Can the application be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA laws unless an exception applies; ensure consent and retention requirements are met for consumer-facing records.

What if the wrong person signed?

If an unauthorized signer executed the agreement, obtain a corrective amendment signed by an authorized representative; preserve audit logs and consider a formal ratification by the authorized party to reduce disputes.

Are witnesses or notarization required?

Some instruments or state rules require witnesses or notary acknowledgement; for example, certain deeds or powers of attorney may require witnesses — verify state-specific requirements before relying solely on an e-signature.

How do I correct a signed application?

Do not alter a signed record. Instead, create an amendment or corrective agreement captured and signed by all parties; preserve the original executed document and the amendment together in your records.

Can I use remote online notarization (RON)?

Many states permit RON with identity proofing and recorded audiovisual sessions; check state notary rules for specific technical and retention requirements before using RON for legal acknowledgements.

How should completed applications be stored?

Store signed documents in encrypted, access-controlled repositories with a retained audit trail. Follow applicable retention rules such as IRS three-year minimums and HIPAA six-year requirements for healthcare records.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Client Agreement Application

Client Agreement Application

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

Client Agreement Application

Client Name: Business / DBA:

Client Contact Information

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client requires certain professional services as further described in this Application and the attached Scope of Work; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider represents that it has the expertise, resources, and lawful capacity to provide such services and agrees to perform under the terms set forth herein; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement Application, the parties agree as follows.

Scope of Work

Describe services to be performed

Payment Terms

Total Amount Payable:

Payment Schedule

Late Payment Fee: If any amount due is not paid by its due date, Client shall pay interest on the overdue amount at the lesser of 1.5% per month or the maximum rate permitted by law, plus reasonable collection costs, including attorney fees. Late fee (flat):

Term and Termination

Term Commencement Date: Term Expiration Date:

Notice Period for Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party if the breaching party fails to cure such breach within the notice period specified above. Termination for convenience requires written notice as provided herein and payment pro rata for services performed through the effective termination date.

Confidentiality

Each party shall treat as confidential all nonpublic information disclosed by the other 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"). Confidential Information does not include information that: (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement; (ii) was known to the receiving party prior to disclosure; or (iii) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of the disclosing party's Confidential Information. The receiving party shall not disclose Confidential Information except to its employees, contractors, or advisors who have a need to know and who are subject to confidentiality obligations no less restrictive than those herein.

Upon termination or expiration, the receiving party will return or destroy Confidential Information upon request and will certify in writing that it has complied with this obligation.

Representations and Warranties; Indemnification

Each party represents that it has the full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Client agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Service Provider from and against any third-party claims arising from Client-provided materials, instructions, or misuse of deliverables, except to the extent caused by Service Provider's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to conflict of laws principles. Venue for any dispute arising under this Agreement shall be exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the chosen jurisdiction.

Entire Agreement

This Agreement, together with any attached exhibits and the Scope of Work, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, negotiations and communications, whether written or oral. Any amendment or modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Additional Information

Billing Contact (if different) Entity Type (select all that apply) Individual / Sole Proprietor LLC Corporation Partnership

Client:

By:

Date:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

What the Client Agreement Application Is

A Client Agreement Application is a standardized contract used to record the terms and authorizations required before establishing a client relationship or starting billed work. It captures party identities, scope of services, payment terms, confidentiality provisions, governing law, and execution details. Organizations use it to ensure consistent onboarding, verify authority to contract, and document consent to electronic records and signatures. When executed electronically, the form must meet legal requirements under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) or applicable state UETA/ESRA rules for enforceability; platforms such as signNow support compliant eSigning workflows.

Why a Client Agreement Application Matters

A clear, complete client agreement reduces disputes, defines obligations, and documents consent. Properly executed agreements protect both parties, speed onboarding, and support remote workflows when signed under ESIGN (15 U.S.C. §7001) or state electronic-signature laws.

Who Typically Completes This Application

Typical users collect and file the Client Agreement Application during onboarding, contracting, or procurement processes.

Small business owners and operators who need a standardized intake and billing authorization form for clients.
Contract managers and legal teams who verify authority, set governing law, and attach required exhibits or addenda.
Sales or account managers who gather client details, pricing approvals, and signature authorization to finalize deals.

The form is equally useful for one-off engagements, recurring services, and regulated industries that require explicit consent and record retention.

Essential Sections to Include in a Professional Application

A complete Client Agreement Application organizes legal and operational details so signatures create enforceable obligations and clear operational handoffs.

Parties & Recitals

Identify each contracting party by legal name and entity type; include registration or tax ID where required and a short recital describing the business purpose.

Scope of Services

Describe deliverables, milestones, and service boundaries with enough specificity to avoid ambiguity about duties and measurable acceptance criteria.

Fees & Payment

State amounts, billing cadence, payment methods, late fees, and whether taxes or reimbursements apply; include invoice recipients and remit-to instructions.

Term & Termination

Specify effective date, contract term, renewal procedures, and termination rights; include notice periods and obligations on termination such as final payments.

Confidentiality & Data

Set confidentiality scope, permitted disclosures, data handling standards, and any industry-specific requirements such as HIPAA addenda for protected health information.

Execution Block

Provide signature blocks for all parties, printed names, titles, dates, and any witness or notary blocks required by governing law or company policy.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Client Agreement Application

Follow these sequential steps to gather required information, confirm authority, and execute the agreement correctly.

01

Gather information: Collect IDs, tax IDs, and billing contacts.
02

Populate fields: Enter names, addresses, scope, fees, and dates.
03

Review and approve: Legal or procurement reviews terms and attachments.
04

Sign and distribute: Execute signatures, retain copies, and notify stakeholders.

Configuring an Online Completion Workflow

Set these fields in your eSignature workflow to match organizational controls and signer expectations.

Field	Configuration
Authentication method	Email link with optional SMS code or KBA
Auto reminders	Enable reminders at 3 days and weekly until complete
Signing order	Use sequential role-based order for approvals
Audit & retention	Enable full audit trail and secure storage

Where to Send or File the Completed Application

After execution, route copies to internal teams, the client, and your secure record repository as part of the onboarding handoff.

Upload document: Store original in secure repository
Notify accounting: Send invoice recipient and AR team
Share with client: Deliver signed copy to client contacts
Archive record: Retain per legal and policy retention

Technical and Integration Considerations

Choose platform settings that meet authentication, storage, and integration needs for the Client Agreement Application.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365 integrations available
File formats: PDF, DOCX, and fillable forms supported
Authentication: Email, SMS code, or advanced KBA/SAML

Typical eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison

Common vendor choices differ by price model, enterprise features, and compliance support; signNow is listed first for comparison.

	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 plan	Varies by plan	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes (available)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes (BAA available)	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Penalties and Key Risks of Incorrect Applications

Unenforceability: May be unenforceable under ESIGN or exceptions

Incorrect Signer: Signature not attributable to intended party

Wrong Name: Mismatched legal name triggers disputes

Bad Effective Date: Creates ambiguity about obligations

Privacy Breach: HIPAA or data violations risk penalties

Missing Notices: Failure to provide consumer disclosures

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Leaving the governing state blank or choosing an unrelated jurisdiction increases litigation risk and may complicate enforcement across state lines.
Using informal or abbreviated party names instead of the exact legal entity can prevent banks or counter-parties from recognizing authority.
Failing to attach referenced exhibits or schedules leads to ambiguous deliverables and a higher likelihood of performance disputes or corrective amendments.
Relying on weak signer authentication or failing to capture an audit trail can undermine attribution and admissibility under ESIGN and state UETA rules.

Practical Tips for Accurate, Efficient Completion

Use standardized templates, clear field guidance, and configured eSignature workflows to minimize errors and speed execution.

Use a single canonical template

Maintain one approved Client Agreement Application template under version control and route changes through legal review to avoid inconsistent terms across clients.

Pre-fill known fields

Pre-populate repeatable data such as company name, tax ID, and remit-to address to reduce manual entry errors and speed signer completion.

Require strong authentication for sensitive deals

For high-value contracts or regulated industries, enable SMS, KBA, or SSO authentication and retain audit details to support attribution and compliance.

Attach exhibits and sign together

Append schedules, SOWs, and pricing exhibits to the same signing package so all referenced documents are executed concurrently and retained together.

Real-world Usage Examples

These short case notes illustrate how organizations deploy Client Agreement Applications in practice to speed onboarding and maintain compliance.

Optica Ventures — COO

Optica centralized onboarding with a digital Client Agreement Application to reduce manual intake and errors.

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

Martin Properties — Founder

A real estate operator used an electronic Client Agreement Application to close rental management contracts remotely and maintain audit logs.

Mobile and offline signing available.
"I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security. Whether on mobile or working offline, I can get forms back to their necessary parties efficiently."

Who Is Authorized to Sign the Application

Company Officer

An authorized officer (CEO, CFO, or other named corporate officer) may sign on behalf of a corporation when the corporate records or a board resolution grants signature authority; verify authority via a corporate certificate when required by internal policy or third-party counterparties.

Authorized Agent

An agent or delegated signer (procurement manager, authorized agent) may sign under a limited power or delegation; include a statement of authority or attach a signed authorization document to avoid later challenges to signature validity.

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to common questions about electronic execution, corrections, notary needs, and storage for the Client Agreement Application.

Need help? Contact support

Can the application be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA laws unless an exception applies; ensure consent and retention requirements are met for consumer-facing records.
What if the wrong person signed?
If an unauthorized signer executed the agreement, obtain a corrective amendment signed by an authorized representative; preserve audit logs and consider a formal ratification by the authorized party to reduce disputes.
Are witnesses or notarization required?
Some instruments or state rules require witnesses or notary acknowledgement; for example, certain deeds or powers of attorney may require witnesses — verify state-specific requirements before relying solely on an e-signature.
How do I correct a signed application?
Do not alter a signed record. Instead, create an amendment or corrective agreement captured and signed by all parties; preserve the original executed document and the amendment together in your records.
Can I use remote online notarization (RON)?
Many states permit RON with identity proofing and recorded audiovisual sessions; check state notary rules for specific technical and retention requirements before using RON for legal acknowledgements.
How should completed applications be stored?
Store signed documents in encrypted, access-controlled repositories with a retained audit trail. Follow applicable retention rules such as IRS three-year minimums and HIPAA six-year requirements for healthcare records.

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