Can a Business Plan Agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, most contracts can be executed electronically if parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and record retention capabilities.

When is notarization required for the agreement?

Notarization is required only when a specific provision or state law requires acknowledgment or when a party requests a notarized signature; real estate-related transfers typically require notarized documents.

What happens if the wrong person signs?

If an unauthorized signer executes the agreement, the contract may be voidable. Confirm signatory authority in the fillable fields and attach a corporate resolution if necessary.

How long should executed agreements be retained?

Retain active agreements for the full term plus at least three years; tax, HIPAA, or industry-specific rules may require longer retention as noted by regulatory guidance.

Can remote online notarization (RON) be used?

Where state law permits permanent RON, use identity-proofing and audio/video recording consistent with state notary rules; check the applicable state notary commission for requirements.

Which eSignature plan supports bulk or API workflows?

Signers with high-volume needs should evaluate plan tiers: Business, Business Premium (bulk send), Enterprise (advanced fields, authentication), or Site License for per-invite pricing and API access.

Electronic Signature
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Business Plan Agreement

Business Plan Agreement

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

BUSINESS PLAN AGREEMENT

This Business Plan Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of Effective Date: by and between Client Name: with principal address at , and Consultant Name: with principal address at .

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Consultant has expertise in preparing comprehensive business plans, financial models and strategic market analyses and is willing to perform services for Client consistent with this Agreement.

WHEREAS, Client desires to retain Consultant to prepare a business plan and related deliverables to support Client's business objectives on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth their respective rights and obligations regarding the scope of work, compensation, confidentiality and other matters.

SCOPE OF WORK

Consultant will prepare and deliver a written business plan and associated materials as described below. Deliverables, milestones and acceptance criteria will be as set forth in the Scope of Work field.

Scope of Work

PAYMENT TERMS

Client shall pay Consultant the fees and expenses set forth below in exchange for the services and deliverables described in this Agreement. All fees are exclusive of applicable taxes unless otherwise stated.

Total Fee Payment Schedule Late Payment

Any amount not paid within days of the invoice due date will incur a late fee of per month on the outstanding balance, or the maximum permitted by law, whichever is less.

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Agreement commences on Start Date: and shall continue until End Date: unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon providing written notice no less than days to the other party. Either party may terminate immediately upon a material breach that is not cured within 15 days following written notice of such breach.

CONFIDENTIALITY

"Confidential Information" means all non-public information disclosed by one party to the other, whether oral, written, electronic or otherwise, including but not limited to business strategies, financial data, customer lists and trade secrets. The receiving party shall: (a) use Confidential Information solely for the performance of this Agreement; (b) protect Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, and in no event less than reasonable care; and (c) not disclose Confidential Information to third parties except to employees, agents or subcontractors who need access to perform the obligations under this Agreement and who are bound by confidentiality obligations no less protective than those herein.

Confidential Information does not include information that is or becomes publicly available other than through the receiving party's breach, was known to the receiving party prior to disclosure, is rightfully received from a third party without restriction, or is independently developed without use of or reference to the disclosing party's Confidential Information.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; DELIVERABLES

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Consultant grants Client a perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide license to use the final business plan deliverables for Client's internal business purposes. Consultant retains ownership of underlying methodologies, templates, models and techniques used or developed by Consultant independently of the deliverables, subject to the license granted to Client.

INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Each party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other party from claims arising out of its gross negligence or willful misconduct. Except for liability arising from breach of confidentiality or indemnification obligations, neither party's aggregate liability for any claim arising under this Agreement shall exceed the total fees paid to Consultant under this Agreement.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to its conflict of law principles.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement, including any exhibits or attachments 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, understandings and communications, whether written or oral. Any amendment or modification of this Agreement must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

NOTICES

Notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth at the beginning of this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may designate by written notice, and shall be deemed given upon personal delivery, confirmed delivery by courier, or three business days after deposit in the mail if sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.

Client:

By:

Date:

Consultant:

By:

Date:

What a Business Plan Agreement Is and When It Applies

A Business Plan Agreement is a formal contract outlining the roles, responsibilities, deliverables, timeline, and financial terms tied to a business plan or plan-related services. It can document scope for plan preparation, consultant engagement, equity or milestone-based funding tied to plan milestones, confidentiality obligations, and data-sharing permissions. Organizations use it to create an auditable record of expectations between founders, advisors, investors, or consultants. The agreement frames acceptance criteria, effective dates, and remedies for breach so both operational and legal teams can rely on a single authoritative document.

Why a Business Plan Agreement Matters for Your Project

A clear Business Plan Agreement reduces ambiguity about deliverables, aligns stakeholder expectations, and creates enforceable rights and obligations under contract law and applicable e-signature statutes.

Who Typically Prepares and Signs a Business Plan Agreement

Typical participants include founders, business advisors, investors, consultants, and corporate legal or finance teams who need documented commitments before work or funding proceeds.

Founders and executive team members who commission or accept the plan and bind the company.
Consultants, financial advisors, or writers contracted to prepare or revise the plan.
Investors, lenders, or grant administrators who tie funding to plan milestones or deliverables.

Role clarity helps with execution, risk allocation, and later recordkeeping for audits, investor relations, or legal review.

Who Can Sign and Why Their Role Matters

CEO / Founder

As the organization’s authorized representative, the CEO or an authorized founder signs to bind the company to payment, confidentiality, and deliverable terms; ensure the signer has corporate authority to avoid enforceability questions.

Investor / Lender

An investor or lender signs to accept funding conditions and milestones; their signature may trigger disbursements or equity issuance, so include clear payment schedule and conditions precedent in the agreement.

Essential Sections to Include in a Professional Business Plan Agreement

A complete agreement balances commercial terms, delivery mechanics, intellectual property, confidentiality, governing law, and signature blocks to protect all parties and support later enforcement.

Parties

Full legal names and entity types for all parties, including corporate identifiers and state of formation, to establish who is contracting and prevent identity disputes.

Scope

Precise description of services or deliverables, acceptance criteria, revisions, and deliverable formats to avoid disagreements about completion and quality metrics.

Payment

Consideration, payment schedule, triggers tied to milestones, expense reimbursement rules, and consequences for late payment or nonpayment.

IP & Use

Ownership and license terms for plan content, templates, and derivative works, plus any work-for-hire clauses or assignment provisions when required.

Confidentiality

Nondisclosure language specifying protected information, permitted disclosures, duration, and any carve-outs for required reporting or legal process.

Governing Law

Choice of law, dispute resolution method, and venue; specify the governing state and whether arbitration or court proceedings will apply.

Step-by-Step: Completing a Business Plan Agreement

Follow a consistent sequence to prepare, review, and finalize the agreement so all parties have the same expectations and an auditable trail.

01

Draft: Prepare initial terms and deliverables.
02

Review: Legal and finance review for compliance.
03

Negotiate: Agree on changes and finalize terms.
04

Sign: Execute via authorized signature method.

Configure an Online Workflow for Execution

Design an electronic workflow that clarifies signer order, authentication, and document delivery for a smooth execution process.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Define sequential or parallel signing as required
Authentication	Choose email, SMS code, or stronger methods
Signature Fields	Place signature, initials, and date fields
Notifications	Enable reminders and completion emails

Where to Send or File a Signed Business Plan Agreement

Use clear routing so executed copies are distributed to the right corporate and project stakeholders immediately after signing.

Primary Recipient: Company legal or contract admin
Finance: Accounts payable/receivable team
Project Folder: Secure document repository
External Parties: Investor or consultant records

Distribution and eSubmission Options

Decide whether parties will sign in-person, via secure link, or by remote notarization when a notary is required.

Email Link: Send signer-specific links by email
Bulk Send: Distribute identical forms to many recipients
Remote Notary: Use RON when notarization required

Typical Timelines and Deadlines to Track

Establish explicit dates for draft delivery, review cycles, execution, and milestone-based funding to avoid payment or compliance delays.

Draft Delivery Deadline:

Set a firm date for the first completed plan draft

Review Period:

Specify how many days reviewers have to respond

Final Execution:

Date by which all parties must sign

Effective Date:

Date obligations start; may differ from signing date

Funding Milestones:

Dates or conditions that trigger disbursements

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing the Agreement

Leaving parties identified by informal or abbreviated names instead of legal entity names, which can create enforceability problems.
Omitting clear acceptance criteria for deliverables, leading to disputes about completion and payment triggers.
Using unclear payment language that fails to tie amounts to milestones or measurable events, causing collection issues.
Neglecting to define governing law and dispute resolution, which increases litigation complexity and jurisdictional uncertainty.

Risks and Consequences of an Incomplete or Incorrect Agreement

Unenforceability: Missing key terms may render obligations unenforceable.

Payment Disputes: Ambiguous payment triggers can delay or prevent funds.

Wrong Signatory: Unauthorized signer risks voiding the contract.

Confidentiality Breach: Insufficient NDA terms can expose sensitive data.

Regulatory Noncompliance: Industry rules (e.g., HIPAA) may impose fines.

Recordkeeping Failures: Poor retention can complicate audits or claims.

eSignature Provider Comparison for Executing a Business Plan Agreement

Compare core pricing and capability factors relevant to contract execution, including starting price, trial availability, bulk send, audit trail, HIPAA support, and envelope caps.

	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 (Business Premium+)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Security and Compliance Considerations for Electronic Execution

In-Transit Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3

At-Rest Encryption: AES-256

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II

Privacy & Laws: ESIGN and UETA compliant

Health Data: HIPAA-compliant with BAA

Standards: ISO 27001

Frequently Asked Questions About Executing a Business Plan Agreement

Answers to common execution, signature, and retention questions to help avoid delays when finalizing a Business Plan Agreement.

Need help? Contact support

Can a Business Plan Agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, most contracts can be executed electronically if parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and record retention capabilities.
When is notarization required for the agreement?
Notarization is required only when a specific provision or state law requires acknowledgment or when a party requests a notarized signature; real estate-related transfers typically require notarized documents.
What happens if the wrong person signs?
If an unauthorized signer executes the agreement, the contract may be voidable. Confirm signatory authority in the fillable fields and attach a corporate resolution if necessary.
How long should executed agreements be retained?
Retain active agreements for the full term plus at least three years; tax, HIPAA, or industry-specific rules may require longer retention as noted by regulatory guidance.
Can remote online notarization (RON) be used?
Where state law permits permanent RON, use identity-proofing and audio/video recording consistent with state notary rules; check the applicable state notary commission for requirements.
Which eSignature plan supports bulk or API workflows?
Signers with high-volume needs should evaluate plan tiers: Business, Business Premium (bulk send), Enterprise (advanced fields, authentication), or Site License for per-invite pricing and API access.

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