How to Create an Electronic Contract with signNow
Award-winning eSignature solution
What an electronic contract is
An electronic contract is a legally binding agreement created, sent, signed, and stored in digital form instead of on paper. In the U.S., it works when the parties consent to electronic records, the contract terms are presented clearly, and each signer can be identified and linked to their intent to sign. signNow supports this workflow with document preparation, signer routing, audit trails, and secure storage, so teams can manage agreements without printing, scanning, or manual delivery delays.
Why electronic contracts matter
Electronic contracts reduce turnaround time, lower handling costs, and create a clearer record of consent. Under ESIGN and UETA, they are generally enforceable when the signer’s intent, consent, and attribution are documented, which makes them suitable for routine business agreements and regulated workflows.
Frequent contract setup issues
Getting signer consent wrong can weaken enforceability, especially when electronic delivery and record retention are not documented clearly. Missing identity checks can make it harder to attribute the signature to the right person in a dispute. Poor document version control can leave teams signing outdated terms or incomplete contract drafts. Weak audit records can make it difficult to prove when the contract was viewed, signed, or changed.
Who uses electronic contracts
Business workflows
Legal and operations teams use electronic contracts for NDAs, service agreements, renewals, and approvals that need a clear signing record.
Industry use cases
Healthcare, real estate, finance, and education teams use them for consent forms, leases, disclosures, and enrollment documents.
People who benefit most
A director of NetSuite operations at a large distributor may use electronic contracts to route approvals across departments, match the right document to the right signer, and keep records aligned with ERP workflows. This is useful when contract volume is high and signature order matters. A founder at a property management firm may use electronic contracts to send leases, renewals, and vendor agreements from mobile devices. signNow customer stories highlight simple interfaces, offline access, and compliance-focused workflows that help small teams move faster without adding paper handling.
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.
Core features for contract creation
signNow supports contract workflows that reduce manual steps while keeping signatures, records, and approvals organized for U.S. business use.
Reusable templates
Create a contract once, then send it to the right people in the right order without rebuilding the workflow each time.
Audit trail
Track every view, click, and signature event so the contract history stays clear and easy to review later.
Mobile signing
Collect signatures from desktop or mobile devices while keeping the signing experience simple for external parties.
Field controls
Add required fields before sending so signers complete dates, initials, and approvals in the correct places.
Flexible routing
Route agreements to multiple signers in sequence or in parallel, depending on the approval process.
Secure storage
Store completed contracts with tamper-evident records that support later review, export, and retention needs.
How the signing flow works
The workflow moves from document preparation to delivery, signing, and retention in a clear sequence.
Prepare: Upload the agreement and place signature fields. Route: Add recipients and set the signing order. Monitor: Send the contract and track each action. Archive: Store the completed record with its audit trail.
Quick steps to create a contract
Use a short setup process to prepare, route, and complete an electronic contract without paper handling.
Upload:
Upload the contract and review every clause before sending. Add fields:
Place signature, date, and initial fields where needed. Set recipients:
Enter signer names, emails, and routing order. Send:
Send the document and watch for completion updates. Save:
Download or store the signed copy for records.
Recommended workflow settings
Set the signing workflow to match the agreement’s risk level, retention needs, and compliance obligations.
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Authentication method | SMS OTP for routine business signers |
| Signature type | SES for standard 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 browsers and mobile operating systems, with secure transport over TLS 1.2/1.3 for web access.
Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge Operating systems Windows 10+, macOS, iOS, Android Mobile devices iPhone, iPad, and Android phones
For regulated deployments, managed devices, SSO, API access, and retention controls can be added to fit enterprise policies. Mobile signing is supported on iOS and Android, and desktop users can work in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge without changing the contract workflow.
Security and compliance safeguards
Transport security:
Data encryption:
Control assurance:
Security management:
Health data:
Privacy and trust:
Real-world contract workflows
Customer stories show how electronic contracts fit distribution, property, healthcare, and other document-heavy operations.
Distribution operations
A distributor operations leader needed faster internal and external approvals across systems.
- Tech Data used signNow to improve speed to revenue.
The team reduced manual delays and kept customer service workflows moving across internal and external approvals. The customer story points to faster revenue operations, better document routing, and a signing process that fit existing business systems without adding paper-based steps.
Real estate
A property founder needed to execute leases and related documents online.
- Martin Properties processed documents online with 100% compliance.
The workflow supported mobile and offline execution while keeping compliance and security visible in the record. That made it easier to send, sign, and return property documents efficiently, especially when parties were not in the same place.
Practical habits for reliable signing
A consistent setup helps teams avoid disputes, missing fields, and retention gaps when they create electronic contracts.
Standardize templates
Capture consent clearly
Use risk-based authentication
Retain records consistently
Troubleshooting contract signing issues
These answers focus on plan limits, compliance requirements, and signNow features that affect electronic contract workflows.
signNow Business includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, and mobile apps. If a signer says the contract was never received, check delivery settings, recipient email accuracy, and the document history before resending.
For HIPAA workflows, signNow supports compliance with a BAA, and signed PHI records should be retained for 6 years under 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2). If a healthcare team needs stronger controls, confirm the BAA, access settings, and audit trail retention.
If a document needs stronger signer verification, use the higher-assurance options available in your plan. Enterprise and Site License tiers add advanced signer authentication, while all paid plans keep audit trails and tamper-evident records.
If a signed PDF fails to validate later, check whether the file was altered after signing. signNow’s tamper-evident records and audit trail show the signing sequence, which helps explain integrity issues under ESIGN and UETA.
If a team needs bulk sending, Business Premium includes bulk send. The Business plan is priced at $8/user/mo annually, but bulk send is not listed there, so upgrade if mass distribution is required.
For FDA-regulated records, 21 CFR Part 11 requires secure audit trails, unique user identification, and validated systems. If a life sciences workflow needs those controls, confirm the plan, validation process, and record retention settings before use.
Vendor comparison at a glance
The table compares core signing capabilities and pricing signals across major vendors used for electronic contracts.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | HelloSign |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESIGN and UETA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audit trail | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo |
| HIPAA support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Envelope cap | No cap | 100/year | Not verified |
Rollout and retention timeline
This timeline combines launch milestones with retention and compliance facts that affect electronic contract records.
Day 1:
Day 2:
Week 1:
7-day trial:
HIPAA retention:
21 CFR Part 11:
UETA adoption:
ESIGN baseline:
Risks of poor contract execution
Weak attribution
Missing audit trail
Retention gaps
Consent failure
What the audit trail records
The audit trail captures the signing evidence that supports attribution, integrity, and later review.
Authenticate:
Timestamp:
Hash:
Seal:
Log:
Export:
Pricing and feature snapshot
The pricing rows use verified entry-tier data and note where public details are not verified.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, Business Premium | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Audit trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Envelope cap | No cap | 100/year | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
Key performance indicators that demonstrate SignNow's proven track record.