Can this form be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; ensure intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met for legal validity.

When is notarization required?

Notarization depends on the document substance and state law. If the form affects title, powers of attorney, or requires an acknowledgment, consult the state notary requirements and consider RON per state rules.

What happens if data is entered incorrectly?

If errors are discovered before signing, correct and re-route the form. After signing, use an amendment or correction addendum and capture signatures and an audit trail to avoid disputes.

Do consumer disclosures apply?

Yes for consumer-facing transactions. ESIGN requires a consumer disclosure and affirmative consent to receive records electronically when material rights or financial obligations are involved.

How do I verify signer identity?

Use layered authentication: email verification plus SMS OTP or KBA for higher assurance. For highest assurance, use PKI-based digital signatures or identity-proofing aligned with policy.

How long should I keep completed forms?

Keep complete records according to applicable law: IRS three-year baseline (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and any longer state or industry retention rules.

Business Finding Form

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

BUSINESS FINDING FORM

Parties

Finder (individual or entity) Finder entity type (check all that apply)

Corporation LLC Individual Other

Finder address

Client Client address

Recitals

WHEREAS, Finder represents that Finder has access to potential acquisition, investment or business development opportunities suitable to Client and desires to identify such opportunities to Client under the terms set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, Client desires to engage Finder to identify, present and facilitate introductions to prospective targets in accordance with the Scope of Work below, and to compensate Finder upon the occurrence of a Success Event as defined herein; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Business Finding Form, the parties agree as follows.

Scope of Work

Finder will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify, qualify and introduce potential targets that meet the Client's stated criteria. Finder's duties may include preliminary screening, arranging introductions, and providing written summaries of identified opportunities. Finder is not obligated to perform due diligence on behalf of the Client unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Detailed description of services and target criteria

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Finder the fees specified below upon the occurrence of a Success Event. All fees are due in accordance with the payment schedule and are exclusive of any applicable taxes unless otherwise stated.

Fee structure (select applicable)

Percentage of transaction Flat fee

Definition of Success Event Payment schedule and timing

Expenses reimbursable: Yes

Term and Termination

This engagement commences on the Effective Date below and will continue until the End Date specified, unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section.

Effective Date:

End Date:

Termination Notice (days):

Either party may terminate this engagement for convenience upon providing the notice period above. Termination shall not affect Client's obligation to pay Finder for any Success Event that occurs during the term or within the period specified in any separate survivability clause of this agreement.

Confidentiality

Each party shall treat Confidential Information of the other party as strictly confidential and shall not disclose such information to third parties except as necessary to perform its obligations under this Form or as required by law. Confidential Information includes business plans, target lists, financial data and other information reasonably understood to be confidential. The receiving party shall use no less than reasonable care to protect Confidential Information and shall be liable for unauthorized disclosures by its representatives.

Confidentiality acknowledgement

By checking this box, the party acknowledges and agrees to the confidentiality obligations set forth above.

Representations

Finder represents that it has the authority to enter into this Form and that any introductions will be made in a commercially reasonable manner. Client represents that it has full authority to engage Finder and to enter into transactions contemplated by potential introductions.

Governing Law; Entire Agreement

This Form shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state identified below without regard to conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising under this Form shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in that state.

This Form, including all attachments and any executed amendments, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior proposals, agreements, and communications, whether written or oral.

Miscellaneous

Any modification to this Form must be in writing and signed by both parties. The invalidity of any provision shall not affect the remainder of this Form. Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

Finder:

By:

Date:

Client:

By:

Date:

What the Business Finding Form Is and When It’s Used

A Business Finding Form is a structured intake and due-diligence document used to capture verified facts about a company, its ownership, primary contacts, and key operational details during vendor onboarding, prospect qualification, or acquisition screening. Typical uses include supplier onboarding, compliance checks, client acceptance, and internal procurement reviews. The form standardizes information collection to reduce follow-up, creates an auditable record of the facts collected, and supports downstream processes such as contract generation, background checks, and regulatory filings.

Why a Standardized Business Finding Form Matters

A consistent form reduces ambiguity, speeds verification, and creates a single source of truth for decision makers and auditors while helping ensure required fields are captured for compliance and reporting.

Typical Users and Stakeholders

Teams that routinely gather business data use this form to reduce rework and centralize records for review and approval.

Procurement and sourcing teams vet suppliers before contracting to reduce operational and financial risk.
Compliance and legal groups verify entity status and beneficial ownership for AML and regulatory obligations.
Sales and account teams collect standardized contact and contract-routing details to speed onboarding.

The form also serves auditors, compliance officers, and legal reviewers as a concise evidence package for decision and filing purposes.

Representative Signers and Responsible Roles

Compliance Manager

A Compliance Manager typically completes or reviews the Business Finding Form to confirm entity registration, beneficial owners, and any sanctions screening results. They ensure fields required by law or internal policy are present and flag missing documentation before approvals proceed.

Procurement Director

A Procurement Director or delegated buyer initiates the form during vendor selection. They use the form output to compare suppliers on financial stability, certifications, and insurance limits and to document selection rationale for audit trails.

Core Sections to Include in a Professional Form

A well-designed Business Finding Form groups related facts and supporting evidence so reviewers can find verification quickly and consistently.

Entity Details

Full legal name, DBA, jurisdiction of formation, and registration number; used to match public records and filings.

Ownership

Beneficial owner names and percentage holdings; required for AML/KYC checks and for certain contractual approvals.

Contacts

Primary business contact, authorized signatory, emails, and phone numbers used for notifications and contract routing.

Financial Snapshot

Recent revenue range, bank references, credit references, or attested financial statement summary for risk assessment.

Compliance Flags

Sanctions checks, blacklist status, insurance certificates, and any required licenses or permits.

Supporting Docs

Attach articles of incorporation, W-9 or W-8, insurance proof, and any licenses used to verify claims.

Step-by-Step: Filling and Submitting the Business Finding Form

Follow a linear flow: collect documents, enter facts, validate, and route for signatures to minimize review cycles.

01

Gather Documents: Collect formation papers, tax forms, and insurance certificates before data entry.
02

Complete Fields: Enter legal names, EIN, addresses, and ownership details accurately.
03

Verify: Cross-check entries against public records and uploaded documents.
04

Route for Signature: Send to authorized signers and retain the audit trail after completion.

How a Digital Completion Workflow Typically Flows

A typical online workflow reduces manual handoffs by validating fields, requesting signatures, and storing a secure record with an audit trail.

Upload Document: Add the PDF or DOCX template to the eSignature platform.
Place Fields: Add text, date, and signature fields where required.
Assign Signers: Set signer roles and routing order for sequential approvals.
Capture Audit Trail: System records timestamps, IPs, and actions for compliance.

Recommended Digital Workflow Settings

Configure authentication, routing, and storage to match your compliance and audit needs before sending the form.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email + SMS OTP or stronger KBA where higher assurance required
Routing Order	Sequential routing to ensure approvals follow policy
Conditional Fields	Show or hide fields based on prior answers to reduce errors
Storage Location	Set automatic archival to secure cloud or records system

Technical and Integration Considerations

Choose a platform that supports PDF, DOCX, and secure storage plus the integrations your teams use.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and Excel input/output supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace and more
Authentication: Email, SMS OTP, KBA, or SSO where required

Timing and Deadlines to Keep in Mind

Some related filings and tax reporting deadlines are time-sensitive; map form completion to those external timelines to avoid penalties.

W-9 Provision Timing:

Provide upon payer request to avoid backup withholding triggers

1099-NEC Deadline:

Report nonemployee compensation to recipients and IRS by Jan 31

Form 1040 Deadline:

Individual tax filing is generally due April 15 with extension options

I-9 Retention Window:

Retain for three years after hire or one year post-termination

Document Archival:

Archive completed forms promptly to meet retention policies

Key Processing Milestones

Track each milestone from intake to archival so stakeholders know responsibility at each stage.

01

Intake Submission

Requester uploads form and attachments for initial review.

02

Preliminary Review

Reviewer confirms core fields and requests missing documents.

03

Approvals

Designated approvers sign in the configured routing order.

04

Archival

Signed record and audit trail moved to long-term storage.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Entering trade or DBA names instead of full legal names, which prevents matching to formation records and delays verification.
Missing or incomplete supporting documents such as articles or tax forms, forcing manual follow-up and prolonging approval cycles.
Using inconsistent date formats or partial addresses, which breaks automated parsing and can lead to misrouted communications.
Failing to specify signer authority, resulting in unsigned or unsigned-by-unauthorized-person disputes at contract execution.

Security and Compliance Controls to Require

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Data at rest: AES-256 encryption

Audit Trail: Timestamps and IP logging

HIPAA BAA: Business associate agreement required

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II available

Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 Level AA

Penalties and Risks from Incorrect or Late Filings

1099 Late: $60–$330 per form (IRC §6721)

Intentional Disregard: $660+ per form, no cap

Backup Withholding: 24% when TIN missing or incorrect

I-9 Violations: $281–$2,789 per violation

HIPAA Noncompliance: Civil penalties and corrective action

Contract Disputes: Risk of unenforceable agreements

Real-World Examples of Use

The Business Finding Form is used across sectors to accelerate onboarding and preserve an auditable trail of verification.

Optica Ventures — COO

A venture operations team standardized intake to reduce back-and-forth during onboarding.

The form captured entity and ownership quickly.
The result was fewer data discrepancies and faster contract issuance while maintaining a clear audit trail for later reviews.

Martin Properties — Founder

A property manager used the form to gather owner and insurance data for new vendors.

It reduced site visits for paperwork.
The standardized package allowed remote execution with complete documentation for property files and inspections.

Pricing and Feature Comparison for eSignature Platforms

Basic pricing and core feature availability for common eSignature vendors; signNow appears first for direct product comparison.

	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, no credit card	Trial available — check vendor	Trial available — check vendor	Trial available — check vendor	Trial available — check vendor
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

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to common questions about executing, validating, and storing the Business Finding Form in the United States.

Need help? Contact support

Can this form be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; ensure intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met for legal validity.
When is notarization required?
Notarization depends on the document substance and state law. If the form affects title, powers of attorney, or requires an acknowledgment, consult the state notary requirements and consider RON per state rules.
What happens if data is entered incorrectly?
If errors are discovered before signing, correct and re-route the form. After signing, use an amendment or correction addendum and capture signatures and an audit trail to avoid disputes.
Do consumer disclosures apply?
Yes for consumer-facing transactions. ESIGN requires a consumer disclosure and affirmative consent to receive records electronically when material rights or financial obligations are involved.
How do I verify signer identity?
Use layered authentication: email verification plus SMS OTP or KBA for higher assurance. For highest assurance, use PKI-based digital signatures or identity-proofing aligned with policy.
How long should I keep completed forms?
Keep complete records according to applicable law: IRS three-year baseline (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and any longer state or industry retention rules.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now