Can this agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA laws for most commercial contracts, provided the parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and that records can be retained and reproduced.

Is notarization required for validity?

Not generally for standard service agreements. Notarization may be required if state law or a particular transaction requires acknowledgment or if the parties want an additional level of authentication for third parties.

How do I revise the agreement after signing?

Use a written amendment signed by all parties, or execute a replacement agreement. For minor administrative changes, attach a signed addendum referencing the original agreement’s effective date.

Who must sign on behalf of a company?

An officer or authorized representative with corporate authority should sign. Confirm signature authority internally and, where needed, include a certificate of incumbency or board resolution.

How long should executed copies be kept?

Retain executed agreements for the active term plus at least three years; extend retention for tax-related, HIPAA, or industry-specific legal obligations.

What supporting documents should be attached?

Attach exhibits such as detailed scopes, financial models, budgets, IP assignment forms, and proof of authority or corporate resolution when needed for enforceability.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Plans Agreement

Business Plans Agreement

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

BUSINESS PLANS AGREEMENT

This Business Plans Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of by and between the parties identified below.

Parties

Client Name: Client Address: Consultant Name: Consultant Address:

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client desires the preparation, delivery and licensing of a business plan, financial model and ancillary planning documents (the "Business Plans") to support Client's business objectives; and

WHEREAS, Consultant represents that Consultant has the skill, experience and resources to prepare and deliver the Business Plans and related advisory services under the terms set forth in this Agreement; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties agree as follows.

Scope of Work

Consultant shall perform the services described below and deliver the deliverables set forth therein. Consultant's obligations shall include reasonable revisions as required to achieve the agreed final Business Plans, subject to the limitations in this Agreement.

Detailed Scope and Deliverables:

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Consultant the fees set forth below in consideration for the performance of the Scope of Work. Fees are exclusive of any applicable taxes unless otherwise stated.

Total Fee: Payment Schedule / Milestones:

Late payment shall accrue interest at a rate of percent per month on overdue amounts, compounded monthly, and Client shall also be responsible for any collection costs reasonably incurred by Consultant.

Term and Termination

This Agreement commences on the Start Date: and shall continue until the End Date: unless earlier terminated as provided herein.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon days' advance written notice. Either party may terminate immediately for material breach by the other party if such breach remains uncured for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice.

Confidentiality

Each party (the "Receiving Party") shall hold in confidence all non-public information disclosed by the other party (the "Disclosing Party") that is identified as confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure ("Confidential Information"). The Receiving Party shall not use Confidential Information except to perform its obligations under this Agreement, and shall protect Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but in no event less than reasonable care.

Confidential Information shall not include information that: (i) is or becomes generally available to the public through no fault of the Receiving Party; (ii) was known by the Receiving Party prior to disclosure without obligation of confidentiality; (iii) is received from a third party having a lawful right to disclose it; or (iv) is independently developed by the Receiving Party without use of the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information.

Ownership of Work Product and License

Subject to full payment of all amounts due hereunder, Consultant assigns to Client all right, title and interest in and to the final written Business Plans and deliverables expressly prepared for Client under this Agreement (the "Assigned Deliverables"). Consultant retains all rights in Consultant's pre-existing materials, methodologies, templates, and know-how used in connection with the Services, even if such materials are incorporated into the Assigned Deliverables. To the extent Consultant's pre-existing materials are included in Assigned Deliverables, Consultant grants Client a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use those pre-existing elements as incorporated in the Assigned Deliverables solely for Client's internal business purposes.

Representations, Warranties and Indemnification

Each party represents and warrants that it has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. Consultant warrants that the Services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner in accordance with generally accepted industry standards. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND CONSULTANT DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Consultant shall indemnify and hold Client harmless from any third-party claim alleging that Assigned Deliverables, as delivered to Client, infringe a third party's intellectual property rights, provided Client promptly notifies Consultant in writing of any such claim and grants Consultant sole control of the defense and settlement of the claim, and reasonably cooperates in the defense. This indemnity does not apply to claims arising from modifications made by Client or use outside the scope of this Agreement.

Limitation of Liability

EXCEPT FOR A PARTY'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, OR INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE. CONSULTANT'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL FEES PAID BY CLIENT 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 conflicts of law principles.

Entire Agreement; Amendments

This Agreement, including any Schedules or exhibits attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, whether oral or written. Any amendments or modifications to 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 below or such other address as a party may designate by written notice.

Client Notice Address: Consultant Notice Address:

Client:

Printed Name:

Signature:

Date:

Consultant:

Printed Name:

Signature:

Date:

What a Business Plans Agreement Is and When It’s Used

A Business Plans Agreement is a written contract that sets out the responsibilities, deliverables, timeline, payment terms, confidentiality, intellectual property allocation, and dispute mechanics between parties collaborating on a business plan or strategic planning engagement. It defines who provides analysis or planning services, what documents or milestones will be delivered, how fees are calculated and paid, and the effective and termination dates. Properly drafted agreements reduce ambiguity about scope, protect proprietary inputs, and establish remedies for missed deadlines or substandard deliverables while preserving evidence for funding, licensing, or investor due diligence.

Why a Clear Agreement Matters for Business Planning

A purpose-built Business Plans Agreement clarifies expectations, allocates financial and intellectual property risk, and creates a contractual record useful for funding or regulatory review. It reduces the chance of disputes, speeds approvals, and supports enforceability whether signed on paper or electronically under ESIGN and state UETA laws.

Who Typically Prepares or Signs This Agreement

Common parties include consultants, startups, established companies hiring outside planners, investors reviewing deliverables, and legal or finance teams that approve contract terms.

Consulting firms and independent advisors who deliver the plan and assume deliverable obligations.
Founders, CEO or business development leaders who commission the plan and control approvals.
Investors, lenders, or corporate development teams that require deliverables for due diligence.

Roles vary by engagement size: smaller startups often use simpler templates while larger enterprises include legal counsel and show-stopping exhibits such as financial models or IP assignments for review.

Essential Sections to Include in a Professional Business Plans Agreement

A thorough agreement organizes obligations, schedules, payment terms, data handling, IP rights, and dispute procedures so each party knows their commitments and remedies.

Scope of Work

Describe specific services, deliverables, and acceptance criteria with measurable milestones and deliverable formats to avoid ambiguity during project execution.

Deliverables & Schedule

List each deliverable, delivery dates, review cycles, and dependencies so progress and late-delivery consequences are clear for both parties.

Compensation

State fees, payment schedule, invoicing requirements, expense reimbursements, and any milestone-based holdback or refund terms tied to acceptance.

Confidentiality

Protect proprietary data and drafts with narrowly tailored non-disclosure obligations and permitted-use exceptions for investors or advisors.

Intellectual Property

Allocate ownership of underlying IP, derivative works and deliverables, and define licensing rights and any work-for-hire or assignment provisions.

Termination & Disputes

Specify termination rights, notice periods, cure timeframes, and the preferred dispute resolution method such as mediation or arbitration.

Step-by-Step: From Draft to Signed Agreement

Follow these practical steps to prepare, validate, and execute a Business Plans Agreement cleanly and securely.

01

Prepare Draft: Assemble scope, fees, exhibits, and contact information before creating the master document.
02

Customize Terms: Tailor liability, IP, and confidentiality clauses to the engagement and industry requirements.
03

Review & Approve: Obtain internal approvals from finance and legal; confirm client acceptance of scope and fees.
04

Execute & Archive: Sign via eSignature or wet ink, confirm receipt of fully executed copy, and store securely for retention.

Configuring an Online Signing Workflow

Set up fields and authentication to match the agreement’s risk level and approval order before sending for signature.

Field	Configuration
Signature Block	Required signature and date fields; optional initials for each page where needed.
Authentication	Email link or SMS code for low risk; stronger auth like KBA for higher-risk signings.
Conditional Fields	Use conditional visibility for optional exhibits or payment selections to reduce signer confusion.
Notifications	Configure reminders, expiry, and signer order to maintain a clear approval sequence.

Typical Digital Execution Flow for the Agreement

The online signing process follows a short sequence: prepare, assign fields, send, authenticate, sign, and archive with an audit trail.

Upload Document: Add the master agreement and any exhibits as a single package.
Place Fields: Map signature, initial, and checkbox fields to the correct signers.
Send to Signers: Dispatch in role order or via a signing link; include instructions in the message.
Capture Audit Trail: System records timestamps, IPs, and authentication events for evidentiary purposes.

Digital Signing Considerations and Platform Capabilities

Choose a platform that supports required authentication, the file formats you use, and any regulatory compliance such as HIPAA or 21 CFR Part 11 where relevant.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
File Formats: PDF, DOCX, XLSX supported
Authentication Options: Email, SMS, KBA, SSO

Verify the vendor’s compliance posture for your industry, confirm audit trail detail, and ensure export options so executed agreements can be retained in your document management system.

Key Security and Compliance Features to Verify

In-transit Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3

At-rest Encryption: AES-256

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

Privacy Compliance: GDPR and CCPA frameworks

Healthcare Support: HIPAA compliant with BAA

Audit Trail: Timestamps, IPs, and action logs

Common Risks and Consequences of Errors

Missing Signatures: May render agreement unenforceable

Ambiguous Scope: Increases dispute and litigation risk

Incorrect Party Name: Can invalidate payments or obligations

Improper Auth: Weak authentication risks repudiation

Undisclosed Fees: Triggers billing disputes and claims

Noncompliance: May breach HIPAA, consumer, or tax rules

Comparing eSignature Options for Executing a Business Plans Agreement

Common platform criteria include starting price, trial availability, bulk send capability, audit trail detail, and HIPAA compliance. signNow is listed first per comparison convention.

	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	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions About the Business Plans Agreement

Answers to common questions about signing, notarization, updates, and retention when using electronic or paper execution methods.

Need help? Contact support

Can this agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA laws for most commercial contracts, provided the parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and that records can be retained and reproduced.
Is notarization required for validity?
Not generally for standard service agreements. Notarization may be required if state law or a particular transaction requires acknowledgment or if the parties want an additional level of authentication for third parties.
How do I revise the agreement after signing?
Use a written amendment signed by all parties, or execute a replacement agreement. For minor administrative changes, attach a signed addendum referencing the original agreement’s effective date.
Who must sign on behalf of a company?
An officer or authorized representative with corporate authority should sign. Confirm signature authority internally and, where needed, include a certificate of incumbency or board resolution.
How long should executed copies be kept?
Retain executed agreements for the active term plus at least three years; extend retention for tax-related, HIPAA, or industry-specific legal obligations.
What supporting documents should be attached?
Attach exhibits such as detailed scopes, financial models, budgets, IP assignment forms, and proof of authority or corporate resolution when needed for enforceability.

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