Is an electronic signature legally binding?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding in the U.S. under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in most states, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.

Do I need notarization for this agreement?

Most commercial service agreements do not require notarization. Certain filings or instruments (deeds, specific powers of attorney) may have notarization or witness requirements depending on state law.

Can I use remote online notarization (RON)?

RON is permitted in many states with identity proofing and audio-video retention requirements; verify the state notary commission rules before relying on RON for execution.

What if a party's name is incorrect?

A mismatched legal name can delay performance, trigger tax reporting issues, or require re-execution. Always verify names against formation or tax records before signing.

Are health-related provisions covered?

If the agreement involves protected health information, include HIPAA-required Business Associate Agreement language and ensure a BAA is signed where necessary.

How do I correct an executed contract?

Minor clerical errors usually require an amendment signed by all parties; material changes should be handled via an addendum or replacement agreement with clear effective date language.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Services Sandstone

Business Services Sandstone

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

BUSINESS SERVICES AGREEMENT — SANDSTONE

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

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

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Service Provider operates a business providing business strategy, operational consulting, and implementation services under the name Sandstone and has the experience, personnel, and resources necessary to perform the services contemplated by this Agreement.

WHEREAS, Client desires to engage Service Provider to provide the services described in the Scope of Work below and Service Provider is willing to perform such services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

Scope of Work

Service Provider shall perform the services described in this Section and any attached statement of work. Deliverables shall be provided in accordance with the schedule and milestones set forth in writing and agreed by the parties.

Describe Scope of Work and Deliverables:

Payment Terms

In consideration for the performance of the services, Client shall pay Service Provider as set forth below. All amounts are stated in United States Dollars unless otherwise specified.

Total Contract Amount: Payment Schedule / Milestones: Invoice Due Period (days): Late Payment Fee: Method of Payment:

All fees are due as set forth above. If Client fails to pay any undisputed amount when due, Service Provider may suspend performance after providing days' written notice. Late payments shall accrue interest as specified in the Late Payment Fee field.

Term and Termination

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

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party if the breaching party fails to cure the breach within days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach. Either party may terminate without cause upon days' prior written notice.

Upon termination, Client shall pay Service Provider for all services performed and expenses incurred up to the effective date of termination, including any non-cancellable commitments reasonably made by Service Provider.

Confidentiality

For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means all non-public information disclosed by a party to the other party, whether oral or written, 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 does not include information that (i) is or becomes generally known to the public without breach of this Agreement by the receiving party; (ii) was known to the receiving party prior to disclosure; (iii) is received from a third party without breach of an obligation of confidentiality; or (iv) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of Confidential Information.

The receiving party shall (a) use Confidential Information only to perform its obligations under this Agreement, (b) restrict disclosure of Confidential Information to those employees, agents, or subcontractors who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those in this Agreement, and (c) take reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality of such information.

Intellectual Property and Deliverables

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Service Provider retains ownership of its pre-existing materials, methodologies, tools, templates, and know-how. Upon full payment of all fees due, Service Provider assigns to Client all right, title, and interest in the final deliverables specifically prepared for Client under this Agreement. Service Provider may retain copies of deliverables for recordkeeping and performance improvement, subject to the confidentiality obligations herein.

Limitation of Liability

EXCEPT FOR LIABILITY ARISING FROM A PARTY'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, OR A BREACH OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES. THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF SERVICE PROVIDER FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNTS PAID OR PAYABLE BY CLIENT TO SERVICE PROVIDER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT DURING THE SIX (6) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY.

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 laws principles. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in that state for resolution of disputes arising under this Agreement.

Notices

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth below (or to such other address as either party may designate in writing). Notices shall be deemed given upon personal delivery, one business day after delivery to an overnight courier, or three business days after deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid.

Notice Address for Service Provider: Notice Address for Client:

Entire Agreement

This Agreement, together with any exhibits, attachments, and mutually executed statements of work, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, and communications, whether oral or written. No amendment or modification of this Agreement will be effective unless in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Service Provider:

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Client:

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What the Business Services Sandstone Is and when it applies

The Business Services Sandstone is a standardized services agreement used to define commercial service engagements between a provider and a client. It sets out scope of work, deliverables, payment terms, performance milestones, liability limits, confidentiality, intellectual property allocation, and termination clauses. Organizations use it to reduce negotiation time, ensure consistent legal terms across contracts, and create a clear record for invoicing and compliance. This guide explains the form's core parts, required entries, signing and submission options, retention expectations, and typical industry adaptations in the United States.

Why this template matters for consistent business contracting

A clear, standardized Business Services Sandstone reduces ambiguity in responsibilities, shortens review cycles, and helps enforceable payment and IP provisions, while supporting audit readiness and record retention obligations.

Who typically completes the Business Services Sandstone

The Business Services Sandstone is used by procurement, operations, finance, and legal teams to document recurring or project-based service arrangements.

Small and mid-size businesses that need repeatable terms for vendors and contractors across multiple projects.
In-house legal or outside counsel reviewing liability, IP, and indemnity language before execution.
Finance and accounts payable teams that require consistent billing, payment schedules, and tax reporting fields.

Adapting the template to each signatory's governance, state law, and industry rules reduces downstream disputes and supports compliant recordkeeping.

Core sections to include in a professional Business Services Sandstone

A complete Business Services Sandstone organizes contract terms so stakeholders can quickly find obligations, timelines, payments, and dispute resolution provisions.

Scope of Work

Describe tasks, deliverables, milestones, acceptance criteria, and any excluded services in precise, measurable terms to avoid scope creep and disputes.

Payment Terms

Specify fees, invoicing cadence, payment due dates, late fees, expense reimbursement policies, tax treatment, and any retainers or milestone payments.

Term & Termination

State contract start and end dates, renewal mechanics, termination for convenience or cause, notice periods, and post-termination obligations.

Confidentiality

Define protected information, permitted disclosures, duration of confidentiality obligations, and exceptions for required disclosures or public domain information.

IP & Deliverables

Allocate ownership or licensing of work product, pre-existing IP, moral rights waivers if required, and responsibilities for third-party licenses.

Liability & Insurance

Limit consequential damages where permitted, set liability caps, require proof of insurance, and state indemnity obligations for third-party claims.

Step-by-step: how to prepare and finalize the Sandstone agreement

Follow these steps to prepare, review, sign, and archive the Business Services Sandstone efficiently.

01

Draft: Populate template fields and attach SOW or exhibits.
02

Internal Review: Have legal and finance confirm risk, pricing, and tax treatment.
03

Signature Routing: Set signer order and authentication level for each participant.
04

Archive: Store final executed copy with retention metadata and audit trail.

Configuring an online workflow for the Business Services Sandstone

Standardize a digital workflow so each agreement follows the same review, approval, and signature path.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Sequential or parallel routing by role
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or KBA as required
Conditional Fields	Reveal fields based on role or answers
Certificate Retention	Attach audit trail and signed PDF to records

Where to send and how to submit signed Sandstone agreements

Select submission destinations and delivery methods that align with internal recordkeeping and vendor onboarding procedures.

Client Portal: Upload final PDF and link to vendor account
Accounting: Send invoice and signed contract to AP email
Legal Repository: Store executed copy with version control
CRM Link: Attach contract PDF to customer or vendor record

Digital signing and integration requirements

Use eSignature platforms that support audit trails, secure storage, and common integrations to match your systems.

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

Ensure your chosen provider offers API or connector options for automated archival, metadata tagging, and audit log export to your records system.

Comparing common eSignature vendors for executing the Business Services Sandstone

Basic pricing and feature differences across common eSignature vendors. Choose a plan that matches volume, compliance, and integration 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, no CC	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
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 by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Security and compliance features to look for when storing Sandstone agreements

In-Transit Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

At-Rest Encryption: AES-256 encrypted storage

Audit Trail: Detailed timestamps and IP logs

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

Regulatory Compliance: ESIGN, UETA, HIPAA (BAA required)

Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 Level AA support

Common preparation errors to avoid with the Business Services Sandstone

Leaving the scope vague or incomplete, which leads to disputes over deliverables and additional billable work.
Using inconsistent party names or abbreviations that do not match tax or formation records and trigger payment or tax delays.
Omitting governance or dispute resolution clauses, resulting in uncertainty about venue, law, or arbitration versus litigation.
Failing to confirm signatory authority or sign order, which can invalidate execution or require re-signing.

Key legal and financial risks from incorrect or incomplete agreements

Tax Penalties: Incorrect reporting can trigger IRC §6721 fines

I-9 Violations: Paperwork fines $281–$2,789 per violation

Backup Withholding: Missing TINs can cause 24% withholding

Contract Voidance: Improper signatory authority may void agreement

Data Breach Liability: Noncompliance with HIPAA or state law increases exposure

Late Filings: Missed tax deadlines bring escalating per-form fines

Typical deadlines and timing to include in the Sandstone

Define clear timing for performance, payments, notices, renewals, and tax reporting to avoid penalties and disputes.

Effective Date Entry:

Enter as MM/DD/YYYY; determines start of obligations

Payment Terms:

Commonly Net 30 or Net 45 from invoice date

Renewal Notice:

Notice 30–60 days before automatic renewal

Tax Reporting:

1099-NEC report to recipient and IRS by Jan 31

Dispute Notice:

Require written notice within 30 days of claim

Real-world examples showing how teams use the Sandstone

Practical examples illustrate common outcomes when the Sandstone is applied with digital signing and integration.

Martin Properties

The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers.

Onboarding speed improved.
We can process and execute all documents online with compliance and security, enabling remote closings and faster tenant onboarding while preserving audit trails and signed records.

Xerox

airSlate SignNow provides us with the flexibility needed to get the right signatures on the right documents, in the right formats.

Integration with NetSuite.
With integration, we routed agreements automatically into ERP workflows, reduced manual filing, and maintained a single source of truth for contract metadata and signed PDFs.

Frequently asked questions about completing and signing the Sandstone

Answers to common execution, signing, and compliance questions related to the Business Services Sandstone.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature legally binding?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding in the U.S. under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in most states, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.
Do I need notarization for this agreement?
Most commercial service agreements do not require notarization. Certain filings or instruments (deeds, specific powers of attorney) may have notarization or witness requirements depending on state law.
Can I use remote online notarization (RON)?
RON is permitted in many states with identity proofing and audio-video retention requirements; verify the state notary commission rules before relying on RON for execution.
What if a party's name is incorrect?
A mismatched legal name can delay performance, trigger tax reporting issues, or require re-execution. Always verify names against formation or tax records before signing.
Are health-related provisions covered?
If the agreement involves protected health information, include HIPAA-required Business Associate Agreement language and ensure a BAA is signed where necessary.
How do I correct an executed contract?
Minor clerical errors usually require an amendment signed by all parties; material changes should be handled via an addendum or replacement agreement with clear effective date language.

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