Custom Fields
Add project-specific fields such as grant number, cost share percentage, or billing period to capture structured metadata for finance systems and audits.
A standardized Word invoice reduces invoicing errors, aligns charges with project and grant codes, and creates a consistent record for audits. Using a template speeds preparation, supports compliance with ESIGN and UETA when signed electronically, and helps maintain reliable financial controls.
Leads research scope and approves billed activities, ensures charges align with award terms, documents time and deliverables for sponsor compliance, and coordinates with finance on budget variances and accruals.
Prepares and validates invoices, applies indirect cost rates and account codes, maintains audit records, reconciles payments, and enforces document retention policies for grants and contracts.
Organizations and individuals who bill for research activities use these templates to ensure accurate, auditable invoices.
Templates streamline cross-team coordination between project leads and finance, reducing back-and-forth and supporting faster payment processing.
Add project-specific fields such as grant number, cost share percentage, or billing period to capture structured metadata for finance systems and audits.
Support multiple line items with quantity, unit cost, and extended totals for accurate tracking of labor, materials, and subcontractor charges.
Include configurable tax rates and fee rules to automatically compute taxes and any applicable surcharges or indirect cost allocations.
Handle invoices denominated in various currencies, include exchange rate notes, and align with sponsor requirements on acceptable billing currencies.
Save prefilled templates for recurring billing structures to reduce preparation time and maintain consistent formatting across invoices.
Embed signer roles and signature placeholders to capture compliant eSignatures and record timestamps within the invoice file.
An eSignature solution with ESIGN and UETA compliance, simple signature workflows, document templates, and audit logging that integrates with common storage and workflow systems used by research organizations.
Allows conversion from Word and collaborative editing; templates can be drafted in Docs then exported or signed using integrated signature connectors to keep version history and comments intact.
Connects invoices to contacts and projects in CRM systems such as Salesforce, enabling automated invoice creation from project records and syncing payment statuses for finance reconciliation.
Provides secure storage for signed invoices and attachments with folder structures for grants and projects, supporting retention policies and centralized document retrieval for audits.
| Setting Name | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Reminder Frequency | 48 hours |
| Approval Sequence | PI then Finance |
| Signature Type | Electronic signature |
| Storage Location | Encrypted cloud folder |
| Retention Period | 7 years |
Ensure your Word invoice and chosen eSignature workflow work across devices and browsers used by signers and administrators.
Use Word for authoring and export to PDF for consistent presentation; pair with an eSignature solution that supports mobile apps, common browsers, and cloud storage integrations to maintain accessibility and secure delivery across stakeholder devices.
A university billing an industrial partner documents lab hours and materials with grant and project codes to reconcile overhead and subcontract charges.
Resulting in clearer sponsor accounting, faster approvals, and reduced back-and-forth during reconciliation and audit preparation.
An independent consultancy invoices a federal agency for milestone-based research, listing deliverables, hourly effort, and allowable direct costs.
Resulting in compliant submissions that meet audit evidence requirements and faster payment cycles while maintaining a defensible record for federal reviews.
| Criteria | signNow (Recommended) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESIGN & UETA compliance | |||
| Bulk Send | |||
| API access | Yes, REST API | Yes, REST API | Yes, REST API |
| Audit trail detail | Comprehensive | Comprehensive | Comprehensive |
Submit within contract-specified days
Allow internal review time before submission
Note sponsor payment terms and schedules
Begin retention after final payment
Maintain financial records for at least 3 years after final payment or longer if required
Retain invoices and supporting documents for seven years to satisfy tax audit cycles
Follow HIPAA and institutional policies, often several years post-study closure
Follow contract clauses; some sponsors require longer retention and separate submission formats
Document final disposition and ensure secure deletion when permitted
| Plan / Vendor | signNow (Recommended) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | Dropbox Sign | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level price | From $8 per user per month | From $10 per user per month | From $9 per user per month | From $15 per user per month | From $19 per user per month |
| Mobile app availability | iOS and Android apps included | iOS and Android apps included | Mobile apps available | Mobile apps available | Mobile apps available |
| API and developer access | Public REST API with SDKs | Public REST API with SDKs | Public REST API with SDKs | API access available | API access available |
| Templates and reusable documents | Reusable templates supported | Template library available | Template functionality included | Templates supported | Template creation supported |
| Enterprise features | SSO, advanced security, and admin controls | Advanced admin and security | Enterprise-grade controls | Team management features | Workflows and approvals |