Scope
Define exact deliverables: card sizes, paper stock, coatings, quantities, color specifications (CMYK or Pantone), and whether proofs are digital or physical.
A clear agreement protects both parties by allocating design and proofing responsibilities, setting delivery and payment expectations, and limiting liability for errors. It supports compliance with trademark and privacy obligations and creates an auditable record for procurement and accounting.
Typical signers and requestors vary by organization and use case.
The responsible party should match the organization role that controls budgets or brand approvals to ensure enforceability and smooth fulfillment.
Define exact deliverables: card sizes, paper stock, coatings, quantities, color specifications (CMYK or Pantone), and whether proofs are digital or physical.
Specify who supplies artwork, acceptable file formats, ownership or license grants for logos and content, and responsibility for trademark clearance.
Describe proofing steps, number of revision rounds included, the method for communicating approvals, and the cut-off for production changes.
Include unit pricing, setup or plate fees, payment terms (net 30/45), taxes, and charges for rush orders or reprints.
State lead times, shipping terms (FOB destination or origin), inspection rights on receipt, and remedies for defective goods.
Limit warranty period, allocate responsibility for errors, and include indemnities for IP infringement or privacy violations arising from supplied content.
| Template Name and Tags | Use descriptive names and tags to organize recurring orders. |
|---|---|
| Signer Roles | Assign roles: Requestor, Approver, Vendor, Finance. |
| Conditional Fields | Show price or shipping fields only when applicable. |
| Reminders and Deadlines | Set automatic reminders and a signing deadline. |
| Authentication Method | Require email, SMS code, or stronger ID verification. |
Confirm platform support for required file formats, signer authentication, and record retention before sending an e-signed agreement.
Ensure the chosen solution preserves an audit trail (timestamps, IP, signer attribution) and supports exports for accounting and records management.
1–3 business days for digital proofs depending on complexity.
3–7 business days once proofs are approved, varies by vendor.
24–48 hours with additional fees and expedited shipping.
Domestic delivery typically 1–5 days depending on carrier.
E-signatures often returned within 24 hours; follow-up may be required.
A small marketing firm supplies print-ready PDFs and requests 1,000 cards
A corporation centralizes orders for multiple offices and sets per-unit pricing and color standards
| 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 | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
The procurement director or authorized purchasing agent typically signs for purchase commitments above a defined threshold. Ensure delegation of authority is documented internally so the vendor can rely on signatory authority during fulfillment and invoicing.
Office or department managers often sign for routine low-value orders; their signing authority should be set by internal policy and reflected in vendor onboarding to avoid disputes over payment responsibility.
Requester provides artwork and order details to vendor; starts the workflow.
Authorized approver signs or confirms final proof; production is authorized.
Vendor begins printing and prepares items for shipment.
Goods arrive, are inspected, and accepted or rejected under the agreement.