What if the vendor returns the JEM with edits?

Review edits against the agreed scope and, if acceptable, record them as a formal change order referenced in the JEM. Ensure both parties sign the amended text and update the JEM version number to preserve an audit trail.

How do I confirm signer authority?

Confirm the signer is an authorized officer or has delegated authority through corporate resolution or procurement delegation. Retain documentation of authority to avoid later enforceability challenges.

Is an electronic signature valid for a JEM?

Yes—electronic signatures are legally enforceable under ESIGN (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are satisfied.

When is notarization required?

Notarization is rarely required for commercial JEMs but may be necessary if state law or a counterparty demands it. Check state-specific rules when the JEM affects real property or statutory filings.

What if billing info is wrong on an executed JEM?

Issue a corrected JEM or a formal amendment, have both parties sign, and attach it to the invoice. Do not alter the original executed document without a signed amendment.

How should executed JEMs be stored?

Store signed copies in a secure contract repository with access controls and an immutable audit trail. Maintain backups and enforce retention policies consistent with legal and industry requirements.

Business Services JEM

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

BUSINESS SERVICES JEM

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

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

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Client seeks to obtain certain business services to support Client's operations and commercial objectives; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider represents that it has the expertise, personnel, and resources necessary to perform the services described in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth the terms and conditions under which Service Provider will provide such services.

SCOPE OF WORK

Service Provider shall perform the services described below in a professional and workmanlike manner in accordance with industry standards.

Detailed Scope of Services:

PAYMENT TERMS

Client shall pay Service Provider the compensation set forth below in consideration for the performance of the Scope of Work.

Total Fee: Payment Schedule / Milestones:

Invoices shall be due within days of receipt unless otherwise agreed in writing. Late payments shall accrue interest at the lesser of per month or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, together with the reasonable costs of collection, including attorneys' fees.

TERM AND TERMINATION

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

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

Upon termination, Service Provider shall deliver to Client all work in progress and Client shall pay Service Provider for all services performed and expenses incurred through the effective date of termination, subject to set-off for any proven damages.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party (the "Recipient") shall hold in strict confidence and shall not disclose to any third party any Confidential Information of the other party (the "Discloser") except as necessary to perform under this Agreement. "Confidential Information" means non-public business, technical, financial, and operational information disclosed by Discloser 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 Recipient shall use Confidential Information solely to perform its obligations under this Agreement and shall protect such Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but in no event less than a reasonable degree of care. The confidentiality obligations shall not apply to information that: (a) is or becomes generally available to the public other than through a breach of this Agreement; (b) was known to the Recipient prior to disclosure by Discloser; (c) is lawfully received from a third party without restriction; or (d) is independently developed by the Recipient without use of Discloser's Confidential Information.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DELIVERABLES

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Service Provider grants Client a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use deliverables provided under this Agreement for Client's internal business purposes. Service Provider retains ownership of preexisting materials, tools, methodologies, and general know-how used or developed in connection with performing the services.

INDEMNIFICATION

Each party shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the other party and its officers, directors and employees from and against any third-party claims arising out of the indemnifying party's gross negligence, willful misconduct or material breach of this Agreement. The indemnified party shall provide prompt written notice of any claim and permit the indemnifying party to control the defense and settlement thereof, provided that no settlement that admits fault or imposes non-monetary obligations may be made without the indemnified party's prior written consent.

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 provisions.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written. Any amendment or modification of this Agreement 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 will remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any breach shall constitute a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

Client:

By:

Date:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

What the Business Services JEM Is and When it Applies

The Business Services JEM is a standardized job entry memorandum used to record the scope, parties, and administrative details of a business services engagement. It captures project identifiers, client and vendor contact data, deliverables, timelines, pricing or billing terms, and any special compliance or security requirements. Organizations use the JEM to create an auditable record that supports invoicing, resource allocation, and post-project reconciliation. When executed correctly, the JEM becomes a reference point for dispute resolution, change orders, and regulatory retention obligations.

Why a Clear Business Services JEM Matters

A complete JEM reduces ambiguity about responsibilities, helps enforce agreed rates and deadlines, and provides a single source of truth for billing and audits. It supports compliance with recordkeeping rules and improves operational handoffs across teams.

Typical Users and Stakeholders

Signers frequently include authorized vendor representatives and an internal approver; the document also serves as a record for audit and retention.

Project Managers and Coordinators responsible for scope, milestones, and acceptance criteria.
Procurement or Purchasing who verify contract terms, rates, and vendor approvals.
Finance and Billing teams who use the JEM to generate invoices and reconcile payments.

Core Elements of a Professional Business Services JEM

A professionally prepared JEM organizes administrative, financial, and compliance information into consistent sections so reviewers can quickly confirm obligations and approvals.

Header

Unique JEM ID, date issued, project or purchase order reference, and client account number for cross-referencing systems.

Parties

Full legal names and contact details for the client, vendor, and primary points of contact, including billing address and tax ID where required.

Scope

Concise description of services to be performed, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and any exclusions or limitations on work.

Schedule

Start and end dates, key milestones, and delivery deadlines so responsibilities and SLAs are explicit.

Fees

Pricing model (fixed, time-and-materials, or rate card), payment schedule, invoicing cadence, and any reimbursable expenses.

Approvals

Signature blocks, authorized approver names and titles, and a short revision history for amendments or change orders.

Step-by-Step: Completing a Business Services JEM

Follow these sequential steps to prepare and finalize the JEM so it is complete, auditable, and ready for execution.

01

Draft the JEM: Populate header, parties, scope, fees, and schedule.
02

Internal Review: Route to procurement, legal, and finance for approvals.
03

Vendor Confirmation: Send to vendor for acceptance and signature.
04

Record and Distribute: Store executed copy in the contract repository and notify stakeholders.

Configuring an Online JEM Workflow

Set up your digital workflow to mirror internal approvals and reduce manual handoffs. Typical settings align routing, authentication, and storage policies.

Field	Configuration
Routing Order	Sequential or parallel approval flow; set approver roles.
Signer Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or KBA for higher assurance.
Template Fields	Pre-fill client/vendor data and required checkboxes.
Storage Location	Auto-save to document management system or cloud folder.

Where the Completed JEM Goes and Who Sees It

A clear routing path ensures the signed JEM reaches billing systems, contract repositories, and relevant teams without manual intervention.

Billing System: Export invoicing data to AP or AR for charge processing.
Contract Repository: Archive executed JEMs for search and compliance.
Project Management: Create project records or tasks tied to milestone dates.
Stakeholder Notification: Email or system alerts inform responsible parties.

Digital Distribution and Technical Considerations

Ensure the platform you use supports required export formats and audit trails so the executed JEM meets legal and internal recordkeeping standards.

Document Formats: PDF, DOCX, or native form templates supported.
Integrations: Connectors for Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace.
Authentication: Email, SMS, or stronger multi-factor options available.

Typical Deadlines and Processing Expectations

Timelines vary by organization and contract type; include clear due dates to avoid misunderstandings and payment delays.

JEM Issuance Deadline:

Issue prior to work start; typically 5–10 business days before commencement.

Vendor Acceptance:

Vendor should return signed JEM within 3–7 business days.

Invoice Submission:

Submit invoices per JEM terms; common net terms are Net 30 or Net 45.

Change Order Turnaround:

Approve or reject within 5 business days to avoid scope creep.

Retention and Audit Access:

Provide executed records to auditors within typical internal SLA, often 3–10 business days.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Incomplete vendor tax ID or billing address causes payment holds and backup withholding risk.
Vague scope descriptions result in disputed deliverables and billing disagreements.
Missing authorized signature or improper signer authority can render the JEM unenforceable.
Failure to record change orders leaves teams exposed to cost overruns and audit findings.

Consequences of an Incorrect or Incomplete JEM

Payment Delays: Invoices withheld pending corrected documentation.

Tax Withholding: 24% backup withholding if TIN missing or incorrect.

Contract Disputes: Ambiguous terms increase litigation or arbitration risk.

Regulatory Findings: Audit exceptions for poor retention or incomplete records.

Operational Disruption: Project delays from unclear deliverables or approvals.

Reputational Harm: Supplier relationships strained by repeated errors.

Comparing Electronic Signing Options for a JEM

Select the signing approach based on required assurance level, auditor expectations, and regulatory obligations.

Criteria	Simple e-sign	PKI digital sign
Legal Acceptability
Non-repudiation	moderate	high
Audit Trail
Use Cases	operational consents	regulated submissions

Typical eSignature Pricing Choices for Executing a JEM

Pricing models vary by vendor: per-user monthly plans or usage-based site licenses. The table below compares starting price and common enterprise features across well-known providers.

	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

How Organizations Use the Business Services JEM

Examples show practical applications across common scenarios and how the JEM supports operations and compliance.

Optica Ventures (COO)

The team standardized JEM entries to reduce billing disputes and speed approvals by centralizing scope data.

They linked the JEM to invoices and project codes for reconciliation.
As a result, finance resolved disputed charges faster, vendors received clearer payment terms, and handoffs between sales and delivery improved.

Martin Properties (Founder)

Field teams used a mobile JEM to capture on-site service authorizations and acceptance confirmations.

Mobile signing avoided delays while property access was limited.
This reduced administrative lag, ensured accurate job costing, and provided an auditable trail for tenant billing and vendor payouts.

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Common questions about preparing, signing, and storing a Business Services JEM, with practical solutions to reduce errors and delays.

Need help? Contact support

What if the vendor returns the JEM with edits?
Review edits against the agreed scope and, if acceptable, record them as a formal change order referenced in the JEM. Ensure both parties sign the amended text and update the JEM version number to preserve an audit trail.
How do I confirm signer authority?
Confirm the signer is an authorized officer or has delegated authority through corporate resolution or procurement delegation. Retain documentation of authority to avoid later enforceability challenges.
Is an electronic signature valid for a JEM?
Yes—electronic signatures are legally enforceable under ESIGN (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are satisfied.
When is notarization required?
Notarization is rarely required for commercial JEMs but may be necessary if state law or a counterparty demands it. Check state-specific rules when the JEM affects real property or statutory filings.
What if billing info is wrong on an executed JEM?
Issue a corrected JEM or a formal amendment, have both parties sign, and attach it to the invoice. Do not alter the original executed document without a signed amendment.
How should executed JEMs be stored?
Store signed copies in a secure contract repository with access controls and an immutable audit trail. Maintain backups and enforce retention policies consistent with legal and industry requirements.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now