Is an electronic signature legally valid?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid in the United States when intent, consent, signer attribution, and record retention are present under the ESIGN Act and state UETA laws; certain exceptions like wills and some court filings may still require special execution.

Do I need notarization or witnesses?

Most commercial Customer Agreements do not require notarization or witnesses; however, related instruments such as deeds or powers of attorney may impose notary or witness requirements. Confirm state law before omitting notary or witness fields.

How should I store executed copies?

Retain signed PDFs with the certificate of completion and audit trail in encrypted storage, keep redundant backups, and ensure document exports are available for audits or legal discovery per applicable retention rules.

What authentication level is appropriate?

For routine commercial agreements, email link or SMS OTP is often sufficient; higher-risk transactions may require knowledge-based authentication, multi-factor, or corporate SSO. Record the chosen authentication method in the execution record.

Can I change terms after signing?

Amendments require mutual written agreement, typically an executed amendment or a new Customer Agreement. Oral changes are risky; document all changes with dated and signed amendments that reference the original agreement.

What if a signer uses a different entity name?

A mismatched legal name can impair enforceability and cause payment or tax issues. Use exact legal names; if an agent signs, attach evidence of authority such as a corporate resolution or power of attorney.

Customer Agreement

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

CUSTOMER AGREEMENT

This Customer Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of Effective Date: by and between Client Name: ("Customer") and Provider Name: ("Provider"). The Customer and Provider are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties."

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Provider is engaged in the business of providing goods and/or services described herein and has the experience, personnel, and capability to perform such services; and

WHEREAS, Customer desires to retain Provider to perform the services under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Parties intend that this Agreement set forth the complete understanding between them regarding the subject matter hereof.

SCOPE OF WORK

Provider shall perform the services and deliverables described below. The scope may be amended only by a written Change Order signed by both Parties.

Description of Services and Deliverables

PAYMENT TERMS

Customer shall pay Provider the fees and expenses as set forth below. All amounts are payable in lawful money of the United States unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Total Contract Amount Payment Schedule Late Payment

Any amount not paid within days of the invoice due date shall accrue interest at the lesser of (i) per month, or (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. Customer shall also reimburse Provider for reasonable collection costs and attorney fees incurred in enforcing payment.

Invoicing Address for Payments

TERM AND TERMINATION

Term: This Agreement commences on Start Date: and continues until End Date: unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Section.

Termination for Convenience: Either Party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon providing not less than days' prior written notice to the other Party. Termination for Material Breach: Either Party may terminate immediately upon written notice if the other Party materially breaches this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach.

Effect of Termination: Upon termination, Customer shall pay Provider for all services performed and expenses incurred through the effective date of termination. Provider shall deliver any completed work and reasonable transitional assistance, and Customer shall return or destroy Confidential Information as required by this Agreement.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Definition and Obligations: "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed by one Party ("Discloser") to the other Party ("Recipient") that is marked confidential or that reasonably should be understood to be confidential. Recipient shall (i) use Confidential Information solely to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (ii) protect Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care as it protects its own confidential information but no less than reasonable care; and (iii) not disclose Confidential Information to any third party except to its employees, contractors, or agents who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those herein.

Exclusions: Confidential Information does not include information that (a) is or becomes generally known to the public through no fault of Recipient; (b) was known to Recipient prior to receipt from Discloser as evidenced by written records; (c) is rightfully received from a third party without restriction; or (d) is independently developed without use of Discloser's Confidential Information.

Required Disclosures: If Recipient is compelled by law to disclose Confidential Information, Recipient shall notify Discloser promptly (to the extent legally permitted) so Discloser may seek a protective order or other remedy. Recipient shall disclose only that portion of Confidential Information that is legally required.

GOVERNING LAW; DISPUTE RESOLUTION

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. The Parties shall first attempt to resolve disputes through good faith negotiations. If the Parties cannot resolve a dispute within sixty (60) days, either Party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief and pursue any legal remedies in courts of competent jurisdiction in the chosen governing state.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS

Entire Agreement: This Agreement, including any written Change Orders signed by both Parties, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, and communications, whether written or oral.

Assignment: Neither Party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party, except that Provider may assign this Agreement in connection with a sale of substantially all of its assets or a change of control.

Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

NOTICES

Customer Contact for Notices Provider Contact for Notices

Notices shall be sent to the addresses above and shall be deemed given when delivered in person, sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, or three (3) business days after being deposited with the U.S. Postal Service by certified mail, return receipt requested.

The Parties represent and warrant that they have the authority to enter into this Agreement and that the individuals signing below are authorized representatives of their respective Parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date first written above.

Customer:

By:

Date:

Provider:

By:

Date:

What a Customer Agreement Is

A Customer Agreement is a written contract that defines the relationship between a service provider and a customer, documenting rights, responsibilities, payment terms, deliverables, warranties, liability limits, and termination conditions. It formalizes expectations, assigns performance obligations, and records signatures that create binding commitments under U.S. electronic signature law (ESIGN and state UETA statutes). For digital execution, platforms such as signNow provide secure eSignature and audit-trail features to capture intent, attribution, and retention required for enforceability while preserving an exact copy of the executed agreement.

Why a Clear Customer Agreement Matters

A clear Customer Agreement reduces disputes by documenting scope, timelines, fees, and remedies; supports compliance with consumer and industry rules; and establishes a verifiable record of consent and signature under ESIGN and applicable state law, improving enforceability and operational clarity.

Who Typically Prepares or Signs This Agreement

Typical users who prepare or sign this Customer Agreement include in-house counsel, procurement teams, account managers, and customers in both B2B and B2C settings.

Service providers and vendors managing recurring services and deliverable schedules.
Corporate procurement and legal teams reviewing terms, SLAs, and indemnities.
Small businesses and freelancers documenting payment terms and scope for clients.

Use the agreement template to standardize expectations across customer accounts and to ensure consistent signature capture and record retention.

Core Sections to Include in a Customer Agreement

A professional Customer Agreement combines commercial terms, performance obligations, legal protections, and signature mechanics so all parties clearly understand duties, pricing, risk allocation, and termination procedures.

Parties

Identify each contracting party by full legal name, business type, and principal address; include authorized signatory details and whether the signer represents an individual, corporation, LLC, or government entity.

Scope

Define the services or goods, deliverables, milestones, performance standards, and acceptance criteria. Attach exhibits for technical specifications or a detailed statement of work where applicable.

Payment

Specify pricing, billing intervals, late fees, taxes, accepted payment methods, and conditions for withholding or setoff. State currency, invoicing procedure, and remedy for nonpayment.

Term

State effective date, initial term, renewal mechanics, termination rights for convenience or cause, required notice periods, and post-termination obligations such as final reconciliation.

Liability

Limit damages, define indemnity scopes and exclusions, include insurance requirements when relevant, and address consequential damages, caps, and carve-outs.

Execution

Include signature blocks with printed names, titles, dates, and any witness or notarization fields; state whether electronic signatures are permitted under ESIGN and applicable state law.

Step-by-Step: Preparing and Executing a Customer Agreement

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, approve, and execute a Customer Agreement reliably in digital or paper workflows.

01

Draft agreement: Assemble terms, exhibits, pricing, and SOW into one document.
02

Internal review: Circulate to legal, finance, and stakeholders for edits and approval.
03

Sign digitally: Place signature fields and obtain signer authentication before execution.
04

Store executed: Save final PDF with audit trail and distribute certified copies.

FAQs: Common Questions When Using a Customer Agreement

Questions and quick answers on common issues when preparing or executing a Customer Agreement, including eSignature, notarization, and retention concerns.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature legally valid?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid in the United States when intent, consent, signer attribution, and record retention are present under the ESIGN Act and state UETA laws; certain exceptions like wills and some court filings may still require special execution.
Do I need notarization or witnesses?
Most commercial Customer Agreements do not require notarization or witnesses; however, related instruments such as deeds or powers of attorney may impose notary or witness requirements. Confirm state law before omitting notary or witness fields.
How should I store executed copies?
Retain signed PDFs with the certificate of completion and audit trail in encrypted storage, keep redundant backups, and ensure document exports are available for audits or legal discovery per applicable retention rules.
What authentication level is appropriate?
For routine commercial agreements, email link or SMS OTP is often sufficient; higher-risk transactions may require knowledge-based authentication, multi-factor, or corporate SSO. Record the chosen authentication method in the execution record.
Can I change terms after signing?
Amendments require mutual written agreement, typically an executed amendment or a new Customer Agreement. Oral changes are risky; document all changes with dated and signed amendments that reference the original agreement.
What if a signer uses a different entity name?
A mismatched legal name can impair enforceability and cause payment or tax issues. Use exact legal names; if an agent signs, attach evidence of authority such as a corporate resolution or power of attorney.

Consequences of an Incorrect or Incomplete Agreement

Contractual Liability: Exposure to indemnity and damages.

Breach Claims: Costly litigation and remedies.

Tax Reporting: Incorrect payer details trigger audits.

Regulatory Noncompliance: HIPAA or consumer law exposure.

Operational Delays: Invoice disputes and withheld payments.

Enforceability Risk: Ambiguous terms reduce enforceability.

Security and Compliance Considerations

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

Audit Trail: Time-stamped events with IP and metadata.

Access Controls: Role-based access and SSO options.

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, PCI DSS compliance.

HIPAA Support: BAA available for regulated healthcare workflows.

Record Retention: Exportable PDFs with certificate of completion.

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Incomplete party identification leads to ambiguity about who is bound and can result in delayed payments, enforcement challenges, or inability to satisfy tax or regulatory reporting requirements.
Using vague or undefined deliverables and acceptance criteria causes scope disputes and increases the likelihood of costly change-order negotiations or litigation.
Failure to specify governing law and dispute resolution forces parties into uncertain jurisdictional fights and may increase legal costs and enforcement difficulty.
Not capturing explicit electronic consent, or using weak authentication, can impair enforceability and complicate admissibility in court under ESIGN/UETA standards.

How Digital Execution Works for a Customer Agreement

Typical digital execution workflow for a Customer Agreement using an eSignature platform and secure delivery channels.

Upload Document: Add final PDF or template.
Place Fields: Assign signature, initial, and date spots.
Authenticate: Choose email, SMS, or KBA.
Complete & Store: Signer finalizes and system records audit trail.

Configuring an eSignature Workflow

Configure an eSignature workflow to control routing, authentication, and retention for Customer Agreements across departments.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Set signing order: sequential for approvals, parallel for simultaneous signing.
Authentication	Email OTP standard; SMS, KBA, or corporate SSO for higher assurance.
Reminders & Escalation	Automated reminders and manager escalation after defined intervals.
Retention Policy	Auto-archive signed PDF and export certificate of completion.

Technical Requirements for Digital Execution

Choose platforms that support PDF, DOCX, import/export, integrations, and secure authentication to ensure reliable execution and long-term access.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and HTML supported.
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace supported.
Authentication: Email, SMS, SSO, and advanced options.

Key Dates and Deadlines to Include

Key dates and deadlines to include in a Customer Agreement for performance, payment, notice, and regulatory compliance.

Effective Date:

Enter as MM/DD/YYYY; obligations commence on this date.

Performance Milestones:

Specify milestone dates, deliverable due dates, and acceptance windows.

Payment Terms:

State payment terms such as Net 30, due on receipt, or milestone-based schedules.

Termination Notice:

Require written notice period, commonly 30 to 90 days, for convenience termination.

Invoice Dispute Window:

Define the number of days to dispute invoices, typically 15 business days.

eSignature Vendor Pricing and Feature Comparison

Pricing and feature comparison for common eSignature vendors when executing Customer Agreements; signNow appears first for clarity and parity in the market.

	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	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Practical Examples of Customer Agreement Use

Real-world examples showing how organizations use Customer Agreements and eSignature workflows to reduce friction and maintain compliance.

Optica Ventures

Optica Ventures standardized its Customer Agreement template and shifted to digital execution to accelerate client onboarding and reduce manual errors.

Signatures completed remotely and securely within hours.
By requiring complete party identification, attaching standard exhibits, and capturing audit trails, the company shortened turnaround times, improved invoice accuracy, and preserved enforceable records suitable for disputes or audits while aligning with ESIGN and state electronic transaction rules.

Martin Properties

Martin Properties moved lease and service agreements online, allowing agents and tenants to sign from mobile devices without in-person meetings.

Closed leases remotely in under 48 hours.
The firm retained PDFs with certificates of completion, enforced consistent signature blocks, and reduced in-office processing, which simplified compliance and accelerated funds disbursement for property management operations.

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Practical practices to produce clear, enforceable Customer Agreements and minimize downstream disputes or processing delays.

Define deliverables and acceptance criteria clearly

Specify measurable deliverables, acceptance tests, and inspection criteria to reduce scope disputes. Attach SOWs and technical exhibits to keep obligations objective and enforceable.

Include unambiguous payment and remedy terms

State invoicing cadence, late fees, disputed invoice process, and remedies for nonpayment. Clear payment mechanics reduce withheld payments and accounting reconciliation issues.

Document signatory authority and capacity

Require printed name, title, and evidence of signing authority for agents or corporate signers. Attach resolutions or powers of attorney when a third party executes on behalf of an entity.

Standardize amendments and version control

Use executed written amendments to change terms and keep a version history. Ensure each amendment references the original agreement date and parties to avoid ambiguity.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now