What makes a write-up legally valid?

Accuracy and verifiable supporting documents make the write-up reliable for reviewers; a write-up itself is informational but can form the basis of representations in contracts, so ensure figures and statements are correct and up to date.

Can an electronic write-up be signed?

Yes; an electronic signature that meets intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and applicable state law (UETA where adopted) creates a legally enforceable signature.

Do supporting exhibits need notarization?

Not typically for ordinary business write-ups, but certain instruments (deeds, powers of attorney) require notarization or RON depending on jurisdiction; verify state-specific rules for attached documents.

How should sensitive data be handled?

Redact personal health information unless necessary; follow HIPAA requirements for disclosures and execute a BAA with the vendor when handling protected health information.

What if financials change after distribution?

Issue a clearly labeled revision with a change log and notify recipients; retain version history and evidence of distribution for audit purposes.

Which delivery method is most secure?

Use encrypted portals or eSignature platforms that provide an audit trail, role-based access, and document integrity checks rather than unsecured email attachments.

Business Write-up

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

BUSINESS WRITE-UP

This Business Write-up ("Agreement") is entered into by and between:

Provider Name: Provider Address: Client Name: Client Address:

Effective Date:

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Provider is engaged in the business of delivering professional business analysis, reporting, and advisory materials described herein, and possesses the necessary experience, skills, and personnel to perform such services for Client; and

WHEREAS, Client desires to retain Provider to perform a business write-up and related services under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and Provider is willing to perform such services for the compensation and on the terms described below.

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

SCOPE OF WORK

Description of Services (Scope of Work):

Provider shall perform the Scope of Work in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards. Deliverables, milestones, and acceptance criteria must be set out in writing and appended to this Agreement or otherwise documented in writing and agreed by both parties prior to commencement of related work.

PAYMENT TERMS

Total Fee: Payment Schedule: Invoice Frequency / Due Date:

Late Payment: Any undisputed amount not paid by the due date shall accrue interest at the lesser of 1.5% per month or the maximum rate permitted by law, and Client shall be responsible for reasonable collection costs, including attorneys' fees.

Late Fee Rate (monthly):

Reimbursable Expenses: Client shall reimburse Provider for pre-approved, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with performance of the Scope of Work upon submission of supporting receipts or documentation.

TERM AND TERMINATION

Term Commencement Date: Term Expiration Date:

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon prior written notice to the other party delivered at least days prior to the effective termination date. Termination for cause may be effected immediately upon written notice if a material breach is not cured within days of receipt of written notice specifying the breach.

Upon termination, Provider shall deliver any completed work and Client shall pay Provider for all work performed and authorized expenses incurred through the effective date of termination in accordance with the Payment Terms.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party acknowledges that in performing under this Agreement it may receive Confidential Information of the other party. "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed in any form 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. Each party shall: (a) use Confidential Information solely to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (b) restrict disclosure to employees, contractors, and agents who have a need to know and are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those contained herein; and (c) protect Confidential Information with the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but no less than reasonable care.

Confidentiality obligations shall survive termination of this Agreement for a period of unless a longer period is required by applicable law.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

Provider is an independent contractor and not an employee, partner, or agent of Client. Provider is solely responsible for all taxes, withholdings, and other statutory or contractual obligations of any sort, and Provider shall not be entitled to any benefits provided by Client to its employees.

GOVERNING LAW

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

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement, including any exhibits and written attachments signed by the parties, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written. No amendment or waiver shall be effective unless in writing and signed by both parties.

LIMITATIONS AND REMEDIES

Except for breaches of confidentiality or willful misconduct, neither party shall be liable to the other for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special or punitive damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The parties' aggregate liability for claims arising out of this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees paid by Client to Provider under this Agreement in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

NOTICES

All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses above or to such other address as either party may designate by notice, and shall be deemed given when delivered in person, sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, or three (3) business days after deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid, certified or registered.

Provider - Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Client - Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What a Business Write-up Is and When It’s Used

A Business Write-up is a concise, factual summary of a company's operations, financial condition, management, and risk profile prepared for lenders, brokers, investors, or internal review. It typically combines narrative description with key financial metrics, ownership and management biographies, customer and supplier concentration, licenses and permits, outstanding liabilities, and near-term milestones. The document helps external reviewers assess creditworthiness, deal readiness, or eligibility for services. Business write-ups vary in length and detail depending on purpose but should be accurate, dated, and supported with source documents where appropriate.

Why a Clear Business Write-up Matters

A well-prepared Business Write-up reduces review time, clarifies borrower or seller capacity, and prevents later surprises in underwriting or due diligence. It creates a single, consistent summary for multiple stakeholders and documents material facts that influence decisions such as loan sizing, pricing, or acquisition terms.

Who Typically Writes and Reviews This Document

Use a Business Write-up to present verified, consistent information and attach source documents to support the summary.

Small business owners preparing loan or investor packets ten to twenty concise points on operations and cash flow.
Commercial lenders and underwriters evaluating credit risk and covenant capacity focused summaries for faster underwriting decisions.
M&A advisors and buyers comparing target profiles across deals standardized overviews to compare multiple businesses.

Core Components to Include in Every Business Write-up

Organize the write-up into clearly labeled sections so reviewers can locate facts quickly and validate data against supporting documents.

Executive Summary

Brief business description, ownership, primary customers, and one-sentence statement of purpose for the write-up; should orient readers immediately.

Financial Snapshot

Key metrics such as trailing twelve months revenue, EBITDA, gross margin, cash on hand, and recent year-over-year trends presented with exact figures and periods.

Management & Ownership

Names, roles, relevant experience, equity stakes, and any employment agreements or change-of-control provisions that affect continuity.

Operations & Customers

Primary products or services, top customers and suppliers (by % revenue), and major contracts or dependency risks.

Legal & Compliance

Licenses, material pending litigation, regulatory status, lien searches, and special compliance issues specific to the industry.

Near-Term Plan

Planned capital needs, expected revenue drivers, major milestones, and contingencies for the next 6–18 months.

Step-by-Step: Preparing a Business Write-up

Follow these sequential steps to assemble and verify a complete write-up suitable for lenders or investors.

01

Gather documents: Collect financial statements, tax returns, contracts, and licenses for verification.
02

Draft summary: Write the executive summary and populate financial snapshot fields with source references.
03

Validate figures: Reconcile numbers to ledgers and tax returns; note any differences and reasons.
04

Attach exhibits: Append supporting documents and label them clearly for reviewer reference.

Typical Workflow for Submission and Review

A consistent routing process helps reviewers find what they need and reduces requests for follow-up information.

Prepare: Complete write-up and attach supporting exhibits.
Internal review: Finance or legal teams verify facts and approve distribution.
Send to reviewer: Deliver via secure portal or eSignature platform with access controls.
Respond to questions: Track questions and update the write-up as required.

Delivery Options and Technical Considerations

Prefer solutions that integrate with your document management system to preserve version history and access records.

Secure eDelivery: Use platforms that support encrypted storage and detailed audit logs.
Access control: Assign reviewer roles and expiration dates for links.
File formats: Provide PDF/A or searchable PDF for long-term archiving.

Common eSignature Vendor Pricing and Feature Snapshot

This table compares starting price and selected capabilities across common eSignature vendors; 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 trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Security and Compliance Features to Document

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Data at Rest: AES-256 encryption

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II available

Regulatory: ESIGN and UETA compliant

Healthcare: HIPAA with BAA available

Audit Trail: Complete tamper-evident logs

Principal Risks and Potential Penalties from Errors

Tax Filing Penalties: 1099 penalties per IRC §6721 range by lateness

I-9 Violations: Civil fines for paperwork errors

HIPAA Violations: Civil penalties and corrective action

Contract Disputes: Ambiguous terms increase litigation risk

Misstated Info: Can void underwriting or trigger indemnities

Missing Signatures: May render document unenforceable

Common Preparation Pitfalls to Avoid

Inconsistent reporting periods between financial tables and supporting statements create confusion and require reconciliation that delays review.
Using unaudited or draft financials without clear labeling often leads to additional document requests and slows decisions.
Omitting material contracts, such as major customer agreements or lease obligations, understates risk and can lead to rescinded offers.
Failing to attach authoritative source documents—tax returns, bank statements, or corporate formation records—forces repeated follow-up and undermines credibility.

Supporting Documents Commonly Attached

Attach these exhibits to allow reviewers to verify assertions in the write-up quickly and to reduce follow-up questions.

Financial Statements

Most recent audited or reviewed financials plus interim statements and the last two years of tax returns to substantiate revenue and earnings.

Contracts

Material customer, supplier, and lease agreements; include effective dates, termination provisions, and assignment restrictions.

Corporate Records

Articles of organization/incorporation, operating agreement, shareholder ledger, and any current business licenses or permits.

Collateral Schedules

Lists of pledged assets, equipment schedules, UCC filings, and insurance certificates relevant to secured financing.

How to Update or Revise an Existing Business Write-up

Maintain change control and version history when updating a submitted write-up so recipients can track material changes.

01

Version Label:

Assign version number and date.

02

Change Log:

Summarize material edits.

03

Approve:

Have finance/legal sign off.

04

Distribute:

Send updated file to stakeholders.

05

Archive:

Keep prior versions in secure storage.

06

Record Consent:

Note who received the revision and when.

Deadlines and Timing Considerations

Time-sensitive items often affect a write-up’s utility; track key dates so reviewers have current information.

Report Date:

Date the write-up reflects the company’s condition.

Tax Filings:

Provide last filed returns; 3-year retention advised for scrutiny.

Contract Expirations:

List material agreements with expiration dates and renewal terms.

Loan Maturities:

Include upcoming debt maturities and repayment terms.

Revision Cycle:

Update quarterly or upon material change.

Frequently Asked Questions About Preparing a Business Write-up

Answers to common practical questions about content, format, legal validity, and secure delivery for Business Write-ups.

Need help? Contact support

What makes a write-up legally valid?
Accuracy and verifiable supporting documents make the write-up reliable for reviewers; a write-up itself is informational but can form the basis of representations in contracts, so ensure figures and statements are correct and up to date.
Can an electronic write-up be signed?
Yes; an electronic signature that meets intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and applicable state law (UETA where adopted) creates a legally enforceable signature.
Do supporting exhibits need notarization?
Not typically for ordinary business write-ups, but certain instruments (deeds, powers of attorney) require notarization or RON depending on jurisdiction; verify state-specific rules for attached documents.
How should sensitive data be handled?
Redact personal health information unless necessary; follow HIPAA requirements for disclosures and execute a BAA with the vendor when handling protected health information.
What if financials change after distribution?
Issue a clearly labeled revision with a change log and notify recipients; retain version history and evidence of distribution for audit purposes.
Which delivery method is most secure?
Use encrypted portals or eSignature platforms that provide an audit trail, role-based access, and document integrity checks rather than unsecured email attachments.

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