Company identity
Legal name, DBA, formation state, and entity type for accurate legal identification.
A well-completed Business MDS reduces onboarding time, minimizes payment and tax errors, and supports regulatory checks. Proper data capture helps meet ESIGN and UETA evidentiary requirements for electronic records and clarifies who may lawfully bind the business in contracts.
Teams that request or complete a Business MDS vary by function and use case.
Use role-based access and approvals so only authorized staff request, edit, or approve MDS data.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Authentication | Email links with optional SMS code or KBA for high-risk vendors |
| Required fields | Mark legal name, EIN, and signer as mandatory |
| Conditional fields | Show banking fields only for payment-enabled vendors |
| Notifications | Auto-reminders at 3 and 7 days for incomplete submissions |
Choose a platform that supports required file formats, authentication, and secure storage for MDS records.
Ensure the platform provides audit trails, encryption in transit and at rest, and role-based access to meet compliance obligations.
| 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 | Yes, 7-day free trial | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No envelope cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
Legal name, DBA, formation state, and entity type for accurate legal identification.
EIN, tax classification, and W-9 or equivalent for correct tax reporting and withholding.
Bank name, account and routing numbers, account holder confirmation for payments.
Authorized signer name, title, and supporting documents confirming authority to bind the entity.
Proof of insurance, license numbers, and relevant compliance certificates where required.
Primary contact, AP contact, and billing address used for invoices and notices.
Articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, or equivalent to verify legal existence.
IRS CP575, EIN confirmation letter, or recent tax filing showing the EIN.
Bank letter or micro-deposit verification to prove account ownership.
Board resolution, power of attorney, or corporate authorization for the signer.
Optica centralized vendor records to reduce duplicate onboarding
Martin Properties used an MDS to standardize landlord contact and ownership data
Provide MDS within 10 business days of onboarding request
Require MDS revalidation at least once every 12 months
Vendors must report legal or banking changes within 30 days
Collect W-9 information before issuing reportable payments
Retention begins on execution date of the MDS