Is an electronic GLS legally binding?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws. Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and reliable retention to meet the legal validity test.

When is notarization required?

Notarization depends on state law and the document's purpose. If the GLS transfers an interest in property or requires a sworn affidavit, notarization or witnessing rules may apply; verify with state statute or counsel.

Can the GLS be signed remotely with a notary?

Remote online notarization (RON) is allowed in most states but rules vary. Confirm identity-proofing, audio-video recording, and retention requirements with the state notary authority before using RON.

Who must sign the GLS to bind a company?

An authorized signatory with corporate authority must sign. Confirm corporate authorization via board resolution or delegation language; mismatched authority may render the agreement unenforceable.

How long should executed GLS records be retained?

Retention depends on regulatory context: at least 3 years for tax records (IRC §6501(a)); 6 years for HIPAA-related records (45 CFR §164.530(j)). Industry or state rules may require longer periods.

What if a party refuses to sign electronically?

Offer a paper alternative and document the refusal. For consumer-facing transactions, provide ESIGN consumer disclosures and an option to consent to electronic records per 15 U.S.C. §7001(c).

Business Services GLS

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Business Services GLS

This Business Services Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of by and between:

Client Name: Client Address: Service Provider Name: Service Provider Address:

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Client desires to retain Service Provider to perform certain business services related to logistics, operations, and advisory support identified herein; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider represents that it has the necessary qualifications, experience, personnel, and resources to perform the services in a professional and workmanlike manner; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth the terms and conditions governing Service Provider's engagement and the compensation to be paid by Client.

SCOPE OF WORK

Service Provider shall perform the services described below. The services shall include the deliverables, milestones, and performance standards set forth in this section and any attachments incorporated by reference. Service Provider will exercise reasonable skill, care, and diligence in providing the services.

Detailed Scope of Work:

PAYMENT TERMS

Client shall pay Service Provider for services rendered in accordance with the terms below. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all fees are due in United States dollars.

Agreed Fee (total or per period): Invoice Schedule / Milestones: Payment Method: Late Payment Fee:

All undisputed invoices shall be paid within days of receipt. Client may withhold payment for amounts reasonably disputed in good faith, provided Client notifies Service Provider in writing of the disputed amount and basis within the payment period.

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Agreement shall commence on and shall continue in effect until unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon days' prior written notice to the other party. Either party may terminate immediately for cause if the other party materially breaches this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days of written notice specifying the breach.

Upon termination, Service Provider shall deliver all completed work and all work in progress for which Client shall pay the prorated fee for services performed through the effective date of termination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed by one party to the other that is marked confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure. Confidential Information excludes information that: (a) is or becomes generally available to the public other than through a breach of this Agreement; (b) was rightfully known to the receiving party prior to disclosure; (c) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of the disclosing party's Confidential Information; or (d) is rightfully obtained from a third party without restriction.

The receiving party shall hold Confidential Information in strict confidence, shall not disclose it to any third party except as necessary to perform the services (and then only under written confidentiality obligations), and shall use at least the same degree of care to protect Confidential Information as it uses to protect its own confidential information, but in no event less than reasonable care. Upon termination or written request, the receiving party shall return or destroy Confidential Information as directed by the disclosing party.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & DATA

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Service Provider grants Client a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide license to use deliverables provided under this Agreement solely for Client's internal business purposes. Service Provider retains all pre-existing intellectual property and tools used in performing the services, and Client shall not claim ownership of Service Provider's methodologies, templates, or know-how.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Except for liability arising from gross negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of confidentiality, neither party shall be liable to the other for consequential, incidental, special, punitive, or indirect damages, and each party's aggregate liability shall not exceed the total fees paid by Client to Service Provider under this Agreement in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

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. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in that state for disputes arising out of this Agreement.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement, including any attachments or exhibits executed by the parties, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous proposals, negotiations, representations, and agreements, whether written or oral. Any amendment or modification to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by duly authorized representatives of both parties.

MISCELLANEOUS

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

Notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth above or to such other address as a party may designate by written notice. Notice is effective upon receipt.

Client

Print Name:

By:

Date:

Service Provider

Print Name:

By:

Date:

What the Business Services GLS Is and When It Applies

The Business Services GLS is a standardized service-level document used to record the scope, deliverables, responsibilities, and billing terms for recurring or project-based business services. It defines parties, service descriptions, performance metrics, payment terms, effective dates, and escalation points so both vendor and client have a clear operational agreement. The GLS is commonly used by professional services firms, managed services providers, and internal business service teams to reduce ambiguity about expected outcomes and to set measurable service-level indicators.

Why a Clear Business Services GLS Matters

A well-prepared GLS reduces disputes, clarifies billing and responsibilities, and creates an auditable record of agreed performance standards. It supports contract governance and compliance by documenting obligations and timelines in writing.

Typical Users and Decision-Makers for a Business Services GLS

The GLS is used by internal teams and external vendors to document recurring or scoped services and associated obligations.

Procurement and Sourcing Teams that manage vendor relationships and need standardized deliverables and pricing.
Service Delivery Managers who track SLAs, milestones, and performance metrics for operational oversight.
Finance and Billing staff responsible for invoicing terms, payment schedules, and audit trails.

Multiple stakeholders sign or approve the GLS: legal for terms review, finance for pricing, and operations for service acceptance criteria.

Essential Sections to Include in a Professional GLS

A complete GLS groups essential elements into clear sections so obligations are enforceable and measurable.

Parties

Full legal names and contact details for each contracting entity, including billing contacts and legal representatives.

Scope

Concise description of services, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and any excluded activities to avoid ambiguity.

Service Levels

Measurable performance metrics, reporting cadence, uptime or response time targets, and remedies for missed targets.

Pricing

Fee schedule, billing frequency, expense reimbursement rules, and invoicing instructions including tax treatment.

Term and Termination

Effective date, renewal terms, termination rights, notice periods, and obligations on expiration or termination.

Legal Terms

Governing law, limitation of liability, confidentiality, IP ownership, and dispute resolution procedures.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Business Services GLS

Follow this sequence to prepare a complete, enforceable GLS and avoid common rework.

01

Draft core terms: Populate parties, scope, and pricing before adding ancillary provisions.
02

Define service levels: Set measurable KPIs and measurement intervals.
03

Review legal clauses: Confirm governing law, liability caps, and IP ownership with counsel.
04

Obtain signatures: Collect authorized signatures and dates from all parties.

How to Configure the GLS Workflow for Online Completion

Set up a digital workflow that matches the GLS approval and signing order to minimize manual handoffs.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Sequential signing with roles (approver, signer) assigned
Authentication	Email link or SMS code; use stronger KBA for high-risk transactions
Conditional Fields	Reveal price or SLA options based on selections
Retention	Automatic archival of executed copies and audit trail

Where to Send the Completed GLS and Typical Routing

A GLS typically flows from drafter to internal approvers, then to the counterparty for signature; final copies are archived for compliance.

Internal Review: Legal and finance review for terms and tax implications
External Signature: Send to counterparty via secure eSignature link
Execution Confirmation: Capture certificate of completion and store copy
Archive: Upload executed GLS to contract repository

Technical Considerations for Digital Signing and Storage

Choose a platform that meets authentication, encryption, and integration needs for the GLS workflow.

Integrations: Salesforce, Microsoft 365, NetSuite, Google Workspace
File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Security: TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256 at rest

Ensure the platform can deliver an audit trail, export signed records in accepted formats, and integrate with your recordkeeping systems.

Key Timeframes and Deadlines to Track

Track execution, renewal, termination notice windows, and invoicing milestones to avoid service interruptions or penalty exposure.

Execution Date:

Date parties sign; effective obligations start here

Renewal Notice:

Specify notice window for automatic or optional renewals

Payment Due:

Invoice date plus agreed net terms (e.g., Net 30)

Cure Period:

Time allowed to remedy breaches before termination

Record Retention:

Retention obligations per regulatory requirements

Typical GLS Processing Milestones

A GLS moves through defined stages from draft to archived copy; track each to measure cycle time and compliance.

01

Drafting

Create initial GLS with scope and pricing

02

Internal Approval

Legal and finance approve terms and risk

03

Counterparty Review

Counterparty negotiates and returns revisions

04

Final Execution

All parties sign and receive executed copy

Common Errors to Avoid When Preparing a GLS

Vague scope language that leads to disputes over deliverables and additional charges.
Missing or incorrect signatory names that prevent enforceability or cause payment delays.
Failure to specify measurement methods for SLAs, producing ambiguous performance assessments.
Not aligning invoicing terms with billing systems, causing reconciliation issues.

Risks and Consequences of an Incorrect GLS

Payment Delays: Incorrect billing details can delay payments and trigger collections.

Liability Exposure: Unclear liability caps can increase financial exposure in disputes.

Regulatory Noncompliance: Missing retention or data protections can violate HIPAA or tax rules.

Contract Voidance: Improper execution or unauthorized signatories may render the GLS unenforceable.

Tax Penalties: Mismatched TINs or incorrect contractor classification can trigger IRS penalties.

Operational Disruption: Undefined SLAs may cause service interruptions and client dissatisfaction.

Comparison of Common eSignature Options for GLS Execution

Basic pricing and feature availability across typical vendors. Confirm current plan details with each provider before procurement.

	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	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Frequently Asked Questions About the Business Services GLS

Answers to common procedural and legal questions when preparing, signing, and storing a GLS.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic GLS legally binding?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws. Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and reliable retention to meet the legal validity test.
When is notarization required?
Notarization depends on state law and the document's purpose. If the GLS transfers an interest in property or requires a sworn affidavit, notarization or witnessing rules may apply; verify with state statute or counsel.
Can the GLS be signed remotely with a notary?
Remote online notarization (RON) is allowed in most states but rules vary. Confirm identity-proofing, audio-video recording, and retention requirements with the state notary authority before using RON.
Who must sign the GLS to bind a company?
An authorized signatory with corporate authority must sign. Confirm corporate authorization via board resolution or delegation language; mismatched authority may render the agreement unenforceable.
How long should executed GLS records be retained?
Retention depends on regulatory context: at least 3 years for tax records (IRC §6501(a)); 6 years for HIPAA-related records (45 CFR §164.530(j)). Industry or state rules may require longer periods.
What if a party refuses to sign electronically?
Offer a paper alternative and document the refusal. For consumer-facing transactions, provide ESIGN consumer disclosures and an option to consent to electronic records per 15 U.S.C. §7001(c).

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