Are electronic signatures legally binding?

Yes. For interstate and many intrastate transactions electronic signatures are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Exceptions exist for certain record types such as wills and some court filings.

When is notarization required?

Notarization depends on the document and state. Real property deeds require notary acknowledgement in every state; other documents may or may not. Check the applicable state notary rules or RON availability for remote notarization options.

What makes an e-signature invalid?

A signature may be challenged if intent, consent, attribution, or record retention cannot be demonstrated. Follow the ESIGN four-prong test: intent to sign, consent to transact electronically, clear attribution, and retrievable record.

Can signNow be used to collect valid signatures?

signNow supports ESIGN and UETA-compliant electronic signatures and provides audit trails, role-based authentication, and compliance certifications. For PHI workflows, a signed BAA is required to meet HIPAA obligations.

How long must I keep a completed IVEY?

Retention depends on document content: follow IRS guidance (minimum 3 years, IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA retention for PHI (6 years, 45 CFR §164.530(j)), and longer state or industry requirements as applicable.

How do I correct errors after final signature?

Execute an amendment or a replacement agreement signed by all parties, or mutually agree to void and reissue the form. If the original was notarized, a re-notarization may be required.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Services IVEY

Business Services IVEY

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

Business Services IVEY

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

Parties

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

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client desires to procure professional business services in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider represents that it has the expertise, personnel, and resources necessary to deliver the services described herein and is willing to provide those services to Client under the terms of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth their respective rights and obligations with respect to the services to be performed.

Scope of Work

Service Provider shall perform the services described below for Client in a professional, workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards. The specific tasks, deliverables, milestones, and acceptance criteria are as follows:

Payment Terms

As full consideration for the services rendered, Client shall pay Service Provider the Total Compensation set forth below in accordance with the payment schedule. All amounts are payable in United States dollars unless otherwise specified.

Total Compensation (USD): Payment Schedule / Milestones:

Payments shall be due within days of receipt of a correct invoice unless otherwise set forth in the Payment Schedule. Late payments shall accrue interest as set forth below.

Late Fee / Interest:

Client shall reimburse Service Provider for reasonable, preapproved out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the performance of services when supported by documentation. Unless otherwise agreed, Service Provider shall submit invoices detailing services performed and expenses incurred.

Term and Termination

The term of this Agreement shall commence on Start Date: and continue until End Date: unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Section.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon written notice to the other party delivered at least days prior to the effective date of termination. Either party may terminate immediately for material breach that remains uncured for a period of thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such breach.

Upon termination, Service Provider shall deliver to Client all completed deliverables and any work in progress, and Client shall pay Service Provider for all services performed and expenses incurred through the effective date of termination in accordance with the Payment Terms.

Confidentiality

Each party (the "Receiving Party") acknowledges that it may receive Confidential Information from the other party (the "Disclosing Party"). "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed in any 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.

The Receiving Party shall: (a) use Confidential Information solely for the purpose of performing its obligations under this Agreement; (b) protect Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but no less than a reasonable degree of care; and (c) not disclose Confidential Information to any third party 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.

Confidentiality obligations shall not apply to information that is: (i) already known to the Receiving Party without obligation of confidentiality; (ii) becomes public through no fault of the Receiving Party; (iii) rightfully received from a third party without restriction; or (iv) independently developed without use of the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information. The obligations set forth in this section shall survive termination of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years, except that trade secrets shall remain confidential for as long as they qualify as trade secrets under applicable law.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties agree that venue for any dispute shall be in the courts located within that State unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing.

Representations; Indemnification; Insurance

Each party represents that it has the authority to enter into this Agreement and that performance will not violate any agreement with a third party. Service Provider shall indemnify and hold Client harmless from losses arising from Service Provider's gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of services. Service Provider shall maintain commercially reasonable insurance coverage appropriate to the services performed.

Entire Agreement

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

Miscellaneous

If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other, except that Service Provider may assign to an affiliate or in connection with a sale of substantially all of its assets related to the services.

Client:

By:

Date:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

What the Business Services IVEY Is and when it's used

The Business Services IVEY is a standardized engagement and recordkeeping document used to describe, authorize, and confirm business services between parties. It records scope, pricing, payment terms, deliverables, and contact information in a consistent format that supports internal approvals, vendor onboarding, and downstream auditing. Organizations use the form to reduce ambiguity in service relationships, centralize required signatures, and create a single reference that can be stored electronically for compliance and retention purposes.

Why a consistent Business Services IVEY matters

A well-completed Business Services IVEY improves clarity, helps meet regulatory and tax obligations, and creates an auditable record for invoicing and dispute resolution. Standardizing fields reduces rework and accelerates approval cycles.

Who typically completes and signs a Business Services IVEY

Different roles interact with the IVEY at distinct stages of the procurement and delivery lifecycle.

Procurement and Sourcing teams — prepare scope, confirm vendor identity, and route for internal approvals.
Finance and Accounts Payable — review payment terms, tax IDs, and invoice routing details before acceptance.
Service Delivery and Project Managers — validate milestones, acceptance criteria, and ongoing reporting obligations.

Each stakeholder verifies specific fields; clear role assignments reduce delays and minimize signature rework.

Core elements to include in a professional Business Services IVEY

A complete IVEY captures the essential commercial, operational, and compliance information needed to manage services from engagement through closeout.

Service Scope

Concise description of deliverables, exclusions, milestones, and acceptance criteria so both parties share the same expectations and testing points.

Pricing & Terms

Payment schedule, invoicing frequency, late payment interest, and any holdbacks or retainers; include currency and tax treatment for clarity.

Contact & Billing

Primary contact, billing address, remit-to instructions, and tax identification numbers so invoices route correctly and avoid backup withholding triggers.

Legal Clauses

Governing law, limitation of liability, indemnity, confidentiality, and IP ownership clauses appropriate to the commercial relationship.

Signatory Details

Printed name, title, organization, and date for each signing party; specify signing authority and whether electronic signatures are acceptable.

Attachments

Appendices such as SOWs, schedules, rate tables, or security addenda that become part of the executed agreement when referenced.

Essential security and compliance items to record

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3; AES-256

Audit Trail: Signed event history

HIPAA BAA: Required for PHI

Access Control: Role-based permissions

Authentication: Email, SMS, or MFA

Retention: Retention policy stated

Step-by-step: filling, approving, and executing the IVEY

Follow a clear, ordered process to collect information, verify approvals, and obtain valid signatures while preserving an audit trail.

01

Prepare: Populate scope, pricing, and attachments.
02

Verify: Confirm TINs, contacts, and signing authority.
03

Route: Send for approvals in the required order.
04

Execute: Collect signatures and store the signed copy.

How to configure an efficient online IVEY workflow

Design the digital workflow to match your internal approval tiers, field validation needs, and required signer authentication methods.

Field	Configuration
Signer Authentication	Email + SMS code or stronger KBA where required
Routing Order	Sequential or parallel approval based on dollar thresholds
Conditional Fields	Show or hide fields based on prior answers
Notifications	Enable reminders and completion alerts

Where to send the completed Business Services IVEY

Identify the correct internal and external destinations before sending; this prevents delays in processing and payment.

Accounts Payable: Attach signed IVEY to invoice processing queue.
Procurement File: Store original in vendor contract repository.
Project Manager: Share executed SOW and milestone dates.
Vendor: Send final signed copy for vendor records.

Digital signing and system compatibility considerations

Ensure the eSignature platform supports legal, security, and integration needs before eSubmission.

Document Formats: PDF, DOCX, and Excel supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
Authentication Options: Email, SMS, KBA, SSO

Confirm platform certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001) and any required business associate agreements for PHI before use.

Typical timelines and response expectations for the IVEY

Track key deadlines and set internal SLAs for review, approval, and signature collection to keep projects on schedule.

Document Preparation:

Allow 1–3 business days for drafting and internal review.

Internal Approvals:

2–7 business days depending on approver availability.

External Signature:

Target 3–10 business days for vendor review and signing.

Invoice Processing:

AP processing often takes 7–30 days after receipt.

Retention Start:

Retention begins on the Effective Date or final acceptance.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the IVEY

Entering informal names or nicknames for legal entities, which causes mismatches with tax and banking records and delays payments.
Omitting or misformatting tax identification numbers, which can trigger backup withholding or invoice rejection by finance.
Failing to attach referenced exhibits or SOWs so the signed document lacks necessary detail and causes scope disputes.
Using ambiguous pricing or vague acceptance criteria, which creates room for differing interpretations and potential contract claims.

Key risks and potential penalties from errors or omissions

Late Payment Fees: Per contract terms

Tax Penalties: Incorrect filings can trigger IRC §6721 penalties

Withholding Risk: Incorrect TINs can cause 24% backup withholding

Contract Disputes: Ambiguity may lead to litigation costs

Invalid Signature: Missing intent or consent can affect enforceability

Data Exposure: Insufficient controls increase breach risk

eSignature vendor pricing and capability snapshot for Business Services IVEY workflows

Comparing basic pricing and key capabilities can help determine which eSignature provider aligns with security, volume, and regulatory needs.

	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	Yes
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 the Business Services IVEY

Answers to common execution, legal, and technical questions about completing, signing, and storing the IVEY.

Need help? Contact support

Are electronic signatures legally binding?
Yes. For interstate and many intrastate transactions electronic signatures are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Exceptions exist for certain record types such as wills and some court filings.
When is notarization required?
Notarization depends on the document and state. Real property deeds require notary acknowledgement in every state; other documents may or may not. Check the applicable state notary rules or RON availability for remote notarization options.
What makes an e-signature invalid?
A signature may be challenged if intent, consent, attribution, or record retention cannot be demonstrated. Follow the ESIGN four-prong test: intent to sign, consent to transact electronically, clear attribution, and retrievable record.
Can signNow be used to collect valid signatures?
signNow supports ESIGN and UETA-compliant electronic signatures and provides audit trails, role-based authentication, and compliance certifications. For PHI workflows, a signed BAA is required to meet HIPAA obligations.
How long must I keep a completed IVEY?
Retention depends on document content: follow IRS guidance (minimum 3 years, IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA retention for PHI (6 years, 45 CFR §164.530(j)), and longer state or industry requirements as applicable.
How do I correct errors after final signature?
Execute an amendment or a replacement agreement signed by all parties, or mutually agree to void and reissue the form. If the original was notarized, a re-notarization may be required.

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