Parties
Identify the legal entities with full legal names, business type, and primary contact details so the contract binds the intended companies rather than informal team names.
A complete TEK-TEK reduces disputes, clarifies billing and deliverables, and creates a record suitable for electronic execution under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) or state UETA laws. It helps both parties demonstrate intent, consent, and retention needed for enforceability while supporting efficient workflow automation and auditability.
Multiple internal teams and external partners commonly prepare or sign the TEK-TEK depending on the engagement type and company structure.
Role clarity at drafting time speeds approvals and reduces rework by directing the document to the correct signers and reviewers.
Identify the legal entities with full legal names, business type, and primary contact details so the contract binds the intended companies rather than informal team names.
Describe services in measurable terms: deliverables, acceptance criteria, milestones, and any exclusions to prevent scope creep and support billing disputes.
State fixed fees, hourly rates, expense reimbursement rules, invoicing cadence, and payment terms to align accounts receivable and project tracking.
Specify effective date, renewal mechanics, notice periods, and termination for convenience or cause to manage ongoing obligations and wind-down logistics.
Address handling of confidential information, data protection responsibilities, and any industry-specific privacy requirements such as HIPAA or FERPA.
Include signatory names, titles, signature blocks, effective dates, and any witness or notarization lines if the jurisdiction or counterparty requires them.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signer Order | Sequential or parallel routing configured per project stakeholders. |
| Authentication | Email link, SMS code, or advanced signer authentication for higher assurance. |
| Mandatory Fields | Require sign, date, and initial fields for key clauses to avoid incomplete executions. |
| Retention | Store signed PDF and audit trail in the contract repository with version control. |
Match technical settings to the agreement’s legal and security needs before sending for signature.
| 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 | Limited trial | Limited trial | Limited trial | Limited trial |
| 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 |
Provide on request; no fixed IRS filing deadline (W-9 guidance)
Report payments to recipients and IRS by Jan 31 each year
Use the effective date in the agreement to trigger performance and payment terms
Follow the agreed net terms (e.g., Net 30) to avoid late fees and disputes
Retain relevant employment verification records per federal rules when TEK-TEK affects hiring
Optica used a standardized services TEK-TEK to centralize deliverables across multiple accounts, cut review iterations, and align billing.
Martin Properties replaced ad hoc statements of work with a TEK-TEK template for vendor services, speeding execution and approvals.
| Criteria | Digital Signature | Simple Electronic Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | pki cryptography | image or audit-trail based |
| Legal Category | subset of electronic sigs | broad legal category |
| Non-repudiation | high (certificate-backed) | relies on audit evidence |
| Common Use | regulated filings | routine contracts |