What constitutes a complete submission?

Provide all required fields, signed authorizations, formation documents, and any requested attachments. Missing attestation, unsigned signature blocks, or absent supporting files are common reasons for rejection.

Can this form be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, signer attribution, and record retention requirements are met.

Is notarization required for all submissions?

Not always. Notarization depends on the recipient's instructions and state law. When notarization is required, follow the state's rules for in-person or RON procedures.

How should I correct an error after signing?

Do not alter the signed original. Prepare an amendment or corrected form and obtain fresh signatures from all required parties; keep both versions in the record.

What proof of authority is acceptable?

Attach a corporate resolution, board minutes, or power of attorney showing the named signer's authority. Some recipients require notarized or certified copies.

How long will review typically take?

Review times vary; expect 3–15 business days depending on the requester and whether additional verification or background checks are needed.

Business History Form

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

BUSINESS HISTORY FORM

Parties

Business Name Requesting Party / Recipient

This Business History Form is provided by the Business identified above to the Requesting Party for the purpose of documenting the business background, material events, financial history, and legal history relevant to evaluation, contracting, or due diligence. Client Name: . Business Address:

Recitals (WHEREAS)

WHEREAS, the Business operates in commerce and maintains records and histories that are material to assessing continuing operations, financial condition, and contractual obligations; and

WHEREAS, the Requesting Party requires a written history of the Business's ownership, management, financial performance, legal and regulatory matters, and material contracts in order to evaluate potential transactions or ongoing relationships; and

WHEREAS, the Business agrees to provide the disclosures and certifications contained in this Business History Form, and to certify under penalty of accuracy to the best of its knowledge as of the dates set forth below.

Business Identification

DBA / Trade Name (if different) Legal Form of Entity

Corporation
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Partnership
Sole Proprietorship
Other (specify below)

If Other, describe entity form Federal Tax ID / EIN

Ownership & Management History

List of Principal Owners (names, percentage ownership, date acquired) Senior Management and Changes in Management in Last 5 Years

Key Events and Milestones

Significant Corporate Events (mergers, acquisitions, re-organizations)

Financial History Summary

Gross Revenues (most recent fiscal year): $ Net Income (most recent fiscal year): $

Five-year Financial Trend Summary Outstanding Debt, Material Liabilities, or Guarantees

Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance History

Has the Business been a party to litigation, arbitration, or administrative proceedings in the last ten years? Yes No

If Yes, provide a brief description and current status

Has the Business filed for bankruptcy or been subject to insolvency proceedings? Yes No

If Yes, provide dates and disposition

Contracts, Clients, and Related Parties

Material Contracts and Major Clients (identify counterparty and nature of agreement) Subsidiaries, Affiliates, and Related Entities

Facilities, Operations & Insurance

Primary Business Locations Insurance Coverage (types and limits)

Scope of Work

Describe the specific work, services, or deliverables that the Business will perform or that this history supports

Payment Terms

Agreed Consideration Amount: $

Payment Schedule and Method

Late Payment Fee: . Payments not received within days of invoice due date incur the late fee.

The Business certifies that invoices will be provided in sufficient detail to permit verification and that amounts invoiced reflect services documented in the Scope of Work.

Term and Termination

Term Start Date: . Term End Date: .

Notice Period for Termination Termination for Cause (describe grounds and remedies)

Confidentiality

The Business and the Requesting Party acknowledge that certain information disclosed in this Business History Form is confidential and constitutes trade secrets and proprietary business information. Each party shall keep confidential all non-public information received, shall use such information solely for evaluation and performance under any resulting agreement, and shall not disclose it to third parties except to officers, employees, counsel, accountants, or prospective investors bound by equivalent confidentiality obligations. The foregoing obligations shall continue for a period of three (3) years following disclosure or for such longer period as required by applicable law for trade secret protection.

Representations and Certifications

The Business represents and certifies that, to the best of its knowledge after reasonable inquiry, the information provided in this Business History Form is true, complete, and accurate as of the date of signature. The Business agrees to promptly notify the Requesting Party in writing of any material change to the information provided herein.

Governing Law

This Business History Form, its interpretation, and any disputes arising hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of , without regard to its conflict of law principles.

Entire Agreement

This Business History Form constitutes the entire written record of the Business disclosures provided to the Requesting Party and supersedes all prior written or oral statements regarding the Business history disclosed herein. Any amendment or modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Additional Disclosures

Other Material Facts or Attachments (attach supporting documents where applicable)

Business Representative:

By:

Date:

Requesting Party Representative:

By:

Date:

What a Business History Form Is and when organizations request it

A Business History Form is a structured record that summarizes a company's origin, ownership, governance, major operational milestones, financial highlights, legal history, and key contacts. Organizations use it during lender due diligence, vendor onboarding, mergers and acquisitions screening, insurance underwriting, and regulatory reviews. Typical content includes legal name, formation date, ownership percentages, principal officers, major contracts, litigation or regulatory matters, and high-level revenue trends. The form helps recipients assess risk, verify identity and authority, and understand historical events that affect credit, compliance, or contracting decisions.

Why a completed Business History Form matters for compliance and decisions

A clear Business History Form helps decision-makers verify facts, speed approvals, and reduce follow-up requests for supporting documents. Complete, accurate histories support credit assessments, insurance underwriting, and regulatory recordkeeping while reducing later disputes over representation and warranty statements.

Typical users and recipients of the Business History Form

The Business History Form bridges internal teams, external counterparties, and regulators by providing a single, consistent summary of a company's background.

Lenders and underwriters verifying creditworthiness, collateral, and ownership structure.
Procurement and vendor management teams assessing supplier risk and contract authority.
Investors, acquirers, and corporate development teams performing preliminary due diligence.

Tailor the level of detail based on the recipient: lenders and regulators will expect more verification and supporting documentation than internal project stakeholders.

Core sections to include in a professional Business History Form

Organize the form into consistent sections to make review efficient. Standard headings and supporting attachments reduce ambiguity and speed verification.

Entity Details

Legal name, DBA, formation state, EIN, and business classification; include registration numbers where applicable and attach formation documents.

Ownership & Control

List owners, percent ownership, beneficial owners, and any ultimate parent entities; disclose changes in the past five years.

Management and Contacts

Provide names, titles, and contact details for officers and authorized signers; note who can bind the company contractually.

Financial Overview

High-level revenue ranges, primary funding sources, recent audited or reviewed financial statement dates and attachments.

Legal & Regulatory History

Summarize material litigation, regulatory actions, bankruptcies, or judgments; attach relevant filings or settlements.

Key Contracts & Milestones

Note major customers, suppliers, intellectual property assignments, mergers, and significant business events that affect risk.

Step-by-step: filling out a Business History Form

Follow these steps in order to prepare a concise, verifiable history that reduces follow-up questions.

01

Gather formation documents: Collect articles of incorporation, operating agreement, and EIN confirmation.
02

Verify ownership: Confirm current beneficial owners and percentage allocations with supporting schedules.
03

Summarize legal matters: List material litigation, regulatory matters, and attach public filings or settlement documents.
04

Confirm signatory authority: Attach board resolution or power of attorney for each named signer.

Configuring an online Business History Form workflow

When delivering the form electronically, map fields and approval steps to match your internal review process.

Field	Configuration
Entity Verification	Require uploaded formation document and EIN image
Owner Confirmation	Checkbox + signature for owner attestation
Legal Attachments	Mandatory file upload for litigation documents
Approval Routing	Route to legal then credit for sequential approvals

Digital submission channels and file formats to support

Choose platforms and file types that preserve auditability, accessibility, and legal weight for the signed form.

Accepted formats: PDF, DOCX, and flattened PDF/A for long-term archiving
Authentication options: Email link, SMS code, or stronger methods such as knowledge-based or multi-factor
Integrations: Connectors to CRM and document storage (Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace)

Preserve an audit trail (timestamps, IP, signer identity) and secure storage to meet ESIGN/UETA retention and evidentiary needs.

Where to send the completed Business History Form

The destination depends on the requesting party and regulatory needs; follow the recipient's instructions for routing and attachments.

Internal Records: Company legal or compliance repository for ongoing retention
External Requester: Send to lender, insurer, or acquirer using agreed secure channel
Regulatory Filing: File only when specifically required by agency instructions
Third-party Portal: Upload to vendor onboarding or due-diligence portals as directed

Common timing and processing expectations

Be aware of recipient deadlines and internal review time; early submission avoids extension requests and backup processes.

Lender or Acquirer Deadline:

Varies by transaction; commonly 5–15 business days for initial review

Regulatory Response:

Agency-specific; follow the request letter or portal timeframe

Internal Approval:

Allow 3–7 business days for legal and credit review

Notarization Window:

Complete notarizations before any filing deadlines that reference the form

Record Delivery:

Provide final, signed copies to all parties promptly after execution

Common mistakes that delay review or invalidate information

Submitting unsigned or partially signed pages that require re-execution.
Providing outdated financial figures without date stamps or source documents.
Omitting material litigation, regulatory actions, or bankruptcy history.
Listing signers without attaching corporate resolutions or proof of authority.

Consequences and legal risks of incorrect or incomplete information

Contract Risk: Rescission or indemnity claims

Regulatory Exposure: Fines or enforcement actions

Financial Delay: Loan or payment postponement

Backup Withholding: 24% withholding if TIN errors occur

Reputational Harm: Reduced trust with partners

Criminal Liability: False statements may carry penalties

eSignature vendor comparison for signing and distributing Business History Forms

Compare basic pricing and common features when choosing an eSignature provider for Business History Forms. signNow appears first in the comparison per vendor ordering rules.

	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 (Business Premium)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Frequently asked questions about completing and submitting the Business History Form

Answers to common issues that cause delays or rejections when submitting a Business History Form.

Need help? Contact support

What constitutes a complete submission?
Provide all required fields, signed authorizations, formation documents, and any requested attachments. Missing attestation, unsigned signature blocks, or absent supporting files are common reasons for rejection.
Can this form be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, signer attribution, and record retention requirements are met.
Is notarization required for all submissions?
Not always. Notarization depends on the recipient's instructions and state law. When notarization is required, follow the state's rules for in-person or RON procedures.
How should I correct an error after signing?
Do not alter the signed original. Prepare an amendment or corrected form and obtain fresh signatures from all required parties; keep both versions in the record.
What proof of authority is acceptable?
Attach a corporate resolution, board minutes, or power of attorney showing the named signer's authority. Some recipients require notarized or certified copies.
How long will review typically take?
Review times vary; expect 3–15 business days depending on the requester and whether additional verification or background checks are needed.

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