Authorization
A clear statement confirming who authorizes the charge and the scope of that authority, including role or title and any delegated limits.
A well-drafted Business Charge Letter reduces disputes, provides a clear audit trail for accounting, and documents consent or authority for a charge. It helps enforce contractual remedies and supports internal controls while creating a trackable record suitable for electronic retention and audit requirements.
Common preparers and signers include billing teams, accounts receivable, authorized officers, and third-party collections that require documented charging authorizations.
Use internal signature authority matrices and retaining policies to confirm the signer’s authority before posting a charge.
A clear statement confirming who authorizes the charge and the scope of that authority, including role or title and any delegated limits.
Exact dollar amount, currency, invoice or account number, and explanation for the charge to eliminate ambiguity for accounting or dispute review.
Specify the payment instrument (ACH, card, account number placeholder) and any tokenized identifier; avoid embedding full PANs in text.
A single date when the charge will be applied. Use MM/DD/YYYY format to avoid international date ambiguity.
Reference the governing contract, late fee policy, dispute instructions, and consequences for nonpayment or returned items.
Printed name, title, business name, date, and signature; if e-signed include audit-trail metadata for attribution.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Required Fields | Make name, amount, account ref, and date mandatory |
| Signer Authentication | Use email + SMS code or stronger KBA for high-risk charges |
| Template Name | Create a saved template titled 'Business Charge Letter' |
| Retention Setting | Enable auto-archive and audit trail retention |
Choose distribution channels that preserve the signed record and provide verifiable delivery and access logs.
Provide any contract-required advance notice before charging, typically defined in customer agreements.
Follow the contract; many agreements specify a 30-day window to contest charges.
Charges executed via ACH or card typically post within 1–3 business days after authorization.
Keep executed letters per your retention schedule and regulatory obligations.
Process refunds or reversals promptly upon validated dispute, often within 7–14 days.
Complete letter content and attach supporting invoice or contract.
Obtain signatory authorization per corporate delegation matrix.
Execute with e-sign or wet signature and capture audit metadata.
Transmit authorization to payment processor and update accounting records.
Save executed letters as PDF/A or PDF with embedded audit trail; include CSV export of metadata for bookkeeping.
Attach invoices, signed contracts, timesheets, or delivery receipts that substantiate the charge amount and service.
Preserve e-sign metadata: signer email, IP address, timestamp, and field history for legal admissibility.
If required by counterparties, obtain in-person or remote notarization and retain the notary journal entry.
| 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 |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |