Can the TSS be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.

When is a consumer disclosure required?

Consumer-facing transactions that replace paper records require an ESIGN consumer disclosure demonstrating access to electronic records and an opportunity to withdraw consent, per 15 U.S.C. §7001(c).

Are notarization or witnesses required?

Notarization and witness requirements vary by state and document type; deeds and certain powers of attorney often require notarization and may require witnesses under state law.

How do I correct a signed TSS?

Minor clerical errors should be corrected by a signed amendment or initialed correction by all parties; material changes generally require a new signed TSS or formal amendment.

How long must I keep an executed TSS?

Retention depends on the record type: IRS rules often require 3 years (IRC §6501(a)); HIPAA requires 6 years (45 CFR §164.530(j)); consult industry guidance for specifics.

What if a signer lacks authority?

If a signer lacked authority, the agreement may be voidable; verify signing authority beforehand and keep delegation or board resolutions where required.

Business Services TSS

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

Business Services TSS

Parties and Effective Date

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

Client Name Client Address Service Provider Name Service Provider Address

Effective Date:

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client requires certain business services relating to operations, systems, technical support, and advisory services as further described herein; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider represents that it possesses the expertise, personnel and resources necessary to perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; and

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

Scope of Work

Service Provider shall perform the services described below (the "Services"). The Services shall be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner in accordance with industry standards.

Detailed Scope of Work

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Service Provider the fees set forth below in consideration for the Services rendered under this Agreement.

Contracted Fee or Not-To-Exceed Amount Hourly Rate (if applicable) Billing and Payment Schedule

Invoices are due within days of receipt. Late payments shall incur interest at the lesser of % per month or the maximum permitted by law.

Reimbursable Expenses

Expenses reasonably incurred by Service Provider in performing the Services are reimbursable by Client if pre-approved in writing. Reimbursable expenses will be billed with supporting documentation.

Term and Termination

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

Start Date: End Date:

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon days' prior written notice to the other party. Either party may terminate immediately for material breach that remains uncured for 15 days after written notice of breach, or immediately for insolvency or cessation of business operations.

Confidentiality

Each party (the "Receiving Party") shall hold in confidence all non-public information disclosed by the other party (the "Disclosing Party") that is designated confidential or that reasonably should be understood to be confidential given its nature ("Confidential Information"). Confidential Information shall not include information that: (a) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of the Receiving Party; (b) was lawfully known to the Receiving Party prior to disclosure; (c) is received from a third party without breach of an obligation of confidentiality; or (d) is independently developed without use of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information.

The Receiving Party shall use Confidential Information solely to perform obligations under this Agreement and shall not disclose it except to employees, consultants, or subcontractors who have a need to know and are bound by confidentiality obligations no less protective than those herein. Confidentiality obligations shall survive termination of this Agreement for years.

Indemnification and Liability

Service Provider shall indemnify and hold harmless Client and its directors, officers and employees from and against third-party claims arising from Service Provider’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of this Agreement. Client shall indemnify Service Provider for third-party claims arising from Client’s negligence or breach.

Except for liability arising from willful misconduct or indemnified third-party claims, the parties' aggregate liability under this Agreement shall not exceed the total amount paid or payable to Service Provider under this Agreement during the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction specified below, without regard to conflicts of law principles.

Governing Law Jurisdiction

Entire Agreement; Amendments

This Agreement, including all exhibits and attachments, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, and communications, whether written or oral. Any amendment or modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Miscellaneous Provisions

Relationship of the Parties: The parties are independent contractors. Nothing in this Agreement creates a partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship. Assignment: Neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other, except to a successor in interest in connection with a merger or sale of substantially all assets. Notices: All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth above.

Additional Terms or Notes

Signatures

Client Name:

By:

Date:

Service Provider Name:

By:

Date:

What the Business Services TSS is and when it applies

The Business Services TSS is a standardized transactional service statement used to document the scope, responsibilities, deliverables, payment terms, and signature authorization for business-to-business services. It typically identifies the parties, effective date, services description, pricing or fee schedule, billing and acceptance criteria, confidentiality provisions where needed, and signature blocks for authorized signers. The TSS is intended to create a clear written record of obligations that can be retained for compliance, invoicing, and dispute resolution, and it is commonly used alongside purchase orders, statements of work, and vendor onboarding forms.

Why a clear Business Services TSS matters

A well-crafted TSS reduces ambiguity about deliverables and payment, supports auditability, and documents the parties' intent to contract. It helps reduce disputes and provides a basis for timely invoicing and regulatory compliance.

Who typically prepares and signs a Business Services TSS

The TSS serves both internal controls and external evidence of agreement; the document should be routed to legal, finance, and the authorized signer before execution.

Procurement teams and contract managers who issue statements of work and need clear acceptance criteria and billing schedules.
Finance and accounts payable for matching invoices to contract terms and maintaining tax records.
Service providers (vendors, consultants, agencies) to document scope, deliverables, and invoicing expectations.

Step-by-step: completing and executing the Business Services TSS

Follow these steps to prepare, review, and finalize the TSS to support enforceability and accounting workflows.

01

Prepare draft: Populate parties, scope, schedule, and payment details.
02

Internal review: Have legal and finance verify terms and tax fields.
03

Obtain signatures: Route to authorized signers and collect dated signatures.
04

Distribute copies: Send executed copies to finance, vendor, and records.

Configuring an online TSS workflow

Set up field types, authentication, and routing so the electronic process mirrors your internal approvals and recordkeeping rules.

Field	Configuration
Authentication method	Email link or SMS code; use stronger MFA for high-risk agreements
Field types	Text, date (MM/DD/YYYY), currency, checkboxes, signature
Routing order	Sequential or parallel signer order with conditional steps
Retention policy	Specify storage duration and export formats (PDF, DOCX)

Where the executed TSS should be sent and stored

Follow an explicit routing plan so legal, finance, and operations receive the executed TSS and supporting attachments for their records.

Vendor copy: Send signed PDF to vendor for their records.
Finance: Deliver executed TSS to accounts payable for invoice matching.
Legal: Store a copy in the contract repository for compliance.
Records: Archive final executed version with retention metadata.

Technical and security considerations for e-signing the TSS

Ensure the platform provides tamper-evident signed PDFs, an auditable certificate of completion, and export options compatible with your records retention policies.

Authentication: Email, SMS, or KBA options
File formats: PDF, DOCX, and fillable forms
Integrations: CRM, ERP, cloud storage

Typical eSignature pricing and enterprise feature comparison

Comparison focused on per-user pricing, trial availability, bulk send, audit trail, and HIPAA support; signNow is listed first per vendor-comparison conventions.

	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	No	No	No
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Core components to include in a professional Business Services TSS

A complete TSS addresses parties, scope, schedule, payment, risk allocation, and execution details to reduce ambiguity and support enforceability.

Parties

Full legal names, business type, and contact information for each contracting entity to ensure correct identification and tax reporting.

Scope

Detailed description of services, deliverables, milestones, and acceptance criteria to set objective performance standards.

Schedule

Start and end dates, milestone deadlines, and any service-level expectations tied to deliverables or payments.

Compensation

Fees, billing intervals, expense reimbursement rules, and late-payment remedies such as interest or collection costs.

Compliance

Confidentiality, data protection, and industry-specific addenda such as HIPAA or payment-card requirements.

Execution

Authorized signer names and titles, signature blocks, dates, and notarization or witness instructions if required.

Essential data fields to capture for compliance and processing

Full Legal Name: Entity or individual

Tax ID: EIN or SSN/TIN

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Service Description: Deliverables and milestones

Payment Terms: Fees and due dates

Authorized Signer: Name and title

Penalties and risks if the TSS is inaccurate or incomplete

Incorrect TIN: Backup withholding 24%

Late 1099 filing: $60–$330 per form

Unclear scope: Contract disputes and payment delays

Missing signatures: Enforceability challenges

HIPAA violations: Civil penalties and corrective action

Improper notarization: Potential invalidation of the document

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing a TSS

Using vague deliverable descriptions that leave acceptance criteria open to interpretation and cause invoice disputes.
Failing to confirm signer authority or omitting title and date, which can create enforceability issues in later disputes.
Leaving tax identification fields blank or incorrect, potentially triggering backup withholding or misreported income.
Neglecting to include jurisdiction and governing law, which complicates dispute resolution and enforcement.

Key deadlines and timing considerations tied to the TSS

Track document dates and related statutory filing deadlines to meet tax, employment, and contract obligations tied to the transaction.

Provide W-9 Upon Request:

Deliver a completed W-9 to any payer who requests it; no fixed calendar deadline.

1099-NEC Reporting:

File 1099-NEC to recipients and IRS by Jan 31 each year for nonemployee compensation.

Form 1040 Deadline:

Individual tax return due April 15; extensions possible with Form 4868.

I-9 Retention:

Retain I-9 for 3 years after hire or 1 year after termination, whichever is later.

Contract Effective Date:

Matches the Effective Date field; governs timing for performance and retention.

Real-world examples of TSS use and outcomes

Practical examples show how organizations use a TSS to accelerate approvals, maintain compliance, and reduce execution time.

Optica Ventures (COO)

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

Reduced turnaround times by standardizing TSS templates.
By centralizing TSS templates and routing, Optica improved consistency across vendor onboarding and decreased manual follow-ups for signature collection.

Martin Properties (Founder)

I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security.

Mobile and offline signing available.
Using digital TSS workflows allowed Martin Properties to close more rental agreements remotely while keeping an auditable record for audits and tenant inquiries.

Frequently asked questions about the Business Services TSS and e-signing

Answers to common questions about legal validity, eSignature acceptance, notarization, storage, and correcting signed TSS documents.

Need help? Contact support

Can the TSS be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.
When is a consumer disclosure required?
Consumer-facing transactions that replace paper records require an ESIGN consumer disclosure demonstrating access to electronic records and an opportunity to withdraw consent, per 15 U.S.C. §7001(c).
Are notarization or witnesses required?
Notarization and witness requirements vary by state and document type; deeds and certain powers of attorney often require notarization and may require witnesses under state law.
How do I correct a signed TSS?
Minor clerical errors should be corrected by a signed amendment or initialed correction by all parties; material changes generally require a new signed TSS or formal amendment.
How long must I keep an executed TSS?
Retention depends on the record type: IRS rules often require 3 years (IRC §6501(a)); HIPAA requires 6 years (45 CFR §164.530(j)); consult industry guidance for specifics.
What if a signer lacks authority?
If a signer lacked authority, the agreement may be voidable; verify signing authority beforehand and keep delegation or board resolutions where required.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now