Is an electronic signature enforceable?

Yes. Under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96, 2000) and state UETA rules, electronic signatures generally have the same legal effect as handwritten signatures unless a specific statutory exception applies.

When is notarization required?

Notarization depends on the document purpose and state rules; some jurisdictions require notarization for deeds or certain attestations, while governance charters rarely require it unless used to support recordable transactions.

What authentication level should I use?

Select authentication proportional to risk: email or SMS for low risk, multi-factor or KBA for high‑risk approvals or when stronger signer attribution is required for audits.

How long should I retain the signed charter?

Retain the executed charter for the active program period plus at least seven years for post-termination governance records; follow IRS and HIPAA minima where applicable.

Can the charter be amended electronically?

Yes, provided the amendment follows the charter's amendment procedure and signatures meet ESIGN/UETA requirements; document versioning and retention of prior versions are important for audit trails.

What if a signatory's name differs from corporate records?

Mismatched names can cause attribution issues. Use full legal names matching identification and consider adding role lines and an authorized signer certificate to avoid disputes.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Strategy Group

Business Strategy Group

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

BUSINESS STRATEGY GROUP AGREEMENT

This Agreement is made effective as of by and between Client Name: and Business Strategy Group Name: .

Client Address Business Strategy Group Address

Whereas

WHEREAS, Client seeks strategic advisory, market analysis, and implementation planning services to improve business performance and growth; and

WHEREAS, Business Strategy Group represents that it has the experience and capability to provide such consulting services and is willing to provide those services to Client under the terms set forth below; and

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

Scope of Work

Business Strategy Group shall perform the services described in this Section and any attachments executed by the parties. Services will include, without limitation, strategy assessment, market research, competitive analysis, strategic planning sessions, implementation roadmaps, and progress reporting.

Detailed Scope of Work

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Business Strategy Group a total fee of $ for the services described herein. Payment terms are as follows.

Payment Schedule and Milestones

Late payments shall accrue interest at the lesser of (a) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, or (b) on the unpaid balance per month, and Client shall also be responsible for reasonable collection costs and attorneys' fees incurred to enforce payment.

Term and Termination

The term of this Agreement shall commence on and shall continue until unless earlier terminated as provided below.

Either party may terminate this Agreement without cause upon written notice delivered at least days prior to the effective termination date. Either party may terminate immediately for cause if the other party materially breaches this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within 15 days after written notice of breach. Termination shall not relieve Client of its obligation to pay for services performed and expenses incurred through the effective date of termination.

Confidentiality

For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed by one party ("Disclosing Party") to the other party ("Receiving Party") 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 includes business plans, financial information, customer lists, pricing, trade secrets, and deliverables under this Agreement.

The Receiving Party shall: (a) protect Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care as it protects its own confidential information, but in no event less than reasonable care; (b) use Confidential Information solely to perform its obligations or exercise its rights under this Agreement; and (c) not disclose Confidential Information to any third party except to employees, contractors, or advisors who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those herein.

Confidential Information does not include information that: (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than by breach of this Agreement; (ii) was rightfully known to the Receiving Party prior to disclosure; (iii) is lawfully disclosed to the Receiving Party by a third party without restriction; or (iv) is independently developed by the Receiving Party without use of or reference to the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information. Upon termination or upon written request, the Receiving Party shall promptly return or destroy Confidential Information and certify in writing to the Disclosing Party that such return or destruction has occurred. Confidentiality obligations shall survive for three (3) years following termination or expiration of this Agreement, except that obligations with respect to trade secrets shall survive for as long as applicable law protects those trade secrets.

Intellectual Property and Deliverables

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Business Strategy Group shall retain ownership of its pre-existing methodologies, tools, templates, and proprietary materials. Client shall own all right, title and interest in and to final deliverables specifically prepared for Client and paid in full under this Agreement; Business Strategy Group hereby assigns to Client, upon full payment, all right, title and interest in such deliverables. Business Strategy Group may retain and use aggregated, non-identifiable summary data and lessons learned for internal business purposes, subject to the confidentiality obligations herein.

Limitation of Liability

Except for liability arising from gross negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of confidentiality, each party's aggregate liability under this Agreement shall not exceed the total amount of fees paid by Client to Business Strategy Group under this Agreement. In no event shall either party be liable for consequential, incidental, special, or punitive damages.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Entire Agreement; Miscellaneous

This Agreement, together with any attachments or statements of work executed by the parties, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written. Any amendment or modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other, except that Business Strategy Group may assign to an affiliate or in connection with a merger or sale of substantially all of its assets.

Client Name:

By:

Date:

Business Strategy Group Name:

By:

Date:

What the Business Strategy Group document is and when it applies

The Business Strategy Group is a formal planning and governance document used to record objectives, roles, meeting cadence, and decision-making authority for a cross-functional strategy team. It typically outlines membership criteria, chartered responsibilities, meeting schedules, deliverables, and escalation paths so internal and external stakeholders share a consistent reference. Organizations use it to coordinate strategy reviews, approve major initiatives, and track outcomes over time. When executed correctly the document supports accountability, auditability, and clear delegation of authority across business units and leadership layers.

Why a clear Business Strategy Group charter matters

A defined Business Strategy Group document reduces ambiguity about authority, accelerates cross‑functional decisions, and documents governance for auditors and regulators. The record helps demonstrate intent and consent for decisions, and when executed electronically it enjoys enforceability under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96, 2000) and applicable state UETA rules.

Who typically prepares and uses this Business Strategy Group document

Stakeholders across business units use the document to align objectives, track approvals, and preserve an auditable decision history.

C-suite and VPs who set strategic priorities and approve charters.
Program managers who run cadence, measure progress, and record decisions.
Legal and compliance teams who ensure governance and audit traceability.

Core sections every professional Business Strategy Group charter should include

Organize the charter into concise sections so readers can find authority, scope, and outputs quickly.

Purpose

Clear statement of the group's mandate, strategic objectives, scope of authority, and the types of decisions it may approve to avoid role confusion during execution.

Membership

List of named members, alternates, and their roles including decision rights, quorum rules, and procedures for appointing or removing members.

Governance

Decision-making rules, voting thresholds, conflict-of-interest disclosures, escalation paths, and how disagreements are documented and resolved.

Meetings

Cadence, required meeting materials, minutes format, record retention location, and how special or emergency sessions are convened.

Deliverables

Defined outputs such as strategic plans, investment approvals, roadmaps, and performance metrics with ownership and delivery timelines.

Amendment

Procedure to amend the charter, effective date rules, and how revisions are approved, documented, and distributed to members.

Step-by-step: completing and executing the charter

Follow a simple sequence to prepare, review, and finalize the Business Strategy Group charter.

01

Draft: Populate sections with current roles, scope, and deliverables.
02

Review: Circulate to legal, finance, and key stakeholders for feedback.
03

Approve: Collect signatures according to authority and quorum rules.
04

Distribute: Store a signed copy in the official records repository and notify members.

Configuring an online workflow for the charter

Set up fields and routing to mirror governance steps and ensure an auditable signing process.

Field	Configuration
Effective Date	Required date field; format MM/DD/YYYY
Member Signature	Signer role fields mapped to named users
Approver Order	Sequential routing or parallel as charter requires
Audit Trail	Enable automatic logging of IP, timestamp, and actions

Where to send, file, and maintain the executed charter

Designate primary destinations for signed copies and archival records to preserve an authoritative source.

Corporate Records: Upload final PDF to the company records repository or ECM system.
Legal Team: Send signed copies for contract lifecycle tracking and legal review.
Team Drives: Place a read-only copy in secure shared drives with access controls.
Individual Members: Provide a signed copy to members for personal records and compliance.

Technical considerations for eSigning and distribution

Ensure the selected platform meets any industry compliance requirements and that electronic copies are stored with access controls and versioning enabled.

Formats: PDF, DOCX supported
Integrations: CRM and document repositories
Auth Options: Email, SMS, KBA available

Typical timelines and response expectations

Set explicit deadlines for review, signature, and archival to avoid approval delays and to meet audit requirements.

Draft Completion:

Allow 5–10 business days for initial drafting and internal review.

Stakeholder Review:

Allocate 7–14 days for cross-functional feedback depending on complexity.

Signature Window:

Request signatures within 7 business days to maintain momentum.

Archival:

Archive final signed copy within 2 business days of last signature.

Periodic Review:

Schedule charter review at least annually or after major organizational change.

Key milestones from draft to archived charter

Track milestones so each phase completes on time and responsibilities are clear.

01

Draft Approval

Finalize the draft and secure internal signoff for publication.

02

Executive Endorsement

Obtain required executive signatures to validate authority.

03

Execution

Collect all required signatures and capture the audit trail.

04

Formal Archival

Store the executed charter in the official records repository.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the charter

Unclear authority language leading to disputes over who can approve initiatives or spend budget.
Incomplete member lists or missing alternates that delay quorum and approvals during absences.
Failure to define amendment procedures, which causes confusion when roles or strategy change.
Not preserving an audit trail or signed PDF, creating evidence gaps for compliance or audits.

Potential risks and consequences of an incorrect or incomplete charter

Operational delay: Approvals stalled

Legal exposure: Authority disputes

Audit findings: Noncompliance noted

Financial impact: Unapproved spend

Reputational harm: Stakeholder distrust

Record gaps: Missing evidence

Representative eSignature pricing and capability comparison

Compare baseline pricing and common features across providers; signNow is listed first per pricing disclosures and plan differences.

	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 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

Frequently asked questions about executing the Business Strategy Group charter

Answers to common procedural and legal questions encountered when preparing, signing, and storing the charter.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature enforceable?
Yes. Under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96, 2000) and state UETA rules, electronic signatures generally have the same legal effect as handwritten signatures unless a specific statutory exception applies.
When is notarization required?
Notarization depends on the document purpose and state rules; some jurisdictions require notarization for deeds or certain attestations, while governance charters rarely require it unless used to support recordable transactions.
What authentication level should I use?
Select authentication proportional to risk: email or SMS for low risk, multi-factor or KBA for high‑risk approvals or when stronger signer attribution is required for audits.
How long should I retain the signed charter?
Retain the executed charter for the active program period plus at least seven years for post-termination governance records; follow IRS and HIPAA minima where applicable.
Can the charter be amended electronically?
Yes, provided the amendment follows the charter's amendment procedure and signatures meet ESIGN/UETA requirements; document versioning and retention of prior versions are important for audit trails.
What if a signatory's name differs from corporate records?
Mismatched names can cause attribution issues. Use full legal names matching identification and consider adding role lines and an authorized signer certificate to avoid disputes.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now