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Does a text message count as a contract?
Short answer
Yes, it can. Under English law, a text or WhatsApp message can create a binding contract if there is a clear offer, a clear acceptance, a price or other value, and an intention to be bound. No signature is usually needed. For trades in in customers' homes, consumer rules such as the 14 day cancellation right also apply.
This page covers general principles in England and Wales; Scottish contract law differs in places. It is not legal advice.
What makes a text a contract
| Element | In a text conversation |
|---|---|
| Offer | "I can fit the new boiler on 12 November for £2,400 including parts and VAT." |
| Acceptance | "Yes please, go ahead." A clear, unconditional yes |
| Consideration | The price paid for the work |
| Certainty | Enough detail to know what was agreed: the job, the price, roughly when |
| Intention | Both sides meant it seriously, which is presumed in business dealings |
A thumbs up emoji or "ok" can be acceptance if the context makes it clear, but it is weak evidence. Ask for a clear "yes, please book it in".
When a text is not enough
Some agreements must be in a signed written document, such as contracts to sell land or property, and guarantees. A text will not do for those. A text can also fail as a contract if it is too vague: "can you do the bathroom for about three grand?" followed by "sounds good" leaves the scope wide open and invites a dispute.
Consumer rules for trades
If you agree a job with a homeowner away from your business premises, including by text, phone or in their kitchen, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 usually apply. In most cases:
- You must give certain information before the customer is bound, including your identity, the main features of the work, the total price and the right to cancel.
- The customer has 14 days to cancel a contract for services, starting the day after the contract is made.
- If you do not give cancellation information, the cancellation period can extend by up to 12 months.
- If the customer wants you to start within the 14 days, get their express request in writing. If they then cancel, they may have to pay for work done so far.
- The Consumer Rights Act 2015 also requires work to be done with reasonable care and skill.
Business to business deals do not have the consumer cancellation right.
How to make text agreements work for you
- Send the quote in a document or email with the scope, price, payment terms and what is excluded.
- Reply to their "yes" by text confirming the essentials: "Thanks, booked for 12 November, £2,400 inc VAT as per quote 1043."
- Send the cancellation information and, if starting early, ask them to confirm they want you to start within 14 days.
- Screenshot or export the conversation and keep it with the job file.
- Put any changes in writing too: "Extra socket in the utility, £85, ok to add?" and wait for a yes.
A worked example
A decorator agrees by WhatsApp to paint a hallway for £650. He starts the next day without mentioning cancellation rights. A week later the customer cancels and refuses to pay. Because he did not give cancellation information or get a request to start early, he may struggle to recover anything for the work done. A two line message on day one would have protected him.
Can AI help?
AI can draft clear quotes, standard confirmation messages and cancellation wording for you to check. It can also turn a long WhatsApp thread into a summary of what was agreed. Do not rely on AI for legal advice on a dispute. See can ChatGPT write a contract? and can ChatGPT write a quote?
Common mistakes
- Taking "sounds good" as agreement to a vague scope.
- Forgetting the 14 day cancellation information for jobs agreed off premises.
- Agreeing extras by phone and never confirming them in writing.
- Deleting chats after a job, then having no evidence when payment is disputed.
Related questions
Is a WhatsApp message legally binding?
It can be, on the same basis as a text. What matters is whether there was a clear offer, acceptance and agreed terms, not the app used.
Can a customer cancel a job agreed by text?
Often yes, within 14 days, if the consumer cancellation rules apply. If they asked you to start early, they may have to pay for work already done.
Do I need a signed contract for building work?
Not legally for most jobs, but a written quote and terms make disputes far easier to resolve.
Can AI messages form a contract?
If your AI assistant confirms bookings or prices for you, those messages can bind your business. Set clear limits on what it can agree. See can AI reply to text messages for my business?
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk: Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, Part 2
- legislation.gov.uk: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, Part 3 (cancellation)
- legislation.gov.uk: Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49
- Citizens Advice: cancelling a service you have arranged
Checked 18 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the source before you rely on it. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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