Can this be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.

Is notarization required?

Not always. Notarization depends on the document's purpose and state rules; real estate deeds and certain filings commonly require a notary or witnesses.

What if the signer name differs?

Mismatched names can cause acceptance delays. Use the exact legal name and, if needed, include a notation linking an alias or 'doing business as' with supporting identity documents.

How long must I keep the record?

Follow applicable federal and state retention rules: at minimum, keep tax-related records for 3 years (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA records for 6 years (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

Can I amend a signed template?

Yes, but amendments should be documented with a clear amendment clause and signed by the same authorized parties. Retain both the original and the amendment for the corporate record.

Who verifies authority on demand?

Counterparties typically request certified copies of board minutes or an officer certificate. Keep a process to produce certified records when third parties request proof of authority.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Acts Template

Business Acts Template

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

BUSINESS ACTS TEMPLATE

This Business Acts Agreement (Agreement) is made effective as of by and between Company Name: and Contractor Name: .

Company Address Contractor Address

Recitals

WHEREAS, Company is engaged in lawful commercial activities and desires to retain Contractor to perform certain business acts, including but not limited to operational, transactional and advisory services described herein; and

WHEREAS, Contractor has the expertise, personnel and authority necessary to perform the services described in this Agreement and represents that it will perform such acts in a professional manner consistent with industry standards; and

WHEREAS, the parties intend by this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions under which Contractor shall perform the business acts and Company shall compensate Contractor.

Scope of Work

Contractor shall perform the business acts, tasks and services described below. Contractor shall provide all labor, materials and supervision necessary to perform the services in accordance with this Agreement.

Detailed Scope of Work

Payment Terms

In consideration for the services provided by Contractor, Company shall pay Contractor in accordance with the schedules and amounts set forth below. All payments are due in United States dollars unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Total Amount Payable Payment Schedule / Milestones Late Payment Fee

If any payment is not made within the period specified in the invoice or payment schedule, Company shall pay accrued late fees as stated above and Contractor may suspend performance after providing at least five (5) days' written notice for nonpayment, without waiving any other remedies.

Term and Termination

This Agreement shall commence on and shall continue in effect until unless earlier terminated as provided herein.

Notice Period for Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon providing the notice period specified above. Either party may terminate for material breach if the breaching party fails to cure such breach within fifteen (15) days after written notice of breach, or immediately for insolvency or refusal to pay undisputed amounts.

Confidentiality

Each party (Receiving Party) shall keep confidential and shall not disclose to any third party any Confidential Information of the other party (Disclosing Party) received in connection with this Agreement. "Confidential Information" includes non-public business information, trade secrets, financial data, customer lists, pricing, operations and other proprietary material whether written, electronic or oral.

The Receiving Party shall: (a) use Confidential Information solely to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (b) limit disclosure to employees, agents or subcontractors who have a need to know and are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those herein; and (c) promptly return or certify destruction of Confidential Information upon termination. Confidentiality obligations survive termination for a period of three (3) years, except for trade secrets which shall remain protected for so long as they meet the legal definition of a trade secret.

Mutual Confidentiality

Governing Law; Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of without regard to conflicts of law principles. The parties shall first attempt in good faith to resolve disputes by negotiation. If unresolved, disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration in the county or jurisdiction indicated by the governing law, with the prevailing party entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and costs where permitted by law.

Miscellaneous

Relationship of the Parties: Contractor is an independent contractor and not an employee, partner or agent of Company. Contractor is solely responsible for taxes, benefits and withholdings for its personnel.

Assignment: Neither party may assign its rights or delegate its duties under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party, except that Company may assign to an affiliated entity or successor in connection with a merger or sale of substantially all of its assets.

Additional Terms or Special Instructions

Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, representations and communications, whether written or oral. Any modification of this Agreement must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Company:

By:

Date:

Contractor:

By:

Date:

What the Business Acts Template Is and When It Applies

A Business Acts Template is a standardized document that records corporate or organizational actions taken by authorized parties, such as board resolutions, officer certifications, or delegated approvals. It frames the action taken, identifies the parties and authority, states the effective date, and documents any consideration or operational instructions. Organizations use this template to create a consistent, auditable record of decisions for internal governance, third-party verification, and regulatory compliance. The template is adaptable to different business events while preserving essential legal elements required for enforceability and later review.

Why a Clear Business Acts Template Matters

A precise template reduces ambiguity about who authorized an action, when it took effect, and what the organization committed to. It supports auditability, helps satisfy counterparties and regulators, and reduces downstream disputes by capturing key facts and signatures in a consistent format.

Typical Users and Signers of a Business Acts Template

Use by these groups ensures decisions are consistently documented and traceable for internal and external review.

Corporate officers and board members who must document resolutions or approvals for governance.
Company legal and compliance teams that need an auditable record for regulators or audits.
Banking or transaction counterparties requesting proof of authorization for contracts or disbursements.

Who Signs and Why

Corporate Officer

A CEO or CFO signs when the template documents a management-level decision such as a contract approval or delegation of authority. Their signature establishes internal authorization and external binding power for the organization.

Board Secretary

The board secretary records and signs formal resolutions and meeting minutes, ensuring the corporate record reflects the decision, date, and voting outcome for future governance and legal needs.

Essential Data Points to Include

Document Title: Clear identifier

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Parties: Full legal names

Authority Basis: Bylaw or resolution

Action Description: Concise summary

Signature Block: Signatory name and title

Key Legal Risks of an Incorrect Template

Unauthorized Action: May be void or unenforceable

Missing Dates: Creates ambiguity on performance

Incorrect Signatory: Triggers third-party disputes

Improper Witnessing: May fail formal requirements

Improper Notarization: Can invalidate record

Record Retention Lapse: Leads to compliance gaps

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Using informal or inconsistent language across templates that leaves open differing interpretations of the action taken, leading to contractual disputes.
Failing to identify the specific corporate authority or bylaws that authorize the action, which can render approvals challenged by counterparties.
Omitting effective dates or retroactive language without clear approval, creating uncertainty about when obligations or rights begin.
Neglecting to match signatory names and titles with official corporate records, which increases the chance that banks or third parties will refuse acceptance.

Real-World Examples of Business Acts Templates in Use

These short case arcs show how different organizations used a Business Acts Template to document authority and expedite transactions.

Optica Ventures (COO)

Optica used a template to record a delegated signing authority for a series of vendor agreements, enabling faster approvals for recurring purchases.

The template captured limits, effective dates, and delegation scope.
As a result, the finance team processed renewals without repeated board approvals while maintaining an auditable record for internal review and external counterparties.

Tech Data (CEO)

Tech Data documented internal approvals for customer-facing contracts to align legal, sales, and finance teams during a rollout.

The template standardized signature blocks and authority citations.
This reduced back-and-forth during execution, improved internal compliance checks, and provided a consistent format for audits and bank verifications.

Step-by-Step: Create and Execute a Business Acts Template

Follow these core steps to prepare, approve, and preserve a business act correctly.

01

Draft: Describe action, parties, and authority clearly.
02

Review: Legal and finance confirm authority and wording.
03

Sign: Authorized signatory signs and dates the document.
04

Record: Store in corporate records with audit trail.

Typical Routing for Approvals and Distribution

A standard routing workflow ensures each necessary reviewer sees and signs the template in order.

Originator: Uploads draft and sets required signers.
Legal Review: Validates authority language and compliance.
Finance Approval: Confirms budgeting and payment terms.
Final Signatures: Authorized officers sign and date.

Anatomy of a Professional Business Acts Template

Six elements consistently appear in robust templates to support legal enforceability and operational clarity.

Title and ID

A concise title and unique document ID to track versions and reference in corporate minutes or third-party exchanges.

Effective Date

Clear MM/DD/YYYY effective date language stating when the authorization takes effect, which can affect performance timing and statute of limitations.

Authority Citation

Reference to bylaws, board resolution, or delegated authority that permits the action, providing the legal basis for execution.

Detailed Action

A plain-language description of the act being authorized, including limits, financial terms, and conditions to reduce ambiguity.

Signatory Block

Name, title, printed name, and date for each signer; include witness or notary sections if required by jurisdiction or counterparties.

Recordkeeping Note

A short statement about where the executed document will be stored and who maintains the corporate records for audit purposes.

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Adopt consistent habits that reduce errors and speed acceptance by banks and counterparties.

Use full legal names

Enter the exact corporate or individual names as shown on formation documents and government IDs to prevent acceptance issues with banks or regulators.

Include authority citation

Cite the specific bylaw section or prior board resolution to demonstrate the authorization chain and avoid challenges to validity.

Avoid vague terms

Replace imprecise language like 'reasonable authority' with quantified limits or clear descriptive conditions to reduce interpretation disputes.

Preserve the audit trail

Retain metadata — signer identity, timestamp, and execution log — to support enforceability and to comply with recordkeeping requirements.

Timing Considerations and Typical Deadlines

Certain timing rules affect when templates must be executed, filed, or retained for compliance and tax purposes.

Execution Date Importance:

Date the document when signed; it governs effective obligations.

Immediate Filing:

Some actions require filing with state agencies upon execution.

Tax Reporting:

Retain records for IRS deadlines and potential audit periods.

Board Minutes:

Record approvals in corporate minutes within the next scheduled meeting.

Contract Deadlines:

Match effective dates to counterparties' performance schedules.

Key Milestones from Draft to Record

A milestone view helps track progress from preparation to permanent storage.

01

Draft Prepared

Originator creates and saves initial version for review.

02

Internal Approvals

Legal and finance complete reviews and sign off.

03

Execution

Authorized signatories sign and date the document.

04

Configuring an Online Workflow for Business Acts

When using an eWorkflow, set clear fields and authentication to ensure validity and traceability.

Field	Configuration
Upload Document	PDF or DOCX; preserve original formatting
Place Fields	Signature, date, and chooser fields as needed
Authentication	Email, SMS code, or advanced ID verification
Routing Order	Sequential or parallel signer order as required

How This Template Compares to Similar Corporate Documents

A quick comparison highlights when to use a Business Acts Template versus a corporate resolution.

Criteria	Business Acts Template	Corporate Resolution
Typical Use	operational approvals	formal board action
Required Signers	authorized officers	board members
Record Location	corporate file	board minutes
Formality Level	medium	high

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Executing Business Acts

Costs and capabilities vary across eSignature vendors. Below is a concise feature and pricing snapshot with signNow listed first for reference.

	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 free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to common questions about execution, validity, and recordkeeping for Business Acts Templates.

Need help? Contact support

Can this be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.
Is notarization required?
Not always. Notarization depends on the document's purpose and state rules; real estate deeds and certain filings commonly require a notary or witnesses.
What if the signer name differs?
Mismatched names can cause acceptance delays. Use the exact legal name and, if needed, include a notation linking an alias or 'doing business as' with supporting identity documents.
How long must I keep the record?
Follow applicable federal and state retention rules: at minimum, keep tax-related records for 3 years (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA records for 6 years (45 CFR §164.530(j)).
Can I amend a signed template?
Yes, but amendments should be documented with a clear amendment clause and signed by the same authorized parties. Retain both the original and the amendment for the corporate record.
Who verifies authority on demand?
Counterparties typically request certified copies of board minutes or an officer certificate. Keep a process to produce certified records when third parties request proof of authority.

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