Can the template be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures meeting the ESIGN four-part test are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Ensure intent, consent for electronic records, attribution, and reliable record retention to support enforceability.

Do I need a notary or witnesses?

Not usually. Most commercial agreements do not require notarization or witnesses. Exceptions include wills, certain powers of attorney, and real property deeds. For notarization or RON, follow state rules and keep required journals and identity proofing.

What if a signer's name mismatches?

A name mismatch can delay payment and create tax reporting or enforcement issues. Collect legal entity names and TINs, use entity resolutions for signatory authority, and confirm identity via ID or enhanced authentication to reduce risk of contesting the signature.

Are healthcare forms subject to HIPAA requirements?

Yes, when protected health information is involved. Use a Business Associate Agreement and ensure encrypted storage, access controls, and retention for six years per 45 CFR §164.530(j). Limit access and log audit trails to meet HIPAA administrative safeguards.

Can this template be used for tax reporting?

Yes. When payments to contractors occur, collect a completed W-9 and correct TIN to avoid backup withholding (24%). Maintain records to satisfy IRS requirements, which generally require retaining tax-related documents for at least three years under IRC §6501(a).

How should signed copies be stored securely?

Store signed PDFs in encrypted cloud repositories with AES-256 at rest and TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit. Apply role-based access, SSO, and maintain audit logs. For HIPAA data, execute a BAA and follow retention timelines in 45 CFR §164.530(j).

Business WE Template

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

BUSINESS WE TEMPLATE

This General Business Agreement (Agreement) is entered into effective as of by and between:

Party A - Legal Name Party B - Legal Name

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Party A is engaged in the business of providing certain professional goods and services, including but not limited to consulting, planning and execution of specified business activities; and

WHEREAS, Party B desires to engage Party A to perform the services described in this Agreement under the terms set forth herein, and Party A is willing to provide such services on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to set forth their respective rights and obligations with respect to the services, payment, confidentiality and other matters as provided below.

SCOPE OF WORK

Party A shall provide the services, deliverables and other work product described below. Party A shall perform such services in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with prevailing industry standards.

Detailed Scope of Work and Deliverables

Deliverables shall be submitted in the form and at the milestones set forth in the project schedule agreed in writing by the Parties. Changes to the Scope of Work shall require written amendment signed by authorized representatives of both Parties.

PAYMENT TERMS

In consideration for the services to be provided by Party A, Party B shall pay Party A the fees and expenses set forth below according to the schedule and conditions specified.

Total Amount Payable Payment Schedule Late Payment

All amounts payable under this Agreement are exclusive of taxes. Party B shall make payments within the period specified in the Payment Schedule. If any undisputed invoice remains unpaid beyond the due date, Party A may suspend performance after ten (10) days' written notice and charge the late fee specified above until payment is made in full.

TERM AND TERMINATION

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

Start Date: End Date:

Notice Period for Termination Without Cause

Either Party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other Party if such breach remains uncured for thirty (30) days after written notice specifying the breach. Termination shall not relieve either Party of obligations accrued prior to the effective date of termination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each Party (Receiving Party) shall hold in confidence and not disclose any non-public, proprietary or confidential information disclosed by the other Party (Disclosing Party) that is identified as confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure. Confidential information excludes information that: (a) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of the Receiving Party; (b) was known to the Receiving Party prior to disclosure; (c) is rightfully received from a third party without duty of confidentiality; or (d) is independently developed by the Receiving Party without use of the Disclosing Party's confidential information.

The Receiving Party may disclose Confidential Information to the extent compelled by law, provided it gives the Disclosing Party prompt notice and cooperates in seeking a protective order or other appropriate remedy. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, the Receiving Party shall return or destroy Confidential Information as directed by the Disclosing Party.

GOVERNING LAW; DISPUTE RESOLUTION

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of , without regard to conflicts of law principles. The Parties agree that they will attempt in good faith to resolve any disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement through negotiation between senior representatives of each Party prior to initiating any legal action.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

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

NOTICES

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses below:

Party A - Contact Name and Title Party A - Address Party A - Email Party B - Contact Name and Title Party B - Address Party B - Email

REPRESENTATIONS; MISCELLANEOUS

Each Party represents and warrants that it has the full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. Neither Party will assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party, except to an affiliate or in connection with a merger or sale of substantially all assets, provided that the assignee assumes all obligations hereunder.

If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect and the Parties will negotiate in good faith to replace the invalid provision with a valid provision that achieves the original purpose to the greatest extent possible.

Party A - Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Party B - Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What the Business WE Template Is and When It Applies

Business WE Template is a standardized business agreement template designed to document work engagements, responsibilities, and exchanges between a company and external parties or contractors. It provides sections for parties’ legal names, scope of services, payment terms, deliverables, timelines, confidentiality provisions, intellectual property allocation, and termination clauses. The template is adaptable across industries and intended to support electronic completion and signature. Using a consistent structure reduces ambiguity, speeds negotiation, and creates a clear record suitable for filing, retention, and enforcement under U.S. electronic signature laws.

Why Use the Business WE Template in Your Workflows

The Business WE Template clarifies responsibilities, documents payment terms, and sets enforceable expectations to reduce disputes. It supports electronic execution and recordkeeping consistent with ESIGN and UETA principles, improving operational efficiency while preserving legal validity for interstate and intrastate transactions.

Teams That Commonly Use the Business WE Template

Organizations of varying sizes use the Business WE Template for contractor and vendor engagements, internal task orders, and short-form service agreements.

Small businesses: standardize contractor terms and reduce negotiation time across projects.
Legal teams: maintain consistent clauses and track revisions for compliance and audit.
Finance and procurement: ensure payment terms, invoicing schedules, and tax reporting align.

Users include procurement, HR, legal, and project managers responsible for contracting services and documenting commercial relationships.

Essential Sections to Include in the Business WE Template

Core components of the Business WE Template define parties, scope, payment, term, confidentiality, and remedies to create an enforceable commercial record.

Parties

Identify each party by legal entity name, business type, principal address, and authorized signatory. Include taxpayer identification or employer identification where required for payments and tax reporting.

Scope

Describe services or deliverables with measurable acceptance criteria, milestones, and delivery dates. Attach schedules or statement of work exhibits to avoid ambiguity about responsibilities and performance standards.

Payment

Specify compensation amounts, invoicing cadence, payment method, late fees, and any retainers. Clarify responsibility for taxes, reimbursement of expenses, and conditions for withholding or setoff.

Term

State effective date, duration, renewal terms, and termination rights including cure periods and cause definitions. Define survival clauses for confidentiality and IP after termination where applicable.

IP

Allocate ownership of work product, license grants, and preexisting intellectual property. Address moral rights, third-party code, and obligations to assist with registrations and documentation deliverables.

Confidentiality

Define confidential information, permitted disclosures, data security obligations, and duration of nondisclosure. Include requirements for return or certified destruction of materials, including electronic copies and audit rights.

Step-by-Step: Complete and Execute the Template

Follow these steps to complete and execute the Business WE Template online, from preparation through signing and record retention.

01

Prepare Document: Populate party details and scope sections before sending
02

Apply Fields: Add signature, date, and conditional fields for clarity
03

Assign Signers: Set signing order and authentication method per signer
04

Execute: Send via secure link; collect audit trail and final PDF

Typical Digital Workflow Settings for Automation

Configure an online workflow to route the Business WE Template automatically to stakeholders for approval, signature, and archiving.

Field	Configuration
Signing Order	Sequential or parallel routing
Authentication	Email, SMS code, or KBA
Reminders	Auto reminders at set intervals
Save Copies	Store PDFs in cloud storage

How Electronic Execution Typically Flows

Typical routing steps for delivering and executing the Business WE Template in an electronic workflow from sender to signer to archive.

Upload: Sender uploads finalized template to platform
Place Fields: Assign signatures, initials, dates, and required fields
Verify: Signer completes authentication then reviews content
Finalize: Signed PDF and audit trail generated and stored

Integrations, File Types, and Authentication Options

The Business WE Template works with CRM, ERP, cloud drives, and collaboration suites to automate delivery and archiving across teams.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
File Formats: PDF, DOCX, HTML, Excel
Authentication: Email link, SMS code, SSO

Security and Compliance Features to Verify

Encryption: TLS 1.2 and 1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest

Audit Trail: Complete timestamped action log

HIPAA: BAA available for covered entities

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA, SSO options

Access Control: Role-based permissions and logs

Key Dates and Deadlines to Track for Agreement Lifecycle

Key dates tied to the Business WE Template include effective date, payment deadlines, tax reporting triggers, and record retention start points.

Effective Date, Term, and Renewal:

Obligations commence on effective date; auto-renew terms must be clearly stated.

Payment Due Dates, Invoicing, and Fees:

Specify net terms or milestone dates triggering payment

Signature Deadline:

Set a date by which all parties must sign to preserve rates or acceptance

Tax Reporting Triggers:

Payments over reporting thresholds may require W-9 collection and 1099 reporting

Filing and Recordkeeping:

Retain executed copies and export audit trail before contract expiration

Common Penalties and Legal Risks to Avoid

Incorrect TIN: Triggers 24% backup withholding

Missing 1099: Penalties $60–$330 per form

I-9 Errors: $281–$2,789 per violation

Unauthorized Signer: Contract may be voidable

Privacy Breach: HIPAA fines and remediation

Late Filing: State fees and interest apply

Frequent Preparation Errors to Watch For

Incomplete party information or mismatched legal names lead to payment delays, taxation issues, and potential unenforceability in disputes.
Vague scope or missing acceptance criteria produce scope creep, missed milestones, and disagreements over deliverables and final payment.
Not specifying governing law or venue can complicate dispute resolution and increase litigation costs across jurisdictions.
Failure to collect W-9, TIN, or proper tax forms exposes payers to IRS penalties and backup withholding liabilities.

Real-World Examples Using the Business WE Template

Examples show how the Business WE Template applies across vendors, contractors, and intercompany service agreements in real-world workflows.

Optica Ventures

Optica Ventures standardized contractor paperwork using the Business WE Template to speed signings and reduce back-and-forth with external partners across multiple engagements.

Adopted for interface simplicity and customer ease.
Brian Fitzgibbons, COO, reported that platform adoption simplified external signatures: 'The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers.' The outcome improved turnaround and client experience.

Xerox

Xerox integrated the Business WE Template into NetSuite workflows to ensure signatures flowed with transaction records and reduced manual processing.

Integration preserved formats and data consistency.
Kodi-Marie Evans, Director of NetSuite Operations at Xerox, described the integration benefits: 'airSlate SignNow provides us with the flexibility needed to get the right signatures on the right documents, in the right formats, based on our integration with NetSuite.'

Baseline eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison

This vendor comparison lists baseline pricing and common feature differences to consider when choosing an eSignature provider for the Business WE Template.

	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	Free trial varies	Free trial varies	Free trial varies	Free trial varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Common questions and solutions for completing, signing, and storing the Business WE Template using electronic workflows are below.

Need help? Contact support

Can the template be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures meeting the ESIGN four-part test are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Ensure intent, consent for electronic records, attribution, and reliable record retention to support enforceability.
Do I need a notary or witnesses?
Not usually. Most commercial agreements do not require notarization or witnesses. Exceptions include wills, certain powers of attorney, and real property deeds. For notarization or RON, follow state rules and keep required journals and identity proofing.
What if a signer's name mismatches?
A name mismatch can delay payment and create tax reporting or enforcement issues. Collect legal entity names and TINs, use entity resolutions for signatory authority, and confirm identity via ID or enhanced authentication to reduce risk of contesting the signature.
Are healthcare forms subject to HIPAA requirements?
Yes, when protected health information is involved. Use a Business Associate Agreement and ensure encrypted storage, access controls, and retention for six years per 45 CFR §164.530(j). Limit access and log audit trails to meet HIPAA administrative safeguards.
Can this template be used for tax reporting?
Yes. When payments to contractors occur, collect a completed W-9 and correct TIN to avoid backup withholding (24%). Maintain records to satisfy IRS requirements, which generally require retaining tax-related documents for at least three years under IRC §6501(a).
How should signed copies be stored securely?
Store signed PDFs in encrypted cloud repositories with AES-256 at rest and TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit. Apply role-based access, SSO, and maintain audit logs. For HIPAA data, execute a BAA and follow retention timelines in 45 CFR §164.530(j).

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now