Can the SM2371 be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally recognized under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and by UETA in most states. Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and reliable record retention are met to support enforceability.

When is notarization required?

Notarization depends on the document's nature and state rules. If a signature block requires acknowledgment or the agreement affects real property, a notary may be required; check the applicable state statute for specific requirements.

Do I need a Business Associate Agreement?

If the contract involves protected health information, add a HIPAA-compliant BAA. HIPAA requires covered entities and business associates to protect PHI and retain related records for six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

How do I correct a signed error?

Create a written amendment signed by all original parties or execute a corrected replacement agreement. Maintain version history and the audit trail to show the correction was agreed to by all parties.

What signer authentication is recommended?

Use at minimum authenticated email with an audit trail; for higher-risk contracts, add SMS verification, knowledge-based authentication, or SSO to strengthen attribution and reduce repudiation risk.

How long should I keep executed copies?

Keep final executed contracts for the full term plus a retention period aligned with applicable law: at least 3 years for general records (IRC §6501(a)), 6 years for HIPAA, and longer if required by industry or state rules.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Services SM2371

Business Services SM2371

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

BUSINESS SERVICES SM2371

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

Parties

Service Provider Name Service Provider Address Service Provider Contact Client Name Client Address Client Contact

Recitals

WHEREAS, Service Provider is engaged in the business of providing professional business services, including but not limited to consulting, implementation, and support; and

WHEREAS, Client desires to retain Service Provider to perform certain services described herein and Service Provider is willing to perform such services under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows.

Scope of Work

Service Provider shall perform the services described below in a professional and workmanlike manner in accordance with industry standards. Detailed description of services, deliverables, milestones, and acceptance criteria are set forth below.

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Service Provider the fees and expenses set forth below in consideration for the performance of the services. All fees are payable in United States Dollars unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Total Fee Billing Schedule Payment Due (days after invoice) Late Fee / Interest Payment Method Invoicing Instructions / Remittance Address

Term and Termination

This Agreement shall commence on and shall continue until unless earlier terminated as provided below.

Termination Notice Period (days) Termination for Cause / Cure Period

Confidentiality

Each party (the "Receiving Party") shall keep confidential and shall not disclose to any third party any Confidential Information of the other party (the "Disclosing Party") without the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party. "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed in connection with this Agreement, 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.

The Receiving Party shall: (a) use Confidential Information solely to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (b) restrict disclosure of Confidential Information to employees, contractors, and advisors with a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations no less protective than those set forth herein; and (c) implement reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect Confidential Information. Confidential Information does not include information that the Receiving Party can demonstrate: (i) was in the public domain at the time of disclosure; (ii) becomes part of the public domain through no fault of the Receiving Party; (iii) was rightfully in the Receiving Party’s possession prior to disclosure without an obligation of confidentiality; or (iv) is independently developed by the Receiving Party without use of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information.

Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, the Receiving Party shall promptly return or certify destruction of Confidential Information as directed by the Disclosing Party. Remedies at law for breach of this Section may be inadequate and the Disclosing Party shall be entitled to injunctive relief in addition to any other remedies available at law or in equity.

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.

Entire Agreement

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

Additional Provisions

The parties have executed this Agreement by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

Client:

By:

Date:

What the Business Services SM2371 Is and when it applies

Business Services SM2371 is a standardized business-services agreement template used to document the scope, fees, and responsibilities between a service provider and a commercial client. The form typically defines the services delivered, performance milestones, payment terms, liability limits, and contract duration. Organizations use it to create consistent statements of work, to onboard vendors, and to record amendable service arrangements. When used with electronic workflows, the form should include clear effective dates and signer attribution to ensure enforceability under federal and state e-signature laws.

Why a clear SM2371 helps control risk and obligations

A well-prepared SM2371 reduces disputes by setting explicit deliverables, payment triggers, and performance standards. Clear terms make regulatory compliance, auditability, and contract renewals easier to manage across departments.

Typical users and teams that work with the SM2371

Multiple internal teams and external vendors use the SM2371 to document recurring or project-based services and to provide an auditable record of agreed terms.

Procurement and sourcing teams managing vendor selection and contracting, ensuring terms and insurance requirements are met.
Finance and accounts payable for approving payment milestones, processing invoices, and tracking retention or holdbacks.
Operations and project managers who confirm service deliverables, acceptance criteria, and delivery schedules.

Aligning these stakeholders around a single SM2371 template reduces rework, speeds approvals, and centralizes version control.

Step-by-step: filling out the SM2371

Follow these sequential steps to complete the form consistently and reduce the need for follow-up clarifications.

01

Prepare supporting data: Collect SOW, pricing, insurance, and PO numbers before you start.
02

Populate core fields: Enter parties, scope, effective date, and term.
03

Set payment rules: Specify milestones, invoicing cadence, and retainage.
04

Review and sign: Confirm approvals, then capture signatures and timestamps.

Configuring an online workflow for the SM2371

Set up template settings to enforce required fields, signer order, and authentication for reliable electronic execution.

Field	Configuration
Template	Lock required fields and prevent modifications by recipients
Conditional Fields	Show cost or milestone fields only when applicable
Signer Authentication	Use email plus optional SMS or KBA for higher assurance
Notifications	Send reminders and completion receipts automatically

Where to send and who receives completed SM2371 copies

Define routing for signed copies, archive locations, and notifications so all stakeholders know where to find executed agreements.

Primary Recipient: Signed copy to the contract owner and vendor contact
Finance: Send invoice-ready copies to AP and procurement
Legal: Archive executed agreements with redline history
Records: Store final PDF in secure corporate repository

Technical and platform considerations for eSubmission

Confirm platform capabilities before launching an eSignature workflow to meet authentication, storage, and integration needs.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365 support
Formats: PDF and DOCX input and output
Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA, and SSO options

Choose settings that preserve audit trails, meet industry compliance, and route completed files to your document management system.

Security, encryption, and compliance controls to include

Encryption in transit: TLS 1.2/1.3

Encryption at rest: AES-256

Authentication: Multi-factor and SSO support

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

Regulatory support: ESIGN, UETA compliant

Healthcare readiness: HIPAA (BAA available)

eSignature vendor price and capability snapshot relevant to SM2371

Compare starting costs and key capabilities for common eSignature vendors. signNow appears first to show an entry-level option and available compliance features.

	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 by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Representative use cases from real organizations

These short examples show how service agreements like the SM2371 are used in practice across organizations.

Optica Ventures — Operational Efficiency

Optica adopted electronic execution to standardize vendor documents and reduce turnaround time.

The interface is simple and easy-to-use.
The result was fewer errors, faster customer signatures, and more predictable contract cycles without additional training for staff or clients.

Martin Properties — Remote Closings

A real estate services firm used signed service agreements during remote transactions to maintain compliance.

I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance.
Executed agreements were available to accounting and property management immediately, improving cash flow forecasting and reducing site visits.

Practical tips to ensure an enforceable and reliable SM2371

Follow these practices to improve clarity, reduce disputes, and make electronic execution defensible under U.S. law.

Confirm signer authority and identity

Validate that each signer is authorized to bind their organization. Keep evidence of authority such as board resolutions or a printed officer title to reduce later challenges.

Use precise scope language

Define deliverables, acceptance tests, and measurement criteria. Avoid ambiguous phrases like 'best efforts' without specific performance metrics.

Preserve an audit trail

Record timestamps, IP addresses, and authentication method for each signature event. Retain the certificate of completion to support admissibility.

Coordinate retention and access

Determine archive location, access controls, and retention periods before signing. Ensure backups and legal holds are applied when disputes arise.

Common mistakes when preparing the SM2371

Using vague service descriptions that later lead to scope disputes and change-order conflicts.
Failing to verify signer authority, which can render an agreement unenforceable against an organization.
Omitting effective dates or relying on email back-and-forth without a signed, dated final document.
Neglecting to attach required insurance certificates or exhibits referenced in the body of the agreement.

Short list of legal and financial risks from incorrect forms

Contract Voidability: Improper signatory authority

Payment Delays: Missing invoice triggers

Regulatory Fines: Noncompliance with industry rules

Data Breach Exposure: Inadequate security controls

Discovery Costs: Poor retention practices

Litigation Risk: Ambiguous performance metrics

Key dates and timelines to manage for the SM2371

Track these milestones from negotiation through archive to avoid missed obligations and to support audit readiness.

Effective Date:

Date entered in the Effective Date field; starts obligation clock

Signature Completion:

Date when all required parties have signed

Invoice Submission:

As specified in Payment Terms, commonly within 30 days

Amendment Deadline:

Deadline for proposed changes before new term begins

Record Retention Start:

Begins on Effective Date or final signature date

Frequently asked questions about using SM2371 with eSignatures

Answers to common legal, technical, and process questions when executing the SM2371 electronically.

Need help? Contact support

Can the SM2371 be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally recognized under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and by UETA in most states. Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and reliable record retention are met to support enforceability.
When is notarization required?
Notarization depends on the document's nature and state rules. If a signature block requires acknowledgment or the agreement affects real property, a notary may be required; check the applicable state statute for specific requirements.
Do I need a Business Associate Agreement?
If the contract involves protected health information, add a HIPAA-compliant BAA. HIPAA requires covered entities and business associates to protect PHI and retain related records for six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)).
How do I correct a signed error?
Create a written amendment signed by all original parties or execute a corrected replacement agreement. Maintain version history and the audit trail to show the correction was agreed to by all parties.
What signer authentication is recommended?
Use at minimum authenticated email with an audit trail; for higher-risk contracts, add SMS verification, knowledge-based authentication, or SSO to strengthen attribution and reduce repudiation risk.
How long should I keep executed copies?
Keep final executed contracts for the full term plus a retention period aligned with applicable law: at least 3 years for general records (IRC §6501(a)), 6 years for HIPAA, and longer if required by industry or state rules.

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