Scope
Precisely list services, deliverables, and excluded activities so there is no ambiguity about provider responsibilities and client expectations.
A clear agreement reduces operational risk, defines data responsibilities, and creates enforceable expectations for service levels, billing, and compliance. It preserves audit trails for later review and supports admissible electronic records under ESIGN and UETA.
Common parties include in-house HR teams, third-party HR vendors, and legal or procurement professionals who review contract terms.
Roles vary by organization size; responsibilities for execution and recordkeeping should be defined in the agreement.
Precisely list services, deliverables, and excluded activities so there is no ambiguity about provider responsibilities and client expectations.
State required security controls, encryption, breach notification timelines, and whether a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) applies for PHI.
Define who may access systems, role-based permissions, admin responsibilities, and procedures for onboarding and offboarding user access.
Specify pricing, billing cadence, invoicing detail, late payment remedies, and any pass-through costs or third‑party fees.
Include uptime expectations, response and remediation times, escalation paths, and remedies for SLA failures.
Set termination rights, transition assistance, data return or deletion procedures, and surviving obligations.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signature Method | Email link | RON or SMS code |
| Authentication | Email, SMS code, or ID verification |
| Field Types | Signatures, initials, dates, checkboxes |
| Notifications | Auto reminders and status updates |
Confirm supported file formats, authentication options, and integration points before routing documents for signature.
Ensure your platform supports required audit trails, export formats, and any enterprise SSO or API access needed for archiving.
Employee and contractor forms to recipients due Jan 31.
Provide W-9 to payer upon request; no fixed deadline.
Retain per regulation: 3 years after hire or 1 year after termination.
Typical signer deadlines range from 7 to 14 days unless specified.
Follow federal and state retention schedules for HR records.
Finalize terms and attach data processing addenda.
Legal and HR review for compliance and liability.
Execute electronically; capture audit trail and timestamps.
Store signed record in secure repository with retention controls.
| 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 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 |