Create Templates of Your Documents with SignNow

Using airSlate SignNow, you can create templates of the most frequently used documents and easily modify them. Add more fields to your templates and share them via signing links.

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What it means to create templates of your documents

Creating templates of your documents means transforming frequently used forms, contracts, or agreements into reusable, pre-configured files that include fixed content, designated signing and data fields, and preset workflows. Templates reduce repetitive setup, standardize language and layout across transactions, and ensure required fields and authentication steps are consistently applied. For organizations handling high document volume, templates support automation like Bulk Send and preset reminders while maintaining audit trails and compliance metadata for legal recordkeeping and internal controls.

Why templates matter for document consistency and speed

Standardized templates cut manual preparation time, reduce errors from missing fields, and make approvals and signature capture more predictable for teams and customers.

Why templates matter for document consistency and speed

Common challenges before using templates

  • Inconsistent document versions across teams cause negotiation delays and mismatched contract terms.
  • Manual field placement increases the risk of missing critical signature or data fields in final agreements.
  • Lack of standard templates makes onboarding new staff slower and decreases process reliability.
  • Ad hoc distribution prevents uniform application of authentication and audit settings across similar transactions.

Typical roles that build templates

HR Manager

An HR Manager creates offer letter and onboarding templates with required signature fields, conditional sections for different employment types, and access restrictions so only authorized staff can send or edit these templates.

Sales Ops

A Sales Operations specialist manages proposal and contract templates, includes pre-populated variables, sets signer order and reminders, and integrates templates with the CRM to streamline mass sends and reporting.

Teams that commonly create and use document templates

Many organizations centralize template creation to reduce repetitive tasks and ensure compliance across business units.

  • Sales teams use templates for quotes, NDAs, and recurring contracts to speed closing cycles.
  • Human resources relies on templates for offer letters, onboarding forms, and policy acknowledgements.
  • Legal and compliance teams maintain approved language and signature rules in centralized templates.

Central management of templates helps enforce version control, consistent authentication, and reliable audit trails across departments.

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Template features to prioritize when you create templates of your documents

When building templates, focus on reusability, field automation, access control, and integration capabilities to support operational needs and compliance.

Reusable Fields

Support variable placeholders and merge tags so document content populates automatically from contact records, CRMs, or uploaded data, reducing manual entry and improving accuracy across repeated sends.

Conditional Logic

Include conditional sections and field visibility rules to create one template that adapts to different transaction types or client profiles without maintaining multiple separate documents.

Access Controls

Apply role-based permissions so only authorized users can edit templates while send-only roles can distribute them for signing, preserving approved language and version control.

Integrations

Enable direct connections with CRMs, cloud storage, and productivity tools so templates can pull data and route signed documents automatically into existing business systems and records.

How template-based document workflows operate

Templates act as the starting point for automated sending, field population, and signature capture across web and mobile channels.

  • Select template: Choose from organization library
  • Populate fields: Auto-fill variables or manual entry
  • Send for signature: Apply signer order and authentication
  • Complete and archive: Store signed copy with audit trail
Collect signatures
24x
faster
Reduce costs by
$30
per document
Save up to
40h
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Step-by-step: create templates of your documents

Follow these basic steps to convert a recurring document into a reusable template for consistent sending and signing.

  • 01
    Prepare source document: Finalize language and layout before templating
  • 02
    Add fields: Place signature, date, and data entry points
  • 03
    Set rules: Configure signer order, authentication, and reminders
  • 04
    Save template: Name, tag, and control access for reuse
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  • Honest pricing for full-featured plans. airSlate SignNow offers subscription plans with no overages or hidden fees at renewal.
  • Enterprise-grade security. airSlate SignNow helps you comply with global security standards.
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Common workflow settings when using templates

Configure these template settings to align document behavior with your operational needs and retention policies.

Setting Name Configuration
Reminder Frequency 48 hours
Expiration Window 30 days
Default Signer Order Sequential
Template Access Level Restricted
Field Validation Rules Required/format checks

Supported platforms for creating and using templates

Templates can be created and used across desktop browsers, mobile apps, and tablet interfaces to support field teams and remote signers.

  • Desktop: Modern browsers supported
  • Mobile apps: iOS and Android native apps
  • Tablet: Responsive interfaces and apps

Ensure device OS and browser versions are updated and that mobile apps are granted required permissions; for integrations, validate API access and storage connectors on the target platform.

Security controls relevant to templated documents

Encryption: AES-256 encryption at rest and in transit
Access Controls: Role-based permissions for template editing
Authentication: Multiple signer authentication options
Audit Trail: Immutable transaction logs and timestamps
Document Locking: Prevent edits after signing
Backup: Regular cloud backups and redundancy

Industry scenarios where templates streamline work

Below are two practical examples showing how templates improve efficiency and compliance in common sectors.

Real Estate Leasing

A brokerage creates a reusable lease template that includes tenant data fields and signature blocks

  • Standardized clauses and required disclosures are pre-included for each property
  • Automated reminders and signer order reduce vacant period delays

Resulting in faster lease execution, consistent legal terms, and clearer audit records for each tenancy.

Healthcare Consent Forms

A clinic templates patient consent forms with conditional sections for treatment types and HIPAA-related disclosures

  • Field validation ensures required health information is captured accurately
  • Role-based access restricts edits to authorized staff and maintains signer authentication

Ensures compliant recordkeeping, consistent patient communication, and auditable signature trails for regulatory review.

Best practices for secure and accurate template creation

Adopt consistent rules and review procedures when designing templates to avoid errors and maintain legal defensibility.

Maintain a controlled template library with version history
Store templates in a central library with clear naming conventions, change logs, and access restrictions so reviewers can trace edits, revert when needed, and ensure only approved templates are used for signature workflows.
Use field-level validation and conditional fields
Implement validation rules for dates, numeric fields, and required entries, and use conditional visibility to prevent unnecessary or irrelevant fields from appearing to signers, reducing input errors and incomplete submissions.
Define signer order and authentication consistently
Specify the signer sequence and authentication methods in the template to enforce business rules and evidence signer intent; align these settings with internal policies and any applicable legal or regulatory requirements.
Document retention and naming policies
Apply consistent naming schemes, metadata tags, and retention settings at template creation so completed documents are archived predictably and can be retrieved for audits, compliance checks, or regulatory reporting.

FAQs about how to create templates of your documents

Answers to common questions about building, managing, and using templates to support secure and compliant signature workflows.

Feature comparison for template capabilities

Comparing essential template-related features across common eSignature providers helps identify fit for organizational needs.

Criteria signNow (Recommended) DocuSign Adobe Sign
Template Library
Bulk Send Bulk Send Bulk Send Bulk Sending
Audit Trail Comprehensive Comprehensive Comprehensive
Advanced Authentication 2FA & knowledge-based 2FA & ID check 2FA & ID verification
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Risks when template processes are not enforced

Non-compliance: Potential contract invalidation
Data exposure: Unauthorized access to sensitive fields
Audit gaps: Missing or incomplete logs
Operational delays: Longer approval cycles
Financial loss: Billing or contractual errors
Reputational harm: Customer trust erosion

Pricing and capacity comparison for template-heavy use

Below are representative plan and capacity differences relevant to teams that regularly create templates and send documents at scale.

Plan signNow (Recommended) DocuSign Adobe Sign Dropbox Sign PandaDoc
Entry-level Monthly Price Starts around $8/user/month Starts around $10/user/month Starts around $9.99/user/month Starts around $12/user/month Starts around $19/user/month
Mid-tier Annual Price Approximately $5–8/user/month billed annually Approximately $7–10/user/month billed annually Approximately $6–9/user/month billed annually Approximately $10–12/user/month billed annually Approximately $15–20/user/month billed annually
Free Trial Availability Yes, trial available Yes, trial available Yes, trial available Yes, trial available Yes, trial available
Templates Included Unlimited templates Unlimited templates Unlimited templates Templates included Templates included
Bulk Send Limit Per-plan limits available Enterprise options for high volume Per-account limits Per-plan bulk sends Per-plan bulk sends

How to create templates with airSlate SignNow

If you often collect signatures for similar documents, you don’t have to re-upload them to airSlate SignNow over and over. Instead, make a template and create a fresh document copy each time you need something signed.

Get started with the click of a button

Upload a document to your airSlate SignNow account by clicking Upload Document.

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Prepare your master document

Open the uploaded document in the editor by double-clicking on it. Add signature fields by selecting Signature Field from the toolbar on the left and then clicking on any spot on the document. You can also add other types of fillable fields the same way.

When you’ve finished editing, click Save and Close.

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Create a template with the click of a button

Click Make Template next to the document you have just edited.

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Enter the template’s name and click Create Template.

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Your document is now saved to the Templates folder. You can access it anytime to create a copy of the document, send it for signing, or generate a shareable signing link. Look for more options in the menu on the right, which appears once you click on a template.

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