Identify the parties and the complete agreement

Check the legal name of the business, who is signing, and whether another company will provide or finance the service. Ask for every schedule, policy, and document incorporated by reference. Save the version you receive before signing, including online terms where relevant. A short order form can depend on a much longer set of conditions that deserves the same attention.

Turn the promised work into a clear description

For a service, look for deliverables, timing, materials, responsibilities, and a way to determine when the work is complete. For a product, check the model, condition, accessories, warranty, and delivery arrangements. Ask for important sales promises to be reflected in the written agreement. If a term can mean two different things, resolve the wording before the misunderstanding becomes expensive.

Read how the price can change

Separate the initial charge from recurring payments, deposits, usage fees, taxes, and optional extras. Identify who can approve additional work and how that approval is recorded. Look for minimum commitments and automatic renewal provisions. Consider the total obligation over the expected term, not just the first payment. Keep a copy of any revised quotation alongside the final agreement.

Do not assume a universal cancellation window

The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule applies to certain transactions and has important exclusions; it is not a general right to reverse every purchase. Entirely online sales, for example, are outside that rule’s coverage. Other laws or the contract may provide different rights. Before signing, identify the applicable cancellation procedure, notice address, timing, charges, and effect on related financing or subscriptions.

Consider what happens if performance breaks down

Look for complaint procedures, notice requirements, dispute-resolution terms, and limits on remedies. A clause selecting arbitration or a distant forum can affect how a disagreement is handled, although enforceability depends on the law and facts. Ask a lawyer about terms with significant consequences. After signing, retain the executed version, approvals, change orders, and evidence that each side performed its obligations.

Your preparation list

Bring these records together.

  • All pages, schedules, policies, and incorporated terms.
  • A written description of the promised product or service.
  • The total payment obligation and any renewal provisions.
  • Cancellation, notice, and dispute-resolution terms you understand.

Reference points: Federal Trade Commission, Buyer’s Remorse: The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule May Help, and consumer contract guidance. Applicable state law and the transaction type may change the analysis. Reviewed September 30, 2026.