Can these be e-signed?

Yes. Most formation, tax, and vendor documents can be electronically signed under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.

When is a notary required?

Notarization depends on the document and state. Deeds, some powers of attorney, and certain acknowledgements commonly require notary acknowledgment per state statute; check the state's notary rules before execution.

What causes bank onboarding delays?

Common causes include name mismatches between formation documents and signer ID, missing resolutions naming authorized signers, and incomplete KYC documents. Correcting these typically requires resubmission and can add days to account opening.

How to avoid 1099 penalties?

Collect accurate W-9s early, verify TINs against payer requests, and file 1099-NEC returns by January 31 to avoid tiered penalties under IRC §6721.

Is witness testimony ever required?

Witness requirements vary by document and state; certain wills, powers of attorney, and real estate documents may need one or more witnesses in addition to notarization.

How long should records be kept?

Follow federal minimums—IRS three years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)—and retain longer where state or industry rules prescribe extended periods.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Getting Started Documents

Business Getting Started Documents

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

BUSINESS GETTING STARTED DOCUMENTS

This General Business Agreement (the Agreement) is entered into as of Effective Date: by and between Service Provider Name: and Client Name: .

Business Information

Service Provider — Legal Entity Name Service Provider — Entity Type (check all that apply)

Sole proprietorship Partnership Corporation LLC Other

Service Provider — Business Address Client — Legal Entity Name Client — Entity Type (check all that apply)

Sole proprietorship Partnership Corporation LLC Other

Client — Business Address

Recitals

WHEREAS, Service Provider possesses expertise in the provision of business start-up advisory, formation services, and operational setup (the Services); and

WHEREAS, Client desires to engage Service Provider to perform the Services described herein and Service Provider is willing to perform such Services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree as follows.

Scope of Work

Description of Services and Deliverables

Service Provider shall perform the Services in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards. Deliverables shall be provided in the form and at the milestones specified in the Scope of Work. Any material change to the Scope of Work shall require a written change order signed by both Parties.

Payment Terms

Total Fee: $. Payment shall be made in accordance with the schedule below.

Payment Schedule and Milestones

Deposit: $ due upon execution. Remaining balance due per milestone as described above. All amounts payable under this Agreement are exclusive of applicable taxes, which Client shall pay.

Late Payment: Unpaid amounts shall accrue interest at the rate of (or the maximum permitted by law) from the due date until paid. Client shall also be responsible for reasonable collection costs and attorneys' fees incurred to collect overdue amounts.

Term and Termination

Term Commencement Date: . Term End Date: .

Either Party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon days' prior written notice to the other Party. Either Party may terminate immediately for cause if the other Party materially breaches this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days after written notice of the breach.

Upon termination, Client shall pay Service Provider for all Services performed and reimbursable expenses incurred through the effective date of termination. Service Provider shall deliver any completed deliverables to Client upon receipt of final payment.

Confidentiality

Definition: "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed by a Party (the Disclosing Party) to the other Party (the Receiving Party) that is designated confidential or that reasonably should be understood to be confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure.

Obligations: The Receiving Party shall (a) hold Confidential Information in strict confidence, (b) use Confidential Information solely to perform its obligations under this Agreement, and (c) disclose Confidential Information only to its employees, contractors, and advisors who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those contained herein.

Exclusions: Confidential Information does not include information that is (i) publicly available through no fault of the Receiving Party, (ii) rightfully known to the Receiving Party at the time of disclosure, or (iii) rightfully obtained by the Receiving Party from a third party without breach of an obligation of confidentiality.

Duration: The confidentiality obligations set forth in this section shall continue for following termination or expiration of this Agreement, except with respect to trade secrets, which shall remain protected for so long as they qualify as trade secrets under applicable law.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to conflict of laws principles. The Parties agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved by the courts located within that State, and each Party consents to personal jurisdiction therein.

Miscellaneous

Independent Contractor: Service Provider is an independent contractor and not an employee, agent, or partner of Client. Service Provider has no authority to bind Client except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.

Limitation of Liability: Except for liability arising from willful misconduct or gross negligence, neither Party shall be liable for consequential, incidental, special, or punitive damages or lost profits, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise.

Entire Agreement

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

Execution

The individuals signing below represent and warrant that they are authorized to bind the Party for whom they sign.

Service Provider — Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Client — Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What Business Getting Started Documents Cover

Business Getting Started Documents are the core set of forms and records used to establish a new company and begin operations. They typically include formation filings (articles/organizing documents), tax registrations (EIN, W-9s), initial governance documents (operating agreements, bylaws), bank and vendor onboarding forms, employment I-9s and tax withholding forms, and any industry-specific permits or licenses. These documents create legal identity, permit hiring and banking, and establish who can sign on behalf of the business; many can be completed and executed electronically under U.S. law (ESIGN and UETA).

Why a Complete Getting-Started Package Matters

A well-organized set of getting-started documents reduces startup risk by confirming legal formation, tax status, and signing authority, while improving lender, vendor, and client confidence. Properly completed paperwork avoids delays in banking and contracting, ensures correct tax reporting, and sets clear operational roles and recordkeeping practices under applicable federal and state rules.

Who Prepares and Signs These Documents

Typical preparers include founders, corporate counsel, accountants, and designated operations staff responsible for company formation and compliance.

Founders and owners: prepare formation and governance papers, confirm signatory names and ownership percentages.
CFO or finance lead: completes banking, vendor W-9s, tax registrations, and withholding setup.
Outside advisors: attorneys and accountants review filings, confirm governing state selections, and advise on licensing.

Assigning roles early prevents duplication, speeds submission, and ensures the right people can lawfully sign and bind the business.

Who Signs and Who Executes

Founder / CEO

The company founder or CEO commonly signs formation documents, bank authorizations, and initial contracts. This signer should use the legal name that will appear on formation filings to avoid identity mismatches with government records.

Authorized Signatory / CFO

A named officer or CFO often handles financial authorizations and vendor agreements. Their signature should be backed by board resolution or corporate authorization to avoid later disputes about authority.

Step-by-Step: Completing Your Getting-Started Package

Follow these steps in order to establish the business identity, tax profile, and signing authorities needed to operate.

01

Form formation: File articles or certificate with the chosen state agency.
02

Obtain EIN: Apply to the IRS for an employer identification number.
03

Create governance: Draft operating agreement or bylaws and record ownership.
04

Open accounts: Complete bank onboarding and vendor W-9s.

Typical Digital Workflow for These Documents

A standard eSignature workflow shortens execution time and captures an audit trail for each step in the process.

Upload: Add the document file to the signing platform.
Place fields: Insert signature, date, and required input fields where needed.
Add signers: Assign signing order and authentication methods per role.
Execute: Signer authenticates, reviews, and signs; audit trail is stored.

Recommended Workflow Settings for Startups

Configure templates and authentication to reduce repetitive work while protecting signer identity and record integrity.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email plus optional SMS code for moderate assurance
Template	Save formation and vendor forms as reusable templates
Bulk Send	Enable for mass vendor onboarding on mid-tier plans
Audit Trail	Retain IP, timestamp, and action logs for each signature

Digital Signing and File Format Considerations

Choose a platform that supports common file formats, secure transport, and the authentication methods your documents require.

File formats: PDF, DOCX, and fillable forms supported
Integrations: Connectors for CRM and cloud storage available
Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA, and SSO capabilities

Confirm the platform provides an auditable certificate of completion, exportable signed PDFs, and secure retention to satisfy ESIGN and recordkeeping requirements.

eSignature Pricing and Envelope Considerations

Cost models and envelope limits vary across vendors; choose a plan that fits your document volume and compliance needs.

	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
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Time-Sensitive Filing and Reporting Deadlines

Certain forms and tax returns have fixed deadlines that affect withholding, reporting, and penalties if missed.

W-9 timing:

No fixed federal deadline; provide upon payer request to avoid backup withholding

W-2 to employee:

Employee delivery required by January 31 each year

1099-NEC:

Recipient and IRS deadline January 31 for nonemployee compensation

Form 1040:

Individual tax return due April 15 (Oct 15 with extension)

FBAR:

Due April 15 with automatic extension to October 15

Practical Tips for Faster, Lower-Risk Completion

Adopt consistent procedures that reduce errors and make records audit-ready from day one.

Verify legal names and IDs

Cross-check all signer names against formation filings and government ID to prevent bank and tax entity mismatches that can delay account openings or trigger withholding.

Use templates and version control

Standardize formation and vendor forms as templates, track version history, and require a sign-off process to avoid inconsistent contract terms and unauthorized clauses.

Capture consent for e-signatures

For consumer-facing or financial documents, follow ESIGN disclosure requirements and confirm the signer can access records electronically to ensure enforceability.

Preserve the audit trail

Retain timestamped logs, IP addresses, and certificate-of-completion files to support evidentiary needs in disputes or regulatory reviews.

Real-World Examples of Getting-Started Document Use

These concise use cases show how organizations complete founding paperwork and onboarding using digital workflows.

Martin Properties (Founder)

Tim Martin used online signing to execute lease and vendor agreements quickly

Mobile signing enabled on-site signatures during showings
He reports processing formation and leasing documents entirely online while maintaining compliance and secure audit trails for each transaction.

Xerox (NetSuite Ops)

Kodi-Marie Evans integrated eSigning into NetSuite to streamline vendor contracts

API-based templates automated signature collection
This approach ensured the right signatures in the correct formats and improved integration with financial systems for faster vendor onboarding.

Security and Compliance Features to Expect

Encryption in transit: TLS 1.2/1.3

Encryption at rest: AES-256

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II

Regulatory support: ESIGN and UETA

Healthcare readiness: HIPAA (BAA available)

FDA compliance: 21 CFR Part 11 support

Penalties and Risks of Incomplete or Incorrect Filings

1099 late small: $60 per form

1099 late moderate: $130 per form

1099 late severe: $330 per form

1099 intentional: $660+ per form

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

Backup withholding: 24% withholding rate

Key Milestones from Formation to First Contract

A sequential view of milestones helps map tasks, approvals, and filing windows required after formation.

01

File formation

State files articles and returns certificate of formation

02

Adopt governance

Record operating agreement or bylaws and ownership schedules

03

Tax registration

Obtain EIN and register for state taxes where required

04

Open accounts

Establish bank and vendor relationships with signed authorizations

Frequently Asked Questions and Common Issues

Answers to common execution and compliance questions encountered when preparing startup documents.

Need help? Contact support

Can these be e-signed?
Yes. Most formation, tax, and vendor documents can be electronically signed under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.
When is a notary required?
Notarization depends on the document and state. Deeds, some powers of attorney, and certain acknowledgements commonly require notary acknowledgment per state statute; check the state's notary rules before execution.
What causes bank onboarding delays?
Common causes include name mismatches between formation documents and signer ID, missing resolutions naming authorized signers, and incomplete KYC documents. Correcting these typically requires resubmission and can add days to account opening.
How to avoid 1099 penalties?
Collect accurate W-9s early, verify TINs against payer requests, and file 1099-NEC returns by January 31 to avoid tiered penalties under IRC §6721.
Is witness testimony ever required?
Witness requirements vary by document and state; certain wills, powers of attorney, and real estate documents may need one or more witnesses in addition to notarization.
How long should records be kept?
Follow federal minimums—IRS three years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)—and retain longer where state or industry rules prescribe extended periods.

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