Can this be signed electronically?

Yes. Under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA (where adopted), electronic signatures are legally valid if intent, consent, attribution, and retention are satisfied.

Do consumer disclosures apply?

If the change affects consumers or delivers consumer-facing records, provide the ESIGN consumer disclosure showing the right to paper and ability to access electronic records.

Is notarization required?

Most internal improvement plans do not require notarization; however, state-specific rules or attachments (deeds, POAs) may require notarization or witnesses.

Who can sign on behalf of a company?

Authorized signers are those with delegated authority per corporate bylaws or board resolutions; ensure the signer has documented signing authority to avoid disputes.

What if a name or title is incorrect?

Incorrect signer names or titles can cause enforceability or administrative issues; correct via an amendment or re-execution and retain both records.

How do I revoke or cancel approvals?

Revocation requires a written amendment or cancellation signed by the same authorized parties; document the reason, effective date, and retention of prior signed versions.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Services Improvement

Business Services Improvement

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

BUSINESS SERVICES IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT

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

Client

Client Name Client Address Primary Contact

Email

Phone

Service Provider

Service Provider Name Provider Address Primary Contact

Email

Phone

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client operates business activities for which it seeks to improve operational effectiveness, service delivery, and internal processes through targeted consulting and implementation measures; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider possesses the experience, personnel, and technical capability to evaluate current services, recommend improvements, and assist with implementation and training; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth in writing the terms under which Service Provider will perform services and Client will compensate Service Provider.

Scope of Work

Description of Services and Deliverables Acceptance Criteria

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Service Provider fees as set forth below. All amounts are payable in lawful currency and exclusive of applicable taxes unless otherwise stated.

Total Fee Payment Schedule Late Payment Fee

All invoices shall be submitted in writing to the Client contact listed above and are due within the time specified in the Payment Schedule. Client shall be responsible for any reasonable, pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Service Provider in connection with the performance of services; such expenses shall be invoiced monthly.

Term and Termination

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

Notice Period for Termination Without Cause

Either party may terminate this Agreement for cause upon written notice if the other party materially breaches any provision of this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach, except that breaches of confidentiality or nonpayment may be cured within a shorter period as specified herein. Termination shall not relieve Client of the obligation to pay for services performed and expenses incurred through the effective date of termination.

Confidentiality

"Confidential Information" means any non-public information disclosed by one party to the other, whether oral, written, electronic, or other form, that is designated as confidential or that reasonably should be understood to be confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure. Confidential Information excludes information that is (a) publicly known through no breach by the receiving party, (b) rightfully received from a third party without breach of any obligation of confidentiality, or (c) independently developed by the receiving party without use of the disclosing party's Confidential Information.

The receiving party shall hold Confidential Information in strict confidence, shall not disclose it to third parties except to those employees, contractors, and advisors who need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations, and shall use it solely to perform its obligations under this Agreement. These obligations shall survive termination of this Agreement for years.

Intellectual Property; Work Product

Except as otherwise expressly agreed in writing, Service Provider grants to Client a nonexclusive, perpetual, worldwide license to use deliverables provided under this Agreement for Client's internal business purposes. Service Provider retains ownership of its pre-existing tools, methodologies, frameworks, templates, and intellectual property. To the extent any deliverable incorporates Service Provider's proprietary materials, Client's license shall be limited to internal use and shall not include the right to sublicense or resell.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

Each party's liability for direct damages arising out of or related to this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees paid by Client to Service Provider under this Agreement in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim. Neither party shall be liable for consequential, special, or punitive damages. Client shall indemnify and hold harmless Service Provider from third-party claims arising from Client-provided data or materials or Client's misuse of deliverables. Service Provider shall indemnify Client for third-party claims that deliverables infringe a valid third-party patent, copyright, or trademark.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of without regard to conflict of law principles. The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in that state for any disputes arising out of this Agreement.

Entire Agreement; Amendments

This Agreement, including all schedules and exhibits expressly incorporated by reference, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. Any amendment or modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Other Provisions

If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall remain in full force and effect. The parties are independent contractors; nothing in this Agreement creates a partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship. Notices shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth above.

Client:

By:

Date:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

What the Business Services Improvement document is

A Business Services Improvement document formally records planned changes to internal processes, responsibilities, performance measures, and delivery timelines. It typically identifies scope, objectives, stakeholders, baseline metrics, proposed actions, resource needs, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Organizations use the document to align teams, document approvals, and create an auditable change trail for management review. When used with electronic signatures and version control, the document becomes a definitive record of agreed improvements and authorizations across departments.

Why use a formal Business Services Improvement document

A structured document reduces ambiguity, centralizes approvals, and provides a measurable plan for process changes. It documents responsibility, timelines, and acceptance criteria so stakeholders can track progress and compliance with policies.

Who typically prepares and signs this document

Teams that manage operations, compliance, and project delivery prepare Business Services Improvement documents to coordinate changes and approvals.

Operations managers and process owners who define scope, metrics, and resource needs.
Compliance or legal teams who review regulatory impact and contract language.
Finance and procurement reviewers who approve budgets and vendor changes.

Multiple role approvals create a clear audit trail; ensure each stakeholder receives and understands their responsibilities before signing.

Essential elements to include in a professional document

A complete Business Services Improvement document contains defined goals, measurable KPIs, a timeline with milestones, roles and responsibilities, risk controls, and approval signatures to create enforceable accountability.

Goals

Clear, measurable objectives tied to business outcomes and baseline metrics so success is objectively verifiable over time.

Scope

Explicit boundaries describing included processes, sites, teams, and exclusions to avoid scope creep during implementation.

Timeline

Milestones, critical path, and target completion dates with assigned owners for each stage of the improvement effort.

Resources

Staffing, budget, vendor support, and tools required to execute changes and maintain improvements after deployment.

Risk Controls

Identified risks, mitigation actions, and monitoring steps to reduce operational interruptions and compliance exposures.

Approvals

Designated signers, signature dates, and an audit trail to evidence authorization and acceptance of the planned changes.

Step-by-step: completing and approving the improvement plan

Follow a consistent sequence to prepare, review, and finalize the Business Services Improvement document to avoid rework and lost approvals.

01

Draft: Compile objectives, scope, resources, and KPIs in a single draft document.
02

Internal Review: Circulate to stakeholders for technical and compliance feedback.
03

Finalize: Resolve comments, update milestones, and confirm resource allocations.
04

Authorize: Obtain signatures from all required approvers and record the audit trail.

Configuring an online approval workflow for this document

Set up a digital routing workflow so each approver receives the document in the correct order with required fields locked until their step.

Field	Configuration
Signing Order	Sequential approval routing by role or name
Required Fields	Mark owner, KPIs, and budget fields as mandatory
Authentication	Use email or SMS code to verify signers
Notifications	Enable reminders and escalation rules for overdue approvals

Where to send and how routing typically works

A typical routing path moves the draft from owner to reviewers, then approvers, and finally to records. Choose delivery channels that match your tracking needs.

Owner to Reviewers: Owner uploads and assigns reviewers for technical checks
Reviewers to Approvers: Reviewers return comments, then route to approvers
Approver Sign-off: Approvers sign in order and date the agreement
Records Filing: Final signed file is stored in the document repository

Digital signing and eSubmission considerations

Choose a platform that supports audit trails, secure storage, and the authentication level your workflow requires.

Authentication Options: Email, SMS code, or stronger identity checks
Document Formats: PDF and DOCX support for final signed records
Integrations: Connectors to CRM, ERP, and cloud storage

Ensure the platform meets legal and compliance needs (ESIGN, UETA) and preserves an immutable audit trail for each signature.

Short list of legal and operational risks

Tax Reporting Risk: 1099 penalties under IRC §6721 for incorrect filings

I-9 Liability: I-9 paperwork errors can trigger fines (8 CFR §274a.2)

HIPAA Exposure: Unauthorized PHI disclosure may violate 45 CFR §164

Contract Disputes: Ambiguous approvals can lead to enforceability disputes

Operational Delay: Missing approvals cause implementation delays and cost overruns

Data Loss: Insufficient retention risks inability to defend claims

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the document

Leaving scope vague so teams disagree on what was approved, which creates rework and missed objectives.
Failing to define KPIs with units and targets, making post-implementation assessment subjective and unenforceable.
Routing to incorrect signers or omitting required approvers, which invalidates the approval chain and audit trail.
Storing signed records in unsecured locations without version control, increasing risk of tampering or loss.

Typical deadlines and processing expectations

Set clear internal deadlines for review, sign-off, implementation, and post-implementation review to keep the improvement on schedule.

Draft Completion:

Allow 5–10 business days for internal drafting and initial stakeholder review

Review Cycle:

Allocate 3–7 business days per review round depending on complexity

Approval Window:

Target 10 business days to obtain all required signatures

Implementation Start:

Begin within 30 days of final approval, unless otherwise specified

Post-Implementation Review:

Schedule performance review 30–90 days after implementation

Practical tips for accurate and efficient completion

Small process changes in form design and routing can significantly reduce approval time and rework.

Standardize templates

Use a single approved template with prefilled common fields to reduce drafting variability and ensure all required sections are present.

Use required fields

Mark essential fields as mandatory so incomplete submissions cannot proceed to approvers, reducing back-and-forth.

Maintain an audit trail

Preserve timestamps, IP addresses, and signer authentication records to support compliance and dispute resolution.

Review periodically

Schedule periodic reviews of improvement plans and outcomes to capture lessons learned and update procedures.

Comparing common eSignature options for executing Business Services Improvement documents

Different eSignature platforms vary by price, bulk-send capabilities, and compliance features. signNow appears first for direct comparison of core criteria.

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

Frequently asked questions about using this document

Answers to common questions about e-signing, notarization, signatory authority, and recordkeeping for Business Services Improvement documents.

Need help? Contact support

Can this be signed electronically?
Yes. Under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA (where adopted), electronic signatures are legally valid if intent, consent, attribution, and retention are satisfied.
Do consumer disclosures apply?
If the change affects consumers or delivers consumer-facing records, provide the ESIGN consumer disclosure showing the right to paper and ability to access electronic records.
Is notarization required?
Most internal improvement plans do not require notarization; however, state-specific rules or attachments (deeds, POAs) may require notarization or witnesses.
Who can sign on behalf of a company?
Authorized signers are those with delegated authority per corporate bylaws or board resolutions; ensure the signer has documented signing authority to avoid disputes.
What if a name or title is incorrect?
Incorrect signer names or titles can cause enforceability or administrative issues; correct via an amendment or re-execution and retain both records.
How do I revoke or cancel approvals?
Revocation requires a written amendment or cancellation signed by the same authorized parties; document the reason, effective date, and retention of prior signed versions.

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