Montana statutes and describe what each one actually says.
Rules that bear on your deposit
Montana's Consumer Protection Act declares that unfair or deceptive acts or practices in any trade or commerce are unlawful. 1
In applying that unlawful-practices provision, Montana directs courts to give weight to Federal Trade Commission and federal court interpretations. 2
Montana's Personal Solicitation Sales law states its purpose is to give people subjected to high-pressure sales tactics a cooling-off period. 3
That law defines a covered personal solicitation sale as one following a solicitation where the buyer must give more than $25 in consideration. 4
For a covered sale, Montana lets the buyer cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing the agreement or offer to purchase. 5
Sources
Montana's Consumer Protection Act declares unfair or deceptive acts or practices in any trade or commerce unlawful.
Montana directs that its unlawful-practices provision be construed with weight given to Federal Trade Commission and federal court interpretations.
Montana states the purpose of its Personal Solicitation Sales law is to afford a cooling-off period against high-pressure sales tactics.
Montana defines a covered personal solicitation sale as one where the buyer must give consideration in excess of $25.
Montana allows a buyer to cancel a covered personal solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after signing.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Montana cap how much deposit a contractor can ask for?
- No. The Montana Code provisions cited here do not set a dollar or percentage limit on a contractor's deposit. Montana instead regulates unfair and deceptive trade practices generally, and gives buyers a three-day right to cancel certain in-person or telephone sales, which can apply to deposits taken through those channels.
- When can I cancel a contract I signed after a door-to-door sales pitch?
- Montana's Personal Solicitation Sales law lets a buyer cancel a covered sale until midnight of the third business day after signing, and the clock does not start until the seller gives the required notice of the right to cancel.
Last reviewed August 4, 2026
This page is general information about state law, not legal advice. Laws change, and how they apply depends on the facts of your situation.