You have a list of phone numbers. Before the first dial, here is what the FTC says about business numbers, consumer numbers, calling hours, and the fines that can follow a mistake.
A lead list is only useful if you can contact the people on it without breaking the rules. The rules differ depending on who you are calling, and most of the trouble comes from treating every number on a list the same way. This guide uses the FTC’s own guidance, and it flags where the rules are unclear so you can ask a lawyer.
| List type | Who answers | Do Not Call Registry |
|---|---|---|
| Business list (plumbers, roofers, dentists from Google Maps) | A business line | Most sales calls to a business are exempt, with exceptions |
| Property owner list (pre-foreclosure, tax delinquent, probate) | An individual, often on a personal or cell phone | Treat as covered. Scrub the list first |
The FTC says: “Most phone calls to a business made with the intent to solicit sales from that business are exempt.” Its guidance lists exceptions: B2B calls to sell nondurable office or cleaning supplies (such as paper, toner or ink) are covered, and so are calls to business lines that solicit individual employees for their own use. The FTC also notes a consumer can still block a specific caller by asking to be put on that company’s own do-not-call list.
If you are calling individuals, the registry matters. According to the FTC’s guidance for sellers:
The FTC says “each call may be considered a separate violation” and lists fines of up to $53,088 per violation (the figure is adjusted over time). A list of 500 numbers called once each can add up fast. A cold list also does not give you an “established business relationship”: the FTC says that exemption lasts up to 18 months after a purchase or three months after an inquiry, and only if the person has not asked to be put on your do-not-call list.
If your leads are property owners, read our guides to pre-foreclosure leads, tax delinquent leads and probate leads, and what “verified” means on a lead list.
Pay once. Credits never expire. Phone cross-checked against Google, email when found. Delivered within 2 business days. You run your own Do Not Call checks.
See Pricing →In general, yes for most sales calls to businesses. The FTC says most phone calls to a business made to solicit sales from that business are exempt from the Do Not Call provisions. There are exceptions, such as calls to sell nondurable office or cleaning supplies and calls to business lines that solicit individual employees for personal use. State laws can differ, so check before you dial.
The National Do Not Call Registry exists to limit telemarketing calls to consumers, so numbers of individuals are where it matters. Whether a call to buy a house counts as telemarketing can be debated, and many data and software vendors advise investors to treat these calls as covered. Ask a lawyer before you rely on any exemption.
As a general rule, do not call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in the local time of the person you are calling. The FTC lists calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. as an example of abusive conduct. Some states set narrower windows.
The FTC says that if you must use the registry you must synchronize your lists with an updated version of the registry at least every 31 days. You must also subscribe to the area codes you call; data for up to five area codes is free, and the FTC lists an annual fee of $85 per additional area code starting October 1, 2026.
No. Our process cross-checks phone numbers against the business’s Google listing and checks emails when found. It does not include a Do Not Call scrub, so run your own before dialing any consumer number.
Read on October 11, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Fines and fees are adjusted over time, so confirm current figures with the FTC and talk to a qualified attorney before you start calling.