Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

Business Consulting Resolutions

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

Business Consulting Resolutions

Recitals

WHEREAS, Company Name: is duly organized and in good standing and has determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of the Company to engage professional consulting services to assist with strategic planning, operational improvement, and related business matters; and

WHEREAS, Consultant Name: represents that it has the necessary qualifications, experience and capacity to provide the services described herein; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors or authorized representatives of the Company have reviewed the proposed engagement and desire to authorize the retention of the Consultant on the terms and conditions set forth in these resolutions, effective as of Effective Date: .

Resolved Matters

RESOLVED, that the Company is hereby authorized to engage the Consultant to perform professional consulting services substantially in accordance with the Scope of Work set forth below, at a fee and on payment terms approved herein.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Company hereby approves payment of the Consultant in the total amount not to exceed Total Fee: $ , on the Payment Terms set forth below, and authorizes an officer of the Company to execute and deliver any agreement and ancillary documents necessary to effectuate the engagement.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that all acts and things previously done by the officers of the Company consistent with these resolutions are ratified, confirmed and approved in all respects.

Scope of Work

Payment Terms

Compensation: The Consultant shall be compensated as follows. Agreed Fee: $ .

Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of $ is due upon execution of the engagement agreement.

Late Payment: Payments not received within Payment Grace Period: days of the invoice due date shall incur interest at the rate of % per month, or the maximum amount permitted by law, and the Consultant may suspend services until payment is brought current.

Term and Termination

Term Commencement Date: and Termination Date: , unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section.

Either party may terminate this engagement without cause upon written notice delivered not less than Notice Period (days): days to the other party. Termination for material breach shall be effective if the breaching party fails to cure the breach within Cure Period (days): days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach.

In the event of termination, the Consultant shall be entitled to payment for all services performed and reimbursable expenses incurred through the effective date of termination, subject to any offsets expressly provided in the engagement agreement.

Confidentiality

The Consultant shall hold in strict confidence all Confidential Information of the Company and shall not disclose such information except to employees, agents or subcontractors with a need to know for performance of the services and who are bound by confidentiality obligations no less protective than those set forth herein. "Confidential Information" excludes information that is (i) publicly known through no breach by the Consultant; (ii) rightfully received from a third party without restriction; or (iii) independently developed without reference to the Company's Confidential Information.

Confidentiality Period (years): years following termination or expiration of this engagement, except that trade secrets shall remain protected for as long as they qualify as trade secrets under applicable law.

Governing Law

This resolution, and any agreement executed pursuant hereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

Entire Agreement; Miscellaneous

These resolutions, together with any engagement agreement and appendices executed pursuant hereto, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous negotiations, understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. Any amendment or waiver must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

If any provision of these resolutions is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed to effectuate the parties' intent to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Authorization

Company Representative:

By:

Date:

Consultant:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Business Consulting Resolution Is and When It’s Used

A Business Consulting Resolution is an internal corporate document by which a board of directors, managers, or members formally approves the engagement of a consultant or consulting firm and authorizes specific terms of work. Typical resolutions record the decision-making authority, scope of services, compensation, effective dates, and who may execute related contracts. Resolutions are kept with corporate records and may accompany a consulting agreement or invoice; they serve as an evidentiary record showing that corporate decision-makers approved the engagement and allocated authority to designated officers to act on behalf of the entity.

Why a Formal Resolution Matters for Consulting Engagements

A written resolution documents corporate authority, reduces ambiguity about who may bind the company, and provides an audit trail for internal controls, accounting, and governance reviews. It clarifies terms, ensures compliance with corporate bylaws and state law, and helps demonstrate prudent oversight for auditors or regulators.

Why a Formal Resolution Matters for Consulting Engagements

Who Prepares and Relies on These Resolutions

Business Consulting Resolutions are typically prepared by corporate counsel, the corporate secretary, or an authorized officer before or immediately after approving a consultant engagement.

  • Board members and directors who must record authorization for material consulting agreements and fiscal approvals.
  • Corporate officers (CEO, CFO, President) who sign contracts and implement the approved consulting scope.
  • External auditors, in-house legal teams, and compliance officers who verify authority and review corporate minutes.

Keep a signed copy in the corporate minute book and attach it to the consulting agreement and invoices to support internal controls, financial audits, and any required regulatory disclosures.

Core Parts of a Professional Consulting Resolution

A concise, well-structured resolution makes approval clear and enforceable. Include the factual background, the resolution text, authority delegated, effective and termination dates, compensation summary, and an attestation or certification by the corporate secretary or authorized officer.

Title

Clear short title identifying the resolution purpose, e.g., 'Approval of Consulting Agreement'.

Recitals

Brief background statements describing why the board is approving the engagement and material facts.

Resolved Clauses

Specific 'Resolved' paragraphs authorizing the engagement, scope, payment limits, and any conditions.

Delegation

Identify the officer(s) authorized to negotiate, sign contracts, and manage the engagement on behalf of the company.

Signatures

Signature block for the authorized officer and a certification line from the corporate secretary or clerk.

Exhibits

Attach or reference the consulting agreement, SOW, budget, and any non-disclosure or IP addenda.

Key Information Elements Required on the Resolution

Company Name: Full legal entity name
Resolution Title: Short descriptive title
Meeting Date: MM/DD/YYYY
Authorized Person: Name and title
Compensation Summary: Amount or limit
Attachments: Agreement/SOW referenced

Step-by-Step: Complete a Business Consulting Resolution

Follow these steps to prepare, approve, and record a complete resolution that supports execution of a consulting agreement.

  • 01
    Draft: Prepare recitals, resolved clauses, and attach the SOW.
  • 02
    Review: Have counsel and finance verify terms and limits.
  • 03
    Approve: Board or managers vote and record the approval.
  • 04
    Record: Add signed resolution to the corporate minute book.

Configure an Online Workflow for This Resolution

When digitizing approvals, set up fields, signer order, and authentication to match governance requirements and audit expectations.

Field Configuration
Template Name Create named template for repeated use
Signer Order Board → Corporate Secretary → Authorized Officer
Authentication Email + optional SMS code or KBA for higher assurance
Retention Setting Attach signed PDF to corporate minute repository

Where Approved Resolutions Should Be Stored or Sent

After signatures, route the resolution to internal and external locations required by governance, tax, and recordkeeping practices.

  • Corporate Records: Add the signed resolution to the minute book or corporate records repository.
  • Legal Counsel: Send a copy to in-house or external counsel for contract oversight.
  • Finance / AP: Provide to accounts payable to match invoices to authorized amounts.
  • Consultant: Supply a countersigned copy to the consultant as execution evidence.

Digital Signing and Technical Considerations

Use an eSignature workflow that preserves the audit trail, secures data in transit and at rest, and supports required authentication levels.

  • File Formats: PDF or DOCX accepted
  • Integrations: Connects to common systems
  • Security: TLS and AES encryption

Key Dates and Timing to Track for Resolutions

Track these deadlines to ensure the engagement is timely, authorized, and aligned with billing and reporting cycles.

Board Approval Date:

Date of the meeting or written consent when approval was granted.

Effective Date:

Date when consulting services may begin; use MM/DD/YYYY format.

Execution Deadline:

Complete signature and countersignature within the period stated in the resolution.

Invoice Matching Period:

Finance should match invoices to resolution limits within 30 days.

Periodic Review:

Schedule contract performance review at intervals stated in the SOW.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing Resolutions

  • Failing to name an authorized signer creates ambiguity about who can bind the company and may delay contractor onboarding or payments.
  • Using vague compensation language such as 'reasonable fees' makes budget controls and audit reviews difficult and can cause disputes.
  • Neglecting to attach the SOW or deliverables schedule leads to mismatched expectations about scope, milestones, and acceptance criteria.
  • Storing only unsigned or partial copies outside the corporate minute book undermines corporate governance and weakens audit trails.

Risks and Consequences of an Incorrect Resolution

Contract Invalidity: Lost enforceability
Payment Disputes: Vendor claims or withheld work
Internal Audit Findings: Control deficiencies
Board Liability: Breach of fiduciary duties
Regulatory Scrutiny: Compliance review risk
Tax Report Errors: Potential reporting issues

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Signing Resolutions

Compare common vendor attributes relevant to secure signing, HIPAA needs, and volume handling. signNow is listed first per comparison format.

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 vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Varies
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Real-World Examples of Using Resolutions with eSigning

These examples show how organizations used formal resolutions alongside electronic signing and attachable agreements to streamline consulting engagements.

Tech Data (Enterprise Example)

The board documented approval of vendor engagements in a single resolution to centralize authority.

  • The company attached the SOW and routing order for signatures.
  • This approach reduced turnaround time, improved invoice matching, and preserved a clear audit trail for internal and external reviews.

Martin Properties (SMB Example)

A small real estate firm used a resolution to authorize property management consulting during a board meeting.

  • The resolution named an authorized signer and capped fees.
  • After electronic signing, the firm stored the certified copy in its minute book and connected the signed agreement to its accounting system for automated payments.

Practical Tips for Accurate, Efficient Resolutions

Follow these practices to reduce errors, speed approvals, and keep a defensible record of authority when engaging consultants.

Use a Standard Template
Start from a vetted template that includes recitals, resolved clauses, delegation language, and signature certification to ensure consistency and reduce drafting errors across engagements.
Attach the SOW and Budget
Attach signed exhibits that define deliverables, milestones, and payment schedules to avoid scope disputes and to align finance and procurement controls.
Match Approval to Amounts
Ensure the resolution authorizes payment limits that match purchase orders or invoices; require additional approvals for changes beyond authorized amounts.
Preserve the Audit Trail
Use an eSignature system that logs signer identity, timestamps, IP addresses, and provides a downloadable certificate to support audits and regulatory reviews.

FAQs — Common Questions About Business Consulting Resolutions

Answers to frequent questions on authority, signatures, electronic execution, and recordkeeping for consulting resolutions.


Need help? Contact support

be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users