Template fields
Predefined sections for study codes, purchase order numbers, GL account codes, and standardized descriptions minimize inconsistencies and speed reconciliation across multiple contractors and trial sites.
A tailored Excel template reduces errors, captures regulatory details, and standardizes billing across trials or services, improving reconciliation between contractors and pharma finance teams.
A clinical research consultant or specialist who bills per project or hourly and needs an accurate, compliant invoice to submit to sponsors or sites. They require clear sections for service descriptions, study identifiers, and tax or W-9 information, plus a verifiable signature method for acceptance.
A sponsor or CRO billing professional responsible for validating contractor invoices, matching to purchase orders, and ensuring GL coding. They need standardized templates that speed approvals, minimize queries, and support retention for audits and regulatory review.
Clinical research contractors, consultants, and external specialists use standardized invoices to align billing with study budgets and regulatory documentation.
Finance teams and site managers then use those invoices to validate charges, process payments, and maintain audit-ready records.
Predefined sections for study codes, purchase order numbers, GL account codes, and standardized descriptions minimize inconsistencies and speed reconciliation across multiple contractors and trial sites.
Secure electronic signing that complies with ESIGN and UETA provides a legal signature record, timestamped audit trail, and signer identity verification suitable for U.S. transactions.
Comprehensive logging of actions, IP addresses, and timestamps creates a tamper-evident history for each invoice, supporting internal audits and regulatory inspections.
Role-based permissions restrict who can edit, sign, or approve invoices, reducing the risk of unauthorized changes and ensuring separation of duties for finance and clinical teams.
APIs and native connectors enable syncing invoice data with accounting systems, CRO platforms, and document repositories to reduce manual entry and improve data consistency.
Configurable document retention and archival workflows ensure invoices are stored per company policy and regulatory requirements, simplifying retrieval for audits and tax purposes.
| Setting Name | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Approval routing | Two-step approvers |
| Reminder frequency | 48 hours |
| Signature authentication | MFA required |
| Retention schedule | 7 years |
| Export format | PDF/A archived |
Ensure the template and signing solution work across the devices and platforms used by contractors and finance teams.
Confirm compatibility, test rendering of Excel layouts on each platform, and validate that the chosen eSignature provider preserves document integrity and audit data across devices.
A consultant documents hours and study codes in the Excel invoice, including PO reference and expense receipts
Resulting in faster approval and on-time payment with a verifiable eSignature acceptance.
A sponsor billing manager receives standardized Excel invoices from multiple contractors
Leading to accurate ledger entries and a complete audit trail for regulatory review.
| eSignature providers: signNow compared to peers | signNow (Recommended) | DocuSign | Adobe Acrobat Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESIGN and UETA legal compliance | |||
| HIPAA support / BAA | BAA available | BAA available | BAA available |
| Bulk Send capability | |||
| API and integration options | REST API, Zapier | REST API, extensive SDKs | REST API, Adobe APIs |
| eSignature provider (example pricing) | signNow (Recommended) | DocuSign | Adobe Acrobat Sign | Dropbox Sign | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual / Starter plan | From $8/user/mo | From $10/user/mo | From $9.99/user/mo | From $15/user/mo | From $19/user/mo |
| Business plan essentials | Team plans with API | Standard business tier | Business subscription tier | Business tier with integrations | Business tier with templates |
| Enterprise features | Custom SSO and SAML | Advanced admin controls | Enterprise SSO and APIs | SSO and advanced controls | CRM and workflow integrations |
| Bulk sending limits | High-volume options | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Available | Available |
| Free trial or tier | Free trial available | Free trial available | Free trial available | Free tier limited | Free trial available |