Can a retainer agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are satisfied.

Is notarization required to make it valid?

Not typically for most retainer agreements; notarization is only required where state law or specific contract terms demand it, or when attachment of a notarized affidavit or POA is necessary.

Who can sign for a company?

A corporate officer or an individual with delegated signing authority should sign; check corporate bylaws or a board resolution to confirm authority to bind the entity.

How do I amend an existing agreement?

Amendments should be in writing, signed by all parties, and reference the original agreement and effective date of the amendment to avoid ambiguity and support enforceability.

What if a party disputes a payment?

Follow the dispute-resolution clause in the agreement; preserve documentation, billing records, and communications, and consider mediation or arbitration if contractually required.

How can the agreement be revoked or cancelled?

Cancellation depends on the termination clause; generally require written notice per the agreement, settle final accounting, and refund any unearned retainer per agreed terms.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Finance
Finance Retainer Agreement

Finance Retainer Agreement

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

FINANCE RETAINER AGREEMENT

This Finance Retainer Agreement (the Agreement) is made effective as of (Effective Date), by and between Client Name: and Financial Advisor Name: .

1. Engagement and Scope of Services

Client hereby engages Advisor to provide financial advisory services as described below, and Advisor accepts such engagement subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Scope of Services

2. Retainer, Fees, and Billing

Client shall pay Advisor an initial retainer in the amount of $ which shall be held as an advance against fees and expenses. Advisor's fees for services shall be billed as set forth below.

Hourly Rates or Fee Schedule Billing Frequency Payment Terms

If the retainer balance falls below $ Client agrees to replenish the retainer to $ within days of notice.

Late Fee Refund Policy for Unused Retainer

3. Expenses and Disbursements

Client shall reimburse Advisor for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with services, including but not limited to third-party vendor costs, travel, filing fees, and courier charges. Such expenses will be itemized on invoices and are due under the payment terms above.

Expense Authorization Threshold

4. Term, Termination, and Consequences

This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and continue until the earlier of completion of the services or termination by either party upon days' written notice. Upon termination, Advisor shall provide a final invoice for fees and expenses incurred through the effective date of termination; any unused retainer will be returned in accordance with the Refund Policy above, less amounts owed for services rendered and unreimbursed expenses.

5. Confidentiality

Each party shall treat as confidential all non-public information disclosed by the other party in connection with this Agreement. Confidential information shall not include information that is or becomes public through no fault of the receiving party, or that is rightfully received from a third party without restriction. Advisor may disclose confidential information where required by law, provided Advisor gives Client prompt notice when permissible.

Acknowledgment of Confidentiality Client acknowledges and agrees to confidentiality terms

6. Conflicts, Compliance, and Regulatory Matters

Advisor represents that it will comply with applicable laws and fiduciary obligations in providing services. Client shall notify Advisor promptly of any potential conflicts of interest. Advisor may decline or withdraw from representation if a conflict cannot be reasonably addressed.

7. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability

Each party shall indemnify and hold harmless the other from losses arising out of breaches of this Agreement or the negligent or willful misconduct of the indemnifying party. Except for liability arising from willful misconduct or gross negligence, Advisor's aggregate liability for any claim arising under this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees actually paid to Advisor under this Agreement in the six (6) months preceding the claim.

8. Records, Audit, and Retention

Advisor will maintain billing records and supporting documentation for services and expenses for a period of not less than three (3) years. Client may, upon reasonable notice, audit records directly related to fees and expenses under this Agreement during normal business hours.

9. Notices

Formal notices required under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses below by personal delivery, certified mail (return receipt requested), or overnight courier, and shall be deemed given when received.

Client Address for Notices Client Contact (Phone / Email) Advisor Address for Notices Advisor Contact (Phone / Email)

10. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties agree to attempt good-faith negotiation to resolve disputes; if unresolved, disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration in the chosen jurisdiction unless the parties mutually agree otherwise.

11. Miscellaneous

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings. Any amendment must be in writing and signed by both parties. If any provision is held invalid, the remainder of the Agreement will remain in full force and effect.

Additional Terms or Special Instructions

Acknowledgment

By signing below, the parties acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Finance Retainer Agreement.

Client Name:

By:

Date:

Financial Advisor Name:

By:

Date:

What a Finance Retainer Agreement Is and when it's used

A Finance Retainer Agreement is a written contract that secures ongoing financial advisory, accounting, or consulting services in exchange for a prepaid retainer or recurring fee. The document defines parties, scope of services, retainer amount and billing terms, performance expectations, term and termination rights, confidentiality, and dispute resolution. It creates clear payment milestones and allocates responsibility for deliverables, ensuring both client and provider understand billing mechanics, refund conditions, and how additional work is priced.

Why a clear Finance Retainer Agreement matters

A well-drafted retainer agreement reduces billing disputes, clarifies deliverables, and preserves client relationships by defining expectations and payment mechanics. It creates an enforceable record of the parties' intent, helps manage cash flow for the provider, and simplifies audit and tax reporting by documenting when fees are earned and retained.

Who commonly completes a Finance Retainer Agreement

The Finance Retainer Agreement is used by a range of professionals who supply ongoing financial services and their clients.

Independent financial advisors and Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) securing ongoing advisory retainers and billing arrangements.
Accounting and bookkeeping firms that require advance payment for monthly or quarterly services.
Corporate finance departments engaging external consultants for recurring treasury, tax, or reporting support.

Use this agreement to formalize recurring engagements, reduce billing ambiguity, and document responsibilities between payer and service provider.

Typical signer profiles

Financial Advisor

Independent advisor or small RIA owner who needs a simple, enforceable contract to collect retainer fees, define deliverables, and set billing cadence; often requires client tax identification and billing authorization.

Corporate CFO

In-house finance leader engaging external consultants or interim staff; signs on behalf of the company and ensures the agreement includes procurement, expense, and approval clauses consistent with corporate policy.

Essential fields to include in the agreement

Client Legal Name: Full registered name

Service Provider: Legal entity or individual

Retainer Amount: Dollar amount

Billing Frequency: e.g., Monthly

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Signature Block: Printed name, title

Key risks and consequences of errors

Late Payment: Interest or suspension

Invalid Signature: Agreement unenforceable

Vague Scope: Billing disputes arise

Wrong Governing Law: Jurisdiction confusion

Tax Misreporting: IRS penalties possible

Privacy Breach: HIPAA exposure if healthcare

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

Using abbreviated or inconsistent party names that do not match government IDs or tax accounts, which can invalidate signatures or create tax reporting errors.
Failing to specify measurable deliverables and acceptance criteria, resulting in repeated disputes over whether billed work was completed as agreed.
Omitting payment timing and refund mechanics, leaving parties uncertain about when the retainer is earned versus refundable.
Not addressing confidentiality or data handling in engagements involving protected information, increasing regulatory and reputational risk.

Step-by-step: how to complete the agreement

Follow these steps in order to prepare, verify, and finalize a Finance Retainer Agreement for a secure, enforceable engagement.

01

Upload Document: Open the template and upload a PDF or DOCX.
02

Identify Parties: Enter legal names and contact details.
03

Define Retainer: Specify amount, billing, and refund terms.
04

Sign and Store: Execute signatures and secure the final copy.

Typical processing flow for electronic completion

A standard eSigning workflow streamlines preparation, signer authentication, and final storage for the Finance Retainer Agreement.

Prepare: Place fields and set signer order.
Send: Distribute via secure link or email.
Authenticate: Use email code, SMS, or stronger methods.
Complete: Signers apply signatures and receive copies.

Six essential clauses to include

Ensure the agreement contains clear and enforceable language in these six areas to reduce ambiguity and support collections, compliance, and dispute resolution.

Parties and Definitions

Identify each contracting party with legal names, business classification, and a concise set of defined terms that will be used throughout the agreement to avoid later disputes about scope or obligations.

Scope of Services

Describe the specific services included under the retainer, limits on hours or deliverables, and a process for approving work outside the base scope to prevent unexpected billings.

Retainer and Billing

Specify the retainer amount, whether it is refundable or earned on receipt, invoice cadence, accepted payment methods, and consequences for nonpayment such as interest or work suspension.

Term and Termination

State the agreement start date, automatic renewal provisions if any, termination notice periods, and responsibilities for final accounting and refund calculations at termination.

Confidentiality and Data Security

Include confidentiality obligations, permitted disclosures, data handling requirements and any regulatory addenda (for example HIPAA language) when protected information is involved.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

Select the state law that governs interpretation, specify venue or arbitration clauses, and outline the steps for dispute escalation to reduce litigation risk and clarify expectations.

Recommended online workflow settings

Configure these settings when you prepare a digital version for eSignature to control authentication, reminders, and field behavior.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email code or SMS OTP
Field Types	Signature, initials, date
Conditional Logic	Show fee fields as needed
Reminders	Auto reminders every 3 days

Digital signature and platform considerations

Choose a platform that supports secure eSignatures, audit trails, and the authentication level required by your engagement.

File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Works with CRM and storage
Security: TLS and AES encryption

Confirm integration needs (for example CRM or document storage), authentication options, and whether a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) or additional compliance support is required for regulated data.

Common timing and notice requirements

Include explicit deadlines to avoid disputes over payment, renewal, and termination obligations.

Payment Due:

Upon receipt or per invoice terms

Renewal Notice:

Provide 30 days prior to renewal

Termination Notice:

Typically 30 days written notice

Invoice Disputes:

Raise within 15–30 days of invoice

Quarterly Reconciliation:

Conduct accounting each quarter

Key processing milestones for an engagement

Track these sequential milestones from signature through final accounting to keep engagements on schedule.

01

Agreement Signed

Final signatures executed by all parties.

02

Retainer Funded

Provider receives retainer payment or deposit.

03

Services Commence

Work begins per the defined scope.

04

Final Accounting

Provide reconciliation and refund calculation.

Comparison: signNow and other eSignature vendors for retainer workflows

Pricing and core capabilities vary by vendor; the table below summarizes starting price, trial availability, bulk send, audit trails, HIPAA support, and envelope caps.

	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	Trial available	Trial available	Trial available	Trial available
Bulk Send	Yes (Business Premium)	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 by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

FAQs and troubleshooting for Finance Retainer Agreements

Answers to common questions about enforceability, notarization, signature authority, and amendment processes for retainer agreements.

Need help? Contact support

Can a retainer agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are satisfied.
Is notarization required to make it valid?
Not typically for most retainer agreements; notarization is only required where state law or specific contract terms demand it, or when attachment of a notarized affidavit or POA is necessary.
Who can sign for a company?
A corporate officer or an individual with delegated signing authority should sign; check corporate bylaws or a board resolution to confirm authority to bind the entity.
How do I amend an existing agreement?
Amendments should be in writing, signed by all parties, and reference the original agreement and effective date of the amendment to avoid ambiguity and support enforceability.
What if a party disputes a payment?
Follow the dispute-resolution clause in the agreement; preserve documentation, billing records, and communications, and consider mediation or arbitration if contractually required.
How can the agreement be revoked or cancelled?
Cancellation depends on the termination clause; generally require written notice per the agreement, settle final accounting, and refund any unearned retainer per agreed terms.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now