Can this form be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Ensure intent to sign, consent to electronic records, attribution, and durable record retention to meet the four ESIGN validity criteria.

Do I need a notary or witnesses?

Most questionnaires do not require notarization. Add a notary or witnesses only when a supporting exhibit demands notarized execution (for example, sworn affidavits or certain state‑specific attestations). Verify state notary rules before requesting notarization.

What happens if the EIN or TIN is wrong?

An incorrect TIN can trigger backup withholding or delay vendor onboarding. For tax consequences and filing periods see IRS guidance. Correct errors promptly and, where required, provide a corrected form or verification.

How long must we retain the completed form?

Retention depends on the document’s use: IRS records generally 3 years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA‑covered records 6 years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and some matters longer; follow the most stringent applicable rule for retention.

What authentication level is recommended?

For standard investor or vendor intake, email link or SMS code is common. For higher‑risk matters use stronger methods (multi‑factor authentication, KBA, or advanced signer authentication) to reduce repudiation risk.

Can I update or amend a submitted questionnaire?

Yes, but treat amendments as separate executed records. Create an amendment form or submit a revised questionnaire and retain both the original and the amendment to preserve an audit trail for legal and compliance purposes.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Entrepreneur Questionnaire Form

Entrepreneur Questionnaire Form

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

ENTREPRENEUR QUESTIONNAIRE FORM

Agreement Recitals

This Entrepreneur Questionnaire Form and accompanying Agreement (the Agreement) is made effective as of , by and between Entrepreneur Name: and Company Name: .

WHEREAS, Entrepreneur represents that the information provided in this form will be relied upon by Company in evaluating potential commercial relationships, investment, partnership, or advisory arrangements; and

WHEREAS, Company requires a written record of the Entrepreneur's business plan, intellectual property status, team composition, financial condition, and material risks to supplement any negotiation or due diligence process; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth certain terms governing the exchange of information and the scope of initial evaluation in this Questionnaire and Agreement.

Entrepreneur Contact & Business Information

Full Legal Name Business Name (DBA) Business Address Business Structure (check all that apply)

Sole Proprietor LLC Corporation Partnership Other:

Date Founded

Questionnaire — Strategic & Operational Details

Business Overview Product / Service Description Target Market & Competitive Position Revenue Model Current Monthly / Annual Revenue (if any) Funding History & Needs Cap Table Summary (brief) Team & Key Roles Intellectual Property & Registrations Key Milestones and Timeline Primary Needs from Company (e.g., funding, mentorship, introductions) Known Material Risks References & Prior Engagements Attachments Included (list documents)

Scope of Work

The parties agree that the initial scope of evaluation and any advisory or engagement work will be limited to the activities described below. This Scope of Work governs preliminary assessments, introductions, advisory sessions, and other services specifically identified.

Describe Scope of Work

Payment Terms

If any fees are payable in connection with advisory, diligence, or other professional services, such fees shall be set forth below. All payments are due in accordance with the schedule selected. Late payments shall accrue interest as specified.

Total Fee or Retainer Amount Payment Schedule / Milestones Late Fee or Interest

Term and Termination

This Agreement shall commence on the Start Date below and continue until the End Date or until earlier terminated as provided herein.

Start Date

End Date (if applicable)

Notice Period for Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach if the breach is not cured within the notice period specified above. Obligations that by their nature survive termination, including confidentiality and payment obligations, shall survive.

Confidentiality

The parties acknowledge that disclosure of confidential information in connection with evaluation and performance of the Scope of Work is anticipated. Each party shall hold such confidential information in strict confidence and shall not use or disclose it except as necessary to perform under this Agreement or as required by law. Confidential information does not include information that (a) is or becomes public other than by breach of this Agreement, (b) is lawfully received from a third party without restriction, or (c) is independently developed without reference to the other's confidential information.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to its choice of law rules. Any disputes arising out of this Agreement shall be resolved in state or federal courts located in that state.

Entire Agreement

This Agreement, including the completed questionnaire responses and any written attachments expressly incorporated herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written.

Certification

The undersigned certifies that the information provided in this Entrepreneur Questionnaire Form is true, complete and accurate to the best of their knowledge. The undersigned further acknowledges that material misrepresentations may be grounds for termination of discussions or agreements and may give rise to liability.

I certify: I represent and warrant that the foregoing statements are true and correct.

Entrepreneur (Printed Name):

By (Signature):

Date:

Company (Printed Name):

By (Authorized Signatory):

Date:

What the Entrepreneur Questionnaire Form Is and how it’s used

The Entrepreneur Questionnaire Form collects standardized data about a founder or startup to support investor review, accelerator screening, vendor onboarding, or internal due diligence. Typical fields cover identity, business structure, ownership, capitalization, key customers, intellectual property status, prior funding, and regulatory or legal flags. The document streamlines initial fact-finding, reduces back-and-forth email, and creates a consistent record for reviewers and legal teams while preserving a searchable, auditable record of the information submitted.

Why a structured questionnaire matters for early-stage evaluation

A consistent Entrepreneur Questionnaire Form speeds decision-making by collecting comparable, verifiable facts from multiple applicants; it reduces manual follow-up and centralizes evidence for legal review, tax checks, and compliance screening.

Who commonly completes and reviews this questionnaire

This form is used by founders and small-business owners to disclose company details and by investors, accelerators, procurement teams, and compliance officers to assess eligibility and risk.

Founders and Co‑founders completing initial due diligence and funding intake forms
Investor associates and deal teams screening prospective portfolio companies
Procurement and vendor management teams performing onboarding checks

Use the form to centralize answers and attach supporting documents so reviewers have one complete package for assessment and recordkeeping.

Key signer and reviewer roles

Founder

CEO or cofounder who supplies legal entity data, ownership percentages, and exhibits such as cap table and IP assignments; responsible for factual accuracy and signature attribution.

Investor

Associate or partner who reviews entries, requests clarifications, and flags items for legal or financial review; often retains the signed form as part of due diligence records.

Step-by-step: completing the form from start to finish

Follow a consistent sequence to avoid omissions and speed reviewer processing.

01

Prepare materials: Gather cap table, EIN, contracts, and IP documents before you start.
02

Enter core data: Complete identity, entity, and ownership fields first.
03

Attach evidence: Upload supporting PDFs and clearly name each file.
04

Sign and submit: Sign electronically and confirm delivery to the requesting party.

Typical digital workflow for questionnaire submission

Digital workflows standardize routing, reduce errors, and produce an audit trail for each submission.

Upload form: Sender uploads the questionnaire and maps fields for signers.
Assign signers: Add emails and set signing order or allow parallel signing.
Signer authentication: Signers authenticate via email link, SMS code, or stronger methods.
Complete and archive: Signed record and audit trail are stored for review and retention.

Configuring an online questionnaire workflow

Set fields, authentication, and routing to match your review process and compliance needs.

Field	Configuration
Required Fields	Make identity and EIN mandatory for submission
Authentication	Use email code by default; use SMS or KBA if higher assurance is required
Routing	Send to legal after initial reviewer signs
Retention	Enable secure archive with export options

Technology and file-format considerations for electronic submission

Use platforms that accept standard document formats and provide an auditable signing workflow.

File formats: PDF, DOCX, and scanned images supported
Integrations: CRM and cloud storage integrations recommended
Security: TLS in transit and AES‑256 at rest

Select a provider that supports your storage, audit, and integration needs while meeting applicable compliance requirements.

Typical eSignature vendor comparison for questionnaire workflows

Pricing and core capabilities vary; signNow is listed first per vendor-comparison conventions. Confirm vendor plans and enterprise options directly with each provider.

	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	Yes, 7‑day	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes (tiered)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes (BAA)	Yes (BAA)	Yes (BAA)	Varies	Varies
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Key data points the form typically collects

Legal Name: Full registered name

EIN / TIN: Tax identification number

Ownership: Percentages and cap table

Contact Information: Address, email, phone

IP Status: Patents, trademarks listed

Attachments: Cap table, contracts, registrations

Primary risks and consequences of inaccurate responses

Incorrect TIN: May trigger backup withholding

Missing Ownership: Can lead to contract disputes

Undisclosed Liens: Raises legal and financial risk

False IP Claims: Can invalidate agreements

Late Submissions: Delays funding or onboarding

Unauthenticated Signatures: Questions enforceability

Common pitfalls to avoid when preparing the questionnaire

Leaving supporting exhibits incomplete or mislabeled, which forces reviewers to request clarifications and extends review cycles unnecessarily.
Using inconsistent ownership figures across cap table and questionnaire answers, creating reconciliation issues during legal due diligence.
Submitting unsigned or partially completed forms that cannot be relied on as an executed record by investors or procurement teams.
Relying on screenshots or low-quality scans for attachments instead of searchable PDFs, which complicates review and document retention.

Practical examples of questionnaire use

Realistic scenarios illustrate how the form fits different review processes and the outcomes it supports.

Accelerator Screening

A startup completes core fields and uploads a cap table

Reviewer flags a funding round discrepancy
The accelerator requests clarifying documents and uses the signed record for admission decisions and follow-up legal review.

Vendor Onboarding

A small company fills entity and payment details

Procurement verifies EIN and insurance
The procurement team approves onboarding and retains the signed questionnaire for audit and payment setup.

Practical tips to ensure a smooth submission and review

Follow these best practices to reduce delays and strengthen the form's evidentiary value.

Be precise

Answer each field with exact, verifiable information and avoid abbreviations for legal names or states; attach signed exhibits when required to substantiate claims.

Match attachments

Ensure exhibits referenced in the questionnaire match uploaded files by filename and include document dates to aid reviewer verification.

Use consistent formatting

Present dates as MM/DD/YYYY and financial figures with two decimal places; consistent formatting prevents rounding or interpretation errors.

Preserve auditability

Choose an eSignature platform that captures timestamps, IP addresses, and a certificate of completion to establish attribution and retention.

Typical timelines and response expectations

Set clear deadlines for completion and review to keep screening and onboarding on schedule.

Request Deadline:

Requester sets a completion date, often 7–14 days after issuance

Initial Review:

Reviewer typically responds within 3–5 business days

Clarification Window:

Allow 5–10 business days for additional documentation

Final Legal Review:

Allocate 7–21 days when attorney review is required

Archival:

Store the executed package immediately after finalization

Key milestones in processing a submitted questionnaire

A simple milestone view clarifies responsibility and expected timing between request and archive.

01

Issue Request

Questionnaire issued to founder with a clear due date

02

Complete Submission

Founder completes fields and uploads required exhibits

03

Review & Clarify

Reviewer inspects answers and requests follow-up if needed

04

Finalize and Archive

Signed package stored in the secure document repository

How the Entrepreneur Questionnaire differs from related documents

Compare the questionnaire to other common intake and legal forms to choose the right instrument for each purpose.

Document	Typical Use
Entrepreneur Questionnaire	initial screening
Investor Questionnaire	fundraising due diligence
Due Diligence Checklist	detailed legal review
W-9	taxpayer identification

Frequently asked questions about using the Entrepreneur Questionnaire Form

Answers address common legal, technical, and procedural questions encountered during completion or review.

Need help? Contact support

Can this form be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Ensure intent to sign, consent to electronic records, attribution, and durable record retention to meet the four ESIGN validity criteria.
Do I need a notary or witnesses?
Most questionnaires do not require notarization. Add a notary or witnesses only when a supporting exhibit demands notarized execution (for example, sworn affidavits or certain state‑specific attestations). Verify state notary rules before requesting notarization.
What happens if the EIN or TIN is wrong?
An incorrect TIN can trigger backup withholding or delay vendor onboarding. For tax consequences and filing periods see IRS guidance. Correct errors promptly and, where required, provide a corrected form or verification.
How long must we retain the completed form?
Retention depends on the document’s use: IRS records generally 3 years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA‑covered records 6 years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and some matters longer; follow the most stringent applicable rule for retention.
What authentication level is recommended?
For standard investor or vendor intake, email link or SMS code is common. For higher‑risk matters use stronger methods (multi‑factor authentication, KBA, or advanced signer authentication) to reduce repudiation risk.
Can I update or amend a submitted questionnaire?
Yes, but treat amendments as separate executed records. Create an amendment form or submit a revised questionnaire and retain both the original and the amendment to preserve an audit trail for legal and compliance purposes.

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