TCPA Compliance Checker for Contractors
Answer 8 quick questions and see exactly where your SMS and call marketing is — and isn't — compliant with federal TCPA regulations.
Takes about 2 minutes • Free • No sign-up required
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What Is TCPA and Why Does It Matter for Home Service Businesses?
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law passed in 1991 and significantly updated in 2015 and 2021 that governs how businesses can use automated systems to contact consumers by phone and text message. For home service contractors — cleaning companies, HVAC operators, plumbers, landscapers, roofers — TCPA compliance is not optional. The law applies to any business that uses an automated dialing system, prerecorded voice, or automatic text-sending software to reach customers.
Under TCPA, the penalty for each violation is $500 per text or call, tripled to $1,500 if the violation is found to be willful. There is no exemption for small businesses. A cleaning company owner who sends 500 marketing texts without proper consent can face $750,000 in statutory damages. Class action plaintiffs' attorneys actively target home service businesses because they commonly use automated SMS platforms without formal compliance programs.
The FCC updated TCPA consent rules in January 2025 to close what it called the “lead generator loophole,” requiring that consent be obtained separately for each business that contacts a consumer — a single blanket consent on a third-party lead form no longer satisfies the standard. If you use purchased lead lists or shared lead generation platforms, your prior compliance practices may no longer be sufficient.
2025 FCC Rule Change — What Changed for Lead Generation
Effective January 27, 2025, the FCC's one-to-one consent rule requires businesses to obtain consent separately for each company that will contact a lead. Consent obtained through aggregator lead forms that share a single opt-in across multiple buyers no longer satisfies TCPA requirements. Home service businesses that rely on Angi, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack, or similar platforms for leads must independently verify that consent was obtained specifically for their business to contact that consumer.
TCPA Compliance Checklist for Home Service Businesses
Use this checklist to audit your current SMS and call marketing practices. Each item maps to a specific TCPA requirement.
Obtain Prior Express Written Consent (PEWC)
Add a clearly labeled opt-in checkbox to every web form, booking page, and contact form. The checkbox must be unchecked by default, must state that the consumer agrees to receive marketing texts from your business specifically, and must clarify that consent is not a condition of purchase. Store the consent record with a timestamp and the source URL.
Implement a Functional STOP Opt-Out Mechanism
Every marketing text must include opt-out instructions ("Reply STOP to unsubscribe"). When a consumer replies STOP, your platform must process the request within 10 business days — but best practice is immediate. After opt-out, no further marketing texts may be sent to that number. Test this regularly to confirm it works.
Identify Your Business in Every Message
Each text message must clearly identify your business name. Anonymous texts that say "Hi, just following up" without identifying the sender violate FCC identification requirements. Include your company name in the first or last line of every automated message.
Restrict Messaging Hours to 8 AM–9 PM Recipient Local Time
TCPA restricts marketing calls and texts to between 8 AM and 9 PM in the recipient's local timezone — not your timezone. If you serve customers across time zones, your platform must automatically adjust send times based on each recipient's area code. Sending a text at 9 AM Pacific to a customer in Eastern time at 12 PM is fine; the reverse is not.
Scrub Against the National Do Not Call Registry
Before any marketing campaign, check all phone numbers against the National DNC Registry. Registrations must be checked within 31 days before contact. Many SMS platforms include DNC scrubbing — verify that yours does and that the scrub is automated before each campaign, not a one-time check.
Register for A2P 10DLC
All major US carriers require businesses sending application-to-person texts to register their brand and campaign use cases through the A2P 10DLC system. Without registration, messages are filtered or blocked. Registration requires a valid EIN, a business website, and a description of your messaging use case. Complete this before sending any automated texts at scale.
Maintain Consent Records for Every Contact
If you are sued under TCPA, the burden is on you to prove you had consent. Without records, you lose by default. Your CRM or SMS platform should automatically log: the consent timestamp, the source (which web form or booking page), the consent language the person agreed to, and the phone number. Retain records for at least four years.
Audit Your Lead Sources for One-to-One Consent
Under the 2025 FCC rule, consent must be obtained specifically for your business. Review any third-party lead generation platforms you use. If a consumer opted in on a shared form that sends their contact to multiple businesses, that consent may not be valid for your automated marketing messages. Contact those platforms or switch to first-party lead capture where you control the consent language.
Common TCPA Violations in Home Service Businesses
These are the patterns that generate the most TCPA complaints and lawsuits in the home service industry.
Texting Purchased Lead Lists
CriticalBuying contact lists from brokers or lead aggregators is one of the most common TCPA traps. The individuals on those lists did not consent to hear from your specific business. Under the 2025 FCC rules, blanket third-party consent is no longer valid.
No Opt-Out in Marketing Texts
CriticalSending marketing texts without an opt-out instruction ("Reply STOP to unsubscribe") in every message is a direct violation. This applies to every single message — including follow-ups and re-engagement campaigns.
Assuming Phone Number = Consent
HighA customer giving you their phone number when booking a job does not constitute TCPA consent for marketing messages. It provides consent for transactional communications (appointment reminders, job confirmations) but not automated marketing sequences.
Cross-Timezone Sending
HighScheduling a morning text blast that sends at 7 AM your time reaches customers in earlier time zones before 8 AM — a TCPA violation. Your SMS platform needs per-number timezone awareness, not just your local business time.
No A2P 10DLC Registration
MediumOperating automated texting campaigns without 10DLC registration violates carrier terms of service and can result in message blocking and permanent number suspension. Most SMS violations that lead to filtering are traced back to unregistered campaigns.
Continuing to Text After STOP
CriticalSending any further marketing messages to a number after they replied STOP is a clear, willful TCPA violation subject to treble damages ($1,500 per message). Many platforms have bugs where STOP is logged but the contact remains in active campaigns.
How LSS Keeps You Compliant by Default
TCPA compliance is not an add-on to Local Service Stack — it is built into every layer of how the platform handles customer communications.
Opt-In Consent Forms Built In
LSS booking and contact forms include properly worded TCPA consent language by default. Consent is timestamped, stored, and linked to the customer record automatically.
Automatic STOP Keyword Processing
When a customer replies STOP, LSS removes them from all marketing campaigns instantly — no manual steps, no lag window where an accidental message could slip through.
A2P 10DLC Registration Included
LSS handles carrier registration as part of platform setup. Your business number is registered with all major carriers before the first message is sent.
Timezone-Aware Sending
Every automated message is scheduled relative to the recipient's local timezone based on area code. Messages never go out before 8 AM or after 9 PM local time.
Business Identification in Every Message
LSS message templates include your business name in all automated outreach. No anonymous texts — every customer knows who is contacting them.
Consent Audit Trail
Every customer record in LSS shows their consent status, source, and timestamp. If a complaint is ever filed, you have documented proof of consent ready to export.
Related: Missed Call Text-Back and TCPA
Automated missed call text-back is one of the highest-ROI tools for home service businesses — and one of the most common sources of TCPA exposure when not set up correctly. See our guide to compliant missed call text-back software to understand how to use text-back without creating TCPA liability.
TCPA Compliance FAQ
Common questions from home service business owners about TCPA rules and SMS marketing compliance.
What is TCPA compliance for text messaging?
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law that restricts how businesses can use automated systems to contact consumers. For text messaging, compliance means obtaining prior express written consent before sending marketing texts, honoring opt-out requests (STOP) immediately, sending only between 8 AM and 9 PM in the recipient's local timezone, and maintaining records of every consent. Violations cost $500–$1,500 per text — class action lawsuits regularly exceed $1 million.
Can my cleaning business text customers automatically?
Yes — but only with proper consent. Transactional texts (appointment reminders, job completion notices) have lower consent requirements than marketing texts. For any automated marketing sequence, you need prior express written consent from each customer. A compliant platform handles consent collection, STOP processing, and carrier registration so you can use automated texting without creating legal exposure.
What are TCPA penalties for small businesses?
TCPA carries $500 per violation, tripled to $1,500 for willful violations — per text message, not per campaign. There is no small-business exemption. A single campaign to 500 people without proper consent creates up to $750,000 in statutory exposure. TCPA plaintiffs' attorneys actively target small home service businesses because they frequently lack formal compliance programs.
How do I get consent for automated texts?
Add an opt-in checkbox to your booking form and contact page with language like: "By checking this box, I consent to receive marketing texts from [Your Business] at this number. Reply STOP to opt out. Consent is not a condition of purchase." The checkbox must be unchecked by default, the consent must be specific to your business, and you must store the timestamp and source of every consent.
Is missed call text-back TCPA compliant?
A single response text to someone who just called your business is generally low-risk because the person initiated contact. However, if you continue with follow-up marketing sequences after that initial response, you need prior express written consent. The safest approach: include TCPA consent on your booking form, use a platform that handles STOP requests automatically, and limit the initial missed call text to one response inviting them to continue the conversation.
What is A2P 10DLC and do I need it?
A2P 10DLC is a carrier registration system required by AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and all major US carriers for businesses sending automated texts. Without it, your messages are filtered or blocked by carriers. Home service businesses using any automated SMS platform need to register their brand and campaign type. Most compliant platforms handle this registration during setup.
What is the National Do Not Call Registry and does it apply to texts?
The DNC Registry protects consumers from unsolicited marketing calls and texts. Businesses must check all phone numbers against the registry within 31 days before any campaign. Fines start at $43,792 per violation for contacting a DNC-registered number. Your SMS platform should provide automatic DNC scrubbing before each campaign.
See How LSS Keeps You Compliant Automatically
TCPA compliance is built into every automated text LSS sends — opt-in forms, STOP processing, A2P registration, timezone enforcement, and full consent audit trails included.
Not legal advice — consult a qualified attorney for compliance guidance specific to your business.