Parties
Full legal names and entity types for lender and borrower, including addresses, EIN or SSN for tax reporting, and the signer's authority or title.
A well-drafted agreement reduces ambiguity about repayment, limits disputes, documents security interests, and supports enforcement or collection when necessary, improving operational and legal certainty for both parties.
Use the agreement to create clear expectations, protect priority rights (e.g., UCC filings), and provide evidence for tax and regulatory reporting.
CFO or authorized corporate officer who signs on behalf of an entity. Must have corporate authority per bylaws or board resolution; attach evidence of signing authority when required by the lender.
Individual or entity receiving funds who signs to accept repayment terms. For entities, include official name, EIN, and the signer's title to ensure enforceability.
Full legal names and entity types for lender and borrower, including addresses, EIN or SSN for tax reporting, and the signer's authority or title.
Exact dollar amount advanced, currency, disbursement date, and any conditions (e.g., tranche schedule) that trigger payment.
Repayment schedule, due dates, prepayment rules, grace periods, and calculation method for interest and principal allocation.
Interest rate (APR or periodic), fee schedule, late charges, and any finance or origination fees clearly stated to avoid usury exposure.
Description of collateral, perfection steps (UCC-1 filing), and remedies on default including repossession or setoff rights.
Events of default, cure periods, acceleration rights, collection costs allocation, and governing law for dispute resolution.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Authentication | Email link for low risk; SMS or ID verification for higher-risk transactions. |
| Conditional Fields | Show collateral fields only when 'secured' is selected to reduce signer confusion. |
| Audit Trail | Enable full event logging (IP, timestamp, actions) for enforceability and dispute resolution. |
| Notifications | Auto-notify legal, accounting, and the borrower after completion for filing and posting. |
Include retention and export settings so executed copies and audit records remain retrievable for compliance and audits.
Provide a completed W-9 on request to avoid backup withholding and support accurate 1099 reporting.
Report interest or certain payments to recipients and IRS by January 31 where applicable.
Annual income reporting follows April 15 deadlines for individual taxpayers and extensions as applicable.
File UCC-1 promptly after execution to perfect security interests and preserve priority.
If notarization required, complete it at or immediately after execution to validate acknowledgements.
Agree rate, amount, and collateral before drafting the final agreement.
Signatures and notarization complete the agreement and trigger many contractual obligations.
File UCC-1 or record liens to establish collateral priority and protect lender rights.
Track payments, covenant compliance, and trigger remedies on missed payments.
| Criteria | Finance Advance | Promissory Note |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | short-term cash advance | formal loan instrument |
| Security | often unsecured or conditional | often secured by collateral |
| Complexity | simpler, operational focus | more formal, legal focus |
| Use Case | working capital or vendor advances | term loans or refinancings |
| 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 | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes (BAA available) | Yes | Yes | No | No |