How Can I Send a Document to Be Signed Electronically with signNow

Award-winning eSignature solution

What electronic document signing means

Sending a document to be signed electronically means preparing a digital file, choosing the signers, and delivering a secure signing request through an eSignature platform. The signer reviews the document, completes any required fields, and applies an electronic signature from a computer or mobile device. The platform records the signing event, stores an audit trail, and preserves the signed copy. In the U.S., this workflow is widely used for contracts, forms, approvals, and disclosures because it reduces paper handling and speeds up turnaround.

Why electronic sending matters

It shortens approval cycles, reduces manual handling, and creates a record that can support enforceability under ESIGN and UETA when consent, intent, and attribution are documented.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Frequent signing workflow issues

Signer emails can land in spam, delaying completion and creating follow-up work for the sender.
Documents with missing fields or unclear instructions often come back incomplete or signed in the wrong order.
Weak identity checks can make it harder to prove who actually signed the record.
Poor retention practices can leave teams without the signed copy, audit trail, or consent record later.

Real estate

Real estate teams send leases, disclosures, and addenda for remote signatures.

Healthcare

Healthcare organizations collect patient forms, consent documents, and HIPAA-related acknowledgments.

People who benefit most

A director of NetSuite operations at Xerox uses signNow to route documents in the right format and order through a connected workflow, which helps keep signatures aligned with internal systems and reduces manual rework across teams.
A founder at Martin Properties uses signNow to execute documents online with mobile access and built-in security, which supports faster turnaround for property paperwork and helps keep lease and transaction records organized.

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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.

Fast sending

Create a signing request, set recipients, and send the document without printing, scanning, or manual delivery steps.

Status tracking

Track views, signatures, and completion status in one place so teams know where each document stands.

Reusable templates

Use templates for repeated forms, agreements, and approvals to reduce setup time and standardize routing.

Mobile signing

Collect signatures on desktop or mobile, which helps remote teams complete documents without office visits.

Audit trail

Store a time-stamped audit trail with the signed file to support recordkeeping and review.

Workflow control

Control signer order, required fields, and reminders so the process follows the intended workflow.

Connected systems for document sending

Connected systems can pull documents into signNow, route them for signature, and return completed files to the source system.

How the signing flow works

The process follows a simple sequence from document preparation to final storage, with each step recorded by the platform.

Prepare document: Upload the file and define the signing order.
Set recipients: Add recipients, fields, and reminders.
Distribute request: Send the request and track progress.
Complete record: Store the signed copy and audit trail.

Quick steps to send a document

Use a short setup sequence to prepare the file, assign recipients, and send the signing request.

Upload file:
Upload the document into signNow.
Add recipients:
Add signer names and email addresses.
Add fields:
Place signature and form fields.
Send request:
Review the routing order and send.

Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	SMS OTP for higher-risk signers
Signature type	SES for routine contracts
Audit trail	Enable full event logging
Document retention	6 years for HIPAA records
Encryption	TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Browser and device requirements

signNow works across major desktop and mobile platforms, so users can review, sign, and send documents from supported browsers or apps.

Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari on Windows and macOS.
Mobile devices iOS and Android mobile apps for signing on the go.
System basics Stable internet, PDF support, and current browser updates.

For regulated workflows, keep browsers updated, use managed devices where possible, and confirm that retention, authentication, and access controls match internal policy. Mobile signing is supported on iOS and Android, while desktop access is available on Windows and macOS through Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Security and compliance snapshot

Encryption in transit:

TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Encryption at rest:

AES-256 at rest

SOC 2 Type II:

SOC 2 Type II available

ISO 27001:

ISO 27001 certified

HIPAA:

HIPAA support with BAA

Legal framework:

ESIGN and UETA aligned

NetSuite operations

A NetSuite operations leader needed signatures to move through the right document sequence without manual follow-up.

Xerox used signNow with NetSuite integration.
Right signatures reached the right documents.

The workflow reduced routing errors and kept signature requests aligned with the company’s internal system structure, which supported faster document turnaround and clearer control over document versions.

Real estate founder

A property founder needed to execute documents online while keeping mobile access and security in place.

Martin Properties processed documents online.
Mobile and offline access helped completion.

The result was a more efficient signing process for property paperwork, with completed records available digitally and a workflow that fit remote and on-the-go review needs.

Practical ways to improve workflow

A disciplined setup reduces delays, supports recordkeeping, and makes it easier to prove who signed, when they signed, and what they received.

Route by role

Use role-based routing for agreements that require review in a fixed sequence, especially when approvals must happen before signature requests go out.

Prepare fields first

Collect only the fields you need, and place them before sending so signers can finish the document without confusion or rework.

Set follow-up rules

Use reminders and expiration dates to keep requests moving, especially when multiple signers or outside parties are involved.

Store records together

Keep signed copies, consent records, and audit trails together so legal, compliance, and operations teams can retrieve them later.

FAQ and troubleshooting

These answers focus on plan limits, compliance needs, and document handling issues that affect electronic signing workflows.

signNow Business includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, and mobile apps. If you need HIPAA support, confirm that a BAA is in place before sending PHI.

signNow Business Premium adds bulk send, which is useful when the same document must go to many recipients. If your workflow needs high-volume distribution, that plan is the better fit.

signNow records signer activity in an audit trail that supports ESIGN and UETA evidence needs. If you need stronger identity proof, use SMS OTP or another higher-assurance method.

For healthcare records, keep signed documents for 6 years under HIPAA 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2). signNow can store the signed file and its history, but your retention policy still matters.

If a signer cannot open the request, check email delivery, browser support, and whether the document was sent to the correct address. signNow supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

If you need a record for legal review, export the completed document and audit trail together. signNow’s signed file history helps support authentication and integrity under ESIGN and UETA.

signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc
Legally binding eSignatures	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope cap	No cap	100/user/year	Not verified

Day 0:

Set up the account and prepare the first document.

Day 1:

Send the first request and confirm signer delivery.

Week 1:

Onboard the team and standardize routing rules.

HIPAA retention:

Keep signed records 6 years per 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).

ESIGN consent:

Capture electronic consent before the first send.

Audit review:

Export the signed file and event history together.

Trial period:

Free trial lasts 7 days, no credit card required.

Policy review:

Revisit retention and access controls quarterly.

Risks of a poor signing process

Weak attribution

Document may be harder to enforce.

Missing audit trail

Audit evidence may be incomplete.

Retention gap

HIPAA records may fail retention rules.

Consent failure

Signer intent may be disputed.

Authenticate signer:

Verify the signer through the selected authentication method.

Capture timestamps:

Record the exact UTC time of each action.

Create document hash:

Hash the document before and after signing.

Seal record:

Apply a tamper-evident seal to the final file.

Log activity:

Log views, clicks, and signature events automatically.

Retrieve record:

Export the audit trail with the completed PDF.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	Dropbox Sign
Starting price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free trial	7-day trial	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Bulk send	Yes	Yes	Not verified	Yes	Yes
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA compliance	BAA required	BAA available	BAA available	Not verified	Not verified

28M+Documents signed

13+Years in business

4.6/5Average G2 rating