Can a Finance Fee Agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Under ESIGN and state electronic transaction laws, electronic signatures are generally valid when parties demonstrate intent to sign, consent to the electronic process, attribution is clear, and the record can be retained and reproduced.

Is notarization required for this agreement?

Not normally for simple fee agreements. Notarization is only necessary when state law requires it or when the agreement will be recorded or used as collateral for real property or certain statutory filings.

What if a party disputes a fee after signing?

Preserve audit trails, fee schedule exhibits, and communications. Internal dispute procedures and evidence of disclosure timing will support resolution and limit exposure to rescission or penalties.

How should I correct an executed agreement?

Use a written amendment signed by all original parties or a corrected agreement with clear reference to the original execution date, and retain both documents in the file.

Are consumer disclosures required for consumer financing?

Yes. Consumer-facing finance agreements may require specific disclosures and consumer consent to electronic records; ensure disclosures meet federal and state consumer protection standards.

Can I store signed agreements in cloud storage?

Yes, provided storage maintains integrity, access controls, and retention capabilities. Include exportable audit trails and secure backups for regulatory or litigation needs.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Finance
Finance Fee Agreement

Finance Fee Agreement

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

FINANCE FEE AGREEMENT

This Finance Fee Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of by and between:

Parties

Client Name: Client Address: Firm / Advisor Name: Firm Address:

Recitals

WHEREAS, the Firm provides financial advisory services including, without limitation, cash management, capital structuring, transaction advisory, and related consulting; and WHEREAS, the Client desires to engage the Firm to provide such services and to compensate the Firm in accordance with the terms set forth below.

1. Scope of Engagement

The Firm shall perform the services described below (the "Services"). The scope may be amended by written agreement of the parties.

Describe Services:

2. Fees and Fee Schedule

The Client shall pay the Firm fees in accordance with the itemized fee schedule below. All amounts are stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified.

Description	Fee Type	Rate / Price	Qty / Hours	Amount


Subtotal
Tax (if applicable)
Other (e.g. Shipping, Fees)
Total Due

3. Retainer and Invoicing

Unless otherwise agreed, the Client shall pay an initial retainer in the amount set forth below. The Firm will render monthly invoices itemizing fees incurred and reimbursable expenses.

Retainer Amount: Payment Terms (Net days): Late Fee / Interest:

4. Expenses and Disbursements

The Client shall reimburse the Firm for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Services, including travel, filing fees, research subscriptions, courier charges, and third-party vendor costs, provided such expenses are itemized on invoices.

5. Taxes

Unless otherwise stated, fees do not include taxes. The Client is responsible for any sales, use, value added, or other taxes assessed in connection with the Services, excluding taxes based on the Firm's net income.

6. Term and Termination

This Agreement commences on the Effective Date and continues until the Services are completed or this Agreement is terminated by either party with prior written notice to the other party in accordance with the notice provisions below.

Termination Notice Period (days):

7. Confidentiality

Each party shall hold all nonpublic information delivered by the other party in strict confidence and shall not disclose such information except as required by law or with the prior written consent of the disclosing party. Confidentiality obligations survive termination of this Agreement for a period of three years.

8. Conflicts; Independence

The Firm represents that, to the best of its knowledge, no conflict of interest exists that would impair performance. The Firm shall disclose any material conflict promptly. The Firm is engaged as an independent contractor and not as an employee, partner, or agent of the Client.

9. Limitation of Liability and Indemnity

EXCEPT FOR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE, THE FIRM'S LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE TOTAL FEES PAID BY THE CLIENT TO THE FIRM UNDER THIS AGREEMENT DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY. THE CLIENT SHALL INDEMNIFY, DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS THE FIRM FROM AND AGAINST ALL THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES, AND EXPENSES ARISING FROM THE CLIENT'S BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT OR USE OF THE SERVICES.

10. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered in accordance with the parties' agreement to arbitrate. The substantive law of the jurisdiction indicated below governs all matters regarding the validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement.

Governing Law (State / Jurisdiction):

11. Notices

All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth above or to such other address as either party may designate in writing.

Primary Contact for Client: Primary Contact for Firm:

12. Miscellaneous

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. No amendment will be effective unless in writing and signed by both parties. If any provision is held invalid, the remaining provisions remain in force.

Additional Terms / Special Instructions:

Payment Instructions

Payment shall be made by the method selected below unless alternate arrangements are agreed in writing.

Accepted Methods (check applicable): Check Wire Transfer Credit/Debit Card Special Payment Instructions / Account Details:

Client:

By:

Date:

Advisor / Firm:

By:

Date:

What a Finance Fee Agreement Is and When It Applies

A Finance Fee Agreement is a written contract that sets out fees, billing terms, and obligations between a lender, finance provider, or servicer and a borrower or customer for a financed product or service. It typically itemizes origination charges, late fees, prepayment terms, interest calculation methods, periodic statements, and dispute routing. The document clarifies how fees are assessed, when payments are due, how adjustments are handled, and which party is responsible for collection or reimbursement. Clear, signed Finance Fee Agreements reduce disputes and support enforceability during collection or regulatory review.

Why a Clear Finance Fee Agreement Matters

A precise agreement protects both parties by documenting fee structures, disclosure timing, and remedies for nonpayment. It improves billing accuracy, reduces disputes, and provides evidence for collections, audits, and regulatory compliance under applicable state and federal rules.

Who Typically Prepares and Signs a Finance Fee Agreement

The agreement is commonly used by commercial lenders, consumer finance companies, vendors offering deferred payment or lease-to-own options, and borrowers of all sizes.

Lenders and finance teams that need documented fee schedules for underwriting and collections
Accounts receivable and billing personnel who implement invoicing and payment posting
Borrowers or customers who must understand fee triggers, late payment consequences, and refund procedures

Both parties should review for commercial terms, statutory consumer protections, and any state-specific disclosure or notarization requirements before signing.

Core Sections to Include in a Professional Finance Fee Agreement

A well-structured agreement reduces ambiguity and supports enforcement. Include these six core sections and ensure consistent numbering and exhibits for schedules or rate tables.

Parties

Identify each legal entity by full legal name, business type, and contact information so the agreement binds the correct parties and supports service of process if needed.

Fee Schedule

Itemize origination, periodic, late, returned-payment, and administrative fees with calculation method, caps, and examples to reduce disputes over ambiguous terminology.

Payment Terms

State due dates, grace periods, accepted payment methods, and allocation rules for partial payments to avoid misapplied receipts and billing disagreements.

Adjustments & Refunds

Explain conditions for fee waivers, credits, or refunds and the process for billing corrections to preserve auditability and customer trust.

Default Remedies

Detail late charges, collection steps, interest on overdue amounts, and any right to accelerate to support lawful collection actions.

Governing Law

Specify the state law governing interpretation and dispute resolution, and include venue and arbitration clauses if applicable to reduce jurisdictional uncertainty.

Step-by-Step: How to Complete and Execute the Agreement

Follow these practical steps from draft to final signature to ensure complete and enforceable documentation.

01

Drafting: Populate party details and fee schedule accurately.
02

Internal Review: Have legal and finance review for compliance and revenue recognition.
03

Send for Signature: Distribute to signers with clear instructions and attachments.
04

Archive Signed Copy: Store execution copies in secure records with audit trail.

How to Configure an Online Signing Workflow for This Agreement

Configure fields and routing so each signer gets the correct view and required fields before finalization.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Set sequential or parallel routing as needed
Required Fields	Mark name, date, fee initials as required
Authentication	Choose email, SMS code, or stronger methods
Notifications	Enable reminders and completion receipts

Where to Send or File the Completed Finance Fee Agreement

After execution, distribute copies to the primary operational recipients and retain a secure master copy for records and audits.

Billing System: Upload the executed agreement to billing and contract management
Accounts Receivable: Provide copy to AR for fee implementation
Legal and Compliance: Store with legal for dispute support
Customer Copy: Provide signed copy to the customer

Digital Signing and eSubmission Requirements

Use an e-signature platform that supports audit trails, secure storage, and required authentication for the transaction.

File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Authentication Options: Email, SMS, or advanced methods
Integrations: CRM and document storage connectors

Ensure the chosen platform complies with ESIGN and UETA for interstate and intrastate validity and offers retention and export options for audit purposes.

eSignature Vendor Pricing Comparison for Finance Fee Agreement Workflows

Comparison of typical entry-level pricing and fundamental capabilities to consider when selecting an eSignature provider for fee agreements.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Plan	Yes, 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

Primary Risks and Potential Penalties for an Incorrect Agreement

Incorrect Fee Disclosure: Regulatory fines or rescission risk

Unclear Payment Terms: Billing disputes and collection delays

Missing Signatures: Enforceability challenged in court

Improper Notarization: Local invalidation or delay

Data Security Gaps: Breach exposure and compliance fines

Late Filing: Administrative penalties or interest

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Failing to itemize fees clearly, which leads to customer disputes and difficulty defending charges in audit or litigation.
Using mismatched party names that do not match formation documents or IDs, creating ambiguity about who is bound by the agreement.
Neglecting to set clear effective dates and payment cycles, causing disputes over when fees begin to accrue or are due.
Omitting an explicit governing law or venue clause, making cross-jurisdiction enforcement slower and more expensive.

Best Practices for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Adopt these practices to reduce errors, speed approvals, and strengthen enforceability.

Use a Standardized Template

Maintain a current, centrally managed template to ensure consistent fee language, disclosure formatting, and required clauses across the business, reducing review time and legal variance.

Require Pre-Signature Review

Route agreements through finance and legal for validation of fee calculations, statutory disclosures, and any consumer-protection obligations before sending for signature.

Record Audit Trails

Capture signer identity, timestamps, IP addresses, and version history to support attribution and rebut challenges to signature validity or timing.

Keep Change Logs

Document amendments and maintain a single authoritative executed copy to prevent multiple conflicting versions from undermining enforceability.

Who Can Sign and Bind the Agreement

Lender — Authorized Signatory

A corporate officer or employee with delegated authority must sign for the lender. Ensure signatory authority is documented in internal delegation records to support enforceability.

Borrower — Individual or Authorized Representative

The named borrower or an authorized representative may sign. For entities, obtain a signature from an officer or agent with written authority; for individuals, verify identity to match the agreement.

Examples: How Organizations Use Finance Fee Agreements

Two real-world examples show common uses and measurable outcomes from clear fee agreements and eSigning workflows.

Martin Properties

Optica Ventures used a centralized fee schedule to reduce disputes by standardizing terms

Reduced disputes by clarifying late fee triggers
The company shortened resolution cycles and maintained consistent accounting treatment across multiple property portfolios, improving collections.

Fertility Centers of Illinois

Fertility Centers implemented an electronic fee agreement to streamline patient financing

Enabled consent and signatures on mobile devices
By retaining signed copies and audit trails, the clinic reduced administrative follow-up while preserving patient privacy controls.

Frequently Asked Questions About Finance Fee Agreements

Answers to the most common questions about signature validity, notarization, delivery, and recordkeeping for fee agreements.

Need help? Contact support

Can a Finance Fee Agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Under ESIGN and state electronic transaction laws, electronic signatures are generally valid when parties demonstrate intent to sign, consent to the electronic process, attribution is clear, and the record can be retained and reproduced.
Is notarization required for this agreement?
Not normally for simple fee agreements. Notarization is only necessary when state law requires it or when the agreement will be recorded or used as collateral for real property or certain statutory filings.
What if a party disputes a fee after signing?
Preserve audit trails, fee schedule exhibits, and communications. Internal dispute procedures and evidence of disclosure timing will support resolution and limit exposure to rescission or penalties.
How should I correct an executed agreement?
Use a written amendment signed by all original parties or a corrected agreement with clear reference to the original execution date, and retain both documents in the file.
Are consumer disclosures required for consumer financing?
Yes. Consumer-facing finance agreements may require specific disclosures and consumer consent to electronic records; ensure disclosures meet federal and state consumer protection standards.
Can I store signed agreements in cloud storage?
Yes, provided storage maintains integrity, access controls, and retention capabilities. Include exportable audit trails and secure backups for regulatory or litigation needs.

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