Easiest Way to Create Electronic Signature with SignNow
Award-winning eSignature solution
What an electronic signature is
An electronic signature is a digital mark or action that shows a person intends to sign a record. In SignNow, users can upload a document, place signature fields, and send it for signing without printing or scanning. The platform captures timestamps, signer details, and document history so the completed file can support U.S. business use under ESIGN and UETA.
Core features and practical benefits
These features help teams route, sign, and store documents with less manual coordination and clearer compliance evidence.
Reusable templates
Create reusable workflows for contracts, NDAs, and forms, while keeping signer history and document status organized in one place.
Routing control
Send documents in a clear sequence so each recipient signs in the right order without manual follow-up work.
Audit trail
Track every action with timestamps, signer identity details, and tamper-evident history for later review or dispute support.
Flexible signing
Use mobile apps, kiosk mode, and shareable links to fit office, field, and remote signing scenarios.
Integrations
Connect to CRM, ERP, cloud storage, and project tools to keep documents moving through existing systems.
Security controls
Apply access controls and encryption to help protect signed records and support regulated workflows.
Why electronic signatures matter
Electronic signatures reduce paper handling, shorten approval cycles, and create records that fit U.S. business requirements under ESIGN and UETA when consent, intent, and attribution are captured properly.
Best ROI. Our customers achieve an average 7x ROI within the first six months.
Scales with your use cases. From SMBs to mid-market, airSlate SignNow delivers results for businesses of all sizes.
Intuitive UI and API. Sign and send documents from your apps in minutes.
Signer authentication and certificates
PKI:
X.509 certificates:
2FA:
SMS OTP:
ID verification:
Access control:
Quick steps to get started
Start with the file, place the fields, and send it to the people who need to sign.
Add file:
Upload the document you want signed. Prepare fields:
Place signature fields and signer order. Send for signature:
Send the request to recipients. Save records:
Download the completed file and log.
How the signing flow works
The process moves from document setup to routing, then to storage, while SignNow records activity for later review.
Prepare: Create the document and place fields where signatures belong. Route: Invite each signer in the needed order. Monitor: Track responses and resend only when needed. Archive: Store the completed file with its record history.
Who uses electronic signatures
Legal teams
Legal teams use electronic signatures for contracts and amendments, with access controls and reusable templates helping them route documents in a consistent order.
HR and operations
HR and operations teams use them for onboarding forms, policy acknowledgments, and consent documents, especially when managers and employees need quick turnaround.
Signing workflow pain points
Teams often delay signing because documents require manual routing, repeated reminders, and separate approval tracking across departments. Wrong signer order can slow execution when internal reviewers, managers, or clients must sign in a fixed sequence. Mobile users may abandon a packet if fields are too small, labels are unclear, or forms are not optimized for phones. Permission mistakes can expose drafts or completed agreements to users who should only view final signed copies.
Record-keeping best practices
Retention and archival decisions should follow the document type, governing rule, and evidence requirements for future review.
Export the full record
Apply the correct retention rule
Use secure archival storage
Record the governing policy
What the audit trail records
A signed file is only part of the record; the audit trail captures the system evidence behind each signing event.
Signer authentication:
Timestamp capture:
Document hashing:
Tamper-evident sealing:
Audit entry:
Audit export:
Risks of poor eSignature handling
Weak evidence
Audit gaps
Compliance failure
Record loss
FAQ and troubleshooting for electronic signatures
This section answers configuration, compliance, and plan questions so teams can use SignNow more confidently for electronic signatures.
SignNow Business includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, mobile apps, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR support. If a signer cannot complete a form, confirm the document format is supported and the signer received the correct invite link.
Business Premium adds bulk send and kiosk mode. If bulk sending is missing, the account may be on the Business plan, which does not include that feature. Enterprise or Business Premium is the correct plan tier for higher-volume sending.
SignNow supports HIPAA workflows when a Business Associate Agreement is in place. If you handle PHI, confirm the BAA is executed and that access controls, audit trails, and retention settings align with HIPAA Security Rule requirements in 45 CFR 164.312.
Under ESIGN and UETA, an electronic signature is admissible when it is attributable to the signer and tied to the record. If a dispute appears likely, export the audit trail and signed PDF so the timestamp, IP data, and history remain available.
The Site License adds SSO, full API access, and phone support. If your team needs centralized user control, the paid per-user plans may not fit as well as Site License for large deployments or regulated workflows.
For FDA-regulated electronic records, 21 CFR Part 11 requires secure audit trails, identity controls, and trusted timestamps. SignNow can support Part 11 workflows, but the system must be configured, validated, and used under your quality procedures.
Platform and browser support
SignNow is designed for modern browsers and supported desktop and mobile operating systems, with secure transport handled over TLS.
Browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Desktop OS Windows and macOS desktops. Mobile OS iOS and Android mobile apps.
For regulated deployments, confirm managed-device policies, authentication settings, and export processes before rollout so records stay accessible and defensible.
Signing workflow timeframes
These four stages show how quickly a document moves from setup to storage in SignNow.
Document preparation
Delivery to signers
Signer turnaround
Completion and archival
Record retention schedule
Keep signed records according to the governing regulation or institutional policy, and retain related audit evidence with the signed file.
6 years for PHI records
As required by law
As required by law
As required by law
Follow institution policy
Key performance indicators that demonstrate SignNow's proven track record.