Can this be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally legally enforceable in the U.S. under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Exceptions exist (wills, court orders); confirm that the transaction is not excluded before relying solely on e-signatures.

When is notarization required?

Notarization is not typically required for a Business Partner Proposal itself, but certain related documents (deeds, powers of attorney, or state-specific instruments) may need notarization. Check state law and the specific document type; RON may be available where permitted.

Who must sign the proposal?

An authorized representative with binding authority should sign. For a corporate party, use an officer or someone with delegated signatory authority; document their title and confirm corporate authorization to avoid later challenges to enforceability.

How do we amend a proposal after signing?

Use a written amendment signed by the same authorized parties, or execute a novation if assigning rights. Record amendment dates, describe scope changes clearly, and retain prior versions for audit and dispute resolution.

Does HIPAA apply to proposals?

If the proposal involves protected health information, include a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement and apply safeguards under 45 CFR §164.502 and §164.530(j). Treat drafts that contain PHI as sensitive and limit distribution accordingly.

How long should signed proposals be kept?

Retain executed proposals for the contract term plus a prudent post-termination period, commonly three to seven years. Follow IRS rules for associated financial records (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA where applicable.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Partner Proposal

Business Partner Proposal

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

BUSINESS PARTNER PROPOSAL

This Business Partner Proposal ("Proposal") is made as of Effective Date: and is between Party A: with principal place of business at:

Party A Address Party A Primary Contact

and Party B: with principal place of business at:

Party B Address Party B Primary Contact

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Party A possesses expertise, resources, or market access in relation to the products and services described in the Scope of Work; and

WHEREAS, Party B desires to collaborate with Party A to jointly develop, market, distribute or otherwise commercialize the Deliverables described below; and

WHEREAS, the parties wish to set forth the terms by which they will perform their respective obligations, allocate compensation, and protect confidential information.

SCOPE OF WORK

The parties shall perform the work described below. The Scope of Work sets forth duties, deliverables, performance standards, and acceptance criteria. The parties agree to cooperate in good faith to achieve the objectives set forth herein.

Detailed Scope of Work Primary Deliverables Milestones & Acceptance Criteria

PAYMENT TERMS

Total Fee/Compensation payable under this Proposal:

Payment Schedule (installments, milestones, deposits)

Invoices are due within days of invoice receipt. Late payments incur interest at percent per month or the maximum permitted by law, whichever is less.

Expenses: Reimbursable subject to prior written approval. Expense cap (if any):

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Proposal shall commence on Start Date: and shall continue until End Date: unless earlier terminated as provided below.

Either party may terminate this Proposal without cause upon days' prior written notice. Either party may terminate immediately for material breach if the breaching party fails to cure within 15 days of written notice of breach.

Termination shall not relieve either party of amounts accrued prior to termination. Sections concerning Confidentiality, Indemnification, Governing Law and payment obligations survive termination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

"Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed by a disclosing party that is designated as confidential or that reasonably should be understood to be confidential given the nature of the information. Confidential Information does not include information that: (a) is or becomes public through no wrongful act of the receiving party; (b) was rightfully in the receiving party's possession prior to disclosure; (c) is rightfully received from a third party without restriction; or (d) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of the disclosing party's Confidential Information.

The receiving party shall (i) hold Confidential Information in strict confidence, (ii) not disclose it to third parties except to employees, contractors or advisors who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those herein, and (iii) use such information only for performance under this Proposal. Upon request or upon termination, the receiving party shall promptly return or destroy Confidential Information and certify such return or destruction in writing.

Confidentiality obligations shall survive for a period of years from the date of disclosure, except for trade secrets which shall remain protected for as long as they qualify as trade secrets.

GOVERNING LAW

This Proposal and any dispute arising out of or relating to it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to its conflicts of law provisions. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in that state for resolution of disputes.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Proposal, together with any exhibits or schedules executed by the parties, 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 oral or written. Any amendment or modification to this Proposal must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

NOTICES

Notices under this Proposal shall be given to the parties at the addresses below or to such other address as either party may designate by notice in accordance with this paragraph.

Notice Address for Party A Notice Address for Party B

By checking the box below, the signatory certifies that they are authorized to execute this Proposal on behalf of the party they represent and that the party agrees to be bound by the terms herein.

Party A:

By:

Date:

Party B:

By:

Date:

What a Business Partner Proposal Is and When It’s Used

Business Partner Proposal is a formal written offer a company uses to propose the terms of a commercial partnership with another business. It outlines objectives, scope of services or products, financial arrangements, responsibilities, timelines, and performance indicators. The document serves as the basis for negotiation and may be converted into a binding contract once both parties agree and sign. Typical users include procurement teams, business development, and legal counsel. A clear proposal reduces ambiguity, sets review deadlines, and creates a record that supports later contract drafting and compliance reviews.

Why a Clear Proposal Matters

Use a Business Partner Proposal to document proposed deliverables, pricing, and responsibilities before contract formation. It shortens negotiations, clarifies expectations, and provides an audit-ready record for procurement, accounting, and legal review while reducing later disputes and drafting costs.

Who Prepares and Reviews These Proposals

Organizations prepare Business Partner Proposals to evaluate partnerships, align stakeholders, and create a negotiable record prior to contract drafting.

Small and medium businesses seeking joint ventures or reseller agreements.
Corporate procurement and vendor management teams evaluating supplier partnerships or integrations.
Legal and finance reviewers who confirm terms, compliance, and risk allocation.

Tailor the proposal to the audience: executives need summary terms; legal requires precise clauses and exhibits.

Core Sections to Include in a Professional Proposal

Well-structured Business Partner Proposals balance a clear executive summary, defined deliverables, commercial terms, timelines, risk allocation, and measurable performance indicators for easy review.

Executive Summary

Summarize the partnership purpose, key benefits, proposed term length, and headline financial commitments. Use concise language so decision-makers can understand the offer without reading the full document.

Scope of Work

Describe specific services, deliverables, milestones, and acceptance criteria. Include measurable outputs, responsible parties, and any exclusions to prevent scope creep during execution and later contract drafting.

Pricing and Payment

State fixed fees, unit rates, payment schedule, invoicing procedures, and any penalties or discounts. Clarify currency, taxes, and who is responsible for transaction or banking fees.

Roles & Responsibilities

List obligations for each party, escalation contacts, change-order process, and governance cadence. Distinguish operational tasks from strategic approvals to reduce ambiguity in performance.

Term & Termination

Specify contract length, renewal mechanics, termination rights for convenience or breach, notice requirements, and post-termination obligations such as transition support.

Performance Metrics

Define KPIs, reporting frequency, remediation steps for missed targets, and dispute resolution mechanisms including mediation or arbitration preferences.

Step-by-Step: Prepare, Review, and Execute

Follow these steps to prepare, review, and execute a Business Partner Proposal efficiently and with clear accountability at each stage.

01

Gather Information: Collect entity details, financial data, and prior agreements.
02

Draft Proposal: Write scope, commercial terms, and timelines.
03

Internal Review: Legal and finance review clauses and risks.
04

Execute: Sign, distribute, and archive final signed copy.

Typical eSubmission Flow for a Proposal

Typical eSubmission workflow for a Business Partner Proposal involves uploading the file, assigning fields, authenticating signers, and capturing an auditable completion record.

Upload Document: Add finalized draft as PDF or DOCX.
Place Fields: Insert signature, date, initials, and text boxes.
Invite Signers: Email links or SMS codes for authentication.
Capture Audit Trail: Record timestamps, IP, and actions.

Recommended Workflow Settings for Secure Routing

Configure workflows to ensure consistent authentication, sequential routing, automated reminders, and secure retention of signed proposals.

Field	Configuration
Authentication Method	Email link, SMS code, or SSO
Routing Order	Set sequential or parallel signer order
Reminder Schedule	Auto-reminders every 3 or 7 days
Retention Policy	Apply secure retention and access controls

Delivery Channels, File Formats, and Integrations

Select delivery channels and integrations that meet your organization's security requirements and allow straightforward routing and archival of signed proposals.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and editable templates
Integrations: CRM, ERP, cloud storage connectors
Authentication: Email, SMS, SSO options

Security and Compliance Considerations

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit, AES-256 at rest

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 certified

Privacy Laws: ESIGN and UETA compliance in U.S.

HIPAA: HIPAA compliant; BAA required for PHI

21 CFR Part 11: Compliant for FDA-regulated records

Access Controls: Role-based access and audit logging

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Using unclear scope or deliverable language, which leads to disputes and multiple change orders during execution and creates ambiguity for enforcement.
Failing to identify or document authorized signatories, causing invalidation, bank delays, or later challenges to signatory authority during enforcement.
Omitting explicit payment schedules or invoicing procedures, which commonly triggers disputes, late payments, and reconciliation issues between parties.
Neglecting to attach referenced exhibits, SOWs, or technical specifications, creating ambiguity and increasing the risk of nonperformance disputes.

Key Risks and Potential Consequences

Unenforceable Terms: Court may limit remedies or void provisions

Signature Disputes: Challenge to signer's authority or intent

Delay Costs: Missed milestones increase financial exposure

Regulatory Risk: Noncompliance with sector rules (e.g., HIPAA)

Tax Consequences: Improper classification may trigger tax liabilities

Reputational Harm: Partner disputes can damage relationships

Typical Timelines and Response Deadlines

Set clear deadlines for proposal response, negotiation, signature, and performance milestones to avoid misunderstandings and schedule drift.

Proposal Submission Deadline:

Typically 7–30 days from issuance

Negotiation Period:

Commonly 14–60 days depending on complexity

Execution Date:

Effective upon final signed date

Performance Start Date:

Specify start date or 'upon execution'

Record Retention Reminder:

Archive according to retention policy and legal requirements

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Proposal Execution

Comparison of common eSignature vendors by starting price and key features relevant when executing Business Partner Proposals.

	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 trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about preparing, signing, and storing Business Partner Proposals with attention to legal validity and eSignature considerations.

Need help? Contact support

Can this be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally legally enforceable in the U.S. under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Exceptions exist (wills, court orders); confirm that the transaction is not excluded before relying solely on e-signatures.
When is notarization required?
Notarization is not typically required for a Business Partner Proposal itself, but certain related documents (deeds, powers of attorney, or state-specific instruments) may need notarization. Check state law and the specific document type; RON may be available where permitted.
Who must sign the proposal?
An authorized representative with binding authority should sign. For a corporate party, use an officer or someone with delegated signatory authority; document their title and confirm corporate authorization to avoid later challenges to enforceability.
How do we amend a proposal after signing?
Use a written amendment signed by the same authorized parties, or execute a novation if assigning rights. Record amendment dates, describe scope changes clearly, and retain prior versions for audit and dispute resolution.
Does HIPAA apply to proposals?
If the proposal involves protected health information, include a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement and apply safeguards under 45 CFR §164.502 and §164.530(j). Treat drafts that contain PHI as sensitive and limit distribution accordingly.
How long should signed proposals be kept?
Retain executed proposals for the contract term plus a prudent post-termination period, commonly three to seven years. Follow IRS rules for associated financial records (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA where applicable.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now