Can this be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.

Do I need notarization or witnesses?

Generally no for commercial matching agreements, but specific transactions (real estate conveyances, certain powers of attorney) may require notarization or witnesses under state law; consult state rules.

Who should sign on behalf of a company?

An authorized officer or person with delegated signing authority should sign. Maintain documentation of authority (board resolution or company certificate) to support enforceability.

How can I revoke or cancel the agreement?

Follow termination provisions in the agreement. If revocation is required, provide written notice per contract terms and capture the counterparty’s acknowledgment to avoid disputes.

How should executed agreements be stored?

Retain executed copies in a secure, access-controlled repository. For digital execution, keep the audit trail and signed PDF to meet evidentiary needs.

What supporting documents should accompany the agreement?

Attach evidence of authority, scope exhibits, sample introduction templates, and data-protection addenda where sensitive information will be shared.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Matching Agreement

Business Matching Agreement

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

BUSINESS MATCHING AGREEMENT

Parties

Matcher Name: Client Name:

Matcher Primary Address Client Primary Address Matcher Contact Person Client Contact Person

Recitals

WHEREAS, Matcher is in the business of identifying, vetting and introducing potential strategic partners, investors, customers or other business counterparties (the "Matches") for businesses seeking commercial opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Client desires to engage Matcher to provide matching services described in this Agreement and Matcher is willing to provide such services under the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, the parties intend that Match introductions shall be subject to confidentiality, limited scope, and payment as set forth in this Agreement.

Scope of Work

Matcher shall perform diligent sourcing, preliminary qualification, and facilitation services to introduce Client to potential Matches. Services will include outreach, preliminary screening, and coordination of introductory meetings. Matcher makes no guarantee that introductions will result in any transaction.

Detailed Scope (describe specific targets, industries, and deliverables)

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Matcher fees for services as follows. All fees are non-refundable except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

Total Fee Payable Initial Deposit or Retainer Payment Schedule / Milestones

Invoices are payable within days of invoice date. Late payments shall accrue interest at % per month (or the maximum permitted by law), compounded monthly.

Accepted Methods of Payment

Term and Termination

This Agreement commences on and shall continue until unless earlier terminated as provided below.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon days' prior written notice to the other party. Termination for material breach shall be effective if the breaching party fails to cure such breach within 15 days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach.

Obligations Upon Termination

Confidentiality

Each party acknowledges that during the course of this Agreement it may receive Confidential Information of the other party. "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed in any form that is designated confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential. Confidential Information does not include information that is or becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, is independently developed without use of the other party's Confidential Information, or is rightfully received from a third party without restriction.

Each recipient shall: (a) hold Confidential Information in strict confidence; (b) use Confidential Information solely to perform its obligations under this Agreement; and (c) limit disclosure to employees, agents and professional advisors who have a need to know and are bound to maintain confidentiality. Recipient shall take reasonable measures to protect Confidential Information, not less than those used to protect its own confidential information.

The obligations of confidentiality shall continue for years following disclosure or for such longer period as required by applicable law with respect to personal data.

Representations; Limitation of Liability

Each party represents and warrants that it has the full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. Matcher represents that it will perform services in a professional manner consistent with industry standards.

EXCEPT FOR LIABILITY ARISING FROM A PARTY'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, OR BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF MATCHER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL FEES PAID BY CLIENT TO MATCHER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

Liability Cap Amount

Indemnification

Each party agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party from and against any claims, liabilities, losses or expenses arising from the indemnifying party's breach of this Agreement, willful misconduct, or violation of law in connection with its performance under this Agreement. The indemnified party shall provide prompt written notice of any claim and shall cooperate in the defense.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to choice-of-law principles. The parties agree that any dispute arising out of this Agreement shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in that State, subject to the parties' rights to pursue injunctive relief where appropriate.

Entire Agreement; Amendment

This Agreement, together with any exhibits or attachments expressly incorporated herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, whether written or oral. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Miscellaneous

If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. Neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other, except that Matcher may assign to a successor in connection with a merger or sale of substantially all of its assets.

Additional Provisions / Notes

Matcher

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Client

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What a Business Matching Agreement Is and When It Applies

A Business Matching Agreement is a contract that governs introductions or referral services between a matching provider and one or more businesses seeking partners, customers, or suppliers. It defines the scope of the matching service, the criteria used to identify potential matches, payment or fee structures (referral fees, success fees, or subscription charges), confidentiality obligations, data handling and allowed uses, and performance expectations. The agreement clarifies responsibility for follow-up, exclusivity limits, and how disputes or unsuccessful matches are handled to reduce ambiguity between parties.

Why Use a Formal Business Matching Agreement

A written agreement aligns expectations, protects confidential information, and clarifies financial terms for introductions. It reduces later disputes over referrals, supports compliance with data-privacy obligations, and documents acceptance of service terms between the matching provider and participant businesses.

Which Organizations Typically Rely on a Business Matching Agreement

The agreement is used by service providers who connect buyers, sellers, partners, or investors with target businesses and by recipient businesses that pay or receive referral fees.

Matching platforms and referral brokers that coordinate introductions across industry verticals.
Startups and growth-stage companies seeking distribution partners, investors, or channel relationships.
Professional services firms and consultancies that broker client referrals for a fee.

Use the agreement to document fee structures, confidentiality requirements, deliverables, and termination rights so both introducer and recipient share a clear compliance and payment framework.

Core Sections Your Business Matching Agreement Should Include

A professional agreement groups obligations and protections into discrete sections so parties can find key terms quickly and ensure consistency across engagements.

Parties

Identify full legal names and entity types for the introducer and recipient, including state of formation and primary business address.

Scope of Services

Specify matching criteria, geographic or sector limits, number of introductions, and whether introductions are exclusive or non-exclusive.

Fees and Payment

Spell out fee triggers (intro made, deal signed), fee amounts or percentages, invoicing timing, and any refund or clawback mechanics.

Confidentiality

Define confidential information, permitted disclosures, duration of nondisclosure, and required security measures for shared data.

Data Protection

Describe how personal or sensitive data will be processed, stored, and deleted; include required legal bases and breach notification steps.

Termination & Remedies

Set termination triggers, notice periods, surviving clauses, and remedies for breach, including limitations of liability and indemnities.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Business Matching Agreement

Follow these steps to prepare, verify, and finalize a Business Matching Agreement for signature.

01

Prepare draft: Populate parties, scope, fees, and confidentiality sections.
02

Review terms: Confirm fee triggers, exclusivity, and data-handling expectations with legal counsel if needed.
03

Authorize signatories: Ensure signers have corporate authority to bind their organizations.
04

Execute and retain: Sign, date, and store the fully executed agreement in a secure repository.

Configuring an Online Signing Workflow

Set up a digital workflow to reduce turnaround time and preserve an audit trail when collecting signatures.

Field	Configuration
Template Name	Use a descriptive title (e.g., 'Business Matching Agreement – Standard')
Signer Order	Select sequential or parallel signing based on who must sign first
Authentication	Choose email link, SMS code, or stronger verification (KBA) as needed
Reminders	Set automatic reminders (e.g., every 3 days) until signing completes

Typical Online Execution Flow

Online signing follows a clear sequence that preserves intent and attribution while providing a complete audit trail.

Upload Document: Add the finalized agreement to the signing platform
Place Fields: Insert signature, date, and data fields for each party
Send to Signers: Notify signers via email or secure link
Capture Audit Trail: Platform records IP, timestamps, and actions

Technical and Integration Considerations

Ensure the signing platform supports required integrations and formats to streamline execution and recordkeeping.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace
File formats: PDF and DOCX support for preserving layout
Security: TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256 encryption

Choose a platform that preserves audit trails, supports conditional fields, and integrates with your document repository to reduce manual steps.

Typical eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison

Compare baseline pricing and common capability signals to choose a signing solution that supports Business Matching Agreement workflows. signNow appears first for reference.

	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
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Using unclear matching criteria that lead to irrelevant introductions and disputes over fee entitlement.
Failing to identify authorized signers, which can delay enforcement and require re-execution of the agreement.
Neglecting data-protection obligations when sharing personal information, increasing regulatory and reputational risk.
Overly vague fee triggers (e.g., 'reasonable effort') that create ambiguity about when payments are due.

Key Legal Risks and Potential Consequences

Breach Damages: Monetary damages or specific performance claims if the agreement is breached

Indemnity Exposure: Obligations to defend or indemnify for third-party claims arising from introductions

Confidentiality Violations: Contract and statutory remedies for unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data

Fee Disputes: Claims over owed referral fees leading to contested invoices or litigation

Regulatory Risk: Data privacy violations where protected information is mishandled

Tax Misreporting: Incorrect classification of payments may trigger IRS reporting or withholding obligations

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Follow these guidelines to reduce ambiguity, speed execution, and strengthen enforceability.

Standardize Templates

Use one standardized template for common transactions and preserve negotiated deviations in redline history to maintain clarity and reduce review time.

Document Authority

Confirm signers’ authority in writing (board resolution or officer certificate) for corporate parties before finalizing to avoid enforceability issues.

Specify Fee Triggers

Be precise about what constitutes a payable event (e.g., 'execution of a written agreement between recipient and introduced party') and include timing and invoicing terms.

Protect Data

Include minimum security standards for transmitted data, requirements for breach notification, and a description of permitted data uses to aid compliance reviews.

Real-World Examples of Use

These brief examples show how businesses use matching agreements to structure introductions and protect each party’s interests.

Optica Ventures — COO

Optica used a standard matching agreement to document referral fees and responsibilities

Introducer provided targeted investor introductions
The team reported simpler customer interactions and clearer payment expectations after using the agreement.

Martin Properties — Founder

Martin Properties used an agreement to capture lead referral terms for property buyers

Introductions required signed acceptance to trigger fees
Executing the agreement online reduced turnaround time and improved compliance with internal recordkeeping.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Business Matching Agreement

Answers to common execution, enforceability, and compliance questions related to Business Matching Agreements.

Need help? Contact support

Can this be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.
Do I need notarization or witnesses?
Generally no for commercial matching agreements, but specific transactions (real estate conveyances, certain powers of attorney) may require notarization or witnesses under state law; consult state rules.
Who should sign on behalf of a company?
An authorized officer or person with delegated signing authority should sign. Maintain documentation of authority (board resolution or company certificate) to support enforceability.
How can I revoke or cancel the agreement?
Follow termination provisions in the agreement. If revocation is required, provide written notice per contract terms and capture the counterparty’s acknowledgment to avoid disputes.
How should executed agreements be stored?
Retain executed copies in a secure, access-controlled repository. For digital execution, keep the audit trail and signed PDF to meet evidentiary needs.
What supporting documents should accompany the agreement?
Attach evidence of authority, scope exhibits, sample introduction templates, and data-protection addenda where sensitive information will be shared.

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