Is an electronic signature legally binding?

Yes, electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; ensure intent, consent, attribution, and reproducible records to meet the four‑prong validity test.

Can the statement be signed remotely?

Yes—remote signing is acceptable under ESIGN/UETA. For notarization or RON requirements, follow state rules; New York applies ESRA rather than UETA for intrastate electronic notaries.

Who should sign the statement?

The document should be signed by the designated approval authority identified in the Approval Authority field, typically the CEO or Board Chair; document delegation if deputy signers are authorized.

How do I update the document later?

Prepare a revised draft, track changes in Revision Notes, obtain the same approval level as the original, and archive prior versions with timestamps and approval records for auditability.

How long should signed copies be retained?

Retain signed records for at least three years post‑termination for ordinary governance needs; if healthcare data is involved, follow HIPAA’s six‑year retention per 45 CFR §164.530(j).

What if there are conflicting versions?

Use the archived version that bears the formal approval signature and effective date; maintain a single authoritative repository to avoid divergence and ensure a defensible record for audits.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Vision and Values Statement

Business Vision and Values Statement

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

BUSINESS VISION AND VALUES STATEMENT

Parties and Effective Date

Company Name: Company Address: Consultant / Author: Consultant Address:

Effective Date:

Recitals

WHEREAS, Company desires to articulate and adopt a formal Business Vision and a set of Core Values to guide strategic decisions, operations, and culture; and

WHEREAS, Consultant has expertise in drafting organizational vision statements, identifying value frameworks, and producing actionable guiding principles; and

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to record the deliverables, payment terms, confidentiality expectations, and the operative legal terms regarding production and adoption of the Business Vision and Values Statement.

Scope of Work

Consultant shall prepare and deliver a Business Vision and Values Statement that will include a clear vision statement, an articulated set of core values, implementation recommendations, and a succinct adoption plan. Deliverables will be provided in written form and as an editable electronic document.

Detailed Scope (describe deliverables, milestones and acceptance criteria):

Vision Statement

The Vision Statement is a forward-looking declaration describing the intended long-term position, impact, and aspirations of Company. The Vision will be concise, memorable, and capable of informing strategic decision-making.

Proposed Vision Statement:

Core Values

Core Values are the fundamental principles that will guide Company behavior, decision-making, and culture. Each value should include a short definition and one or two practical behaviors that demonstrate adherence.

Core Values (list and define):

Payment Terms

As full consideration for the services described in Scope of Work, Company shall pay Consultant the fees and on the schedule set forth below. Payments shall be made in lawful funds and in accordance with the invoice terms provided by Consultant.

Total Fee Amount: Payment Schedule / Milestones: Late Fee / Interest on Overdue Amounts:

Term and Termination

This Statement and the obligations of the Parties under it commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until completion of the Scope of Work or the End Date set forth below, unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section.

Term Start Date: Term End Date (or 'completion'): Notice Period for Termination Without Cause:

Either Party may terminate this Statement for material breach by the other Party if the breaching Party fails to cure the breach within the notice period specified above. Termination shall not relieve Company of the obligation to pay for services rendered and accepted prior to termination.

Confidentiality

For purposes of this Statement, "Confidential Information" includes non-public business information, drafts of the Vision and Values materials, strategic recommendations, internal assessments, and any written or electronic materials marked or reasonably understood to be confidential. The receiving Party shall (a) hold Confidential Information in strict confidence; (b) not disclose it to third parties except with prior written consent; and (c) use it solely to perform obligations under this Statement. Confidentiality obligations shall survive termination for a period of three (3) years, unless a longer period is required by applicable law.

Exclusions: Confidential Information does not include information that is (i) rightfully known to the receiving Party without restriction prior to disclosure; (ii) becomes publicly known through no fault of the receiving Party; or (iii) is rightfully received from a third party without breach of an obligation of confidentiality.

Designate this Statement as Confidential:

I confirm that the Vision and Values Statement and related deliverables are to be treated as Confidential Information.

Governing Law

This Statement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction specified below without regard to conflict of law principles. The Parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in that jurisdiction for disputes arising under this Statement.

Governing State / Jurisdiction:

Entire Agreement

This Statement, together with any exhibits or attachments expressly incorporated herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, or communications, whether written or oral. Any amendment or modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both Parties.

Company:

By:

Date:

Consultant:

By:

Date:

What a Business Vision and Values Statement Is

A Business Vision and Values Statement is a concise document that describes an organization’s long-term aspiration, core principles, and ethical commitments. It frames strategic priorities, guides employee decision-making, and informs external stakeholders about organizational purpose. Although usually internal and non‑regulatory, it can be incorporated into governance materials, board packages, employee handbooks, and strategic plans to maintain consistency across hiring, performance reviews, and public communications.

Why a Clear Vision and Values Statement Matters

A well-crafted statement aligns leadership and staff, supports consistent decision-making, and sets expectations for behavior. It reduces ambiguity in strategy execution and serves as an auditable reference for governance, compliance reviews, and stakeholder communications.

Who Typically Uses This Statement

Organizations of all sizes use a Business Vision and Values Statement to align teams and document cultural priorities.

Leadership teams and boards who need a shared strategic north star for planning and governance.
Human resources for recruitment, onboarding, and performance management tied to cultural expectations.
Communications and investor relations to summarize mission, ethics, and long‑term objectives for external audiences.

Use may vary by industry, but the document’s core role—alignment and clarity—remains consistent across sectors.

Essential Elements to Include

A professional statement balances aspirational language with actionable guidance and should be concise, measurable, and reviewable on a regular schedule.

Vision

A short aspirational sentence describing long‑term organizational goals, written clearly so stakeholders can recall it easily.

Core Values

A prioritized list of 4–8 values with brief behavioral descriptions explaining how each value should be demonstrated day to day.

Purpose

A one‑to‑two sentence summary explaining why the organization exists and which stakeholder outcomes it seeks to deliver.

Scope

Statement of applicability: which entities, teams, or subsidiaries the document governs and any exclusions.

Decision Criteria

Practical rules or examples showing how leaders should apply values when making tradeoffs or setting priorities.

Review Cycle

A defined cadence for revision (e.g., annual or biennial) and the roles responsible for updates and approvals.

Step-by-Step: Creating or Updating the Statement

Follow these sequential steps to draft, review, and adopt a Business Vision and Values Statement with clear accountability.

01

Draft: Compile vision, values, and purpose in a single document.
02

Review: Circulate to leadership and key stakeholders for substantive feedback.
03

Approve: Obtain formal signoff from the designated authority, such as the CEO or board.
04

Publish: Distribute the approved version to employees and include in governance records.

How to Configure an Online Approval Workflow

Configure a simple electronic workflow to route the statement for review, signature, and archival with clear role assignments.

Field	Configuration
Initiator	User who uploads the draft and starts the workflow
Reviewers	Sequential or parallel reviewers assigned by role or team
Signer	Designated approval authority (CEO, Board Chair) with signature field
Archive Location	Designated records repository with retention metadata

Where to File, Send, and Archive the Statement

Use established distribution and records systems so the statement is discoverable and included in governance audits.

Internal Records: Store signed copies in the corporate records repository
HR Systems: Link version to onboarding and performance materials
Board Portal: Upload ratified versions to board materials archive
Public Disclosure: Publish a public summary on the company site if required

Technical Considerations for eSigning and Distribution

Choose platforms that support audit trails, access controls, and common document formats to maintain evidentiary records.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX accepted
Integrations: CRM and cloud storage
Authentication: Email, SMS, or stronger

Ensure the selected provider supports required integrations (Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, NetSuite) and preserves tamper‑evident audit logs for compliance.

Typical Timelines and Review Deadlines

Establish a schedule that covers drafting, stakeholder review, approval, and periodic reassessment with defined deadlines.

Initial Draft Deadline:

2–4 weeks depending on stakeholder availability

Stakeholder Review:

Allow 1–2 weeks for consolidated feedback

Final Approval:

Board or CEO signoff within next scheduled meeting

Publication Date:

Publish immediately after formal approval

Periodic Review:

Schedule annual or biennial review to maintain relevance

Key Milestones from Draft to Adoption

A sequential milestone view helps track progress and ensures responsibilities are clear at each step.

01

Prepare Draft

Create initial text and map core values to behaviors

02

Internal Review

Collect feedback from leadership and HR

03

Legal Review

Confirm consistency with governance and policy

04

Formal Approval

Obtain signatures from designated approvers

Common Preparation Pitfalls to Avoid

Overly broad language that lacks practical guidance, leaving employees unsure how to apply values in decisions.
Failing to name approval authority or revision cadence, which makes version control and accountability unclear.
Including legal or operational commitments that conflict with existing policies or contracts, creating compliance risks.
Neglecting to store signed copies in a records system, which undermines auditability and institutional memory.

Risks and Consequences of an Incorrect Statement

Governance Confusion: Conflicting policies risk board disputes

Employee Misconduct: Unclear expectations increase compliance incidents

Legal Exposure: Ambiguous commitments can generate contractual risk

Reputational Harm: Public inconsistencies damage stakeholder trust

Audit Findings: Missing approvals may trigger control weaknesses

Operational Delay: Redrafting delays strategic initiatives

Required Records and Metadata for Secure Storage

Signed Copy: PDF of final signed statement

Approval Log: Record of who approved and when

Version ID: Unique version number or code

Retention Tag: Metadata with retention date

Access Controls: Role-based permissions recorded

Audit Trail: Timestamped signing and activity log

Practical Examples of Use

Two common scenarios illustrate how a Business Vision and Values Statement functions in practice.

Startup Alignment

Early-stage leadership drafts a concise vision to attract investors and hires

The statement ties hiring decisions directly to three defined values
After board review and CEO signoff, the statement is included in the employee handbook and onboarding materials to guide culture building.

Nonprofit Governance

A nonprofit formalizes values to guide donor stewardship and program decisions

The board approves measurable commitments and ethical guidelines
Signed versions are archived with minutes and used in annual impact reports to demonstrate consistency and accountability.

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Adopt clear drafting, review, and versioning practices to reduce rework and maintain organizational clarity.

Keep It Concise

Limit vision and values to a few clear sentences each; concise language improves recall and practical application across teams and reduces misinterpretation in governance contexts.

Define Behaviors

For each stated value, include one or two concrete behaviors or examples so staff can translate principles into daily actions without ambiguity.

Assign Ownership

Designate a maintenance owner with authority to propose revisions and a formal approver (CEO or board) to ensure accountability and traceable sign‑off.

Record Version History

Maintain a change log with effective dates and rationale; this preserves auditability and supports regulatory or stakeholder inquiries.

eSignature Platform Pricing Snapshot for Document Execution

Use vendor pricing and feature differences to compare execution options; signNow appears first for column consistency with in‑platform pricing references.

	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 credit card	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes (Business Premium)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes (BAA available)	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about legality, signature methods, revision, storage, and distribution for a Business Vision and Values Statement.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature legally binding?
Yes, electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted; ensure intent, consent, attribution, and reproducible records to meet the four‑prong validity test.
Can the statement be signed remotely?
Yes—remote signing is acceptable under ESIGN/UETA. For notarization or RON requirements, follow state rules; New York applies ESRA rather than UETA for intrastate electronic notaries.
Who should sign the statement?
The document should be signed by the designated approval authority identified in the Approval Authority field, typically the CEO or Board Chair; document delegation if deputy signers are authorized.
How do I update the document later?
Prepare a revised draft, track changes in Revision Notes, obtain the same approval level as the original, and archive prior versions with timestamps and approval records for auditability.
How long should signed copies be retained?
Retain signed records for at least three years post‑termination for ordinary governance needs; if healthcare data is involved, follow HIPAA’s six‑year retention per 45 CFR §164.530(j).
What if there are conflicting versions?
Use the archived version that bears the formal approval signature and effective date; maintain a single authoritative repository to avoid divergence and ensure a defensible record for audits.

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