How to Make a Signature with signNow

Award-winning eSignature solution

What a signature is and how it works

A signature is a mark, symbol, or electronic action that shows a person intends to approve a record. In a U.S. eSignature workflow, the signer reviews a document, confirms identity or access, and applies a signature by typing, drawing, clicking, or using a certificate-based method. The platform then records the event, links it to the document, and preserves evidence such as timestamps, signer details, and document history.

Why signatures matter in U.S. workflows

How to make a signature matters because it speeds approvals, reduces paper handling, and creates a record that can support enforceability under ESIGN and UETA when consent, attribution, and intent are documented.

Why teams look for DocuSign alternatives

Common signature workflow issues

Signers may hesitate if identity verification is unclear or the signing link looks unfamiliar.
Documents can be disputed when the audit trail does not capture timestamps, IP data, or signer actions.
Teams often slow down when signature requests require manual routing, printing, or scanning.
Compliance gaps appear when retention, access control, or consent records are not configured correctly.

Business teams

Organizations use signatures for contracts, approvals, disclosures, and consent forms across desktop and mobile workflows.

Regulated workflows

Legal, healthcare, finance, and real estate teams use signatures where identity, retention, and audit evidence matter.

Typical users and real roles

A director of NetSuite operations at Xerox uses signNow to route the right signatures to the right documents in the right formats. That kind of workflow fits finance, operations, and ERP-heavy teams that need controlled approvals and integration-driven document handling.
A founder at Martin Properties uses signNow to execute documents online with compliance and built-in security. Real estate teams, property managers, and brokerage operations benefit when lease packets, rental applications, and closing documents need fast turnaround on mobile or in the office.

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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.

Signature methods

Create a signature by typing, drawing, or uploading an image, then apply it to a document in a few steps.

Audit evidence

Capture signer intent with timestamps, document history, and action logs that support review and dispute handling.

Mobile signing

Send documents from desktop or mobile so signers can complete approvals without printing or scanning.

Reusable templates

Use templates to reuse signature fields, routing, and document layouts across recurring workflows.

Identity checks

Control access with signer authentication options that fit lower-risk and higher-assurance signing needs.

Record control

Keep signed files organized with retention and export options that support internal records policies.

Integrations that connect signature workflows

Connected systems move documents into signature workflows, return completed files, and keep records aligned with business systems.

How the signature flow works

A signature workflow follows a simple sequence from document delivery to completed record storage.

Open document: The signer opens the document and reviews the request.
Verify signer: Identity is confirmed through the selected authentication method.
Sign record: The signature is applied to the required fields.
Save evidence: The system stores the completed file and audit trail.

Quick steps to make a signature

Use a short setup path to prepare a document, collect signatures, and store the finished record.

Upload file:
Upload the document you want signed.
Add fields:
Place signature fields where they belong.
Set routing:
Choose recipients and set the order.
Send request:
Send the request and monitor completion.

Setting	Recommendation
Authentication method	SMS OTP for routine approvals
Signature type	SES for standard business records
Audit trail	Full timestamped event log
Document retention	6 years for HIPAA records
Encryption	TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Platform and device requirements

signNow works across major browsers and mobile operating systems, so users can sign from desktop or handheld devices.

Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
Operating systems Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
Mobile devices iPhone, iPad, and Android phones

For regulated use, managed devices, current browser versions, and secure network settings help preserve access, identity controls, and record integrity.

Security and compliance snapshot

Transport security:

TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Storage encryption:

AES-256 at rest

Security certification:

SOC 2 Type II available

Information security:

ISO 27001 certified

Healthcare compliance:

HIPAA support with BAA

Legal framework:

ESIGN and UETA aligned

Operations workflow

A NetSuite operations leader needed the right signatures on the right documents without manual routing delays.

NetSuite integration matched document flow.
Right format, right signer, faster turnaround.

The workflow reduced document handling friction and kept approvals aligned with ERP records and internal controls.

Real estate

A real estate founder needed online execution for property documents with compliance and mobile access.

Mobile signing supported on-site execution.
Built-in security supported record handling.

The process supported faster document completion while keeping signed files organized for property transactions and follow-up review.

Best practices for signature setup

A careful setup reduces disputes, shortens review time, and keeps records easier to manage later.

Match assurance to risk

Use the lightest authentication method that still fits the document risk, then increase assurance for regulated or high-value transactions. Keep the method consistent across similar workflows so users know what to expect.

Prepare fields carefully

Place signature, date, and initial fields before sending, and test the document on desktop and mobile to catch layout issues that can delay completion or create confusion for signers.

Align records controls

Keep the audit trail, signer consent, and retention settings aligned with your records policy, especially for HIPAA, finance, and legal documents that may need later review.

Standardize repeat workflows

Use templates for recurring forms so routing, field placement, and signer order stay consistent across repeated transactions and reduce avoidable setup errors.

FAQ about signature issues

These answers focus on plan limits, compliance needs, and document controls that affect signature workflows.

signNow Business includes legally binding eSignatures, audit trails, templates, and mobile apps. If a signer cannot complete a document, confirm the link, field placement, and recipient order before resending.

For HIPAA documents, use a plan with BAA support and keep signed records for 6 years under 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2). The platform should also preserve audit controls and access logs.

If a document needs stronger identity proof, use SMS OTP, ID verification, or other higher-assurance methods instead of email-only access. ESIGN and UETA still require attribution and intent evidence.

If a signed PDF looks altered, verify the audit trail and tamper-evident record. signNow records timestamps and document history so you can review the signing sequence and exported evidence.

For regulated records, keep the completed document, audit trail, and retention settings aligned with your policy. signNow supports document history and export, which helps with ESIGN, UETA, and HIPAA review.

If you need bulk routing or advanced controls, Business Premium adds bulk send, and Enterprise adds advanced signer authentication. Site License supports SSO, full API, and HIPAA or 21 CFR Part 11 add-ons.

signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc
ESIGN and UETA	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit trail	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mobile apps	Yes	Yes	Yes
Starting price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo

Day 0:

Set up the account, templates, and signer fields.

Day 1:

Send the first document for internal approval.

Week 1:

Onboard the team and confirm routing rules.

7-day trial:

Free trial lasts 7 days, no credit card required.

HIPAA retention:

Keep signed PHI records for 6 years.

ESIGN and UETA:

Electronic signatures remain legally valid when intent and attribution are documented.

Part 11 records:

FDA-regulated records need secure audit trails and validation.

Enterprise rollout:

Use SSO, API access, and managed provisioning for larger teams.

Risks of poor signature handling

Weak evidence

Document may be harder to authenticate.

Intent gap

Signer intent may be disputed.

Record loss

Retention failure can breach policy.

Compliance gap

HIPAA evidence may be incomplete.

Signer authentication:

The system records the signer’s identity check and access method.

Timestamp capture:

Each action receives a UTC timestamp in the event log.

Document hashing:

The document hash changes if content changes later.

Tamper-evident sealing:

A tamper-evident seal protects the signed file.

Event sequence:

The audit trail preserves the signing sequence for review.

Trail export:

Users can export the trail for records review.

	Plan / Feature	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc
Starting price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free trial	7 days	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified	Not verified
Bulk send	Yes, Business Premium	Not verified	Not verified	Yes	Not verified
Audit trail	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
HIPAA compliance	BAA required	Available	Available	Not verified	Not verified

28M+Documents signed

13+Years in business

4.6/5Average G2 rating